Manu BayRaglan
dangerousexposed head-on to the swell today
- window
- tide
- shelter
- hazard
- access
Boulder point at the famous Manu Bay left; butterfish and cray in the kelp, powerful west swell.
Google MapsRaglan spearfishing forecast — wind, swell, visibility, tides & live cameras
2.6
wave 1.3 m
visibility2m
Today — sit it out — wave, wind and surge pounding.
Sources: IPMA · NDBC · Copernicus — high confidence · data 08:45
Sources & confidence
- Sources
- IPMA · NDBC buoys · Copernicus Marine
- Method
- Model consensus, read per window
- Freshness
- Re-read every hour, per coast
Compiled by the spearo sea-state engine
The verdict comes from seven water factors and hard safety gates — not ten tabs. Go or stay.
How we score the water
Our own model
Our own forecast engine — not a third-party widget. It weighs these water factors into one go-or-stay verdict for this coast; the 0–10 dial is that verdict, read out as a number.
- Swell & wave memory
- Height, period and direction of the swell, plus the wake of recent storms — an old storm still stirs the water, and the engine remembers.
- Wind & gusts
- Speed and gusts, hour by hour — wind speed and an onshore push chop the surface and cut visibility.
- Tide phase
- Timing and range of the tide, calibrated per coast — big spring tides pull the verdict toward caution.
- Water temperature
- Sea-surface temperature — sharply cold water vetoes a green verdict.
- Currents & outflow
- Direction and drift of the current — it pushes you, and it drags turbid coastal water across where you dive.
- Rain runoff & air clarity
- Rain muddies the water inshore through land runoff, while fog and haze cut visibility at the surface.
- Coast shape & exposure
- How the coast faces the swell — a sheltered cove keeps the water clean; an exposed, head-on point takes a penalty.
Safety gates
- Thunderstorm forecast — an instant red, no exceptions.
- An official warning (MeteoAlarm / IPMA) — yellow, or red for the higher ranks.
- Missing input data — a would-be green is capped to yellow rather than overstated.
- Strong disagreement between forecast models — a green day is pulled back to yellow.
- Night hours — forced red; the window is closed after dark.
It all folds into a single 0–10 score and one verdict: go or stay.
A forecast, not a guarantee — the sea has the last word.
Where to get in, where to hunt
Entry points with coordinates
Seabed relief — promising ground
Surface
Wind, wave and the swell windows — when to go and the best hours.
spearo.app
calmupdated 08:45
Raglan — solo, off the rocks
don't go · wave 1.3 m (occasionally up to ~2.6 m)
wave 1.3 mwind 9 km/hsurge pounding the rocksvisibility ~3 m
today, best window 09:00–12:00
fish · Visibility 3 m · Water 14.8°C
confidence low · verdict for the selected day
Whole week — tap a day. is driving swell right now.
Solo risk: carry a float · tell someone your plan and exit time · doubt = don't go. A model-based planner; the call is made on site.
Selected day
Windows, hours
and the day's trends.
The day is picked above, in the hero. Here are that day's windows, the hour-by-hour map and the trends. Tap a window to break down the conditions.
Thursday · today2026-07-23
07:28–17:25 · first quarter
▲ 04:00▼ 10:00▲ 16:00▼ 23:00 · 1.5 m
Hours (06→20)
06
09
12
15
18
Day's trends
Tide-0.35 m
Wave1.28 m
Wind8 km/h
Water15 °C
fish activity: moonset 01:59 · moderate · moon underfoot 07:00 · high · moonrise 11:59 · moderate · moon overhead 19:30 · high
Conditions window06:00–09:00
don't go fish
Hs 1.30 mperiod 10.3 swind 8→14surge 8.3viz 3 m
1.30 mup to ~2.60 · 233° at an angle
10.3 sswell building
8→14gusts 14 km/h
8.3pounding the rocks
0.06m/s
3 mrecent swell
14.7°Cthicker suit + hood
▼10:00tide falling
Atmosphere0 kmovercast
highmoon underfoot
- wave 1.3 m (occasionally up to ~2.6 m)
- swell period 10 s
- ebb — weaker inshore
confidence lowtwilight
The water column
Visibility and what drives it — post-storm clearing, river plume, temperature and the thermocline.
What it is
A marine instrument,
go / no-go for solo hunting.
spearo.app folds wind, wave, swell period, visibility, tides, water temperature and risk into a single verdict — go to the spot or not. It computes 7 days ahead from open marine models (Open-Meteo, IPMA), with no sign-up and no accounts. Built for solo spearfishing off the rocks, where any mistake costs dearly.
