The Complete Guide to Snapper Fishing Nets in New Zealand — Multi-Purpose Set Nets

NZ-made snapper nets in 5 mesh sizes — from the versatile 5-inch all-rounder to the heavy-duty 6¼-inch big fish net. Which one is right for you?

👉 Browse our full range of NZ-made snapper nets →

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About New Zealand Snapper

Snapper (Pagrus auratus), known as tāmure in te reo Māori, is New Zealand's most iconic and sought-after fish. Found throughout the North Island and upper South Island, snapper are the number one target for recreational fishers — and for good reason. They're abundant, they fight hard, and they taste fantastic.

Key Facts

• Size: Commonly 30–50cm, can reach 100cm and 15kg+. The legal minimum is 30cm (or 25cm in some areas).
• Habitat: Sandy and muddy bottoms, reef edges, harbours, and coastal waters from 1m to 200m depth
• Distribution: Most abundant from the Bay of Islands to the Bay of Plenty. Found down to Kaikōura on the east coast and Taranaki on the west coast.
• Diet: Crabs, shellfish, worms, small fish — snapper eat almost anything
• Lifespan: Up to 60+ years. A 50cm snapper is typically around 15–20 years old.
• Best season: Summer (December–March) when snapper move into shallower water to feed and spawn

Why Net Fishing for Snapper?

While rod fishing gets most of the glory, set netting is one of the oldest and most effective ways to catch snapper in New Zealand. A well-placed set net on a good patch of sand or reef edge can produce quality fish consistently.

Set netting for snapper is about location, timing, and the right gear. Unlike rod fishing where you actively work to hook each fish, a set net does the work for you — set it in the right spot, come back later, and collect your catch.

Our Snapper Net Range

We make five snapper nets covering different mesh sizes, depths, and fishing situations. All are made in New Zealand at our Auckland factory with lead-core bottom rope and floats — ready to fish straight out of the box.

1. Standard Multi-Purpose Net — 5 inch (125mm)

Snapper Multi-Purpose Fishing Nets

Our best-selling snapper net and the one most Kiwi fishers choose. The 5-inch (125mm) mesh is the classic snapper mesh — proven over decades of use around New Zealand.

• Mesh: 125mm (5 inch), 0.50mm mono
• Depth: 25 meshes deep
• Rope: 6mm lead-core bottom, top rope with floats
• Lengths: 20m ($133), 30m ($200), 40m ($266), 60m ($399), 100m ($665)
• Legal for: Blue cod, blue moki, butterfish, flatfish, kahawai, kingfish, grey mullet, parore, porae, red cod, red gurnard, red moki, red snapper, sand flounder, snapper, tarakihi, trevally
• Best for: All-round snapper fishing in harbours, bays, and coastal waters

2. Large Mesh Snapper Net — 5½ inch (140mm)

Snapper Net 5½ inch

Larger mesh targets bigger snapper and lets smaller fish swim through. If you're after quality over quantity, or fishing an area with lots of undersized fish, this is the net to choose.

• Mesh: 140mm (5½ inch), 0.60mm heavy-duty mono
• Depth: 25 meshes deep
• Rope: 6mm lead-core bottom, top rope with floats
• Lengths: 20m ($120), 30m ($180), 40m ($240), 60m ($360), 100m ($600)
• Best for: Targeting larger snapper, reducing bycatch of undersized fish

3. Extra Deep Multi-Mono Net — 5 inch (125mm)

Snapper Nets Extra Deep Multi-Mono Mesh

This is our commercial-grade snapper net. The multi-mono mesh (multiple strands twisted together) is what professional fishermen use — it's softer, more supple, and significantly harder for fish to see in the water.

At 36 meshes deep (~3.9m), this net fishes much deeper water than our standard 25-mesh nets. It creates a massive wall of nearly invisible mesh.

• Mesh: 125mm (5 inch), multi-mono (0.15mm × 6 strand)
• Depth: 36 meshes deep (~3.9m) — almost double the standard depth
• Rope: 6mm lead-core bottom
• Lengths: 20m ($150), 30m ($228), 40m ($304), 60m ($456), 100m ($760)
• Best for: Serious fishers, deeper water, commercial-grade performance. The extra depth and multi-mono mesh catch more fish.

4. Heavy Duty Big Fish Net — 6¼ inch (160mm)

Heavy Duty 6¼ inch Net

Built for big snapper and large species. The 160mm mesh and 0.60mm heavy-duty twine handles the power of trophy-sized snapper, elephant fish, blue moki, rig, and school shark.

• Mesh: 160mm (6¼ inch), 0.60mm heavy-duty mono
• Depth: 15 meshes deep
• Rope: Heavy lead-core bottom, top rope with floats
• Lengths: 30m ($200), 40m ($266), 60m ($399), 100m ($665)
• Legal for: Elephant fish, blue moki, snapper, trumpeter, rig, school shark
• Best for: Big fish specialists — trophy snapper, shark, and large reef species

5. Kahawai/Black Snapper Net — 4½ inch (114mm)

Kahawai Black Snapper Net 4½ inch

Smaller mesh for targeting kahawai, smaller snapper, butterfish, and a wide range of species. Great all-rounder for mixed fishing.

