Fishing Tackle New Zealand: 15 Best Online & Local Stores
Looking for a one-stop list of places to buy rods, reels, lures and everything in between? This guide lines up 15 proven fishing-tackle retailers—brick-and-mortar shops and slick online stores alike—so you can order gear from Cape Rēinga to Bluff without trawling through dozens of tabs. Whether you chase snapper by kayak or stalk trout in the back-country, you’ll find options to match every budget and skill level.
We start with nationwide outlets, then head north to south, finishing with South Island specialists. For each store you’ll see a swift snapshot of its range, price-points, hero products, and handy extras such as click-and-collect, overnight freight, or loyalty discounts.
Use the comparison notes to weigh up stock availability, delivery costs, and added perks before you fill your cart. Then click through to the outfit that suits your style—saltwater soft-baiter, freshwater fly-flinger, surf-casting weekender, or big-game fanatic.
1. Action Outdoors (Auckland Flagship & Nationwide Online)
Auckland-based Action Outdoors bridges the gap between specialist tackle shop and full-blown marine chandlery, making it a smart first stop for anglers who also skipper boats, tow caravans, or need industrial cordage.
Quick Overview
Founded by keen Kiwi fishos, the 600 m² Onehunga showroom carries wall-to-wall rods, reels, and nets alongside Trojan trailer hubs and Victory Knives. If you’re outside Auckland, actionoutdoors.kiwi mirrors the lot online with live stock levels and secure overnight dispatch across New Zealand.
Must-Check Tackle & Brands
- Shimano, Penn, Okuma boat and land-based combos
- Mono, braid, and fluorocarbon sold by the metre
- Soft-baits, sliders, inchiku jigs, sabiki and flasher rigs
- NZ-made butterfish, flounder, and snapper set nets
- Trojan trailer parts, ropes, chain, and plug-n-play electronics
Reasons to Choose Action Outdoors
- Sharp web pricing, plus a “Specials” tab updated weekly
- Free shipping over $149 and same-day courier on orders placed before 2 pm
- Knowledgeable staff and dropship access for hard-to-find tackle
2. Burnsco (40+ Stores Nationwide)
You’ll spot the blue-and-white Burnsco logo at most marinas, boat ramps and highway retail parks across Aotearoa. The company began way back in 1882 supplying chandlery to coastal traders; these days its 40-plus outlets and slick web store give Kiwi anglers an easy way to grab bait, berley, and bilge pumps in the same run. If you’re a trailer-boat owner who likes one invoice for fuel filters, safety gear, and fishing tackle, Burnsco is hard to beat.
Quick Overview
Each branch stocks a core range of rods, reels and consumables, then tweaks the shelves for local species—think kingfish jigs up north and blue-cod rigs down south. The online warehouse mirrors store inventory with live stock levels, and click-and-collect can have an order waiting within two hours. Burnsco Club members earn points and enjoy monthly discount vouchers, so regular shoppers quickly offset membership fees.
Must-Check Tackle & Brands
- Salt-water workhorses: Shimano Baitrunner reels, Kilwell Live-Fibre boat rods
- Ready-to-drop longline sets, sand-grab anchors and berley pots for set-and-forget missions
- Burnsco-branded chilly bins, bait boards, folding fillet knives—solid value for weekend fishos
- Lure wall stacked with Ocean Angler Sliders, Z-Man soft-baits, jig heads, and sabiki traces
Reasons to Choose Burnsco
- Two-hour click-and-collect plus nationwide overnight courier from the central warehouse
- Burnsco Club gives 5–10 % off most purchases and early access to clearance sales
- Frequent multi-buy bundles—rod/reel/line or flounder light kits—ideal for newcomers gearing up fast
3. Discount Fishing Supplies (Online Specialist, Christchurch HQ)
Need a bargain bundle of hooks or an electric reel delivered fast? Discount Fishing Supplies has run its streamlined web-only store from a Christchurch warehouse since the early 2000s, carving out a reputation for bulk deals and sharp clearance pricing. Orders ship the same day you pay, and locals can swing by the dispatch door for pickup—handy when a Nor’west suddenly turns glassy and you’re short on traces.
