Striped Marlin

Habitat Distribution

• A warm-water pelagic species that reaches New Zealand as the southern limit of its range; found only in the northern half of the North Island during summer and early autumn.
• Introduced to New Zealand waters seasonally by warm currents; not a resident year-round — fish arrive from the central Pacific and depart as water cools.
• Commonly found between 80m and 400m water depth offshore, though they hunt near the surface and are often seen raising bait in the top 20m.
• The Three Kings Islands, roughly 50km north of Cape Reinga, hold concentrations of forage fish that keep marlin in the area into May and June.

Key Locations

• Bay of Islands, Northland — the most accessible and best-known marlin ground, with a large charter fleet and a long history of record fish.
• Three Kings Islands — remote but productive, holding fish into May and June when inshore grounds have quieted; multi-day trips required.
• Mangonui and the Far North coast — departure point for many offshore runs to deep water where large fish concentrate.
• Both coasts of the North Island have recognised hot spots, though the northeast coast from the Bay of Islands northward is the core of the fishery.

Specific Spots

• Temperature breaks and current edges where warm blue water meets cooler green water — marlin stack on these lines because baitfish do too.
• Floating debris, weed lines, and FAD-style structure offshore concentrate baitfish and draw marlin up from depth.
• Seamounts and underwater rises near the Three Kings Islands funnel bait and hold fish longer into the season than inshore grounds.
• The surface layer — marlin feed actively in the top 100m during daylight, and a fish tailing or finning on the surface is actively hunting.