Last updated October 2026
Leigh Harbour, also called Omaha Cove, is a small, sheltered fishing port on the east coast about an hour and a half north of Auckland. You can fish from the public wharf, launch at the one-lane ramp beside it, or head out to the reefs for snapper, kingfish and John Dory. The rules around it changed in a big way.
On 25 October 2025 the Cape Rodney-Okakari Point (Goat Island) Marine Reserve grew to nearly four times its size and now reaches 3 km offshore, with its southern corner only about 1 km north of the wharf. Since 12 March 2026 you also cannot gather bait such as squid, octopus, crabs or mussels along this coast.
At a Glance
- Location
- Leigh Wharf Reserve, 24 Hauraki Road, Leigh
- Water
- Ōmaha Bay, outer Hauraki Gulf, east coast (sea)
- Main species
- Snapper, kahawai and trevally; kingfish and John Dory on the reefs
- Getting there
- About 1.5 hours’ drive from Auckland; 21 km from Warkworth
- Toilets
- At Leigh Wharf Reserve
- Dogs
- On a leash at all times at the wharf reserve; not allowed at Goat Island
- No fishing
- Cape Rodney-Okakari Point Marine Reserve, now out to 3 km offshore
- Bait closure
- No gathering of seaweed or invertebrates (except kina) within 200 m of shore until 11 March 2028
- Tide port
- Leigh (LINZ standard port)
- Rules
- MPI Auckland and Kermadec (Auckland East); no licence needed for sea fishing
- Low 5:39 am 0.6 m
- High 11:58 am 2.4 m
- Low 6:07 pm 0.7 m
Best times today: around 5:39 am, 11:58 am and 6:07 pm (2 hours either side of each tide change), and around 4:57 am and 5:22 pm (moon overhead and underfoot).
Moving water around the tide changes usually fishes best. Full 7-day Auckland tides ›
Tide predictions: LINZ (CC BY 3.0 NZ). Predictions only; actual tides vary with weather.
Getting to Know Leigh Harbour
Leigh sits on the western side of Omaha Cove, south of Cape Rodney, 13 km from Matakana and 21 km from Warkworth. The harbour is sheltered, deep enough for the commercial fleet, and busy.
Leigh Fisheries started here in 1957 as a small cooperative factory and smokehouse, and its long-line boats still work out of the harbour, selling snapper under the Lee Fish name.
Just north of the town is New Zealand’s first no-take marine reserve, established in 1975 after a push by Dr Bill Ballantine, first director of the University of Auckland’s Leigh Marine Laboratory on the cliffs above it.
Research there found that mature snapper inside the reserve produce about ten times more young than the same area of fished water. The 2025 extension under the Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Act moved the offshore boundary from 800 m to about 3 km.
This is the rohe of Ngāti Manuhiri. Te Hāwere-a-Maki (Goat Island) is central to the iwi’s identity, and Wakatūwhenua, just along the coast, was the landing place of the Moekākara waka. The Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust asked for the 2026 shellfish and seaweed closure and placed a matching rāhui on the coast, so please respect both.
The walkway around the north side of the harbour has been closed since a landslide in November 2022, and DOC said in 2024 that it could not be fully reinstated. Shore anglers mostly fish from the wharf, or drive a few minutes south to Ti Point.
How to Fish Leigh Harbour
From the wharf
The public fishes from the wharf among the commercial boats. The local business association asks anglers to wind in their lines whenever a boat comes in to dock, and divers who use the wharf are asked to watch for people fishing. Expect snapper, kahawai and trevally, and fish it when the fleet is quiet.
Reefs and boat spots
- Daniel’s Reef: between Leigh Harbour and Te Kohuroa / Mathesons Bay. Fish the outside edge where it drops to about 20 m for snapper, trevally and John Dory.
- Leigh Reef: a large reef just out of the harbour, known for big summer kingfish plus snapper and John Dory. It is very exposed to swell and wind. Check its position against the new reserve boundary on your chartplotter before you fish it.
- Ti Point: big boulders drop off to sand, with snapper and trevally. Ti Point wharf, at the end of Ti Point Road, is a good spot for kids to try for snapper or kahawai.
- North of Cape Rodney: now inside the marine reserve. Rodney Reef, about 2 km north of the cape, is very likely inside the extended reserve. Do not fish it.
Tactics for big snapper
A Hauraki Gulf fishing report from 1 October 2026 named Leigh among the spots producing trophy snapper. The advice: fish shallow, kelpy reefs and foul close to shore, especially in a wind. Soft baits are good for searching, but bait and berley is more consistent for the biggest fish.
