Looking for the best fishing charters in Tauranga? Boats leave Tauranga Bridge Marina, Fisherman’s Wharf and Mount Maunganui daily for reef fishing, hapuku drops and overnight runs to Mayor Island, with rods, bait and skippers who know where the snapper and tarakihi are biting. Whether you want a shared seat on a public trip or a private fishing charter in Tauranga for your group, operators such as Tauranga Marine Charters and Deepstar Charters run trips all year round.
1Tauranga Marine Charters
Tauranga Marine Charters runs fishing trips aboard the MV Manutere, a purpose-built charter vessel that has been fishing out of Tauranga for around 40 years. Owner-operator Brett Keller skippers public trips for individuals and families as well as private charters for groups, berthing at Tauranga Bridge Marina on the Mount side of the harbour bridge.
Services
- Public fishing trips with individual seats
- Private fishing charters, including day, evening and 24 hour trips
- Reef fishing for snapper and tarakihi
- Hapuku fishing trips
- Kingfish jigging
Highlights
- Purpose-built charter vessel with walk-around fishing space
- Owner-operated by Brett Keller
- Online availability calendar and booking
- Free all-day parking at the marina
Location & Contact
Name: Tauranga Marine Charters
Address: Pier D34, Tauranga Bridge Marina, 101 Te Awanui Drive, Tauranga 3116
Phone: 027 552 6283
Website: taurangamarinecharters.co.nz
2Deepstar Charters
Deepstar Charters operates the MV Deepstar, a Picton-built vessel from 1979 that takes up to 20 passengers on day trips and up to 10 on live-aboard trips. Boarding points are Fisherman’s Wharf in Tauranga and Salisbury Wharf in Mount Maunganui, and the focus is snapper, tarakihi and hapuku fishing all year round.
Services
- Full day and half day public reef fishing trips
- Private reef trips for groups of up to 20
- Evening reef trips from Mount Maunganui
- Private 24 hour hapuku trips
- White Island hapuku and kingfish trips
Highlights
- Two boarding points, Tauranga and Mount Maunganui
- Child pricing on public reef trips
- Full toilet and shower facilities on board
- Rods and bait available to hire on the boat
- BBQ, oven and hobs for private charters
Location & Contact
Name: Deepstar Charters
Address: Fisherman’s Wharf, Dive Crescent, Tauranga 3110
Phone: 07 575 8917
Website: deepstarcharterstauranga.co.nz
3Striker Sea Charters
Striker Sea Charters runs day and multi-day fishing trips on Striker, a 1996 Riviera 48, from Pier B at Tauranga Bridge Marina. Skippered by Rusty Ensor and his brother Scotty, it suits anglers after deep-water bass, bluenose and kingfish on overnight trips, with seasonal bluefin tuna trips from Waihau Bay and Three Kings trips from Houhora.
Services
- Inshore day trips
- Overnight trips to Mayor Island or White Island
- Alderman Islands trips
- Bluefin tuna trips
Highlights
- Operates seven days a week out of Tauranga Bridge Marina
- Shared overnight charters include bait, ice, tackle and an electric reel
- Three meals a day provided on overnight trips
- Seasonal Three Kings Islands trips from Houhora
Location & Contact
Name: Striker Sea Charters
Address: Pier B, Berth B56, Tauranga Bridge Marina, Tauranga
Website: striker.co.nz
4Valda M Fishing Charters
Valda M Fishing Charters runs public and private trips aboard a classic 1950s-style kauri vessel, taking a maximum of seven passengers. It suits smaller groups, families and first-time anglers, with rods, bait, tackle, ice and filleting all supplied.
