Spearfishing the Bay of Plenty
Tauranga, Ohope and Whakatane sit on warm Bay of Plenty water with an important catch: the MPI rules boundary runs through the region at Cape Runaway.
Mauao (the Mount) is the obvious start - the base rocks, Moturiki and Motuotau off Main Beach, then Papamoa East reef and the Bowentown Heads at the harbour entrance where the tide runs hard and slack is the only window. East of there, Otarawairere Bay between Ohope and Whakatane is the walk-in classic, and Kohi Point at Whakatane is the best ground in the district, 4-12 m of ridges and boulders on sand with depth right off the rock. Fish: snapper, kingfish, trevally, kahawai, tarakihi, John Dory, red moki, plus crayfish, paua and kina.
Summer into autumn is the clear season; the coast faces roughly north to north-east with a bad sector around 0-90 degrees, so a northerly puts surf into everything and the harbour sides become the fallback. Visibility on the open surf coast is more often 2-4 m than 10, and settles after a spell.
Rules: no licence. Here is the region's real trap - the boundary between the MPI Auckland and Kermadec and Central areas runs at Cape Runaway, and snapper, paua and kina limits all change as you cross it. West of Cape Runaway the Auckland and Kermadec rules apply: 20 finfish combined, snapper 7/day at 30 cm, kina 150 in FMA 1. Crayfish may never be speared; spotted black grouper is absolutely protected. Whakaari/White Island is an active volcano under a controlled/exclusion regime and Volkner Rocks is a no-take marine reserve. Read https://www.mpi.govt.nz/fishing-aquaculture/recreational-fishing/fishing-rules and https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/marine-reserves/. Safety, conditionally: hard ebb flow across the Whakatane bar and through the Tauranga entrance (Panepane Point, Tokatapu), a moderate shark rating at Whakatane in our data, and long open runs with no shelter east of Ohope.
Top spots
| Spot | Nearest city | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Tokatapu / North West Rock | Tauranga / Mount Maunganui | Rock at the entrance to Tauranga harbour with depth close in and… |
| Orokawa Bay North Rocks | Waihī Beach | Rocks at the north end of Orokawa Bay, which DOC names as good for… |
| Newdicks Beach East Rocks | Maketu | Rocks at the east end of Newdicks Beach, beside Okurei Point. |
| Kōhī Point | Whakatāne | High cliff headland with depth right off the rock, 4–12 m. |
| Whitiwhiti Point (Ōhope East) | Ōhope | Rock point where the beach meets the harbour, boulders on sand, 3–9 m. |
| Okurei Point (Town Point) | Maketu | Okurei Point at Maketu is a shore entry, and a fishing forum says its… |
Cities in this region
FAQ
Where does the rules boundary fall?
At Cape Runaway. West of it you are in the MPI Auckland and Kermadec area; east of it, in Central. Snapper, paua and kina limits all change as you cross, so check which side of the line your dive is on.
What are the limits west of Cape Runaway?
20 finfish combined per fisher per day, snapper 7/day at a 30 cm minimum, and kina 150 in FMA 1, plus 50 baitfish and 6 eels.
Can you dive Whakaari / White Island?
No. Whakaari/White Island is an active volcano under a controlled/exclusion regime, and Volkner Rocks nearby is a no-take marine reserve.
When does the Bay of Plenty dive best?
Summer into autumn. The coast faces north to north-east with a bad sector around 0-90 degrees, so a northerly brings surf; the harbour sides and Otarawairere are the fallback, and visibility on the surf coast is often 2-4 m.
See also: Coromandel · East Cape / Gisborne