Last updated October 2026
Tatapouri is a reef platform and bay on State Highway 35 (Whangara Road), north of Makorori, with a two-lane concrete boat ramp and a holiday camp beside the water. It lies south of Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve, where all fishing is banned, so check where the boundary is before you fish further north.
The Tatapouri reef is also where Dive Tatapouri runs its wild stingray tours at low tide, so fish away from the tour area. Gisborne shore anglers catch snapper, kahawai, trevally and kingfish along this coast.
At a Glance
- Location
- Tatapouri, Whangara Road (SH35), north of Makorori and Gisborne
- Type
- Reef platform and sheltered bay with a boat ramp
- Water
- Pacific coast north of Gisborne (sea)
- Main species
- Gisborne shore species: snapper, kahawai, trevally and kingfish
- Boat ramp
- Two-lane concrete ramp at Tatapouri Bay
- Marine reserve
- Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve to the north: no fishing of any kind
- Toilets
- No council toilet at Tatapouri; nearest at Turihaua Beach and Makorori
- Tide port
- Gisborne (LINZ)
- Rules
- MPI Central; no licence needed
- Cost
- Free
- High 3:57 am 1.8 m
- Low 10:07 am 0.7 m
- High 4:19 pm 1.9 m
- Low 10:40 pm 0.6 m
Best times today: around 3:57 am, 10:07 am, 4:19 pm and 10:40 pm (2 hours either side of each tide change), and around 10:15 am and 10:37 pm (moon overhead and underfoot).
Moving water around the tide changes usually fishes best. Full 7-day Gisborne tides ›
Predictions only; actual tides vary with weather.
Setting and Background
Tatapouri Bay has a two-lane concrete boat ramp, and the Tatapouri Bay camp, with sites, cabins and glamping, sits at 516 Whangara Road. Dive Tatapouri, at 532 Whangara Road, runs reef ecology tours in which guides walk visitors across the reef at low tide to meet wild stingrays.
North of Tatapouri is Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve, 2,452 hectares set up in 1999, which runs from near the Waiomoko River mouth in the north to near the Pouawa River mouth in the south.
No fishing of any kind is allowed there, and DOC and Ngāti Konohi are currently reviewing the reserve, so its boundaries could change. Its southern end, near the Pouawa River, is further up the coast from Tatapouri; check DOC’s boundary map before fishing north of the bay.
MPI also lists two temporary closures on this coast, at Tangoiro/Waihirere and Motuoroi, with no finfish or shellfish to be taken. Check their locations on MPI’s map before fishing anywhere unfamiliar north of Gisborne.
How to Fish Tatapouri
Where and when
Fish the edges of the reef and the bay, staying clear of the area used by the stingray tours, which walk the reef at low tide. Calm days with little swell are the time to fish the reef. The boat ramp also gives easy access to the water for small boats.
What to catch
- Snapper and kahawai: the main shore catches on the Gisborne coast.
- Trevally and kingfish: also taken by Gisborne shore anglers.
- Local advice: ask at Hunting & Fishing Gisborne before heading north.
Getting There and Facilities
- Driving: follow SH35 (Whangara Road) north from Gisborne past Wainui and Makorori to Tatapouri.
- Boat ramp: a two-lane concrete ramp at Tatapouri Bay.
- Toilets: the council has none at Tatapouri; the nearest are at Turihaua Beach to the north and the Makorori car parks to the south.
- Camping: Tatapouri By The Sea at 516 Whangara Road has camping and a dump station; freedom camping is not listed here.
- More to do: for the stingray reef tours and the beach, see our Tatapouri Beach guide.
Rules and Safety
- Sea fishing follows MPI’s Central area rules. No licence is needed.
- Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve, to the north between the Pouawa and Waiomoko river mouths, is no-take: no fishing of any kind and no disturbing marine life. Check DOC’s boundary map, especially while the reserve is under review.
- Check MPI’s temporary closures at Tangoiro/Waihirere and Motuoroi before fishing further up the coast.
- Keep clear of the stingray tour groups on the reef, and do not feed fish.
- Reef platforms flood quickly on the incoming tide and are slippery. Watch the swell and the tide.
Tackle and Bait Nearby
- Hunting & Fishing Gisborne, 310 Gladstone Road: tackle, bait and local advice.
Helpful Resources
DOC: Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve boundaries: where the no-take reserve starts and ends.
MPI Central fishing rules: limits and temporary closures on the East Coast.
Dive Tatapouri: the reef tours that use the Tatapouri reef.
Tatapouri: Common Questions
Is Tatapouri in the marine reserve?
No. Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve starts further north, near the Pouawa River mouth. Check DOC’s map, as the reserve is under review.
Can I fish at Tatapouri?
Yes, from the reef edges and the bay. Keep away from the stingray tour area on the reef.
Is there a boat ramp at Tatapouri?
Yes, a two-lane concrete ramp at Tatapouri Bay.
What can I catch at Tatapouri?
Snapper and kahawai are the main shore catches on the Gisborne coast, with trevally and kingfish at times.
Are there toilets at Tatapouri?
There is no council toilet there. The nearest are at Turihaua Beach and the Makorori car parks.
Do I need a licence?
No. Sea fishing needs no licence, but MPI’s Central area limits apply.
Spotted something incorrect on this page? Let us know.
Sources and data notes 1
- Tides today: Tide predictions: LINZ (CC BY 3.0 NZ).