Quick Overview
Family owned and staffed by dyed-in-the-wool South Island anglers, the business leans heavily on volume buying to keep prices low. The site is stripped of fluff—just search, add to cart, and check the live freight calculator for your postcode.
Must-Check Tackle & Brands
- Game-fish terminal gear: crimps, wind-ons, Jap swivels to 600 lb
- Deep-drop electric reels from Banax and Miya Epoch
- House-brand 13-ft surf rods that punch over the shore break at Westport
- Value multi-packs of chemically-sharpened hooks and sinkers by the kilo
Reasons to Choose Discount Fishing Supplies
- Tiered “buy more, save more” pricing perfect for club group orders
- $5 overnight courier within the South Island; flat $9.90 to the North
- Regular “Warehouse Clearout” page—keep an eye out for half-price braid
4. Complete Angler (Christchurch, Queenstown & Online)
If your fishing calendar runs on river flows and mayfly hatches, Complete Angler is the store you bookmark. With a flagship super-store in Christchurch, a boutique in Queenstown, and a tidy e-commerce site, this specialist retailer caters to trout purists while still covering all-round tackle needs for the canals, lakes, and West Coast surf.
Quick Overview
Trading since the late 1970s, Complete Angler bills itself as New Zealand’s largest dedicated fishing shop. Many staff moonlight as licensed guides, so rod weight charts and hatch talk come free with every purchase. The online store mirrors in-house stock, offers live chat, and ships overnight to most postcodes.
Must-Check Tackle & Brands
- Premium fly rods: Sage, Scott, Hardy
- Simms waders, boots, and waterproof packs
- RIO, Scientific Anglers, and Airflo freshwater lines pre-looped
- Lure wall featuring Tassie Devils, Rapala CD-series, and soft-plastics for canal salmonids
Reasons to Choose Complete Angler
- Free casting lessons on Saturday mornings and while-you-wait reel spooling
- “Try-before-you-buy” demo programme—test rods on the Avon or Arrow rivers
- Loyalty card earns 5 % back in store credit plus birthday discounts
- Regular tying nights streamed online, perfect for out-of-town anglers
5. Hunting & Fishing New Zealand (50+ Franchise Stores)
From Kaitaia to Invercargill you’re rarely more than an hour’s drive from a Hunting & Fishing branch, making it the most accessible stop for stocking up on fishing tackle in New Zealand while grabbing ammo, camp cookware, or a new rain jacket at the same time. The chain’s franchise model means each store tweaks its shelves to match local waters, so you’ll see kingfish stick-baits up north, monster jig heads in Wellington, and trout nymphs galore down south.
Quick Overview
Launched in 1986, the network now tops 50 stores plus a slick web shop that offers live inventory, overnight courier, and free in-store returns. Staff are usually hunters and anglers themselves, and many stores post real-time bite updates on their Facebook pages—handy when you’re weighing a dawn mission.
Must-Check Tackle & Brands
- Salt-water: Offshore jigging sets, Ocean Angler soft-bait starter packs, spearfishing gear
- Fresh-water: Lamson reels, Airflo lines, Simms waders, region-specific fly selections
- Clothing & safety: Branded merino layers, buoyancy vests, and breathable waders
Reasons to Choose Hunting & Fishing
- Seasonal catalogue loaded with combo deals and “buy two, save 20 %” offers
- Flybuys and Airpoints both accepted—double dip on rewards while you gear up
- Click-and-collect in under two hours; free spool-up service with any new reel
- Locally written fishing reports on social channels give up-to-date intel before you hit the water
6. Kilwell Sports (Rotorua Headquarters & Stockists)
6. Kilwell Sports (Rotorua Headquarters & Stockists)
Quick Overview
Kilwell has been hand-building rods in Rotorua since 1933, earning legendary status among anglers hunting big kingfish or stalky back-country trout. The company designs, tests, and manufactures on site, then wholesales to tackle shops from Whangārei to Invercargill, with a tidy direct-to-consumer web store for fast top-ups. Because the brand controls its own factory, it can tweak tapers for New Zealand fisheries and keep spare parts on hand for decades—peace of mind when you snap a tip mid-mission.