• Mesh: 114mm (4½ inch)
• Depth: 25 meshes deep
• Lengths: 20m ($138), 30m ($205), 40m ($272), 60m ($400)
• Best for: Mixed species — kahawai, snapper, butterfish, trevally

Which Snapper Net Should You Choose?

Situation	Recommended Net	Why
First snapper net / all-rounder	5 inch Standard	Best-seller, proven mesh size, catches well
Targeting bigger snapper only	5½ inch	Larger mesh lets smaller fish through
Maximum catch rate	5 inch Multi-Mono	Nearly invisible mesh, extra deep — commercial grade
Trophy snapper & big species	6¼ inch Heavy Duty	Heavy-duty mesh handles monster fish
Mixed species with kahawai	4½ inch	Catches a wider range of species
Deeper water (5m+)	5 inch Multi-Mono (36MD)	3.9m deep — fishes the full water column
Shallow harbours & bays	5 inch Standard (25MD)	2m deep is ideal for harbour shallows

Where to Set Net for Snapper

Best Locations

• Hauraki Gulf — New Zealand's snapper capital. Excellent set netting on sandy bottoms and reef edges throughout the gulf.
• Bay of Islands — Sheltered bays and channels with quality snapper year-round.
• Coromandel Peninsula — Both sides offer excellent snapper habitat.
• Bay of Plenty — Tauranga Harbour to Whakatāne. Good numbers of fish.
• Kaipara Harbour — Large snapper move into the harbour in summer to feed and spawn.
• East Cape — Less fishing pressure, good-sized snapper.
• Manukau Harbour — Quality snapper in summer months.

What to Look For

• Sand-to-reef transitions — where sandy bottom meets rocky reef. Snapper cruise these edges looking for food.
• Mussel beds and shell banks — snapper love crushing shellfish with their powerful jaws.
• Channel edges — in harbours, set along the edge of the main channel where tidal current concentrates food.
• Depth: 3–20m is the sweet spot for set netting. Snapper move shallower at night and on the incoming tide.

Best Times

• Season: October–April (summer) is prime time. Snapper are in shallower, warmer water.
• Tide: Set on the change of tide — incoming tide is generally best.
• Time of day: Set in the late afternoon, retrieve in the morning. Snapper feed actively at dawn and dusk.
• Moon: Many experienced netters swear by the new moon and full moon periods when snapper are most active.

MPI Rules for Snapper Set Nets

Always check the latest rules for your specific area at mpi.govt.nz before you go.

• Minimum fish size: 30cm in SNA 1 (upper North Island) and most areas. 25cm in some southern areas. Check your fisheries management area.
• Daily bag limit: Varies by area — typically 7–10 snapper per person per day in most North Island areas.
• Mesh size: Minimum 100mm stretched mesh. All our snapper nets (114mm–160mm) exceed this.
• Net length: Maximum 60m for recreational set nets in most areas. Some areas allow up to 100m.
• Marking: Your net must be marked with your name and contact details. A float at each end.
• Checking: Must be checked and cleared at least once every 24 hours.
• Dolphin protection: Set net bans apply in some areas along the west coast of the North Island and around Banks Peninsula. Check your area.

Important: Snapper rules vary significantly between fisheries management areas (SNA 1, SNA 2, SNA 7, SNA 8). Always check the MPI fishing rules for your specific area.

Tips for Better Snapper Netting

• Set on clean ground. Rocky, weedy, or rough bottoms snag your net and damage it. Sandy or gravel bottoms are ideal.
• Set perpendicular to current. Your net should sit across the tidal flow, not parallel to it. Fish swim with the current and into the net.
• Don't set too tight. Let the net hang with some slack — snapper need to push into the mesh to get gilled. A tight net bounces them off.
• Check regularly. Don't leave your net longer than you need to. Fresh fish taste better, and checking regularly reduces bycatch mortality.
• Multi-mono catches more. If you're serious about snapper, the multi-mono mesh is worth the extra cost. Fish simply can't see it.
• Go deeper with more mesh depth. In deeper water (10m+), a 36-mesh-deep net fishes the full water column and catches more fish than a standard 25-mesh net.
• Clean and dry your net. Rinse in fresh water after every use. Hang to dry. This dramatically extends the life of the mesh.

Why Choose NZ-Made Snapper Nets?

• ✔️ Made in Auckland — not cheap imports
• ✔️ Lead-core bottom rope — keeps the net on the seabed
• ✔️ Quality floats — keeps the net fishing upright
• ✔️ MPI-legal mesh sizes — all nets exceed 100mm minimum
• ✔️ Available in 20m to 100m — for recreational to commercial use
• ✔️ Custom lengths available — we make to order

Ready to Get Started?

👉 Shop our NZ-made snapper nets →

Starting from just $120. Made in Auckland, shipped NZ-wide.

Need a custom length or setup? Contact us — we manufacture to order.

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Action Outdoors — New Zealand's largest fishing net manufacturer. Made in Auckland. 🎣

actionoutdoors.kiwi | sales@actionoutdoors.kiwi

Always check the latest fishing rules at mpi.govt.nz before heading out.