Now live: 1152 spots across 189 stretches of coast — mainland Portugal, Madeira and the Azores.
See all spotsThe seabed
Relief and bottom type, tides, and the depths of each spot.
On the rock
The forecast is the plan.
The call is on the rock.
The models set the window. Whether you go in is read only at the water: count the sets, watch the surge on the entry. If in doubt, you don't get in.
Entry points
Where to get in
off the rocks.
Scouted entries, coloured by today. The colour is the sea state at the spot, not a guarantee: the wash and a slippery entry you judge on site.
Open the seafloor map
Ruapuke RocksRaglan
dangerousexposed head-on to the swell today
- window
- tide
- shelter
- hazard
- access
Black-sand-and-rock coast south of Raglan; butterfish and cray, big open west swell — dive the calm.
Google MapsWhale Bay (Raglan)Raglan
dangerousexposed head-on to the swell today
- window
- tide
- shelter
- hazard
- access
Rocky Whale Bay south of Manu; kelp reef with butterfish and cray, greener Tasman water.
Google MapsSOLO is the biggest risk: underwater you can black out from lack of oxygen silently and fatally, with no one around. Solo is never truly «safe». Below are the best weather windows; carry a buoy, tell someone your plan and exit time, and any doubt — don't go.
Surfacing
Cameras, map and reference — to hand as you come up.
Live cameras, map & reference
Cameras · live
Look at the water
right now.
Check the cam BEFORE you leave. Foam, brown/green murk, or waves washing the entry rocks = No-go. At night/in fog the cam is useless — treat it as «unknown», NOT «green».
Reference
What's in season,
what the law says.
In season now
- snapper (tāmure)
- yellowtail kingfish (haku)
- blue cod (rāwaru)
- trevally (araara)
- butterfish/greenbone (marari)
- kahawai
- red rock lobster (kōura)⚠️ Crayfish (rock lobster) and pāua — free-diving only; taking them on scuba is PROHIBITED nationwide. Pāua/crayfish are not speared.
Law
- ✓There is NO — you may fish subject to MPI rules (sizes/limits/gear). Rules are REGIONAL (combined finfish daily limit 20, but local notices override stricter). Freshwater trout/salmon may not be speared.
- ✓Crayfish (rock lobster) and pāua — free-diving only; taking them on scuba is BANNED nationwide. Spearfishing is banned in marine reserves. Respect / and (incl. a after a drowning — a cultural/sacred closure).
- ⛔ 🚫 Crayfish (rock lobster) and pāua — taking them on SCUBA is banned nationwide (free-diving only). Combined finfish daily limit 20 (local notices override stricter).
- ⛔ 🚫 Protected under the Wildlife Act 1953: spotted black groper (Epinephelus daemelii), great white shark, giant manta, black/red coral, seahorses/pipefish. Trout/salmon (freshwater) — entirely off-limits to spearguns.
- ⛔ 🚫 Marine reserves (~44) — spearfishing and all fishing banned. Respect / and (incl. a after a drowning — a tapu/cultural closure, not only a fishing rule): don't dive.
Rules change and are regional. Before heading out, check with MPI (regional fishing rules / the NZ Fishing Rules app), DOC (marine reserves) and local notices (rāhui/mātaitai).
Safety protocol
- Sets: watch the wave trains ≥15 min before entering; Hmax ≈ 2×Hs, the wash can run 50 m past the foam line. A lull >10 min with period >12 s = a big set «overdue», do NOT enter; enter right after a full set passes and re-check at minute 30.
- Exit FIRST: find your exit AND a backup before entering. On a rocky/boulder shore a 0.5 m rise in swell can make the exit impossible — getting pinned/unable to climb out is the main killer.
- Headland rip: prominent points often have a permanent topographic rip regardless of the model — locate it, enter/exit on the windward side, never swim against it.
- Cold: wetsuit per the SST chip; the first shiver = a metabolic surge and a drop in breath-hold → get out at the first steady shiver. Cap the session at 45–60 min below 15 °C.
- Solo discipline: buoy up; tell someone the spot and exit time; conservative breath-hold (never push it in cold/murky/surfy water); visibility <3 m — don't enter.
- Afternoon wind: on many coasts the wind builds from midday — plan to be out of the water by midday; the chop builds — get out.
- UV 11:00–15:00 (UVI ≥6): sunscreen and cover up on the surface interval.
- Solo is a fundamental risk (hypoxic blackout with no buddy). Any doubt = No-go.
