Whakakī Lagoon

Whakakī Lagoon, on the coast of Hawke's Bay, New Zealand, is a saltwater spot best fished around the change of tide. Casting from the shore, look for any seam where deeper water meets shallow — the edge of a sandbar, the lip of a reef, the corner of a harbour entrance. From a boat, you can drift the same edges, dropping lures or bait into the strike zone with each pass.

Location

-39.0447, 177.5552 · View on OpenStreetMap →

Species Reported in Hawke's Bay

These species are commonly caught at fishing spots across Hawke's Bay. Conditions at Whakakī Lagoon may vary.

Rainbow troutEastern Australian salmonSouthern yellowtail amberjackBrown troutAustralasian snapperJackass morwong

Fishing Techniques

• For Rainbow trout

  Vary your retrieve speed when using spinners to find what triggers a strike; sometimes a slow, steady retrieve works best, while other times a faster, erratic retrieve is more effective.

• For Eastern Australian salmon

  Eastern Australian salmon often school, so if you catch one, keep fishing the same area; they are aggressive feeders and readily strike at moving targets.

• For Southern yellowtail amberjack

  When fishing structure, use a heavier leader to prevent break-offs, as yellowtail will often run hard into rocks or reefs.

Recommended Gear

Tackle commonly used to target the species reported in Hawke's Bay.

Plan Your Trip

Anglers heading to Whakakī Lagoon should sort licences and confirm seasonal regulations for Hawke's Bay before the trip. A quick weather check the morning of helps too — wind direction in particular can make or break a session at a spot like Whakakī Lagoon.

Nearby Spots in Hawke's Bay

See all fishing spots in Hawke's Bay →

Other Fishing Regions in New Zealand