Luke Nobilo's Fishing Tips

Published on 29 June 2026

The Tūtūkākā Coast is one of Whangārei's great marine playgrounds, known for fishing, diving, wildlife encounters and unforgettable days on the water.

Fish Tūtūkākā skipper Luke Nobilo — recently seen on Off the Grid with Colin and Manu, streaming on TVNZ+ — shares his local tfvips and expert advice to help you hook the catch of the day and discover some of the incredible marine life found off the Whangārei coast.

There are so many different fishing options in Whangārei. Each offers a slightly different experience, with different fish and terrain. Bream Bay, Ruakākā and Whangārei Harbour are completely different from Tūtūkākā. There's a lot of ground to explore - I fish mostly from the Hen and Chicks to Cape Brett.

Can you share your secret spots?

I wouldn't say I have secret spots; it's more about working out seasonal trends and spawning patterns. In winter, fish tend to stay closer to the coast. In the heat of summer, often heading deeper - 60 to 80 metres is a good general area. Fish can be spooky and shy when the sun is high or when there's a lot of boat traffic, so during the heat of the day summer fishing can be hit and miss. It's best to head out at dawn or dusk.

What types of fish do you normally catch?

Catches are mostly snapper, tarakihi, trevally, hāpuka and kingfish. Around the Poor Knights, the topography outside the reserve holds plenty of interesting reef structures, and you can get kingfish year-round. There can be a lot of sharks, though. If you're targeting kingfish, I always say that as soon as you get a shark, move away. You don't want to encourage sharks — if they know they can get an easy feed, they'll hang around.

What is the best bait to use?

I tend to use small baits, so we're not feeding the fish too aggressively, particularly in summer. Small cubes of pilchard can help trigger their feeding instincts when they're not hungry. Once they're active, I switch to other fresh bait. My favourite is fresh jack mackerel — you can catch anything with jack mackerel. It's readily available along the coast and can be used dead or live to target anything from john dory to marlin.

Tell us about game fishing in Tūtūkākā

Over the past three years the seasons have started early, with fish showing up in November. It used to generally start around Christmas. We've also seen the return of yellowfin tuna, which is awesome.

At the start of the season, we're mostly fishing the 200m shelf and beyond. Later in the season as the bait moves closer to shore we tend to hang closer and the 100m line can really fire up. March is generally my favourite month. You're not heading so far, and there's lots of action, like whales, dolphins and work-ups.

Do you often see whales?

It's pretty common to see whales on the Tūtūkākā Coast. One November, we counted nine between the harbour and the Poor Knights. There's a variety of whales, but one of my favourites is the Bryde's whale. You'll see them plunge feeding, which is a spectacular sight.

What other wildlife might you see?

I skipper the world-renowned The Petrel Station Seabird Tours run by Scott Brooks, where you can encounter thousands of pelagic sea birds in one of the most diverse seabird locations on earth, with many species being very significant to our area, plus there's plenty of other wildlife. One trip last spring, along with all the seabirds, we saw whales, dolphins, tuna, marlin, manta rays, sunfish, seals and even a great white shark. The seabird tours and scenic trips observing the marine reserves are an epic opportunity for visitors.

I want people to experience that abundance and understand why looking after our oceans is critical. It's not just about catching fish - it's about seeing and appreciating what's out there, what's possible, and respecting it.

How do you focus on sustainability?

I don't fish to catch everything — We target the fish we catch. I pay close attention to migration patterns and habitats. If there's a spot that's fishing well, rather than flog it, we'll move on to help maintain healthy stocks.

Respecting the Poor Knights Marine Reserve is extremely important. Most navigation systems will have it clearly marked, but if you're unsure, remember there is no fishing of any kind within 800 metres of the islands, stacks and rocks. There can also be additional fishing or shellfish rules along the coast, so always check signage and local rules.

Best place to launch your boat?

Tūtūkākā Marina is the best place to launch. There's safe parking, a minimal fee, and no four-wheel drive is needed.

Best place to grab a bite?

Schnappa Rock for dinner, Marina Woodfired Pizzeria for a pre-fishing bite, or Salt Air for first-thing coffee.

Favourite way to eat your catch of the day?

That's tough! There are so many options. We use the whole fish. Tuna is my favourite for sashimi, hāpuka grilled is always a crowd-pleaser, and most fresh fish never goes astray beer battered. There's no waste - I also smoke the heads and frames.

What was it like filming Off the Grid with Colin and Manu?

Taking Colin and Manu out was great fun. They're good, down-to-earth blokes. They went hard and gave it 100% (even eating bait). Despite seeing so many amazing places, you could tell they still really appreciated the experience.

I've been running Fish Tūtūkākā for the past five years, but I've been in the charter industry for more than 20. I've worked all around New Zealand, including on liveaboards off the West Coast chasing giant tuna and many seasons at the Three Kings. It's not the first time I've filmed on the water – I've worked in the film industry and was part of the crew for Whale Rider, some of which was filmed on the Tūtūkākā Coast.

The Fish Tūtūkākā charter boat is 32ft and can take up to 12 people, but six is ideal for serious fishing. Tour options include fishing, snorkelling diving and gamefishing. For information on the Petrel Station Seabird Tours, visit thepetrelstation.nz

Thank you to Luke from Fish Tūtūkākā for sharing his top tips! The Whangārei episode of TVNZ's Off the Grid with Colin and Manu originally aired on 12 July 2026 on TVNZ 1 and is available to watch on TVNZ+. Discover their itinerary and recipes at the links below.