Commercial Fishing Gear for Sale: 15 Top Picks in NZ 2025

Need to gear up for the coming season without risking downtime at sea? We’ve scoured New Zealand’s commercial suppliers—both bricks-and-mortar and online—to bring you 15 proven places where professional skippers, quota holders and serious rec fishers can buy nets, lines, hooks, haulers and safety kit right now. Whether you want brand-new deck gear or a bargain second-hand haul, you’ll find a trusted outlet below.

Each recommendation is measured against benchmarks: local stock on the shelf, Ministry for Primary Industries compliance, durability proven on Kiwi working decks, 2025 upgrades such as biodegradable monofilament and Bluetooth catch counters, fair price-to-value, and after-sales support that actually answers the phone. First up is Auckland’s one-stop shop, Action Outdoors, followed by 14 other reliable suppliers so you can compare, budget and steam out prepared.

1. Action Outdoors – The Complete Commercial Fishing Outfitters (Auckland & Online)

Operating out of Auckland since the 1990s, Action Outdoors has earned a reputation as the “if-they-don’t-have-it, no-one does” warehouse for commercial fishing gear. The 1,000 m² showroom lets crews handle gear before purchase, while the slick web store mirrors the full catalogue for skippers ordering from Bluff, Chatham or the Far North. Because stock is held locally, urgent orders placed before 2 pm usually leave the door the same day—handy when the weather window suddenly opens.

Flagship Commercial Gear Lines for 2025

• Snapper, butterfish and flounder gill-nets up to 200 m (mesh sizes pre-checked for MPI compliance)
• Complete longline kits with 316 SS circle hooks, dacron or Dyneema mainlines and colour-coded snoods
• Trojan pot haulers and brake winches rated to 1,500 kg
• Victory NZ-made deck knives, sharpening steels and scabbards
• Marine safety kit: SOLAS life-rings, EPIRBs, AIS beacons, Category 1 first-aid packs
• New arrivals: low-drag biodegradable “Green Net” panels, Bluetooth catch counters, and Tecni-Sport foul-weather gear tested at 30 m/s wind

Why Skippers Choose Action Outdoors

• Same-day dispatch NZ-wide, bulk-buy discounts and 30-day trade accounts
• In-store rope splicing, net repair bench and custom rig building while you wait
• Product videos, phone advice and honest “this-will-break” warnings for first-time buyers
• Weekend opening through the spring run to match commercial seasons

Pricing, Delivery & Compliance Support

Typical 2025 pricing: Hooks 1,000-pc boxes $4.50–$9.00 ea, 50 m net panels $320–$480, Dyneema mainline $6.20–$7.10 m. Orders over $650 ship free; otherwise a flat $29 gets overnight service to main ports and 48-hr rural delivery. Staff keep the latest Fisheries NZ regs on hand and will double-check mesh sizes, escape panels and hook offsets before your order is booked, saving costly on-water infringements.

2. Cookes – Custom Net & Rope Fabrication Specialists

When the brief calls for something that fits your vessel—not the other way round—most Kiwi skippers ring Cookes. The firm’s Auckland and Nelson lofts turn out purpose-built nets, warps and trawl doors that arrive on deck ready to shoot, cutting costly yard time. If you’re chasing commercial fishing gear for sale that meets exacting specifications and survey sign-off in one hit, Cookes is hard to ignore.

Tailor-Made Nets, Seines, and Trawl Doors

• On-site fabrication benches handle gill-net sheets through to 60 m pelagic seines
• Hot-knife Dyneema splicing and lock-stitch edging prevent creep and fray on long tows
• Certified wire-rope terminations (≤ Ø38 mm) and swaged fittings supplied with test certificates—ideal for survey inspections
• CAD-drawn trawl doors balanced to your vessel’s winch load curve

2025 Standout Products

• Abrasion-resistant PUR-coated working ropes lasting up to 35 % longer than classic PE hawser
• Sakon biodegradable trawl codends that meet pending 2027 micro-plastic rules while holding catch rates steady

Field Service & Inspection

Cookes’ mobile rigging vans cover every main fishing port from Whangārei to Bluff. Technicians can:

1. Conduct on-wharf break-load testing and compliance inspections within 24 hours
2. Patch or re-splice damaged net sections while the boat refuels
   Standard turnaround for workshop repairs is 48 hours, keeping you on schedule when the bite is on.