Spearfishing in Raglan: spots, seasons and rules
Spearfishing in Raglan is about patience. The reefs at Manu Bay, Whale Bay and Ruapuke sit on a west-facing coast that takes swell directly, so clean water is earned after calm periods rather than assumed. The likely local mix is butterfish, crayfish and some snapper offshore. New Zealand has no recreational sea-fishing licence, but Raglan is still inside the MPI Auckland/Kermadec rule area, where the combined daily finfish limit is 20 per fisher.
TL;DR
- Raglan is a west-coast spearfishing call, with black sand, boulder points, green Tasman water and powerful swell.
- Manu Bay, Whale Bay and Ruapuke Rocks are the three practical reef choices when the ocean has calmed down.
- The harbour and river influence can dirty the water; the outer rock needs small swell more than bright weather.
- No sea licence is needed, but Auckland/Kermadec MPI rules cover Waikato and set a 20 finfish combined daily limit.
Best spearfishing spots in Raglan
Raglan rewards divers who are happy to cancel. These are shore-based rock spots, not sheltered learner pools, and the west swell should be treated as the main gate for the day.
| Spot | Type | Depth | Level | Access | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manu Bay | Boulder surf point | Shallow kelp edge | Intermediate | Shore entry from the point area | The same shape that makes Manu Bay famous for left-hand surf also exposes it to push and rebound. In calm windows, the boulder and kelp country can hold butterfish and crayfish. |
| Whale Bay (Raglan) | Rock and kelp reef | Nearshore reef | Intermediate | Shore entry south of Manu Bay | Whale Bay is another west-facing option with greener Tasman water. It needs a proper lull between swell events, and the safest plan is a short dive with a clear exit. |
| Ruapuke Rocks | Black-sand and rock coast | Shallow exposed rock | Experienced intermediate | Shore approach south of Raglan | Ruapuke is more open and less forgiving than the town points. Use it only when the ocean has dropped away, then look for butterfish and crayfish around rock and kelp. |
What makes Raglan different from east-coast diving?
Raglan is west coast: bigger energy, cooler green water and more turbidity close to Whāingaroa Harbour. A light breeze cannot fix a swell train that is still wrapping onto the points. The best call is usually made after watching the sets for a while, checking the Raglan Bar or Manu Bay cameras when available, and asking whether the exit still looks simple after the largest wave of the set.
Are there marine reserves at these Raglan spots?
The three named Raglan spots are outside the named marine-reserve entries. That does not remove the need to check current closures, mātaitai, taiāpure or rāhui before entering. New Zealand marine reserves are absolute no-take places for a spearo: if a boundary is uncertain, stay outside it. On this coast, the more common problem is not a reserve line but surf, visibility and shore access.
Which rules matter for Raglan catches?
MPI places Waikato in the Auckland/Kermadec area. That area has a combined daily bag limit of 20 finfish per fisher, plus separate species limits and size rules. Snapper differs by Auckland East and Auckland West settings, and Raglan belongs on the west-side thinking. Crayfish follow rock lobster rules and cannot be speared or taken on scuba, and pāua may be taken only while free-diving under the applicable shellfish rules.
How do you pick a safe Raglan window?
Choose the quietest sea state, not the most convenient tide. A workable day has low swell, little wind against tide and enough visibility to see the bottom before descending. Start at the protected side of the point, keep the float close and do not swim through a surf take-off zone. If the harbour mouth is muddy or the Waikato River influence has pushed down the coast, save the fuel.
FAQ
Do you need a licence to spearfish at Raglan?
No marine recreational licence is required, but MPI size, bag, method and closure rules still apply.
What is the Raglan finfish bag limit?
Under Auckland/Kermadec rules, the combined daily limit is 20 finfish per fisher, with species limits inside that total.
Can beginners dive Manu Bay?
Only in very calm conditions with supervision. The same swell that creates surf can make exits unsafe for new divers.
Can you take pāua at Raglan?
Only if the current rules, size and daily limits allow it. Pāua must be taken while free-diving, not on scuba.
Why is Raglan often dirty?
Whāingaroa Harbour and river influence can add turbidity, while west swell keeps sediment moving around the points.
Sources
Nearby towns
Coming soon
Get the go / no-go verdict for Raglan by email
Leave your email — and the moment a window opens at Raglan, we'll send the go / no-go verdict. Email is all we need.
26 countries · all spots
Pick your coast
Every covered town has its own live forecast, cameras and entry points. Choose where you're diving.
