Tarakihi (also known as Jackass Morwong, Terakihi) in New Zealand (FMA1 — Auckland & northeast). Minimum legal size, daily bag limit, possession limit — verified against the Fisheries New Zealand guide, 2026.
In New Zealand (FMA1 — Auckland & northeast), the minimum legal size for Tarakihi is 25 cm and the daily bag limit is 20 finfish combined (no separate per-species limit — see notes). There is no closed season in NZ.
No closed season
Tarakihi has a 25 cm minimum legal size and no individual daily sub-limit in the Auckland & Kermadec area — it is capped only by the combined daily limit of 20 finfish per person (which since 5 May 2022 includes all finfish). Tarakihi has been the focus of a national stock-rebuild programme, so settings can change — check the current Fisheries New Zealand rules before you fish.
These limits are pulled from the Fisheries New Zealand recreational fishing rules (Auckland & Kermadec area). Last verified June 2026.
Always check the official guide before keeping any fish. Regulations change. Fisheries New Zealand (Tini a Tangaroa), Ministry for Primary Industries updates its guide annually and occasionally mid-year. Fines for over-bag or undersized fish are significant.
New Zealand does not require any licence to fish recreationally in the sea — saltwater fishing is open to everyone, subject to the size, bag and method rules. A licence from Fish & Game New Zealand is required only to fish for freshwater sports fish (trout and salmon).
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