3. Seafish Systems Ltd – Premium Longline, Trawl & Pot Components

Founded in 1984, Nelson-based Seafish Systems stocks the nuts-and-bolts that keep factory trawlers, small longliners and pot boats hauling day after day. If you’re scanning the market for commercial fishing gear for sale that takes a hammering yet still meets quota-holder KPIs, their warehouse is worth a call.

Exclusive Lanka Line & Circle Hooks

• Heat-treated Lanka Line mainline (3.0–4.0 mm) delivers up to 18 % less stretch, so hook-setting power transfers straight to the fish.
• Matching 316 SS circle hooks—sizes 14/0 to 18/0—laser-sharpened and packed in 1,000-pc sacks for easy deck loading.
• Optional colour-coded snoods reduce rigging errors during night sets.

Eco-Smart Upgrades for 2025

• Recyclable wax-coated cardboard hook boxes replace shrink-wrap.
• Plant-based, plastic-free bait clips rated to 120 kg pull.
• End-of-life gear take-back programme bundled into every invoice.

Bulk Ordering & Export

• Minimum order: one pallet or mixed-item cubic metre.
• 5-day dispatch to Aussie east-coast ports; 8–12 days to Samoa, Tonga and Niue.
• Consolidated freight rates and export documentation handled in-house, freeing skippers to focus on the next set.

4. Decoro – Tauranga Hub for Commercial Tackle & Rigging

Moored in Sulphur Point since the early ’80s, Decoro is the Bay of Plenty’s go-to warehouse when you need mission-critical hardware this side of the Kaimais. Their floor staff—many ex-deckies—know the difference between hobby tackle and the commercial fishing gear for sale that keeps quota boats turning profit. Walk in, phone in, or punch an order online and most items are in your hands within 24 hours.

Key Gear Lines

• Marine-grade stainless crimps (1.6–3.8 mm) matched to 316 wire for corrosion-proof terminations
• Pre-swaged wire traces with certified thimbles—ready to shackle straight to drop lines
• Abrasion-resistant HDPE seine twine (480 lb-1,000 lb) in hi-vis orange or black spools

Services That Add Value

• On-site hydraulic crimping bench for custom trace lengths while you wait
• Digital chain calibration and proof-load certificates for lifting or trawl blocks
• Annual inspection tags and record books issued for survey compliance

Delivery & Click-and-Collect

Orders booked before 3 pm ship overnight to Tauranga, Whakatāne, Ōpōtiki and Coromandel ports; Saturday counter pick-ups cater for those frantic “sailing-Monday” refits.

5. Discount Fishing Supplies – Best for Budget-Conscious Operators

Running a tight boat doesn’t mean settling for flimsy kit. Discount Fishing Supplies in Rotorua curates the commercial-grade odds and ends that keep smaller operators legal and profitable—minus the premium price tag. Their web store lists real-time stock levels, so you know the deal you click on is actually on the shelf. For skippers scouring the web for commercial fishing gear for sale that won’t torpedo cash-flow, this outlet is often the first port of call.

Affordable Essentials without Cutting Corners

• Whitebait and kahawai nets pre-rigged with leadline and float-cord
• Drone drop rigs (six-hook, 60 kg break strain) for near-shore longlining
• Cast-aluminium sinker moulds plus bulk lead ingots
• 10/0–14/0 jig hooks sold in 1,000-pc poly sacks at $0.28–$0.45 each

All items are batch-tested for tensile strength and supplied with GST invoices—handy when the accountant asks.

2025 Deal Alerts

Watch for seasonal bundles: a 500-hook circle longline set with mainline, crimps and clips lists under $650, while winter clearance sees sinker moulds discounted by 30 %. Sign up for their Friday “Tight-Lines” email for one-day flash sales.

Tips for Buying Cheap but Legal

1. Check MPI mesh tables—whitebait nets must not exceed 4 mm when stretched.
2. Scan barcodes; the supplier’s internal system logs batch numbers for traceability if Fisheries officers inspect.
3. Warranty is limited to 90 days; photograph gear on arrival so any freight damage is documented before first deployment.
   Following these steps lets you bank savings without banking fines.