Portugal
Portugal map →
North
Setúbal · Arrábida
Algarve
Spain
Spain map →Cantabrian coast
Andalusia (Atlantic)
Andalusia (Med)
Italy
Italy map →Tuscany
Central Adriatic
Northern Adriatic
Greece
Greece map →Attica · Saronic
Halkidiki
Thrace · Kavala
France
France map →Hauts-de-France
North Brittany
West Brittany
Pays de la Loire
Charente-Maritime
French Basque Country
Provence — Côte d'Azur
Turkey
Turkey map →
Croatia
Croatia map →Kvarner
North Dalmatia
Central Dalmatia (Split)
Cyprus
Cyprus map →
Malta
Malta map →
Brazil
Brazil map →South Coast
São Paulo Coast
Rio de Janeiro Coast
Bahia Coast
Coral Coast
Chile
Chile map →Norte Grande
Central Chile
Colombia
Colombia map →Caribbean · Guajira
Central Caribbean
Caribbean · Gulf
Islands (Colombia)
Pacific (Colombia)
Venezuela
Venezuela map →Central Caribbean (Venezuela)
Insular Venezuela
Ecuador
Ecuador map →
Mexico
Mexico map →Baja Pacific
Sea of Cortez
Pacific Mainland
Bahamas
Bahamas map →New Providence
Grand Bahama
Bimini
Long Island
San Salvador
Cat Island
Dominican Republic
Dominican Rep. map →Southeast Caribbean
South Caribbean
Southwest Caribbean
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico map →
Peru
Peru map →
Uruguay
Uruguay map →Uruguay · Río de la Plata
Uruguay · Rocha (Atlantic)
Argentina
Argentina map →Buenos Aires
Río Negro · San Matías
Chubut · Golfo Nuevo
Tierra del Fuego
Australia
Australia map →NSW North Coast
NSW Central — Sydney/Newcastle/Illawarra
QLD South-East
QLD Capricorn Coast
QLD Tropical North
Victoria
SA Gulfs & Fleurieu
SA Limestone Coast (Bonney)
WA South-West (Perth–Capes)
WA Mid-West (Geraldton–Kalbarri)
WA North (Ningaloo–Kimberley)
New Zealand
New Zealand map →Auckland & Hauraki Gulf
Coromandel
Bay of Plenty
East Cape / Gisborne
Hawke's Bay
Taranaki & Western NI
Wellington & Cook Strait
Canterbury & Banks Peninsula
Southland & Foveaux
West Coast (South Island)
South Africa
South Africa map →Western Cape
Garden Route
Eastern Cape
Wild Coast
United States
USA map →New Hampshire
Massachusetts
Connecticut
New York
New Jersey
North Carolina
Florida
- St. Augustine
- Port Canaveral
- Vero Beach
- Fort Pierce
- Jupiter
- Palm Beach
- Boynton Beach
- Pompano Beach
- Fort Lauderdale
- Miami
- Key Largo
- Islamorada
- Marathon
- Big Pine Key
- Key West
- Fernandina Beach
- Jacksonville Beach
- Ponce Inlet
- Cocoa Beach
- Sebastian Inlet
- Stuart
- Boca Raton
- Naples
- Venice (FL)
- Sarasota
- Clearwater
- Tarpon Springs
- Steinhatchee
- Apalachicola
- Port St. Joe
- Panama City Beach
- Destin
- Pensacola
- Marco Island
- Fort Myers Beach
- Boca Grande
- Crystal River
- Cedar Key
Mississippi
Texas
California
- San Diego (Point Loma)
- La Jolla
- Encinitas
- Oceanside
- Dana Point
- Laguna Beach
- Newport Beach
- Long Beach (San Pedro)
- Palos Verdes
- Redondo Beach
- Malibu
- Avalon (Catalina Island)
- Two Harbors (Catalina Island)
- Ventura
- Santa Barbara
- Morro Bay
- San Simeon
- Monterey
- Carmel
- Santa Cruz
- Half Moon Bay
- Fort Bragg
- Mendocino
- Pacific Beach (Mission Bay)
- Carlsbad
- San Clemente
- Huntington Beach
- Oxnard (Channel Islands Harbor)
- Goleta
- Cayucos
- Pacific Grove
- Bodega Bay
- Trinidad
- Crescent City
Washington
Philippines
Philippines map →NW Luzon
Western Visayas
Cebu & Negros
Feedback
Help us make it better
What's missing? Tell us what you'd like to see — new spots, species, data or features. We read everything.