Yellowtail Kingfish (also known as Kingfish, Haku, Yellowtail) 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 Yellowtail Kingfish is 75 cm and the daily bag limit is 3 (within a combined bag of 5 shared with hāpuku/groper and bass). There is no closed season in NZ.
No closed season
Kingfish has a 75 cm minimum legal size. You may keep up to 3 kingfish, but they sit inside a combined daily bag of 5 shared with hāpuku/groper and bass — so no more than 3 of that 5 can be kingfish. All of these also count toward the area's overall combined daily limit of 20 finfish per person (effective 5 May 2022). Trophy kingfish are long-lived; many anglers release the big 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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