Must-Check Tackle & Brands
- Iconic Jelly Tip boat rods—progressive glass tips married to graphite butts
- NZ-made black-stick game rods rated to 60 kg for striped-marlin season
- Kilwell “Toby” and Cobra trout lures in local colourways
- Carbon surf blanks, landing nets, and rod-building components for DIY tinkerers
Reasons to Choose Kilwell
- Lifetime blank warranty on most premium rods
- Online custom-build form lets you pick length, grip, and guide style
- Behind-the-scenes factory tour videos teach how Kiwi fishing tackle is born
7. Taupo Rod & Tackle (Central Plateau Destination Store)
Steps from Taupō’s lakefront, Taupo Rod & Tackle is the sort of boutique anglers build weekend missions around. The window bristles with fly rods, there’s a bench for on-the-spot fly repairs, and staff give unvarnished intel on river levels and hatches.
Quick Overview
Opened in 1994 by guide Rick Draft, the shop is laser-focused on Central Plateau trout but still stocks hand-picked spin and trolling outfits for the lake’s monster rainbows. Phone or website orders leave on the next courier run, or you can pick up curb-side before first light.
Must-Check Tackle & Brands
- G-Loomis NRX+ and Loop Q fly rods paired with Lamson reels
- Airflo SuperFlo and SA Amplitude lines tuned for windy NZ casts
- Custom smelt patterns, glo-bugs, and articulated streamers tied in-house
- Night-fishing kit: clip-on LEDs, glow mono, floating mesh catch bags
Reasons to Choose Taupo Rod & Tackle
- Same-day courier to North Island rivers plus free leader-knot demo in-store
- Twice-daily chalkboard updates on flows and insect hatches—gold for visiting anglers
8. Tackle Tactics NZ (Whakatāne Surfcasting Experts)
East Coast beaches need long casts, and few shops know surf gear better than Tackle Tactics NZ. From Whakatāne they’ve spent decades helping anglers punch baits past the break.
Quick Overview
Founded more than 25 years ago, the family-run showroom touches the Ōhope sand, so rods can be test-cast immediately. The website shows live stock, and couriers leave daily.
Must-Check Tackle & Brands
- Kilwell LGX and Graphex blanks for custom surf rods
- Break-out sinkers, pulley rigs, impact shields
- 60–100 lb shock-leader spools with Alvey clips
Reasons to Choose Tackle Tactics
- Free rig-building clinic every second Saturday
- Hook-card loyalty: buy 10, get 1 free
- Staff text tide reports to regulars on request
9. Flytackle NZ (Pure Online Fly Store)
If your idea of heaven is matching a size-16 CDC emerger to a sipping brown, park your browser at Flytackle NZ—the country’s only purely online fly-fishing boutique.
Quick Overview
Run by competition anglers who test every product on the NZ nationals circuit, the site focuses on premium freshwater gear and ships daily from a Wellington warehouse. Stock levels show in real time, checkout is slick, and parcels usually hit main-centre doorsteps overnight.
Must-Check Tackle & Brands
- Sage R8 Core and Redington combo outfits
- RIO Elite lines plus Guideline Fario tactical heads
- Euro-nymph kits: 10’6” 3-wt rods, micro tippet rings
- Fly-tying staples: CDC, slotted tungsten beads, UV resins
Reasons to Choose Flytackle NZ
- Free shipping on fly orders over $49
- Weekly video tutorials and pattern recipes emailed to members
- 30-day “fish it, love it” return window on rods
10. Ocean Angler (Auckland Innovation Hub)
Blending tackle shop, R & D lab, and online content factory, Ocean Angler is the brain-child of charter skipper Paul Senior. The brand started testing slow-pitch jigs on the Hauraki Gulf and now ships purpose-built lures and rods nationwide from its South Auckland warehouse. Videos, podcasts, and Facebook lives drop weekly, so you can learn the theory then order the exact rig minutes later—a neat loop for tech-savvy anglers chasing the latest edge.
