Russell spearfishing forecast — wind, swell, visibility, tides & live cameras

• snapper (tāmure)min 30 cm
  Chrysophrys auratus · 5–40 m · legal
• yellowtail kingfish (haku)min 75 cm
  Seriola lalandi · 3–40 m · legal
• blue cod (rāwaru)min 33 cm
  Parapercis colias · 5–40 m · legal
• trevally (araara)min 25 cm
  Pseudocaranx georgianus · 3–30 m · legal
• butterfish/greenbone (marari)min 35 cm
  Odax pullus · 2–20 m · legal
• kahawai
  Arripis trutta · 1–20 m · legal
• red rock lobster (kōura)
  Jasus edwardsii · 3–25 m · ⚠️ closed season/limit
  ⚠️ Crayfish (rock lobster) and pāua — free-diving only; taking them on scuba is PROHIBITED nationwide. Pāua/crayfish are not speared.

• ✓There is NO recreational sea-fishing licence — 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 mātaitai/taiāpure and rāhui (incl. a rāhui 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 mātaitai/taiāpure and rāhui (incl. a rāhui 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).

• 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.