Spearfishing Otago
Dunedin and Oamaru are cold, clear kelp coasts with a serious white-shark reputation - the Aramoana mole and Moeraki Point are the classic marks.
Dunedin dives the Aramoana mole at the Otago Harbour mouth, Blackhead and Tunnel Beach, Heyward Point north of the entrance and Whareakeake, 3-12 m of kelp over boulder with depth close to the rock at the headlands. Harington Point in the harbour throat has very strong tidal flow and is slack-water only. Oamaru works Cape Wanbrow, Kakanui Reef, Boatmans Harbour by the breakwater, All Day Bay and Moeraki Point, described as the best ground in the south of the district. Fish: blue cod, butterfish, blue moki, red moki, tarakihi, trumpeter, kahawai, plus crayfish, paua and kina.
Summer into autumn. Water is cold and clear on a calm, and both towns face east with bad sectors of roughly 40-230 degrees, so an easterly swell shuts the points. Constant swell and shingle entries are part of the coast; Boatmans Harbour and All Day Bay are the half-sheltered fallbacks.
Rules: no licence. Otago north of Taiaroa Head is in the MPI South-East area (30 finfish combined per day, blue cod 10/day in North Otago, 2/day inside the East Otago Taiapure where paua is zero); south of Taiaroa Head the Southland rules take over. Paua is 10/day at 125 mm in most of the South-East but 3 combined in the Moeraki Mataitai and zero in the East Otago Taiapure. Crayfish may never be speared. St Clair / Second Beach sits inside the encoded Orau Marine Reserve from the 2024 south-east Otago network - treat it as no-take. Bushy Beach is a yellow-eyed penguin landing site with access restrictions. See 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: our data rates both Dunedin and Oamaru high for white sharks and the Aramoana card calls it a hotspot - plan for sharks; add strong tidal flow at Harington Point and cold water year round.
Top spots
| Spot | Nearest city | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Harington Point (Otago Harbour) | Dunedin (St Clair) | The throat of Otago Harbour: very strong tidal flow, so slack water… |
| Bushy Beach | Ōamaru | Shingle beach under Cape Wanbrow with rock ridges and kelp, 3–9 m. |
| Karitāne Beach — Huriawa (south side) | Waikouaiti | Reef under Huriawa at Karitāne beach, around 1-6.5 m by bathymetry. |
| Kātiki Beach reefs | Hampden | Reefs out from Kātiki Beach, where a former pāua diver says the water… |
| Heyward Point | Dunedin (St Clair) | Headland north of the Otago Harbour entrance with depth right at the… |
| Moeraki Point (Punatoetoe Head) | Ōamaru | Rock point by the lighthouse: kelp, boulders and channels, the best… |
Reserves & no-take zones
- Ōrau Marine Reserve — No-take / spearfishing banned: Spearfishing banned in this protected marine zone.
Cities in this region
FAQ
Is St Clair open to spearfishing?
No. St Clair / Second Beach rocks sit within the encoded Orau Marine Reserve from the 2024 south-east Otago reserve network - treat it as no-take and check the DOC boundary.
What are the paua rules in Otago?
10/day at 125 mm across most of the South-East area, but only 3 combined in the Moeraki Mataitai and zero inside the East Otago Taiapure. Blue cod is 10/day in North Otago and 2/day inside the East Otago Taiapure.
How serious is the shark risk?
Our data rates both Dunedin and Oamaru high for white sharks, and the Aramoana mole card describes it as a hotspot where you plan for sharks. Treat local advice as part of the trip planning.
Where do you dive when the swell is up?
Both towns face east with bad sectors of roughly 40-230 degrees. Boatmans Harbour at Oamaru and All Day Bay are the half-sheltered options; Harington Point inside the harbour is possible but slack-water only.
See also: Canterbury & Banks Peninsula · Southland & Foveaux