Quick Overview
- NZ-owned, lure-centric retailer with a flagship web store and demo space in Manukau
- Heavy focus on product development for local snapper, kingfish, and kahawai
- Overnight courier to main centres; click-and-collect available Monday–Saturday
Must-Check Tackle & Brands
- Original Slider and Pocket Rocket slow-pitch jigs in NZ-specific colourways
- Z-Man ElaZtech soft-baits plus tungsten jig heads
- Yamashita stick-baits and bespoke Ocean Angler slow-jig rods
Reasons to Choose Ocean Angler
- In-house testing means gear is tuned for Kiwi conditions, not generic imports
- Engaged online community posting catch reports and answering rig questions
- Regular bundle deals—grab a rod, reel, and lure pack at “mates-rates” pricing
11. Marine Deals (Auckland Mega-Warehouse & Online)
Marine Deals took the old “one-day deal” concept and supersized it into a 24/7 fishing-gear marketplace. From an 8 000 m² warehouse five minutes from Auckland Airport the crew lists upward of 40 000 SKUs, pushes midnight flash sales, and pumps out hundreds of courier parcels before most people have finished breakfast. If you chase rock-bottom prices or enjoy the thrill of a ticking countdown timer, bookmark this site.
Quick Overview
- Pure e-commerce first, with an on-site showroom for click-and-collect orders
- Live inventory counts, price-drop alerts, and a “watchlist” so you never miss a bargain
- Overnight courier to main centres; rural deliveries typically two days
- Flexible payments: Afterpay, Laybuy, and GEM interest-free finance on high-ticket sonar or electric reels
Must-Check Tackle & Brands
- Daily flash deals on Shimano Stella, Daiwa Saltiga, and Penn Slammer combos
- Mystery soft-bait packs and hook bundles perfect for topping up the tackle box cheaply
- Wall-to-wall terminal tackle—buy 100 chemically sharpened hooks for less than a pub lunch
- Boat electronics corner: Garmin and Lowrance sounders often 30 % off RRP
Reasons to Choose Marine Deals
- Time-limited discounts create genuine savings if you’re quick on the trigger
- “Combo Builder” tool lets you mix any rod with any reel and see instant bundle pricing
- Free freight on orders over $199 and Saturday pickup available for last-minute missions
- 30-day returns with no restocking fee—great for impulse buys that don’t fit the quiver
12. Fish City (Hamilton, Albany, Tauranga & Web)
Fish City began life as a small Hamilton tackle shop in the late ’80s and has grown into a tri-city retail and boat-sales outfit that still feels authentically Kiwi. Walk through the door and you’ll see snapper rods on one side, Surtees hard-tops on the other, and a coffee machine humming in the middle—perfect for pondering whether you need a new chilly-bin or a 6-metre alloy rig.
Quick Overview
- Flagship mega-store in Te Rapa, plus branches in Albany and Tauranga, each with dedicated boat yards.
- Online shop shows real-time stock and lets you bundle tackle with electronics and safety gear.
- Click-and-collect in under two hours; nationwide courier for smaller items.
Must-Check Tackle & Brands
- Light-tackle snapper combos from Shimano and Daiwa.
- Salt-ice, Engel chilly bins, and insulated fish bags for mission planning.
- Waverunner PWC fishing kits and fully rigged Surtees packages with Garmin sounders.
Reasons to Choose Fish City
- Free in-store spool-up when you buy line or a new reel.
- Annual kids’ fishing comps and demo days—great family vibe.
- On-site finance for boats and big-ticket electronics simplifies the upgrade path.
