The Bay

Saltwater
Bay

The Bay

Saltwater
Bay

Sq. miles: 0.1
Boat Ramps: 0
Access Points: 0
Species: 8

The Bay, encompassing the inshore and nearshore waters around Wellington's diverse coastline, offers a rich and varied saltwater fishery. From the sheltered waters of the inner harbour to the exposed, productive grounds of the South Coast and Cook Strait, anglers can target a wide range of species. The area's geography, with its deep bays, rocky points, and sandy beaches, creates numerous habitats that support everything from prized bottom fish to powerful pelagics. Fishing here is heavily influenced by weather, wind, and tide, requiring local knowledge for consistent success.

Species & education

Learn what type of fish are at The Bay and what's needed to catch them.

Find which waters have the species you want to catch

Blue Cod

Parapercis colias

Blue Mackerel

Scomber australasicus

Blue Moki

Latridopsis ciliaris

Hapuku

Polyprion oxygeneios

Kahawai

Arripis trutta

Tarakihi

Nemadactylus macropterus

Trevally

Pseudocaranx georgianus

Yellowtail Kingfish

Seriola lalandi

Fishing spots, boat ramps & amenities

Learn how to get on The Bay. Uncover great fishing access points, boat ramps, and all the facilities you need for an unforgettable day on the water. Some locations shown may border or include private property. Always check property boundaries and applicable regulations before visiting. onWater's Public & Private Land layer can help you plan your access with confidence.

Island Bay is renowned for its deep, sheltered water and reef structure. The NIWA area (likely referring to the wharf or nearby structure) is known for holding large blue moki. Makara Beach is a noted spot for tarakihi after dark, with trevally and spotty sharks also possible. The beach just west of the old quarry at Owhiro Bay, near the marine reserve marker, is good for blue moki, wrasse, trevally, kahawai, and blue cod. Seatoun Beach (southern end near Breaker Bay) offers relatively snag-free fishing for gurnard and skate. The northern end of Scorching Bay is productive for kahawai. The South Coast beaches from Pencarrow to Wainui are consistently good for moki, sharks, and cod. Offshore, the grounds between Makara and Ohau are productive for hapuku.

Know where you can legally fish on The Bay

See public and private land boundaries along the water, turn on private parcels with owner details to know where permission is required, and find land-trust parcels that offer permitted fishing access.

Wellington licenses and regulations

No licenses or regulations available for Wellington.

Take The Bay with you

The onWater Fish app keeps this water's access points, species and conditions in your pocket, with the tools you use once you're there.

Use the map without signal
Download the map around The Bay to use it offline when coverage drops.
Log your catches here
Keep a private fishing journal for The Bay to find where and when fish are biting for you.

Get the onWater Fish app

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