Last updated October 2026
Tauranga Harbour is a large tidal harbour stretching from Bowentown in the north to Mount Maunganui and the city in the south, with Matakana Island across its seaward side.
Land-based anglers fish its long jetties, headlands and sea walls for snapper, kahawai, trevally and flounder, with the occasional kingfish. This overview covers the harbour spots that have good public access and are reported by local fishing sources, from Kauri Point jetty near Katikati to Sulphur Point in the city.
At a Glance
- Area
- Tauranga Harbour, from Bowentown and Katikati to Tauranga city
- Spots
- Kauri Point jetty, Ōmokoroa Wharf, Bowentown Heads, Tuapiro Reserve, Sulphur Point, Wairoa River
- Water
- Tidal harbour, entrance channels and river mouths (sea)
- Main species
- Snapper, kahawai, trevally and flounder; john dory and occasional kingfish
- Best time
- Varies by spot: incoming tide at Kauri Point and Sulphur Point, high tide at Ōmokoroa, outgoing at Bowentown
- Facilities
- Varies; toilets and parking at the Sulphur Point boat ramps
- Tide port
- Ōmokoroa or Tauranga (LINZ standard ports)
- Rules
- MPI Auckland and Kermadec; Mt Maunganui mātaitai near the entrance
- Cost
- Free; no licence needed for sea fishing
- High 3:49 am 1.7 m
- Low 9:59 am 0.6 m
- High 4:32 pm 1.7 m
- Low 10:41 pm 0.6 m
Best times today: around 3:49 am, 9:59 am, 4:32 pm and 10:41 pm (2 hours either side of each tide change), and around 8:53 am and 9:15 pm (moon overhead and underfoot).
Moving water around the tide changes usually fishes best. Full 7-day Tauranga tides ›
Tide predictions: LINZ (CC BY 3.0 NZ). Predictions only; actual tides vary with weather.
What Makes It Worth the Trip
The harbour has two entrances: the northern one at Bowentown and the main entrance at Mount Maunganui, beside the Port of Tauranga. Local reports give a different best tide for each spot, listed below.
The spots below are the ones with public access and fishing reports behind them. Mount Maunganui and Pāpāmoa have their own guides, linked below. The Ōmokoroa Boat Club’s harbour competitions show what the upper harbour holds: snapper, kahawai and trevally are plentiful, and a 19.24 kg kingfish won the 2022 event.
Kauri Point is a Western Bay of Plenty District Council historic reserve with several pā fortification sites along its walk. The jetty there faces Matakana Island across the harbour. Treat pā sites and reserves around the harbour with respect.
How to Fish Tauranga Harbour
Kauri Point jetty
At the end of Kauri Point Road, Katikati, a wooden jetty runs 200 metres into the harbour, and the council calls it highly popular for fishing. NZ Fishing World reports snapper, kahawai and occasional kingfish, best on the incoming tide, and notes the jetty is sheltered from easterly winds.
Ōmokoroa Wharf
The long jetty at Ōmokoroa Domain is also the Matakana Island ferry landing. Snapper, trevally and john dory are reported around high tide, with berley. Give boats and the ferry plenty of room.
Bowentown Heads
At the northern entrance, a track from Anzac Bay leads to rocks the council describes as a popular fishing area. Snapper, trevally and kahawai are reported on the outgoing tide. The entrance channel has strong tidal currents, and anglers on the rocks can be cut off by the rising tide.
Tuapiro Reserve and Sulphur Point
Near Athenree, Tuapiro Reserve’s sandy beach gives snapper, flounder and kahawai on the incoming tide, early or late in the day. In the city, the Sulphur Point sea wall near the port is reported for snapper, kahawai and trevally on the incoming tide. Keep clear of the boat ramps, pontoons and port operational areas.
The rivers
The Wairoa River enters the harbour near Bethlehem, with a boat ramp at the SH2 bridge for its tidal lower reaches. River mouths within 500 metres of the sea at low tide count as freshwater, so Fish & Game rules apply there.
Around the main entrance, see our Mount Maunganui fishing spots guide for Salisbury Wharf, Pilot Bay and Moturiki, and our Pāpāmoa Beach fishing guide for surfcasting on the open coast.
Getting There and Facilities
- Kauri Point: car park at the start of the reserve walk at the end of Kauri Point Road. The northern section of the walk from the historic pā is closed; the southern section from the boat ramp to the pā is open. Take care near the cliff edges.
- Sulphur Point: Tauranga City Council’s boat ramps on Cross Road have free parking, and the six-lane ramp has toilets.
- Ōmokoroa: Ōmokoroa Domain, at the end of the peninsula, with the wharf and boat ramp.
- Bowentown: Bowentown Domain at the end of Seaforth Road, Waihī Beach, with tracks from Anzac Bay.
Rules and Safety
- Sea fishing in the harbour follows MPI’s Auckland and Kermadec rules. No licence is needed.
- The Mt Maunganui and Part of Tauranga Harbour mātaitai reserve covers waters around Mauao and the main entrance, with a reduced daily limit for mussels. The tangata whenua customary fisheries trust has also asked people not to take pāua and kōura from the reef around Mauao.
- Mauao is closed after the landslide, with a 30 metre no-entry zone around its base and shore.
- Freshwater rivers, including their mouths within 500 metres of the sea at low tide, follow Fish & Game Eastern rules and need a licence for trout.
- Watch the tide on headlands like Bowentown, keep clear of port traffic at Sulphur Point and give way to boats and ferries at wharves.
- On the water, the Bay of Plenty navigation bylaw applies. The harbourmaster can be reached on 0800 5 KNOTS.
Tackle and Bait Nearby
- Top Catch Bait & Tackle Tauranga, 40 Mirrielees Road: bait and tackle in the city.
- Top Catch Bait & Tackle Mount Maunganui, 147 Totara Street: bait, tackle and local reports.
Where to Learn More
MPI Auckland and Kermadec fishing rules: size limits, daily limits and the harbour’s mātaitai.
Western Bay of Plenty District Council: Kauri Point: the jetty, the reserve walk and its current closures.
NZ Fishing World: land-based spots near Tauranga: species and tide notes for harbour spots.
Common Questions
Where can I fish from land in Tauranga Harbour?
Kauri Point jetty near Katikati, Ōmokoroa Wharf, Bowentown Heads, Tuapiro Reserve and the Sulphur Point sea wall are all fished from shore. Mount Maunganui and Pāpāmoa have their own guides.
What fish are in Tauranga Harbour?
Snapper, kahawai, trevally and flounder are the main catches, with john dory and occasional kingfish.
Which tide is best?
It depends on the spot: incoming at Kauri Point and Sulphur Point, high tide at Ōmokoroa and outgoing at Bowentown.
Do I need a licence to fish Tauranga Harbour?
No, not for sea fishing. You do need a Fish & Game licence for trout in the rivers, including river mouths.
How long is the Kauri Point jetty?
About 200 metres, according to the district council.
Is Mauao open for fishing?
No. Mauao is closed after the landslide, with a 30 metre no-entry zone around its base and shore.
Where can I launch a boat in Tauranga?
Tauranga City Council’s Sulphur Point boat ramps on Cross Road have free parking and pontoons.
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