13. GoFish Tackle (Wellington Coastal Specialists)
Tucked in Lower Hutt’s industrial belt, GoFish Tackle has become the go-to store for Wellingtonians braving the Cook Strait chop or chasing snapper off Kapiti Island.
Quick Overview
Privately owned since 2011, the showroom backs onto a warehouse that ships orders same afternoon. The online store shows live weather-based gear tips and carries everything from hapuku rigs to micro-jig outfits. Staff fish the south coast most evenings, so walk-ins get up-to-date reports on swell, wind, and which lure colours are firing. Click-and-collect is ready in 10 minutes.
Must-Check Tackle & Brands
- Daiwa Saltiga sets and heavy 300–600 g slow-pitch jigs
- Custom-rigged hapuku/groper traces with glow beads
- 50 lb wind-on leaders and fluorocarbon by the metre
Reasons to Choose GoFish
- Free same-day delivery across Hutt Valley suburbs
- “What’s Biting” blog updated weekly with harbour and coast intel
14. Wild Blue Tackle & Marine (Dunedin & Online)
Perched on Dunedin’s wharf precinct, Wild Blue is a family-owned outfit that caters to the hardy fishos and divers who roam Otago Harbour, the Catlins and Fiordland. The brick-and-mortar store shares stock levels with its slick webshop, so you can click “buy” from Bluff or pop in on the way to the ramp. Staff spear cray-pots and troll for southern bluefin on their days off, which shows in the no-nonsense advice and locally tuned gear they recommend.
Must-Check Tackle & Brands
- Southern bluefin tuna skirts, Halco Laser Pro bibbed minnows, and weighted spreader bars
- 80-wide Tiagra trolling outfits matched to bent-butt rollers
- Divers’ corner: stainless dive knives, cray loops, float lines and SMB reels
- Waterproof VHF radios and EPIRBs for fiord missions
Reasons to Choose Wild Blue
- In-store vacuum-pack service—drop your fillets after the weigh-in and head home odour-free
- 10 % student discount for Otago Uni Fishing & Dive Club members
- Free overnight courier on tackle orders over $149 to all South Island main centres
15. The Outdoorsman Headquarters (Rotorua Institution)
Rotorua’s lakes bubble with big rainbows, and since the early ’80s this independent outfit has been the town’s go-to pit-stop for tackle, camping kit, and even a fresh tin of ammo.
Quick Overview
Five minutes from Lake Rotorua’s main ramp, the store packs spinning, trolling, and fly gear beside tents and tramping boots. Staff fish the district most evenings, so their tips on wind shifts and smelt runs are reliably current.
Must-Check Tackle & Brands
- Down-rigger bombs and Scotty release clips for deep trolling
- Lead-core or copper line pre-spooled to your reel
- Smelt-pattern Tassie Devils, Cobras, and Black Magic Slim-Jims
- Shimano holiday spin combos pre-loaded with 6 lb mono
Reasons to Choose Outdoorsman HQ
Pick up your Rotorua Fish & Game licence at the counter, then hire waders, float-tubes, or landing nets—perfect for travellers packing light. Orders courier overnight nationwide, and lakeside motel delivery is free on weekdays.
Wrapping Up: Where Will You Reel In Your Next Bargain?
With fifteen trusted retailers on your radar, you’re spoilt for choice. Big nationwide chains promise convenience and aggressive combo deals; boutique stores dish out hyper-local intel; online-only operators let you refill the tackle box at midnight and still get overnight delivery. In other words, there’s no single “best” place to buy fishing tackle in New Zealand—only the one that ticks your boxes today.
Before you hit “add to cart”, weigh up the mix that matters to you: breadth of stock versus specialist gear, click-and-collect speed versus courier cost, and those sweet extras like loyalty points, free spool-ups, or knot-tying lessons. Compare, shortlist, then pounce while the bargain lasts.
Ready to start? Jump over to Action Outdoors to browse their full catalogue and sign up for specials—so the next time a hot lure colour drops, you’re first in line.