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Species Identification

Welcome to our New Zealand Marine Species Identification Page.  This Fish ID section has everything you need to know from hunting tips to legal lengths and limits, also spectacular underwater spearfishing videos .




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Bill Fish


We have a large variate of Bill fish in New Zealand please click to learn more.
 
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Blue Moki


Blue Moki like to reside beside rocky structure's and weed edge's. They are an easy fish to shoot and very often swim in pairs or small schools......
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Blue Cod


Blue cod known to the Maoris as rawaru, are endemic to New Zealand and are one of the best fish for eating.
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Blue Maomao


Blue Maomao are a species of fish that like to school around rocky structures, they are an easy fish to target.
 
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Butterfish or (Greenbone)


The green bone or butterfish, is found around New Zealand, in shallow reef areas where there is abundant brown seaweed......
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Crayfish or (Rocklobster)


The green bone or butterfish, is found around New Zealand, in shallow reef areas where there is abundant brown seaweed.....
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Flying Fish


Flying fish can be seen jumping out of waters worldwide. Their streamlined torpedo shaped bodies helps them gather enough speed underwater to break the surface, and their large, wing-like pectoral fins get them airborne.
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Goatfish


The New Zealand Goatfish also known as the red mullet can be easily identified by twin barbells hanging beneath its chin.
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Golden Snapper


By day, dusky brown shadows hover in the twilight above an undersea cave. Golden snapper or red snapper as some prefer are named after their red body which becomes apparent once brought to the surface
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Giant Boarfish


Giant boarfish (Paristiopterus la biosus) also known as sowfish have peculiar shaped characteristics, which distinguish them from other fish. The most commonly recognisable feature ....
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Hapuku


Polyprion Oxygeneios otherwise known as hapuka or grouper are a truly magnificent sight. A large, slow growing long lived species. Primarily a gun barrel grey colour.....
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John Dory


These distinctive fish are cardboard thin and barely visible head on. They are the master of illusion. The high dorsal fin with its extended rays, and out spread tail are.......
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Kahawai


Kahawai can be seen in most conditions or habitats, generally a good sign of bigger fish to come (Kingfish).....
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Kingfish


Kingfish, Yellow Tail, or Southern Kingfish (Seriola lalandi lalandi) are a solid-bodied elongated / compressed pelagic game fish......
 
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Mahi-mahi


A species which if found in tropical waters. With the warmer waters around January to April in the northern parts of the north island we are starting to see them every season. .......
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Pink Maomao


Pink maomao tend to live below depths of 10 metres, especially in areas around islands and headlands swept by currents. They grow to around 55 centimetres.They are excellent eating.
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Porae


An easily targeted species that is generally mistaken for snapper.  They like weed edges and  sandy areas......
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Shellfish


Scallops, Mussels, Paua. read about their habitat and hunting tips.......
 
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Snapper


Not many spearo’s need an introduction to the snapper.
Snapper (Pagrus auratus) as they are referred to scientifically - are probably one of the most abundant and prized fish speared in New Zealand.
.........
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Tarakihi


Found on weed lines usually just in smaller schools. Very often single fish are sighted. A good burley will bring them in. If you dive on the weed line and lay flat on the sand, use your hand to flick sand up.....
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Trevally


Trevally are schooling fish, most abundant in the warmer waters off the northern North Island but summer stragglers reach to banks peninsula......
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Trumpter


fish that is found in all depths, these fish will school with other species such as Blue Moki. Weed lines and gutters are a good place to start looking. An excellent eating fish..........
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Tuna


We have a great range of Tuna in New Zealand. Click to view more
About Us
 
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We are New Zealand's only 100% dedicated spearfishing  and freediving specialist that can offer you the complete experience.

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Safe Diving,

Mike Smith
Managing Director
Ocean Hunter Ltd
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