Fishing Net Guide & FAQ — Free Download

The minimum legal mesh size for flounder set nets is 100mm (4 inches). Action Outdoors flounder nets use the standard 100mm mesh. For South Island, different mesh configurations may apply depending on your region — check MPI rules for your specific area.

Flounder fishing is best during the warmer months (October–April). They feed most actively at dawn and dusk, especially on incoming tides over sandy or muddy estuarine flats. Full moon periods and the two hours either side of high tide are prime time.

Both work well but for different situations. Set nets (20m–60m) are ideal for overnight fishing in estuaries and harbours — set them across sandy/muddy flats on the tide. Drag nets (15m–40m) are great for active beach fishing where you walk the net through shallow water. Drag nets give quicker results but require more effort.

The combined daily limit is 20 flatfish per person in most areas. This includes all flounder species (sand, yellow-belly, black, lemon sole). Always check MPI rules for your specific fisheries management area as limits vary.

The minimum legal mesh size for grey mullet is 90mm in most of the North Island (set and drag nets), and 100mm in some areas. Action Outdoors offers 90mm and 100mm mullet nets. The 90mm is the most versatile for North Island use, while 100mm is legal everywhere in NZ.

Grey mullet thrive where freshwater meets saltwater — river mouths, estuaries, tidal creeks, and harbour edges. Top spots include the Kaipara Harbour, Manukau Harbour, Waikato River mouth, Tauranga Harbour, and Raglan. Look for murky, brackish water with mud or sand bottoms.

Both work, but they have different strengths. Mono mesh is more affordable and easier to maintain — great for recreational use. Multi-mono mesh tangles fish more effectively (higher catch rate) but is harder to clear. If you're fishing regularly, multi-mono is worth the investment.

Snapper set nets use 125mm (5-inch) mesh as standard. For larger snapper, the 140mm (5½-inch) net is popular. Action Outdoors also offers a 160mm (6¼-inch) heavy-duty option for targeting trophy fish. The multi-mono 36MD mesh versions are the most effective at tangling snapper.

No — drag nets are not permitted for snapper in New Zealand. Snapper must be caught using set nets (or other legal methods like line fishing). Set your net on rocky/reef edges, foul ground, or near channel drop-offs where snapper feed.

Daily limits vary by area. In SNA 1 (upper North Island including Auckland, Hauraki Gulf), the limit has been 5 per person but check MPI for the latest rules. Set net restrictions also apply in some harbours and around marine reserves.

Butterfish nets typically use 108mm mesh (bronze or clear mono). The bronze mesh is more visible to fish but extremely durable in kelp and reef environments. Clear mono is less visible and better for clear water. Both are effective — bronze for rough terrain, clear for calmer spots.

Butterfish (greenbone) live around rocky reefs and kelp beds. They're most common in the lower North Island and throughout the South Island. Set your net along kelp edges, rocky outcrops, and reef drop-offs. They're a daytime feeder, so set nets in the morning for best results.

Piper (garfish) are a baitfish species caught with small-mesh nets — 25mm (1-inch) mesh. Action Outdoors stocks mono piper bait nets from 10m to 100m, plus drag nets and cast nets. The 25mm mesh is the standard for piper and other baitfish species.

Piper fall under the combined baitfish daily limit of 50 per person. There's no minimum size. They're found in schools near the surface in harbours, estuaries, and around wharves — perfect for cast netting or drag netting from shore.

Action Outdoors stocks small (boat use), medium, and large cray pots plus collapsible models. For most recreational use from a boat, a standard pot is fine. For beach/rock fishing, a collapsible pot is easier to transport. All pots must have escape gaps meeting MPI requirements.

Rules have changed significantly in 2026. Key updates: the east coast of CRA 1 (Te Ārai to Cape Rodney) and inner Hauraki Gulf have new closures. Daily limits are typically 6 per person but vary by CRA area. Minimum sizes differ between spiny and packhorse lobster, and between male and female. Always check the latest MPI rules before heading out.

Use 10mm–12mm sinking rope for cray pots. Action Outdoors stocks High Spec, Superdan, Duradan, and Southern Aquatec brands. Sinking rope keeps your line on the seafloor and away from propellers. You'll need 2–3x the depth of water in rope length, plus a float/buoy at the surface.

No permit is required for recreational net fishing in New Zealand. However, you must follow MPI rules for your area including mesh sizes, net lengths, daily limits, and restricted areas. Commercial fishing requires a quota management system (QMS) allocation.

Visit the MPI website at mpi.govt.nz/fishing-aquaculture/recreational-fishing/fishing-rules and search by your region. Rules vary significantly between fisheries management areas.