Cast large, lightly weighted or unweighted baits such as half a kahawai, octopus, mullet or trevally slabs back into the berley trail, and drop to a lighter fluorocarbon leader when the water is clear.
Kayaks
The harbour is sheltered, but the mouth is busy with commercial and recreational boats, and once you are outside the swell builds quickly off Cape Rodney. Wear a lifejacket, carry a radio or phone in a waterproof bag, and stay south of the reserve line.
Bait
Bring all your bait with you. Gathering squid, octopus, crabs, mussels and other shellfish within 200 m of the coast is banned until March 2028, so you cannot collect bait off the rocks.
Rules and Safety
- Marine reserve: the Cape Rodney-Okakari Point Marine Reserve runs from Cape Rodney to Okakari Point and, since 25 October 2025, about 3 km offshore. Nothing can be taken: no fishing, shellfish, shells or driftwood. Its southern corner is about 1 km north of the Leigh wharf, so a boat heading north or north-east from the harbour reaches it quickly. Load DOC’s boundary file into your chartplotter, and stow rods out of sight while travelling through.
- Ōmaha Bay closure: from 12 March 2026 to 11 March 2028 MPI has closed the coast between the Cape Rodney-Okakari Point and Tāwharanui marine reserves, out to 200 m, to taking any seaweed or invertebrates, including crabs, mussels, octopus, squid, pāua, limpets and cat’s eyes. Kina are excluded. It is not a finfish ban.
- Crayfish: closed both sides of Leigh: Cape Rodney to Port Jackson since 1 April 2025, and Pārengarenga Harbour to Cape Rodney since 1 April 2026.
- Fishing rules: MPI’s Auckland and Kermadec rules apply, and Leigh is in Auckland East. No licence is needed for sea fishing.
- Weather: this is the east coast. East and north-east winds and swell make the reefs and Cape Rodney dangerous. DOC advises staying out of the water at Goat Island in east or north-east winds over 20 knots or swell over 1 m, which is a good guide for small boats and kayaks too.
Getting There and Facilities
- Road: about 1.5 hours from Auckland via SH1 to Warkworth, then through Matakana to Leigh. The wharf reserve is at 24 Hauraki Road.
- Boat ramp: one-lane concrete ramp beside the wharf, with limited parking. Sources disagree on how well it works at low and high tide, so check it before you rely on it.
- Alternative ramp: Omaha has a three-lane ramp with more parking, launching into the sheltered Whangateau Harbour.
- Toilets: at Leigh Wharf Reserve.
- Dogs: on a leash at all times at the wharf reserve. Dogs are not allowed at the Goat Island marine reserve.
Tackle and Bait Nearby
- Hunting & Fishing Warkworth, Woodcocks Road, Warkworth, about 21 km away. We could not confirm a tackle shop in Leigh or Matakana.
Official Sources
DOC: Cape Rodney-Okakari Point Marine Reserve boundaries: the extended reserve map and GPS file.
MPI: Ōmaha Bay temporary closure: what you cannot gather along this coast until March 2028.
MPI Auckland and Kermadec fishing rules: current limits and closures for the area.
Common Questions
Can you fish from Leigh wharf?
Yes. People fish from the public wharf, but wind your line in when boats come in to dock.
How close is the marine reserve to Leigh Harbour?
Since 25 October 2025 the Cape Rodney-Okakari Point reserve reaches 3 km offshore, and its southern corner is only about 1 km north of the wharf. Use DOC’s map or boundary file.
Can I gather bait at Leigh?
No. Gathering seaweed and invertebrates such as squid, octopus, crabs and mussels within 200 m of the coast is banned until 11 March 2028. Kina are excluded.
What can you catch at Leigh?
Snapper, kahawai and trevally from the wharf and nearby reefs, with kingfish and John Dory on the reefs offshore.
Is there a boat ramp at Leigh?
Yes, a one-lane concrete ramp beside the wharf with limited parking. Omaha has a bigger three-lane ramp.
Can you catch crayfish at Leigh?
No. Crayfish are closed on both sides of Leigh, from Pārengarenga Harbour to Port Jackson.
How far is Leigh from Auckland?
About 1.5 hours’ drive north, via Warkworth and Matakana.
Do I need a licence?
No licence is needed for sea fishing, but MPI’s Auckland and Kermadec rules apply.
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