Butterfish / greenbone
Odax pullus · Marari (Māori)
Butterfish / greenbone (te reo Māori: Marari), Odax pullus. Fished spearfishing. In October it is in season in Central, Challenger, South-East, Kaikōura Marine Area, Southland and Fiordland Marine Area.
Season by fishing area
| MPI area | Months | Spawning |
|---|---|---|
| Central | All year · now | Jul–Mar |
| Challenger | All year · now | – |
| South-East | All year · now | Aug–Jan |
| Kaikōura Marine Area | All year · now | – |
| Southland | All year · now | – |
| Fiordland Marine Area | All year · now | – |
July to March in Cook Strait, peaking in September–October (MPI).
Size and bag limits
Minimum sizes, daily limits and closures depend on the area and change over time. Costaviva does not copy them: check MPI for each area.
- MPI fishing rules: Central
- MPI fishing rules: Challenger
- MPI fishing rules: South-East
- MPI fishing rules: Kaikōura Marine Area
- MPI fishing rules: Southland
- MPI fishing rules: Fiordland Marine Area
- NZ Fishing Rules app (MPI, free)
Rāhui (temporary closures placed by tangata whenua) can apply at any time and are not in any dataset: respect local signs and notices.
How it is fished
- Spearfishing
Where it lives
0–20 m (to 40 m in the south), in kelp beds; herbivore.
Usual depth: 0–20 m (down to about 40 m).
Source: Fisheries New Zealand / MPI (CC BY 4.0).
When is butterfish / greenbone biting today?
- Hour-by-hour fishing index and the best window of the day
- Condition alerts and SOS with your location (dials 111 in New Zealand)
- Fishing log with the conditions of every catch
- Private groups to share spots and trips
No card needed. Then €3.99/month or €39.99/year, charged in euros.