Last updated October 2026
Sponge Bay is a small bay on the eastern side of Poverty Bay, the next bay east of Kaiti Beach, with Tuamotu Island lying offshore. It is a monitored swim site and a popular surf beach, and anglers fish its sand and rocky edges.
Gisborne’s shore anglers catch snapper, kahawai, trevally and kingfish along this coast. There is a public toilet at the bay, and freedom camping is not allowed.
At a Glance
- Location
- East of Kaiti Beach, eastern side of Poverty Bay, Gisborne
- Type
- Small sandy bay with rocky edges and reef, Tuamotu Island offshore
- Water
- Poverty Bay (sea), inside the Gisborne harbour limits
- Main species
- Gisborne shore species: snapper, kahawai, trevally and kingfish
- Access
- Car park above the bay
- Toilets
- Public toilet at Sponge Bay (not wheelchair accessible)
- Camping
- Freedom camping prohibited
- Tide port
- Gisborne (LINZ)
- Rules
- MPI Central; no licence needed
- Cost
- Free
- High 2:57 am 1.9 m
- Low 9:08 am 0.6 m
- High 3:24 pm 1.9 m
- Low 9:45 pm 0.6 m
Best times today: around 2:57 am, 9:08 am, 3:24 pm and 9:45 pm (2 hours either side of each tide change), and around 9:31 am and 9:54 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
Sponge Bay sits between Kaiti Beach and Tuaheni Point, inside the Gisborne harbour limits, which run from Tuaheni Point to Young Nicks Head. Tuamotu Island lies off the bay and is in plain view from Kaiti Beach. The bay is listed among Gisborne’s popular surf beaches, so expect surfers in the water when there is a wave.
Tuamotu Island is not a simple walk across the sand. Local tramping club trips reach it at low tide by a wet reef walk with boulder-hopping, starting from the end of Kaiti Beach Road, and the trip depends on the swell. Do not try it on a rising tide or in a sea.
Gisborne District Council tests the water at Sponge Bay through the summer, and it rated suitable for swimming in the January 2025 round. Like all Gisborne beaches, it can be affected for two to three days after heavy rain.
How to Fish Sponge Bay
Where and when
Fish the rocky edges and the reef margins at either end of the bay, or cast from the sand when the surf is small. Keep clear of surfers in the middle of the bay. Calm, clear days are easiest; when a swell is running, stay well back from the rocks.
What to catch
- Snapper and kahawai: the main shore catches on the Gisborne coast.
- Trevally and kingfish: also taken by shore anglers around Gisborne.
- Local advice: ask at Hunting & Fishing Gisborne what is being caught in the bays east of the port.
Getting There and Facilities
- Parking: there is a car park above the bay.
- Toilets: Gisborne District Council lists a public toilet at Sponge Bay; it is not wheelchair accessible.
- Freedom camping: prohibited at Sponge Bay under the Tairāwhiti Freedom Camping Bylaw.
- Dogs: dogs must be on a leash in public places in the city area unless signed otherwise. Kaiti Beach and its dunes, next door, are dog-prohibited.
- More to do: for swimming, rock pools and the walk to Tuamotu Island, see our Sponge Bay guide.
Rules and Safety
- Sea fishing follows MPI’s Central area rules. No licence is needed, and MPI lists no closures at Sponge Bay.
- The bay is inside the Gisborne harbour limits. Under the Tairāwhiti Navigation Safety Bylaw, fishing gear must not obstruct navigation.
- Avoid swimming or gathering shellfish for two to three days after heavy rain, and cook any shellfish until the shells open.
- The reef walk to Tuamotu Island is wet and depends on the swell and tide. Do not get caught out by the rising tide.
- Rocks and reef edges are slippery and exposed to swell. Watch the sea and never turn your back on it.
Tackle and Bait Nearby
- Hunting & Fishing Gisborne, 310 Gladstone Road: tackle, bait and local advice.
Official Sources for Sponge Bay
MPI Central fishing rules: size limits, daily limits and closures for the East Coast.
Gisborne District Council: Can I swim here?: water quality testing and advice after rain.
Gisborne District Council: freedom camping: where you can and cannot camp.
Common Questions
Can I fish at Sponge Bay?
Yes. Anglers fish the sand and the rocky edges of the bay. Keep clear of surfers.
What can I catch at Sponge Bay?
Snapper and kahawai are the main shore catches on the Gisborne coast, with trevally and kingfish at times.
Can I walk to Tuamotu Island?
Only at low tide, by a wet reef walk with boulder-hopping from the end of Kaiti Beach Road, and only when the swell allows.
Is there a toilet at Sponge Bay?
Yes, a public toilet, although it is not wheelchair accessible.
Can I camp at Sponge Bay?
No. Freedom camping is prohibited at Sponge Bay.
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).