Anyone comparing the best fishing charters in New Plymouth is choosing between three quite different days on the water. Fishing charters in New Plymouth run from Ngamotu Beach and Port Taranaki out to the reefs and trenches off the Taranaki coast, and the operators here split neatly into boat based charters, land based drone fishing, and island cruises where a line in the water is a bonus rather than the point. Knowing which is which saves booking the wrong trip.
1MJ Marine Fishing Charters & Cruises
MJ Marine runs personalised fishing and diving charters off the Taranaki coast aboard Leg A Sea, with skipper Barry taking bookings directly. Half days run five hours and full days eight to nine, on a minimum of four people and a maximum of eight, so a small group can fill a charter without hiring a large boat. All gear, tackle and bait are provided and you keep the whole catch. Shorter two hour twilight and afternoon cruises take up to ten and suit families who want the Sugar Loafs rather than a day on the rods. This is the most conventional fishing charter New Plymouth has.
Services
- Half day fishing charters, five hours
- Full day fishing charters, eight to nine hours
- Diving charters
- Twilight and afternoon cruises, two hours
- Work boat and commercial charter hire
Highlights
- Half days are $180 per person and full days $300 per person, for four to eight people
- All fishing gear, tackle and bait supplied, and you take home your entire catch
- Skipper Barry is fully licensed and Leg A Sea carries a flushing toilet, fridge, and hot and cold water
- Two hour twilight and afternoon cruises at $75 per person for up to ten people
- Also runs guest accommodation at 111 on Hurworth, a rural retreat five minutes from New Plymouth
Location & Contact
Name: MJ Marine Fishing Charters & Cruises
Address: Ocean View Parade, New Plymouth
Phone: 021 0222 8807
Website: mjmarineservices.co.nz
2Fishroy Drone Fishing Charters
Fishroy runs land based drone fishing along the New Plymouth coastal walkway, using drones to carry baits and rigs well beyond the surf break where the larger snapper sit. Because nobody leaves the shore, it suits families, first time fishers and anyone who would rather not spend four hours on a moving deck. Trips run morning and afternoon, and the catch is filleted, processed and packaged at no extra charge. Private bookings can be arranged anywhere from Oakura to Bell Block, or further afield between Mokau and Opunake.
Services
- Morning drone fishing trip, four hours from 7.00am
- Afternoon drone fishing trip, four hours from 4.00pm
- Private local trips between Oakura and Bell Block
- Private Taranaki wide trips between Mokau and Opunake
- Rod, reel, tackle and bait hire
Highlights
- Fishing is done from the shore, so no boat and no sea legs required
- Four hour trips start at $99, or $170 with rods, reels, tackle and bait supplied
- Private groups of up to six people at a spot of your choosing
- Catch is filleted, processed and packaged at no extra cost
Location & Contact
Name: Fishroy Drone Fishing Charters
Address: New Plymouth
Website: fishroy-drone-fishing-charters.co.nz
3Chaddy’s Charters
Chaddy’s is an island cruise operator rather than a dedicated fishing charter, and it is worth being clear about that before booking. The wildlife trip runs out of Port Taranaki around the Sugar Loaf Islands to the seal colonies, and passengers may pull up a cray pot or catch a fish along the way, but fishing is incidental to the cruise. Chaddy’s also hires kayaks, which suit anglers who would rather fish the harbour under their own steam. For visitors who want the coastline and the history as much as the fishing, it earns its place.
Services
- Wildlife boat cruise to the Sugar Loaf Islands
- Private boat hire
- Kayak hire
- Stand up paddleboard hire
- Bike hire for the coastal walkway
Highlights
- Has run trips around the Sugar Loaf Islands since 1993
- Sails Rescue III, a 1953 Liverpool Class C lifeboat that served with the RNLI at Bridlington in Yorkshire before coming to New Zealand
- Bought in 2020 by Taranaki born former All Black Carl Hayman
Location & Contact
Name: Chaddy’s Charters
Address: 39 Ocean View Parade, New Plymouth 4310
Phone: 06 758 9133
Website: chaddyscharters.co.nz
Fishing Charters in New Plymouth at a Glance
| Business | Based in | Highlight |
|---|---|---|
| MJ Marine Fishing Charters & Cruises | New Plymouth | Half days are $180 per person and full days $300 per person |
| Fishroy Drone Fishing Charters | New Plymouth | Fishing is done from the shore, so no boat and no sea legs required |
| Chaddy's Charters | New Plymouth | Has run trips around the Sugar Loaf Islands since 1993 |
How to Choose a Fishing Charter in New Plymouth
- Decide first whether you want a boat. A fishing charter New Plymouth operators run offshore is a different day to drone fishing from the coastal walkway, and the drone option removes seasickness entirely.
- Check the minimum numbers. Boat charters here often need four people before a trip runs, so a couple may need to join an existing booking or wait for a date to fill.
- Ask what is included. Some prices cover rods, reels, tackle and bait, and others are for the trip only with gear hired separately.
- Confirm what happens to the catch. Filleting and packaging is included by some operators and not by others.
- Book around the weather. The Taranaki coast is exposed and west coast trips are called off or moved more often than sheltered harbour fishing, so allow a spare day if you are visiting.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fishing Charters in New Plymouth
Where do fishing charters in New Plymouth depart from?
Boat charters leave from the Ocean View Parade and Port Taranaki area at Moturoa, a few minutes west of the city centre and next to Ngamotu Beach. Drone fishing is land based and runs along the coastal walkway, with private trips arranged anywhere between Oakura and Bell Block, so there is no departure point as such.
How much does a fishing charter in New Plymouth cost?
Boat based charters run at about $180 per person for a five hour half day and $300 per person for a full day. Land based drone fishing starts around $99 for a four hour trip without gear hire, or about $170 with rods, reels, tackle and bait supplied. Private group bookings are priced per trip rather than per person.
Do I need to bring my own fishing gear?
Not usually, but check when booking because it changes the price. Several trips are sold in two versions, one at a lower rate for anglers bringing their own rods and bait, and one at a higher rate with everything supplied. If you are travelling and have no gear with you, take the inclusive option.
What can you catch off the Taranaki coast?
Snapper is the fish most people are chasing here, and the west coast has a reputation for large ones. Kahawai, gurnard, trevally and kingfish also turn up depending on the season and how far offshore you go, and dive charters target crayfish.
How is drone fishing different from a boat charter?
With drone fishing you stay on the beach or the rocks and a drone flies your baited rig out past the surf break, well beyond casting range. You still fight the fish on a rod. It suits families, anyone prone to seasickness, and people who want to fish without committing to a full day at sea.
Are there rules about how many fish I can keep?
Yes. Recreational catch is subject to daily limits and minimum sizes that vary by species and by area, and they do change. Check the current rules for the Central area on the Fisheries New Zealand fishing rules page before you go. Charter skippers will also brief you on board.
How We Chose the Best Fishing Charters in New Plymouth
Every business in this guide was found by searching for fishing charters in New Plymouth, 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 New Plymouth, 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.