Top Catch Charters – Kaikoura
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Top Catch Charters – Kaikoura

Excellent
4.7 / 5
(84 reviews)
Map of Kaikoura, New Zealand
Moa Road
Kaikoura, New Zealand
Trips & prices
Targeted species
What's included
Boat info
Reviews
Contact captain

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!

  • Fishing License
  • Live Bait
  • You Keep Catch
  • Catch cleaning & filleting
  • Child Friendly
  • Ice Box
  • Rods, reels & tackle

Trip availability and prices

  • Shared trip
    2 Hour Trip – Early Morning
    Low rate deposit non-refundable
    2 Hour Trip, starts at 8:00 AM
    Price for 2 persons
    US $139
    This short trip is tailor-made for the customer who's looking to fit as much as possible into their time in Kaikoura. An average catch for a two-hour trip would be 8 keepable fish. Trips can leave at a different time to suit you if available.
    Types of fishing
    Inshore Fishing
    Nearshore Fishing
    Offshore Fishing
    Reef Fishing
    Fishing techniques
    Bottom Fishing
    Light Tackle
    Jigging
    Trolling
  • Shared trip
    2 Hour Trip – Late Morning
    Low rate deposit non-refundable
    2 Hour Trip, starts at 10:00 AM
    Price for 2 persons
    US $139
    Since the fishing is a mere 15-minute journey from the port, this trip is designed for those who want to fit as much as possible into their day in Kaikoura. An average catch for a two hour trip would be 8 keepable fish. Trips can leave at a time to suit you if available.
  • Shared trip
    2 Hour Trip – Noon
    Low rate deposit non-refundable
    2 Hour Trip, starts at 12:00 PM
    Price for 2 persons
    US $139
    Our fishing grounds are only a 15 minute journey from port so our two hour trips are designed for customers wanting to fit as much as possible into their day in Kaikoura. An average catch for a two hour trip would be 8 keepable fish. Trips can leave at a time to suit you if available.
  • Shared trip
    2 Hour Trip – Afternoon
    Low rate deposit non-refundable
    2 Hour Trip, starts at 2:00 PM
    Price for 2 persons
    US $139
    The fishing grounds are only a 15-minute journey from port, so these two-hour trips are designed for customers wanting to fit as much as possible into their day in Kaikoura. An average catch for a two-hour trip would be 8 keepable fish. Trips can leave at a time to suit you if available.
  • Shared trip
    3 Hour Trip – Early Morning
    Just booked! Last booked: 4 hours ago
    Low rate deposit non-refundable
    3 Hour Trip, starts at 8:00 AM
    Price for 2 persons
    US $174
    For the angler looking to go the extra step, this trip is ready to provide. Expect to catch an average of 12 keepable fish. Leaving times can vary depending on demand.
    Types of fishing
    Inshore Fishing
    Nearshore Fishing
    Offshore Fishing
    Reef Fishing
    Fishing techniques
    Bottom Fishing
    Light Tackle
    Jigging
  • Shared trip
    3 Hour Trip – Late Morning
    Low rate deposit non-refundable
    3 Hour Trip, starts at 11:00 AM
    Price for 2 persons
    US $174
    If you're looking to do a bit more fishing during your time here, you've come to the right place. Expect to catch an average of 12 keepable fish. Leaving times can vary depending on demand.
    Types of fishing
    Inshore Fishing
    Nearshore Fishing
    Offshore Fishing
    Reef Fishing
  • Shared trip
    3 Hour Trip – Afternoon
    Low rate deposit non-refundable
    3 Hour Trip, starts at 2:00 PM
    Price for 2 persons
    US $174
    A step up from the shorter trip options, this trip allows for that much more fishing and having fun. Expect to catch an average of 12 keepable fish. Leaving times can vary depending on demand.
There are 10 people looking at this charter.

Customer reviews

Rating summary
Excellent
4.7 / 5
out of 5 stars from 84 reviews
See details
Boat
Excellent
4.7 / 5
Crew
Excellent
4.8 / 5
Experience
Excellent
4.7 / 5
Photos & videos by reviewers (38)
Fishing with Malcolm
Fishing with Malcolm
Fish caught well worth the trip
+35
Angler rating
63
15
2
0
0
Anglers claimed
Good experience
93%
Friendly captain
98%
Recommend this charter
92%
Appropriate for children
79%
Satisfied with the boat
98%
Caught fish
83%
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Showing:
5 of 84 reviews
Caine T.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Amazing Time

VERIFIED   2 Hour Trip – Noon on June 24, 2024
Caught plenty of fish, also come home with a crayfish. Lovely skipper and very helpful. Highly recommended
Caine T. recommends Top Catch Charters – Kaikoura
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Caine T. recommends Top Catch Charters – Kaikoura
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You and 1 other person found this review helpful
Fiona M.
Excellent
4.7 / 5
Experience:
Very good
4.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Fishing with Malcolm

VERIFIED   NEW  2 Hour Trip – Late Morning on December 1, 2024
Fiona M. recommends Top Catch Charters – Kaikoura
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Fiona M. recommends Top Catch Charters – Kaikoura
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David H.
Excellent
4.7 / 5
Experience:
Very good
4.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Malcolm is s great captain.