6. Beauline – Mustad Autoline Systems for Deep-Sea Vessels

Running drop-line gear on a 45-metre freezer boat is pointless if your deck crew can’t bait, set and haul fast enough. Auckland-based Beauline solves that bottleneck with factory-authorised Mustad Autoline packages and the specialist know-how to install them between trips. If you’re scouring NZ for commercial fishing gear for sale that can lift deep-sea efficiency overnight, this outfit should be on your shortlist.

Turn-Key Autoline Deck Gear

• Stainless hoppers, magazines and baiters sized for 30,000–60,000 hook sets
• Hydraulic haulers with variable speed control and integrated snood strippers
• Plug-and-play PLC controllers that sync with existing winch sensors
• Spare drum kits and service seals stocked locally for 24-hour turnaround

ROI and Crew Safety

Switching from manual longlining to a 42 station Mustad system typically:

1. Cuts deck crew from eight to five hands
2. Lifts catch-per-hour by 22 % based on West Coast trials
3. Pays itself off in roughly three seasons at NZ$11/t greenweight margin

Enclosed baiters and guarded haulers also dropped lost-time injuries to zero during the 2024 hoki run, according to customer surveys. Less fatigue, more fish—hard numbers every owner understands.

7. Haverford – Custom Aquaculture & Inshore Netting

If your livelihood sits closer to the buoys than the continental shelf, Haverford’s catalogue is for you. The Auckland-based outfit focuses on aquaculture, estuary and inshore netting, offering prawn cages to blinking lights that make mesh visible to vessels. Because most fabrication is in-house, lengths, mesh sizes and flotation layouts can be tweaked to suit regional consent conditions in days, not weeks.

Made-to-Order Cages, Traps & Net Lights

• HDPE oyster baskets with snap-on float collars
• Knotless poly mesh prawn traps supplied flat-pack
• Zinc sacrificial anodes and swivel shackles pre-rigged on pots
• IP68-rated blinking net lights visible to 2 NM

2025 Product Enhancements

For 2025 Haverford has rolled out UV-stabilised, knotless mesh that holds 98 % tensile strength after 1,000 h salt-spray exposure, plus a battery-free LED lamp that harvests motion energy from the swell. Early field tests in Tasman Bay show 12 % higher spat retention and zero bulb failures.

8. Greenline Fishing Gear – Heavy-Duty Danish Seine & Trawl Kits

Need bullet-proof Danish seine warps or a codend that won’t blow out on a bumper tow? Greenline keeps serious operators moving with industrial-grade commercial fishing gear for sale that’s engineered, tested and pallet-ready in Wellington.

High-Tenacity Warps & Codends

Greenline’s flagship Spectra and UHMWPE warps (80–120 t break load) shed water faster than steel, easing winch strain and trimming fuel burn. Pre-stretched cores eliminate bedding-in creep, so door spread stays consistent from first shot to last. Matching knotless codends arrive colour-coded by mesh size, lock-stitched and supplied with EU-style chafe panels—simply bolt on the float line and fish. Standard lengths ship within 48 hours; bespoke diameters are spliced in-house and certified to ISO 2307.

Environmental Focus

A bio-based polyurethane coating extends service life by roughly 20 %, yet meets forthcoming micro-plastic regs. Skippers can opt into Greenline’s gear-retrieval programme—return spent nets, receive a credit towards the next order, and keep ghost gear out of Kiwi waters.

9. Southshore Marine Ltd – South Island Supplier with 25+ Years’ Experience

Operating out of Ferrymead since the mid-’90s, Southshore Marine has become the default stop for South Island skippers who need tough kit yesterday. Their floor stock is curated for local rock-lobster, blue-cod and pāua fleets, so you’re not wading through gimmicks—just gear that stands up to Cook Strait chop. Because they hold most inventory on the rack, a last-minute refit rarely turns into a lay-day.

Specialities

• 304 & 316 stainless pot haulers (1.1–1.8 kW) with plug-and-play hydraulic hoses
• Hot-dipped galvanised craypot frames, weighted bases and bait spikes
• Debra™ injection-moulded bait trays—NZ-made, food-grade, and stackable for freezer trucks
• Replacement anodes, sink-line and rubber dampers sized for single-handers through to 20 m pack-boats

Local Service

Phone an order before 10 am and it’s on a same-day courier to Bluff, Nelson or Picton; Christchurch skippers often swing by the counter drive-through and load straight onto the ute. Need compliance paperwork? Southshore prints MPI-accepted break-strain tags while you wait, shaving precious hours off survey day. That blend of in-stock hardware and real-time logistics keeps southern crews fishing instead of phoning around for parts.

