Top Catch Charters – Kaikoura 

4.7/5 (96 reviews)
 Moa Road, Kaikoura, 7300, New Zealand

Top Catch Charters – Kaikoura 

4.7/5 (96 reviews)
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Moa Road
Kaikoura, New Zealand

Come and enjoy a fishing trip that will leave a smile on your face with Top Catch Charters. The fishing out of Kaikoura is as excellent as the scenery!

Your fun and friendly Skipper Malcolm Halstead is an experienced angler who’ll do his best to make your time on the water exciting and memorable, whatever your skill level.

You’ll be fishing from a comfy 18’ Osprey boat that runs on a 150 HP Yamaha four stroke engine. She can fit up to 6 anglers, with up to 4 fishing at any one time. The boat is equipped with everything you’ll need for a safe and productive journey.

There’s a wide variety of fish species for you to go after all throughout the year. Some of these include Blue Cod, Sea Perch, Barracuda, Kahawai, and many more besides. Depending on what you go after, you can expect these trips to be anywhere within 5 miles of shore.

The price of any given trip includes the use of rods, reels, and terminal tackle, as well as fish cleaning, filleting & bagging up your catch services after the trip. If you’re up for it, Capt. Malcolm can teach you how to clean the fish on your own. He can even recommend a local restaurant that will cook it.

The Top Catch crew looks forward to your company on one of their trips!

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Customer reviews

Rating summary

4.7/5
out of 5 stars from 96 reviews
Boat
4.7/5
Crew
4.8/5
Experience
4.7/5

Photos & videos by reviewers (44)

Sea fishing, one of the bucket list done
Sea fishing, one of the bucket list done
Sea fishing, one of the bucket list done
+41

Angler rating

73
17
2
0
0

Anglers claimed

Good experience

94%

Appropriate for children

81%

Friendly captain

99%

Satisfied with the boat

99%

Recommend this charter

93%

Caught fish

86%

Showing 1 - 5 of 96 reviews
Showing: 5 of 96 reviews
Tony W.
Tony W.
5.0/5

Jul 23, 2025

3 Hour Trip – Early Morning

Most beautiful scenery I've ever experienced

VERIFIED

A backdrop of snow capped mountains - dolphins , seals swimming freely - perfect scenes and weather for fishing - and we caught fish all morning and topped it off with a monster crayfish . A fantastic morning and the crew on the land and sea could not be more helpful. Thank you Malcolm

A backdrop of snow capped mountains - dolphins , seals swimming freely - perfect scenes and weather for fishing - and we caught...  

Translated by AI:
Show original
Captain replied
 Tony W. recommends Top Catch Charters – Kaikoura
 Tony W. recommends Top Catch Charters – Kaikoura
undefined (The Captain)
Replied on July 23, 2025
Thanks Tony. We look forward to seeing you guys again one day. Enjoy the seafood! Regards Malcolm and Fi

Frank L.
Frank L.
5.0/5

Jul 14, 2025

3 Hour Trip – Afternoon

July fishing trip

VERIFIED

This sea fishing trip was amazing! The captain was friendly and considerate. The electric fishing rods he provided for us were very efficient. We caught a lot of blue cod and rock fish, and even a small shark. What's more, we were lucky enough to get two crayfish. My son and I had a great time.

This sea fishing trip was amazing! The captain was friendly and considerate. The electric fishing rods he provided for us were...  

 Frank L. recommends Top Catch Charters – Kaikoura
 Frank L. recommends Top Catch Charters – Kaikoura

JIE G.
JIE G.
5.0/5

Sep 30, 2025

2 Hour Trip – Early Morning

Sea fishing, one of the bucket list done

VERIFIED

It is really the first to going fishing on the sea!! The experience is so cool, you don't know what you will see, you just keep going and enjoy the moment. We got the school shark which is unbelievable to us!!

It is really the first to going fishing on the sea!! The experience is so cool, you don't know what you will see, you just keep...  

Review media 0
Review media 1
Review media 1
 JIE G. recommends Top Catch Charters – Kaikoura
 JIE G. recommends Top Catch Charters – Kaikoura

Onawa P.
Onawa P.
5.0/5

Sep 17, 2025

2 Hour Trip – Late Morning

What a charter!!

VERIFIED

Had an amazing charter, crayfish, whale & albatross sighting and fish. What more can ask for 🛥️

Had an amazing charter, crayfish, whale & albatross sighting and fish. What more can ask for 🛥️  

 Onawa P. recommends Top Catch Charters – Kaikoura
 Onawa P. recommends Top Catch Charters – Kaikoura

Lachlan G.
Lachlan G.
5.0/5

Sep 27, 2025

2 Hour Trip – Early Morning

September fishing trip

VERIFIED

 

 Lachlan G. recommends Top Catch Charters – Kaikoura
 Lachlan G. recommends Top Catch Charters – Kaikoura