Services
- Morning fishing trips including lunch
- Afternoon and evening fishing trips including dinner
- Overnight Mayor Island (Tūhua) private charters
- Full-day private charters for up to seven people
- Tailored reef and deep-sea private charters
Highlights
- Classic 1950s kauri-hulled vessel
- Left and right-handed rods supplied
- Filleting and packaging of your catch included
- Large ice hold, so no chilly bins needed
- Gift vouchers available
Location & Contact
Name: Valda M Fishing Charters
Address: Pier F, Berth 1, Tauranga Bridge Marina, 101 Te Awanui Drive, Tauranga
Phone: 027 315 1371
Website: valdamfishingcharters.simdif.com
Fishing Charters in Tauranga at a Glance
| Business | Highlight |
|---|---|
| Tauranga Marine Charters | Purpose-built charter vessel with walk-around fishing space |
| Deepstar Charters | Two boarding points, Tauranga and Mount Maunganui |
| Striker Sea Charters | Operates seven days a week out of Tauranga Bridge Marina |
| Valda M Fishing Charters | Classic 1950s kauri-hulled vessel |
How to Choose the Right Fishing Charter in Tauranga
- Trip type: decide between a half day or full day reef trip, an evening trip, or an overnight run to Mayor Island or White Island for hapuku and bluenose.
- Public or private: public trips sell individual seats, while a private charter books the whole boat for your group and lets you set the target species.
- What is included: check whether rods, bait, tackle, ice, food and filleting are included or charged as extras, and whether you need to bring your own ice or chilly bin.
- Boat size and facilities: larger launches carry up to 20 people, while smaller vessels suit families; look for a toilet, shower and covered deck on longer trips.
- Departure point: most boats leave Tauranga Bridge Marina, with some boarding at Fisherman’s Wharf or Mount Maunganui, so pick the one closest to where you are staying.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tauranga Fishing Charters
How much does a fishing charter in Tauranga cost?
Public reef trips are usually priced per person, with separate rates for children on some boats, while private charters are priced for the whole boat. Rod and bait hire is often an extra charge. Overnight and offshore trips cost more because of the fuel, time and meals involved.
What fish can you catch on a Tauranga charter?
Reef trips mainly target snapper and tarakihi, with trevally, John Dory, porae and kahawai also common. Deeper drops near Mayor Island and White Island target hapuku, bass and bluenose, and kingfish are caught on jigs and live bait.
Where do Tauranga fishing charters leave from?
Most charter boats depart from Tauranga Bridge Marina on Te Awanui Drive, on the Mount side of the harbour bridge, where free parking is available. Others board at Fisherman’s Wharf on Dive Crescent near the city centre or at Salisbury Wharf in Mount Maunganui, which suits visitors staying at the Mount.
Do I need a fishing licence for sea fishing in Tauranga?
No licence is needed for recreational sea fishing in New Zealand, but daily bag limits and minimum sizes apply to species such as snapper and kingfish. You can check the current rules for the Bay of Plenty on the Ministry for Primary Industries fishing rules page.
Are charter boats in Tauranga required to meet safety standards?
Commercial passenger vessels in New Zealand must operate under a maritime transport operator certificate, which covers surveys, crew and safety equipment. Maritime New Zealand sets and enforces these rules.
Are fishing charters suitable for beginners and children?
Yes. Many public reef trips welcome first-timers, supply rods and bait, and have crew who will show you how to rig up and fish the bottom. Some operators offer child pricing, while overnight and deep-water trips are better suited to experienced adults.
What should I bring on a fishing charter?
Bring warm layers, a rain jacket, sunscreen, a hat, non-marking footwear and seasickness tablets if you need them. Check with your operator whether food, drinks, ice and a bin for your catch are provided, as this varies from boat to boat.
What happens if the weather is bad?
All Tauranga fishing trips are weather dependent, and the skipper makes the call on the day. Operators generally refund deposits or move your booking to another date when they cancel for weather.
How We Chose the Best Fishing Charters in Tauranga
Every business in this guide was found by searching for fishing charters in Tauranga, then checked against its own website. Names, addresses and phone numbers are taken from the business’s own site rather than a directory feed, so what you see here is what they publish themselves. We also check that each one is actually based in or genuinely serving Tauranga, rather than a national operator running a local landing page. A business with no website of its own is not listed, because there is no primary source to verify it against.