10. Fishing International Supplies & Hardware – Trans-Tasman Longline Experts

With warehouses in Brisbane and Whangārei, Fishing International Supplies & Hardware (FISH) bridges the ditch for Kiwi longliners hunting southern bluefin, bluenose and ling. Their lean catalogue zeros in on commercial fishing gear for sale that lasts a whole quota cycle, and every invoice can be issued in either currency so exchange swings don’t blind-side cash-flow.

Gear Portfolio

• High-carbon dropline clips rated 150 kg, colour-coded for snood spacing
• Shark-resistant nylon leaders (2.0–3.0 mm) reducing bite-offs by up to 60 %
• Stainless snood clips pre-fitted with 14/0–18/0 circle hooks, HACCP bagged
• Longline baskets, rubber bands and bait needles shipped as pallet-ready kits

Supply Chain Perks

• AUD/NZD parity invoicing locks pricing for 30 days, handy when fuel surcharges wobble
• Consolidated freight departs Port of Brisbane twice weekly, door-to-wharf delivery hitting most NZ ports inside five days
• Hazard declarations, fumigation certs and MPI import paperwork handled in-house—skippers sign one form and focus on loading bait

11. Grundéns – Foul-Weather Clothing Trusted by Deckhands

Few brands earn the respect of Kiwi deck crews the way Grundéns has. From hoki trawlers off Greymouth to paua dories in Fiordland, orange bibs and chunky cuffs are a welcome sight when the barometer nosedives. The 2025 line keeps that heritage but drops PVC toxins and adds creature comforts that make 18-hour shifts feel shorter.

2025 Range Highlights

• PVC-free Neptune Pro jackets with recycled PU membrane, 25 k waterproof rating
• Sandhamn 2.0 bibs: double-layer knees, Cordura seat and quick-drain ankle grommets
• Compact Balder smock that stuffs into its own hood—perfect for chase boats
• ThermoKnit base layers spun with merino-blend fibre to kill wet-dog smells

Bulk & Custom Orders

Vessels can kit entire crews in one go: mixed-size cartons (XS–4XL) dockside inside 48 h to main ports. Order 15+ sets and Grundéns screen-prints vessel names or quota numbers free, handy for survey audits and laundry sorting. Size charts and fabric swatches available by courier on request.

12. Victory Knives – NZ-Made Blades for Deck & Factory

Proudly forged in Auckland since 1927, Victory sits on nearly every Kiwi processing bench for one simple reason: they stay sharp when cheaper imports roll over. Their stainless and carbon steels are heat-treated to 56–58 HRC, giving edge retention that survives hours of fin clipping, gutting and filleting. If you’re browsing commercial fishing gear for sale and want to buy local, these knives are a lay-down misère.

Essential Knife Models

• 20 cm flex filleting knife for snapper and gurnard
• 33 cm rigid tuna slicer that glides through heads and collars
• Stiff 15 cm serrated bait knife with moulded guard
• Short-bladed oyster shucker with thumb stop for factory lines

Care & Safety

Colour-coded polypropylene handles tick HACCP boxes and make knife counts easy during MPI audits. Rinse in freshwater, hit with a ceramic hone (20° per side) and stow in the supplied scabbard—no more blades rattling loose on deck. Victory’s edge exchange programme lets crews trade in dull knives at survey time and grab factory-sharpened replacements on the spot, keeping fingers and fillets intact.

13. Trojan Trailer Products – Reliable Hardware for Slipways & Deck Gear

Trojan builds the bits that keep workboats moving between the yard, the ramp and the fishing grounds. From galvanised winches that refuse to seize to stainless shackles with stamped SWLs, the brand has become the quiet favourite of skippers who’d rather spend maintenance dollars on fuel. Stock is widely held across NZ chandlers, so replacing a broken coupler or jockey wheel rarely delays sailing.

