Thames

• A great place to stop and grab some bait, tackle and some tucker for your fishing trip

Coromandel Harbour

• The Mussel Farms are always a popular choice and attract all sizes of snapper. Pilchards are often the flavour of the day.
• Launch from Sugarloaf down Te Kouma Bay Road or Long Bay or book one of the many charter boats or mussel barges operating in the area.
• The harbour is a haven for trevally, kahawai and kingfish so trolling small lures around points and islands can produce some good fish
• There are often big schools of birds working around the islands, so try jigging underneath them for snapper

Colville to Fletchers Bay

• We are back into some good land based fishing territory here with great snapper fishing and big kingfish close to shore. The road follows the coast along most of the West Coast so there are plenty of places to get out and have a fish.
• Some of New Zealand's most scenic camp grounds are located here so stick around and relax along this relatively untouched coastline.
• Port Jackson and Fletchers Bay on the very tip of the Peninsula are accessible via dirt roads so small boats only can be towed into the area. Colville Channel can be very rough but there is some very productive fishing in the Channel, particularly for pelagic fish around Channel Island.

Stony Bay to Kennedy's Bay

• This is rugged coastline interrupted by quiet, picturesque bays. Big snapper and kingfish are regularly caught here.
• A handful of local charter operators work this area and their local knowledge can be invaluable.

Mercury Bay and Islands

• Some of The Coromandel's most diverse fishing can be found here
• For bigger boats the Red Mercury Islands are the best place to strayline for big snapper. There are big snapper galore and in the summer months the gamefishing fleet heads out in search of albacore, yellowfin and marline
• For the avid diver the "Mercs" also produce some of the best crayfishing on The Coromandel
• There are reefs galore which make fishing for terakihi productive, but there are plenty of rocks loitering just under the surface to make sure you get hold of a Marine chart for the area
• For the land-based angler Whangapoua through to Opito Bay has some great rock based fishing. The winter months in particular often produce some big snapper from the rocks.
• Whitianga and Kuaotunu both have good places to launch a boat from and there is a great variety of charter boats available from Whitianga.
• The area around Hahei is a no-go area for fisherman due to its marine reserve. No fish or shellfish can be taken from Hahei

Tairua to Whangamata

• Castle Rock holds plenty of trevally and kahawai and the occasional kingfish. The reefs out from it produce terakihi and the odd hapuka. Bonito, squid and shellfish are all good baits to use in these waters.
• The offshore Alderman Islands are worth the trip just for the sightseeing but produce big snapper, crayfish and some good reef fishing for golden snapper, terahki and hapuka. Many of the charters boats visit these waters if your own boat is to small to get out there.
• Watchman Rock and Slipper Island are closer options that still produce great fishing.
• Tairua, Pauanui and Whangamata all have charter fleets and boat ramps. For boaties be careful crossing the Tairua bar if the wind is from the East or there is a big swell running.
• For the land-based angler the beaches often hold good fish, particularly during winter and the wharves often turn up some surprises - try live baiting and you can be sure the odd John Dory will turn up.

For a range of local fishing charters and fishing guides click here