Pencarrow Lighthouse Fishing: Fitzroy Bay Surfcasting near Eastbourne

Last updated October 2026

Pencarrow Head guards the eastern side of the Wellington Harbour entrance, reached only on foot or by bike along the flat Pencarrow Coast Road from Burdans Gate in Eastbourne. Past the lighthouses, the beaches of Fitzroy Bay run east towards Baring Head, and NZ Fishing News rates them for big kahawai, with gurnard, trevally and moki, and the odd salmon.

The western beaches are broad and clean and shelve into fairly deep water; further east the ground gets rougher and the moki fishing gets better. Bring everything you need: there are no facilities past the gate, and this coast takes every southerly swell.

At a Glance

Location

Pencarrow Head and Fitzroy Bay, East Harbour Regional Park, south of Eastbourne

Water

Harbour entrance and Fitzroy Bay, Cook Strait (sea)

Main species

Kahawai; gurnard, trevally and moki; blue cod on the rough ground; the odd salmon

Best time

Afternoon into dusk on a running tide; moki after dark on an incoming tide

Getting there

Walk or bike 6.7 km from Burdans Gate on a gravel road; no public vehicles

Toilets

None on the coast; nearest at the Muritai Road bus barn and Williams Park, Eastbourne

Dogs

None from 1 August to 30 October; on a lead the rest of the year; never in the lakes or Baring Head blocks

Tide port

Wellington (LINZ standard port)

Rules

MPI Central fishing area; no licence needed for sea fishing

Cost

Free

What Makes It Worth the Trip

Pencarrow Head is the western end of Fitzroy Bay, in the Parangarahu Lakes block of East Harbour Regional Park. Greater Wellington runs the park and co-manages this block with the Port Nicholson Block Settlement Trust (Taranaki Whānui). Wellington Water uses the name Te Raeakiaki for the head.

The upper lighthouse on the hill was first lit on 1 January 1859, from ironwork shipped from England, and its keeper Mary Jane Bennett was New Zealand’s only woman lighthouse keeper. It is a Category 1 historic place.

Because fog often hid it, a lower light was built on the shore below the head in 1906, and that light still works today. Baring Head took over as the main light in 1935.

The 1855 earthquake lifted this coast by about 2 metres, and until 1856 the coast route was the only way between Wellington and the Wairarapa. Up to 21 shipwrecks are recorded along it. Te Ātiawa from Pito-one came to Parangarahu seasonally to fish, and there is archaeological evidence of Māori occupation around Fitzroy Bay and the lakes.

Lakes Kohangatera and Kohangapiripiri sit just behind the beaches. Between Lake Kohangatera and Baring Head the land is private, and you need permission from the landowners to cross it.

How to Fish Pencarrow Head

Where and when

The western beaches of Fitzroy Bay, past the lower lighthouse, are broad and clean and drop into relatively deep water. They fish best in daylight: get there by early afternoon and fish until dark, ideally with a running tide in the late afternoon.

Further east, the beaches are short, steep and snaggy between rocky outcrops, which is moki country. Fish can be caught all year: winter is good for kahawai, summer and autumn can produce every species, and early spring brings gurnard up to about 1.5 kg.

What to catch and what to use

• Kahawai: big kahawai are almost a sure thing on the western beaches. Use pilchard or fresh kahawai bait.
• Gurnard and trevally: on the clean western beaches, harder to come by than kahawai.
• Moki: the signature fish of the rough eastern ground, sometimes over 5 kg. Arrive mid-afternoon, find clean ground before dark, and fish an incoming tide with high water after dark on mussel or crayfish baits. Cast accurately to avoid snags.
• Blue cod: on the rougher ground to the east.
• Pests: conger and skate after dark, and wrasse and spotties stripping baits in daylight.

Conditions

Clean water is critical. Fitzroy Bay faces south-west and picks up any southerly swell: if there is swell on the Eastbourne foreshore, do not bother going. A northerly flattens and cleans the sea, but it can blow hard, and it makes the ride back a slog.

Getting There and Facilities

• Start: Burdans Gate at the southern end of Eastbourne, where there is car parking. Nearby streets are narrow, with restricted parking.
• Bus: Metlink routes 81 and 83 to the last Muritai Road stop, then about a 10-minute walk to the gate.
• The road: a wide, flat gravel road, 6.7 km one way to the lower lighthouse. Allow 3 to 4 hours return on foot. No public vehicles are allowed past the gate, but watch for service vehicles.
• Bikes: a mountain bike makes the trip much quicker; the Bike Shed near the gate hires bikes. Expect a headwind one way: the road is very exposed to north-westerly and southerly winds.
• Facilities: none past the gate and little shelter. Bring water, warm clothes and a torch for the trip back.
• Fire: there is a total fire ban.

Rules and Safety

• Sea fishing here follows MPI’s Central area rules. No licence is needed. Check the MPI page or the NZ Fishing Rules app for current limits.
• Wastewater outfall: treated wastewater from the Seaview plant, which serves about 160,000 people, is discharged into the sea near Pencarrow Head. In January 2026 partially treated wastewater was released after a breakdown and people were told to avoid the water near Pencarrow. Do not gather shellfish near the outfall, follow any signs, and check LAWA and Wellington Water before you go.
• No fishing closure is listed for this coast. Taputeranga Marine Reserve is on the other side of the harbour entrance.
• Greater Wellington does not recommend swimming in the sea south of Burdans Gate because of strong currents.
• Southerly swell, strong Cook Strait currents and sudden weather changes make this an exposed coast. It is a long walk or ride back in the dark, so plan your exit.

Tackle and Bait Nearby

• Hunting & Fishing Hutt Valley, 8 Te Puni Street, Petone: fishing tackle and outdoor gear. There is no tackle shop in Eastbourne, so stock up on bait before you leave the Hutt.

Official Sources

Pencarrow Head: Common Questions

Where do you fish at Pencarrow?
Mostly on the Fitzroy Bay beaches east of Pencarrow Head. The western beaches are clean and deep; the eastern ones are rough and better for moki.

What can you catch at Pencarrow?
Big kahawai almost every time, plus gurnard, trevally and moki, blue cod on the rough ground and the odd salmon.

Can I drive to the Pencarrow lighthouse?
No. Public vehicles are not allowed past Burdans Gate. It is 6.7 km each way on foot or by bike.

Can I take my dog?
Not from 1 August to 30 October. The rest of the year dogs must be on a lead on the road to the lower lighthouse, and they are never allowed in the Parangarahu Lakes or Baring Head blocks.

Is it safe to collect shellfish at Pencarrow?
Avoid it near the Pencarrow Head wastewater outfall, and check LAWA and Wellington Water for any current warnings.

Do I need a fishing licence?
No. Sea fishing needs no licence, but MPI’s Central area rules apply.

When should I avoid Pencarrow?
In any southerly swell. If waves are breaking on the Eastbourne foreshore, Fitzroy Bay will be unfishable.

Spotted something incorrect on this page? Let us know.

Sources and data notes 1

• Tides today: Tide predictions: LINZ (CC BY 3.0 NZ).