Maraetai Wharf Fishing: Squid, Snapper and Sprats

Last updated October 2026

Maraetai Wharf runs out from the middle of Maraetai Beach, about 24 km east of Auckland’s city centre on the Tāmaki Strait. It is a short wharf that reaches water of moderate depth, and East Auckland’s local paper rates it a favourite with families and casual anglers.

Kids catch sprats and jack mackerel off it, snapper take baits cast further out, and squid come in after dark. Maraetai Park, with toilets and two playgrounds, is right beside it.

At a Glance

Location

Middle of Maraetai Beach, off Maraetai Coast Road, Maraetai

Water

Tāmaki Strait, Hauraki Gulf (sea)

Main species

Sprats, jack mackerel, snapper; squid at night

Best time

Evening and after dark for squid; moving water around the tide changes for snapper

Suits

Families, kids and casual anglers

Getting there

About 24 km east of central Auckland by car; buses stop beside Maraetai Park

Parking

Roadside along the beach and in Maraetai Park

Toilets

Maraetai Park, beside the playground

Tide port

Maraetai (LINZ secondary port of Auckland)

Cost

Free

The Background

The wharf splits a beach about a kilometre long. The sand to the west is usually called Maraetai Beach and the sand to the east Ōhinerangi Beach, though there is little difference between them. Both are sheltered and busy with swimmers in summer, and pōhutukawa shade the grassy reserve at the eastern end.

Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki are mana whenua here. The beach west of the wharf was traditionally called Pōhaturoa, and from 1837 the missionary William Fairburn ran a mission at Maraetai where many Ngāi Tai and Ngāti Pāoa people lived. Umupuia, just along the coast to the east, has a marae.

The wharf is the centre of the village waterfront. The Maraetai Walkway runs west from it to Beachlands, crossing Te Puru Creek, and the Maraetai Beach Boat Club and a concrete boat ramp sit at the northern end of Maraetai Park.

On hot days people jump off the wharf at high tide, a habit that has led to injuries over the years.

How to Fish Maraetai Wharf

Where and when

The wharf is short, so most anglers fish from the end, where the water is deepest. Drop small baits beside the wharf for sprats and jack mackerel, and cast further out for snapper.

Sand runs out under the inner part of the wharf, so the end is the place to be. Moving water around the tide changes usually fishes better than the slack. Squid are an after-dark target, and the wharf is quieter once the swimmers have gone home.

What to catch and what to use

• Sprats and jack mackerel: a sabiki or small-hook rig with a little berley. This is how most kids get their first fish here, and the catch makes fresh bait for snapper.
• Snapper: fresh bait, such as a strip of jack mackerel or squid, on a running sinker or ledger rig cast away from the wharf.
• Squid: after dark on a squid jig, worked slowly back towards the wharf.

What to bring

Berley, a squid jig and a headlamp for the evening, a bucket for bait, and a drop net or long-handled landing net for anything bigger than a sprat. Bring bait with you; the nearest tackle shop listed below is in Clevedon.

Getting There and Facilities

• Road: Maraetai is about 24 km east of central Auckland, reached by Maraetai Drive and Maraetai Coast Road.
• Parking: roadside parking along the beach, and a car park inside Maraetai Park at 194 Maraetai Drive.
• Bus: Auckland Transport buses stop beside Maraetai Park. Check the AT journey planner for times.
• Toilets: accessible toilets and changing rooms in the Maraetai Park car park, by the playground. They open 7am to 9pm in summer and 7am to 7pm in winter.
• Family: two beachfront playgrounds, picnic tables and a basketball half-court in Maraetai Park, and cafés along the road behind the beach.
• Dogs: on a leash in the car park, at the boat ramp and near the playground when it is in use; not allowed on the playground.
• Swimming and walks: for the beach itself, see our Maraetai Beach guide.

Rules and Safety

• Sea fishing here follows MPI’s Auckland and Kermadec rules. The Tāmaki Strait is in Auckland East, where some limits differ from Auckland West. No licence is needed.
• Cockle gathering is closed at Umupuia Beach, from Te Puea to Whakakaiwhara Point, from 7 August 2026 to 6 August 2028. Check MPI before taking shellfish anywhere along this coast.
• Swimmers and jumpers use the wharf on summer days. Look before you cast, and keep hooks and jigs off the deck when kids are around.
• Keep small children in lifejackets on the wharf.
• Check Safeswim for water quality at Maraetai Beach, especially after heavy rain.

Tackle and Bait Nearby

• Top Catch Clevedon, 22 Papakura-Clevedon Road, Clevedon: bait, berley and tackle, open from early morning.

Official Sources for Maraetai Wharf

Common Questions

Where is Maraetai Wharf?
In the middle of Maraetai Beach, beside Maraetai Park and Maraetai Coast Road, about 24 km east of Auckland’s city centre.

What can you catch at Maraetai Wharf?
Sprats and jack mackerel close to the wharf, snapper on baits cast further out, and squid after dark.

Is Maraetai Wharf good for kids?
Yes. It is short, the sprats and jack mackerel are easy to catch on small hooks, and there are toilets and playgrounds next door. Keep small children in lifejackets.

When is the best time to fish?
Evening and after dark for squid. For snapper, fish from the end of the wharf while the tide is moving; it usually fishes better than the slack.

Do I need a fishing licence?
No. Sea fishing in New Zealand needs no licence, but MPI’s Auckland and Kermadec size and daily limits apply.

Where do I park?
Along the road behind the beach, or in the Maraetai Park car park at 194 Maraetai Drive.

Can I gather shellfish nearby?
Not cockles at Umupuia Beach, just east of Maraetai, which is closed from 7 August 2026 to 6 August 2028. Check MPI’s closures before gathering anywhere on this coast.

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