Trip availability and prices

Trip Date:
Days:
Group Size:
Select date to see availability
October 2025
SuMoTuWeThFrSa
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Number of days
1
Group Size
2 adults • 0 children
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Almost there...
2 Hour Trip – Early Morning
Low rate deposit non-refundable
2 Hour Trip, starts at 8:00 AM
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US $149 
Shared tour: for 2 people
2 Hour Trip – Late Morning
Low rate deposit non-refundable
2 Hour Trip, starts at 10:00 AM
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US $149 
Shared tour: for 2 people
2 Hour Trip – Noon
Low rate deposit non-refundable
2 Hour Trip, starts at 12:00 PM
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US $149 
Shared tour: for 2 people
2 Hour Trip – Afternoon
Low rate deposit non-refundable
2 Hour Trip, starts at 2:00 PM
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US $149 
Shared tour: for 2 people
3 Hour Trip – Early Morning
Low rate deposit non-refundable
3 Hour Trip, starts at 8:00 AM
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US $183 
Shared tour: for 2 people
3 Hour Trip – Late Morning
Low rate deposit non-refundable
3 Hour Trip, starts at 11:00 AM
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US $183 
Shared tour: for 2 people
3 Hour Trip – Afternoon
Low rate deposit non-refundable
3 Hour Trip, starts at 2:00 PM
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US $183 
Shared tour: for 2 people
There are 6 people looking at this charter.

Customer reviews

Rating summary

4.7/5
out of 5 stars from 96 reviews
Boat
4.7/5
Crew
4.8/5
Experience
4.7/5

Photos & videos by reviewers (44)

Sea fishing, one of the bucket list done
Sea fishing, one of the bucket list done
Sea fishing, one of the bucket list done
+41

Angler rating

73
17
2
0
0

Anglers claimed

Good experience

94%

Appropriate for children

81%

Friendly captain

99%

Satisfied with the boat

99%

Recommend this charter

93%

Caught fish

86%

Showing 1 - 5 of 96 reviews
Showing: 5 of 96 reviews
Tony W.
Tony W.
5.0/5

Experience:

5.0/5

Boat

5.0/5

Crew

5.0/5

Overall

Most beautiful scenery I've ever experienced

VERIFIED

3 Hour Trip – Early Morning on July 23, 2025

A backdrop of snow capped mountains - dolphins , seals swimming freely - perfect scenes and weather for fishing - and we caught fish all morning and topped it off with a monster crayfish . A fantastic morning and the crew on the land and sea could not be more helpful. Thank you Malcolm

A backdrop of snow capped mountains - dolphins , seals swimming freely - perfect scenes and weather for fishing - and we caught fish all morning and topped it off with a monster crayfish . A fantastic morning and the crew on the land and sea could not be more helpful. Thank you Malcolm  

Translated by AI:
Show original
 Tony W. recommends Top Catch Charters – Kaikoura
undefined (The Captain)
Replied on July 23, 2025
Thanks Tony. We look forward to seeing you guys again one day. Enjoy the seafood! Regards Malcolm and Fi

Frank L.
Frank L.
5.0/5

Experience:

5.0/5

Boat

5.0/5

Crew

5.0/5

Overall

July fishing trip

VERIFIED

3 Hour Trip – Afternoon on July 14, 2025

This sea fishing trip was amazing! The captain was friendly and considerate. The electric fishing rods he provided for us were very efficient. We caught a lot of blue cod and rock fish, and even a small shark. What's more, we were lucky enough to get two crayfish. My son and I had a great time.

This sea fishing trip was amazing! The captain was friendly and considerate. The electric fishing rods he provided for us were very efficient. We caught a lot of blue cod and rock fish, and even a small shark. What's more, we were lucky enough to get two crayfish. My son and I had a great time.  

 Frank L. recommends Top Catch Charters – Kaikoura

JIE G.
JIE G.
5.0/5

Experience:

5.0/5

Boat

5.0/5

Crew

5.0/5

Overall

Sea fishing, one of the bucket list done

VERIFIED

2 Hour Trip – Early Morning on September 30, 2025

It is really the first to going fishing on the sea!! The experience is so cool, you don't know what you will see, you just keep going and enjoy the moment. We got the school shark which is unbelievable to us!!

It is really the first to going fishing on the sea!! The experience is so cool, you don't know what you will see, you just keep going and enjoy the moment. We got the school shark which is unbelievable to us!!  

Review media 0
Review media 1
Review media 1
 JIE G. recommends Top Catch Charters – Kaikoura

Onawa P.
Onawa P.
5.0/5

Experience:

5.0/5

Boat

5.0/5

Crew

5.0/5

Overall

What a charter!!

VERIFIED

2 Hour Trip – Late Morning on September 17, 2025

Had an amazing charter, crayfish, whale & albatross sighting and fish. What more can ask for 🛥️

Had an amazing charter, crayfish, whale & albatross sighting and fish. What more can ask for 🛥️  

 Onawa P. recommends Top Catch Charters – Kaikoura

Lachlan G.
Lachlan G.
5.0/5

Experience:

5.0/5

Boat

5.0/5

Crew

5.0/5

Overall

September fishing trip

VERIFIED

2 Hour Trip – Early Morning on September 27, 2025

 

 Lachlan G. recommends Top Catch Charters – Kaikoura

FAQs about Top Catch Charters – Kaikoura

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The fish you can target

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What is the boat like?

Boat Image
Boat category
Skiffs and flats boats
Capacity
5 persons
Boat length
18 ft
Year built
2012
Boat manufacturer
Osprey
Boat type
Aluminum fishing

Engine model
Yamaha
Powered by
1 x 150HP
Max cruising speed
20 knots
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