VERIFIED   3 Hour Trip – Late Morning on July 9, 2024
Thanks for a great day Malcolm. The boys had a wonderful time and we ate so much fish at the fish and chip shop afterwards....
David H. recommends Top Catch Charters – Kaikoura
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David H. recommends Top Catch Charters – Kaikoura
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Jane M.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Great

VERIFIED   2 Hour Trip – Late Morning on November 9, 2024
Great trip. Skipper awesome
Jane M. recommends Top Catch Charters – Kaikoura
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Jane M. recommends Top Catch Charters – Kaikoura
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Sik Y. K.
Excellent
4.7 / 5
Experience:
Very good
4.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Fish caught well worth the trip

VERIFIED   3 Hour Trip – Early Morning on March 7, 2024
Wonderful, my wife and i got 14 keepable catches and we love the delicacies, fishes were gutted by captain and he was extremely...
Sik Y. K. recommends Top Catch Charters – Kaikoura
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  Malcolm Halstead Captain replied
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FAQs about Top Catch Charters – Kaikoura

Top Catch Charters – Kaikoura offers the following trips to customers:
  • NZ $120 per person - 2 Hour Trip – Early Morning (2 hours)
  • NZ $120 per person - 2 Hour Trip – Late Morning (2 hours)
  • NZ $120 per person - 2 Hour Trip – Noon (2 hours)
  • NZ $120 per person - 2 Hour Trip – Afternoon (2 hours)
  • NZ $150 per person - 3 Hour Trip – Early Morning (3 hours)
  • NZ $150 per person - 3 Hour Trip – Late Morning (3 hours)
  • NZ $150 per person - 3 Hour Trip – Afternoon (3 hours)
When you book a trip with Top Catch Charters – Kaikoura, you can expect the following amenities onboard:
  • GPS
  • Fishfinder
  • Ice Box
Trips booked with Top Catch Charters – Kaikoura include:
  • Rods, reels & tackle
  • Live Bait
  • Lures
  • Catch cleaning & filleting
  • Fishing License
Top Catch Charters – Kaikoura offers the following types of fishing:
  • Inshore Fishing
  • Offshore Fishing
Top Catch Charters – Kaikoura offers the following fishing techniques:
  • Light Tackle
  • Heavy Tackle
  • Bottom Fishing
  • Drift Fishing
  • Spearfishing (Bring your own gear)
  • Deep Sea Fishing
Top targeted fish species with Top Catch Charters – Kaikoura include:
  • Barracuda (Great)
  • Cod (Blue)
  • Crayfish
  • Kahawai
  • Lobster
  • Shark (Blue)
  • Tarakihi

Your captain

Malcolm Halstead
Kaikoura, New Zealand
84 Customer reviews
Response time 2 hours
Member since June 2019
Your fun and friendly Owner and Skipper Malcolm Halstead has been fishing for about 40 years now, and he's been a Skipper for the past 12. He's been in the fishing charter business for over 4 years now and he absolutely loves the people he meets on his trips. He's always looking to make sure everybody on the boat is satisfied and having fun.

The fish you can target

Barracuda (Great) Great Barracuda
Cod (Blue) Blue Cod
Crayfish Crayfish
Kahawai Kahawai

What the boat is 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

Which types of fishing are offered

Inshore Fishing
Offshore Fishing

Which fishing techniques you can try

Light Tackle
Heavy Tackle
Bottom Fishing
Drift Fishing
Spearfishing
Bring your own gear
Deep Sea Fishing

Which amenities are available onboard

GPS
Fishfinder
Ice Box

What’s included in the trip price

Rods, reels & tackle
Live Bait
Lures
Catch cleaning & filleting
Fishing License

How cancellations work

Deposit non-refundable

If it is unsafe to travel, you may still cancel free of charge or change the date(s) of your booking.

What the listing policies are

Pickup not included
Transfer to/from departure site is not included in trip rates.
Child Friendly
No Smoking
You Keep Catch
Catch and Release Allowed
Report listing

How you can pay

Book with 15% deposit, pay rest to captain

When the captain confirms your trip, FishingBooker charges your credit card a 15% deposit to guarantee your reservation.

The remaining balance is to be paid directly to the charter operator on or prior to your trip date in one of the following payment methods:

Cash
Visa
Mastercard
Bank Transfer
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