Pukerua Bay Fishing: Hand-Line Only Bay on Wellington’s West Coast

Last updated October 2026

Pukerua Bay is a small coastal village at the southern end of the Kāpiti Coast, 30 km north of central Wellington, with a steep, rocky shore and two sandy beach areas. NZ Fishing News names it, with Tītahi Bay and Mākara, as one of the most popular spots on Wellington’s west coast, where anglers mix beach and rock fishing.

The bay has a special rule: since 2009 it has been closed to all fishing and gathering except with hand-held lines, so you can fish with a rod or handline but must not take pāua, kina, crayfish, shellfish or seaweed. The train stops in the village, and the beach is a short walk down the hill.

At a Glance

Location

Pukerua Bay, Porirua, at the bottom of Pukerua Beach Road and along Ocean Parade

Water

Open west coast north of Wellington (sea)

Main species

Kahawai, trevally, snapper and kingfish; red cod, tarakihi, blue cod, rays and conger also reported on this coast

Best season

November to April for the best mix; red cod and kahawai in winter

Special rule

Hand-held lines only; no shellfish, crayfish, seaweed, nets or spearfishing

Getting there

Kāpiti Line train to Pukerua Bay station; street parking on Ocean Parade

Toilets

Ocean Parade (north and south) and the Pukerua Bay shops, open 24 hours

Tide port

Port Taranaki, adjusted for Karehana Bay (LINZ secondary port)

Rules

MPI Central fishing area; no licence needed for sea fishing

Cost

Free

What Makes It Worth the Trip

Pukerua Bay is the northernmost suburb of Porirua City, 12 km north of the city centre. Its name is usually translated as two hills. Since December 2021 the old main road through the village has been State Highway 59, after State Highway 1 moved to Transmission Gully.

The bay is best known to anglers for its fishing rules. Temporary closures began in 2002 after local Māori and residents raised concerns about depleted pāua and other shellfish, and the restriction became permanent in 2009.

Ngāti Toa, Hongoeka Marae, Porirua City Council and the Pukerua Bay Residents Association all supported it, and by 2013 RNZ reported that juvenile pāua numbers had risen five-fold since 2008.

At the western end of the bay stands Wairaka Rock, which legend describes as the petrified wife of Haunui-a-Nanaia, near the sea arch Te-ana-Puta-o-Hau (Marble Arch). A coastal walk continues south-west past Wairaka Point towards Karehana Bay and Plimmerton.

Sealed zigzag paths lead down to the shore, one from Pukerua Beach Road (lit, with guard rails) and one from the State Highway lookout to Brendan Beach. Surfers use the right-hand point break, and the beach is popular for summer swimming.

How to Fish Pukerua Bay

Where and when

Anglers fish from the beach areas and the rocks along the bay. The coast is rocky and snaggy, so expect to lose some gear.

The west coast is more sheltered from southerly weather than the rest of the Wellington region, which is why it gets fished hard, but strong onshore westerlies and north-westerlies can make it unfishable and dirty the water for days.

Calm, clean water brings the better fish in. November to April gives the best mix of species; in winter the catch is mainly red cod and kahawai.

What to catch and what to use

• Trevally, snapper and kingfish: the west coast’s signature fish. Big ones are possible, but long hours are usually needed.
• Kahawai: a regular catch, and with red cod the mainstay in winter.
• Red cod and spiny dogfish: often a large share of the catch on this coast. Shellfish baits help avoid them.
• Tarakihi, blue cod, rays and conger: also reported on Wellington’s west coast.

Rigs and bait

Edger or long-cast rigs with breakout sinkers are the usual set-up, and shellfish baits can tempt fussy fish. Bring all your bait with you: taking shellfish, crayfish or anything else from the shore inside the closure is banned, including for bait.

Getting There and Facilities

• Train: Pukerua Bay station on Takutai Road is on Metlink’s Kāpiti Line, and all Waikanae trains stop there. All-stops trains take about 36 minutes from Wellington. From the station, walk down Pukerua Beach Road or the zigzag path.
• Parking: street parking along Ocean Parade and a car park at the road end, where the coastal walking track starts. There is also a parking area on State Highway 59 just north of the village with a steep walkway down.
• Toilets: Porirua City Council runs accessible toilets on Ocean Parade (north, roadside, and south, at the turning circle) and at the Pukerua Bay shops, all open 24 hours.
• Road: State Highway 59 north of the village is prone to slips. Check the road status if you are coming from Paekākāriki.
• Wildlife: little blue penguins breed in the area, so keep dogs under control.

Rules and Safety

• Pukerua Bay restriction: MPI lists the bay as closed to all fishing and seafood gathering other than by hand-held lines. The closed area runs from the coast east of Wairaka Point, out to a prominent rock, then north-east to the coast south of the former Fishermans Restaurant on Centennial Highway. Inside it you may not take pāua, kina, crayfish, mussels or other shellfish, or seaweed, and nets, longlines, pots and spearfishing are not allowed. It has no end date.
• Outside the closed area, including Wairaka Point and the coast south-west towards Plimmerton, MPI’s normal Central area rules apply.
• No licence is needed for sea fishing. Check the MPI Central page or the NZ Fishing Rules app for current limits, and for the set-net restrictions that run 4 nautical miles offshore from Hawera to the Wellington Harbour entrance.
• The rocks are slippery and snaggy, and waves can knock anglers off the rocks. Do not fish the rocks in a westerly or north-westerly swell.
• Around Wairaka Point the coastal walk crosses about 200 m of large rocks and is exposed to wind. Plan around the tide and the weather.
• Greater Wellington monitors water quality at Pukerua Bay in summer. Avoid swimming for 2 to 3 days after heavy rain, and check LAWA.

Tackle and Bait Nearby

• KP Marine, 3 Plimmerton Drive, Plimmerton: rods, reels, lures, bait and berley, south of the bay. Open seven days.

Trusted Sources

Pukerua Bay: Common Questions

Can you fish at Pukerua Bay?
Yes, but only with hand-held lines. The bay is closed to every other method and to all shellfish, crayfish and seaweed gathering.

Can I take pāua or crayfish at Pukerua Bay?
No. Taking shellfish, crayfish, other sea life and seaweed is banned inside the closed area, which has no end date.

What can you catch at Pukerua Bay?
Kahawai, plus trevally, snapper and kingfish for patient anglers. Red cod, tarakihi, blue cod, rays and conger are also caught on this coast.

When is the best time to fish?
November to April gives the best mix of species, in calm, clean water. Avoid strong westerly or north-westerly winds.

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

How do I get there by train?
Take the Kāpiti Line to Pukerua Bay station, then walk down Pukerua Beach Road or the zigzag path to the beach.

Are there toilets?
Yes. There are 24-hour toilets on Ocean Parade and at the Pukerua Bay shops.

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Sources and data notes 1

• Tides today: Tide predictions: LINZ (CC BY 3.0 NZ), adjusted from Port Taranaki using LINZ secondary port offsets.