Last updated November 2026
Ōmokoroa Wharf is the long jetty at Ōmokoroa Domain, at the end of the Ōmokoroa peninsula on the western side of Tauranga Harbour, about 25 minutes from Tauranga. It reaches deeper water and fishes all year: NZ Fishing World reports snapper, trevally and john dory, best around high tide with berley.
Kingfish turn up too. The wharf is also the landing for the vehicle ferry to Matakana Island, so give the ferry and other boats plenty of room.
At a Glance
- Location
- Ōmokoroa Domain, end of the Ōmokoroa peninsula, Tauranga Harbour
- Type
- Long public jetty beside the Matakana Island ferry landing and boat ramps
- Water
- Tauranga Harbour (sea)
- Main species
- Snapper, trevally and john dory; kingfish at times
- Best time
- High tide, with berley
- Facilities
- Domain with playground, swimming beach and boat ramps
- Parking
- At the domain; can be hard to find near the ramp on busy days
- Tide port
- Ōmokoroa (LINZ standard port)
- Rules
- MPI Auckland and Kermadec; no licence needed
- Cost
- Free
- Low 2:20 am 0.3 m
- High 8:45 am 1.9 m
- Low 2:44 pm 0.4 m
- High 8:56 pm 1.9 m
Best times today: around 2:20 am, 8:45 am, 2:44 pm and 8:56 pm (2 hours either side of each tide change), and around 1:02 am and 12:38 pm (moon overhead and underfoot).
Moving water around the tide changes usually fishes best. Full 7-day Tauranga tides ›
Predictions only; actual tides vary with weather.
What Makes It Worth the Trip
Ōmokoroa’s inlet is dominated by its long jetty, and a regular vehicle ferry runs from the landing to Matakana Island across the harbour.
Western Bay of Plenty District Council manages the domain, which has a playground, a swimming beach, open grass and boat ramps. Visitors to Matakana Island may not go beyond the high-tide mark unless invited by local iwi or on a tour.
The wharf has a long history: from 1914 a tramway brought timber down to it for the scow Moa, which was later captured by Felix von Luckner during his 1917 escape.
Today the domain is busy with boaties, families and the ferry, and the council plans a marine upgrade, with construction scheduled from 2029, that would separate the jetty from the boat ramps.
The upper harbour around Ōmokoroa holds good fish. The Ōmokoroa Boat Club’s harbour competitions report plenty of snapper, kahawai and trevally, and a 19.24 kg kingfish won in 2022. From the wharf, anglers on fishing.net.nz have reported snapper caught close to the side and kingfish taken on live baits from the end.
How to Fish Ōmokoroa Wharf
Where and when
Fish from the end of the wharf into the deeper water, or close to the side. NZ Fishing World says high tide is the time to fish and berley helps. The wharf can get busy, so arrive early on fine days, and stop casting while the ferry or other boats come and go.
What to catch
- Snapper: around high tide, sometimes right beside the wharf.
- Trevally and john dory: with berley on the tide.
- Kingfish: anglers have taken them on live baits fished from the end. Undersized kingfish must go back.
- Rigs and bait: buy bait in Tauranga before you leave, as there is no tackle shop at Ōmokoroa.
Getting There and Facilities
- Driving: turn off SH2 on the harbour side onto the Ōmokoroa peninsula and follow it to the domain at the end.
- Parking: at the domain. Parking near the ramp can be hard to find on busy boating days.
- Domain: playground, swimming beach, open grass and boat ramps. The Ōmokoroa Boat Club is at 1 The Esplanade.
- Ferry: the Matakana Island ferry uses the landing several times a day.
Rules and Safety
- Sea fishing follows MPI’s Auckland and Kermadec rules. No licence is needed. MPI lists no mātaitai, taiāpure or closure at Ōmokoroa.
- Keep clear of the ferry berth and boats using the jetty and ramps, and never leave lines across the landing.
- Watch for swimmers off the domain beach in summer.
- Keep children in lifejackets on the wharf.
- On the water, the Bay of Plenty navigation bylaw applies; the harbourmaster is 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.
Further Reading
MPI Auckland and Kermadec fishing rules: size limits, daily limits and closures.
Western Bay of Plenty District Council: Ōmokoroa Domain: the domain and its planned marine upgrade.
NZ Fishing World: land-based spots near Tauranga: notes on Ōmokoroa Wharf and nearby spots.
Ōmokoroa Wharf: Common Questions
What can I catch at Ōmokoroa Wharf?
Snapper, trevally and john dory, with kingfish at times.
When is the best time to fish Ōmokoroa Wharf?
Around high tide, with berley. The wharf fishes all year.
Can I fish while the Matakana ferry is using the wharf?
Keep clear of the ferry berth and stop casting while the ferry and other boats come and go.
Do I need a licence?
No. Sea fishing needs no licence, but MPI’s Auckland and Kermadec limits apply.
Is there parking at Ōmokoroa?
Yes, at the domain, although it can fill up near the ramp on busy days.
Is there a tackle shop at Ōmokoroa?
None was found. Buy bait and tackle in Tauranga before you go.
Spotted something incorrect on this page? Let us know.
Sources and data notes 1
- Tides today: Tide predictions: LINZ (CC BY 3.0 NZ).