Kahawai

Arripis trutta · Kahawai (Māori)

Kahawai (te reo Māori: Kahawai), Arripis trutta. Fished from the shore and from a boat. In October it is in season in Auckland / Kermadec, Central, Challenger, South-East, Kaikōura Marine Area and Southland.

Season by fishing area

MPI area	Months	Spawning
Auckland / Kermadec	All year · now	Jan–Feb
Central	All year · now	–
Challenger	All year · now	–
South-East	All year · now	–
Kaikōura Marine Area	All year · now	–
Southland	All year · now	–

Spawning females in January–February off the northern North Island (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.

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

Shore fishing
Boat fishing

Where it lives

Coastal: harbours, estuaries and river mouths; 0–150 m.

Usual depth: 0–150 m (down to about 150 m).

Source: Fisheries New Zealand / MPI (CC BY 4.0).

When is kahawai 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.

Where to catch kahawai

Northland

Auckland & Hauraki Gulf

Coromandel

Bay of Plenty

Gisborne & Hawke's Bay

Waikato west coast

Taranaki

Wellington & Wairarapa

Nelson & Marlborough

Canterbury

Otago

Southland & Stewart Island

West Coast

All New Zealand species →