Must-Have Items

• Brake winches rated to 1,500 kg with dual-ratchet fail-safes
• Swing-up jockey wheels (8 in & 10 in) on sealed bearings
• Marine-grade U-bolts, bow rollers and keel pads for alloy or glass hulls
• 316 stainless shackles and D-rings tested to 2 × WLL for deck lash-downs

2025 Improvements

• New hot-dip galvanising formula adds 25 % corrosion resistance, ideal for South Island slipways
• Grease-free polymer bushes in winch handles slash servicing time
• QR code on every item links to digital load certificates—handy during survey or when reselling commercial fishing gear for sale on Trade Me
• Optional recycled-rubber keel pads tick sustainability boxes without hiking price.

14. Second-Hand Marketplaces – Quality Used Gear That Saves Thousands

Not every refit needs shiny new kit. Harvesters trading up, quota cuts, or vessel de-commissioning mean a steady stream of near-new commercial fishing gear for sale hits the second-hand market. Snapping up a lightly used pot hauler or pallet of hooks can slice 40–60 % off replacement cost—money better spent on bait and diesel.

Where to Look

• Trade Me “Commercial Fishing” category – daily listings of nets, haulers and electronic by-catch cameras
• Facebook groups such as NZ Commercial Fishing Buy & Sell – quick deals, but act fast
• Regional boat or gear auctions in Nelson, Greymouth and Whangārei – bulk lots when companies rationalise fleets
• Port noticeboards & chandlers – handwritten ads still move plenty of kit

Inspection Checklist

1. Check all stainless hardware for orange “tea-staining” and pitting under boltheads.
2. Run a magnet over “316” shackles; if it sticks, walk away.
3. Net panels: stretch 10 mesh counts and measure; more than 5 % variance means costly repairs.
4. For hydraulic haulers, inspect hose crimps and request last pressure-test docket.
5. Weigh pots or anchors; excessive weight loss hints at hidden corrosion.

Legal & Warranty Considerations

• Ensure seller provides a bill-of-sale with GST number—MPI inspectors may ask.
• Confirm traceability: hook boxes and nets must retain batch IDs for recalls.
• Transport: over-width gear needs NZTA permits; budget $150–$300 for pilot vehicles.
• No factory warranty? Negotiate a 7-day “dead-on-arrival” clause to cover unseen defects.
  Purchasing smart keeps the bank manager happy without inviting compliance headaches.

15. Emerging Tech Gadgets for 2025 – Smart Gear You’ll See on Kiwi Decks

Tech that once sounded like sci-fi is now turning up in chiller bins beside the bait. As margins tighten and compliance reporting gets tougher, skippers are looking at electronics that trim labour, prove sustainability, and squeeze more data from every tow. The latest wave of smart hardware is designed to bolt straight onto existing rigs, so you don’t need a new vessel budget to get involved. Below are the three stand-outs already appearing alongside more traditional commercial fishing gear for sale this season.

Top Innovations

• Acoustic net sensors – Button-size pingers relay net shape, depth and water temperature to a wheelhouse tablet in real time, letting you correct warp length before the doors sag.
• AI-enabled by-catch cameras – Compact 4K units with onboard machine-learning chips auto-tag protected species and email clips to MPI, cutting paperwork to minutes.
• Autonomous pot haulers – Electric winches with lidar detect when a buoy is alongside and self-tail the rope; a single deckhand can now clear 150 pots an hour without breaking stride.

Integration Tips

1. Check hydraulic flow: autonomous haulers need ≥ 18 L/min or a 48 V DC feed—most vessels can meet this with a pump upgrade.
2. Network first: acoustic sensors and AI cams speak NMEA 2000, so a backbone cable simplifies firmware updates.
3. Battery smarts: lithium packs hate salt spray; mount them in IP67 boxes and schedule a monthly 80 % → 20 % discharge cycle to preserve cells.
4. Trial before bulk-buying—most suppliers offer two-week demos that let crews decide if the gizmos earn their keep.

Gear Up and Get Fishing

With 15 proven suppliers—from value-packed second-hand marketplaces to high-tech sensor brands—you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to commercial fishing gear for sale in 2025. Short-list the outlets that stock equipment sized for your vessel, certified for your quota species and realistic for your budget, then lock in lead times so hulls aren’t idling at the berth while parts sit on a courier van.

The golden rule remains: buy once, fish often. Prioritise durability, MPI compliance and after-sales support; the cheapest option becomes expensive the moment it fails mid-tow. Ready to tick all three boxes in one purchase? Jump over to Action Outdoors, talk to the team, and ship out fully kitted before the next weather window opens.