Top Catch Charters – Kaikoura
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Top Catch Charters – Kaikoura

Excellent
4.7 / 5
(78 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

Select date to see available trips and rates:

  • Shared trip
    2 Hour Trip – Afternoon
    In demand! Last booked: 23 hours ago
    Low rate deposit non-refundable
    2 Hour Trip, starts at 2:00 PM
    US $141
    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
    2 Hour Trip – Early Morning
    Low rate deposit non-refundable
    2 Hour Trip, starts at 8:00 AM
    US $141
    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.
  • Shared trip
    2 Hour Trip – Late Morning
    Low rate deposit non-refundable
    2 Hour Trip, starts at 10:00 AM
    US $141
    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
    US $141
    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
    3 Hour Trip – Afternoon
    Low rate deposit non-refundable
    3 Hour Trip, starts at 2:00 PM
    US $165
    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.
  • Shared trip
    3 Hour Trip – Early Morning
    Low rate deposit non-refundable
    3 Hour Trip, starts at 8:00 AM
    US $165
    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.
  • Shared trip
    3 Hour Trip – Late Morning
    Low rate deposit non-refundable
    3 Hour Trip, starts at 11:00 AM
    US $165
    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.
There are 3 people looking at this charter.

FAQs about Top Catch Charters – Kaikoura

Top Catch Charters – Kaikoura offers the following trips to customers:
  • NZ $120 per person - 2 Hour Trip – Afternoon (2 hours)
  • 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 $140 per person - 3 Hour Trip – Afternoon (3 hours)
  • NZ $140 per person - 3 Hour Trip – Early Morning (3 hours)
  • NZ $140 per person - 3 Hour Trip – Late Morning (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
  • Nearshore Fishing
  • Offshore Fishing
  • Reef Fishing
Top Catch Charters – Kaikoura offers the following fishing techniques:
  • Light Tackle
  • Heavy Tackle
  • Bottom Fishing
  • Trolling
  • Spinning
  • Jigging
  • Drift Fishing
  • Spearfishing (Bring your own gear)
  • Deep Sea Fishing
Top targeted fish species with Top Catch Charters – Kaikoura include:
  • Barracuda (Great)
  • Cod (Blue)
  • Kahawai
  • Lobster
  • Shark (Blue)
  • Tarakihi

Meet the Captain

Malcolm Halstead
Kaikoura, New Zealand
ID & license verified
78 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.

About this listing

Targeted species

Barracuda (Great) Great Barracuda
Cod (Blue) Blue Cod
Kahawai Kahawai
Lobster Lobster

Boat specs

Osprey (Aluminum fishing) originally built in 2012. Powered by a 150HP Yamaha engine, with a maximum cruising speed of 20 knots.

Length
18 ft
Capacity
6 persons

Types of fishing

Inshore Fishing
Nearshore Fishing
Offshore Fishing
Reef Fishing

Fishing techniques

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

Amenities

GPS
Fishfinder
Ice Box

Trip includes

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

Cancellation policy

Deposit non-refundable

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

Listing policies

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

Payment

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

Customer reviews

Rating summary
Excellent
4.7 / 5
out of 5 stars from 78 reviews
See details
Boat
Excellent
4.7 / 5
Crew
Excellent
4.8 / 5
Experience
Excellent
4.7 / 5
Photos & videos by reviewers (36)
Fish caught well worth the trip
Fish caught well worth the trip
Morning Fish
+33
Angler rating
58
14
2
0
0
Anglers claimed
Good experience
93%
Friendly captain
98%
Recommend this charter
91%
Appropriate for children
79%
Satisfied with the boat
98%
Caught fish
82%
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Showing:
5 of 78 reviews
Denny S.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Great experience and delicious crayfish

VERIFIED   3 Hour Trip – Early Morning on December 7, 2023
A must try if you like fishing and visiting New Zealand. We booked a trip for early morning, managed to catch some fishes and...
Denny S. recommends Top Catch Charters – Kaikoura
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  Malcolm Halstead Captain replied
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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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Cindy M.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

November fishing trip

VERIFIED   3 Hour Trip – Early Morning on November 17, 2023
Had a great experience with Malcolm . He’s Very nice and friendly ! We also got lots of fish to bring home including two...
Cindy M. recommends Top Catch Charters – Kaikoura
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1 person finds this review helpful
You and 1 other person found this review helpful
Cindy M. recommends Top Catch Charters – Kaikoura
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Agata B.
Christchurch, New Zealand
Excellent
4.7 / 5
Experience:
Very good
4.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

3hr trip with Captain Malcolm

VERIFIED   3 Hour Trip – Early Morning on May 13, 2023
Awesome 3hr trip, didn’t get to take pictures of the actual fish as was too busy fishing! Once one line was pulled up, bate...
Agata B. recommends Top Catch Charters – Kaikoura
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Agata B. recommends Top Catch Charters – Kaikoura
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Joe Y.
Central, Hong Kong
Very good
3.7 / 5
Experience:
Good
3.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Good
3.0 / 5
Overall

3 Hours Evening Trip with Captain Malcolm

VERIFIED   3 Hour Trip – Afternoon on May 3, 2023
Many thanks to Captain Malcolm! We got a lot of fishes, such as sea perch, blue cod and hooked a shark surprisingly but disappointed...
Joe Y. recommends Top Catch Charters – Kaikoura
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2 persons find this review helpful
You and 2 people found this review helpful
Joe Y. recommends Top Catch Charters – Kaikoura
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2 persons find this review helpful
You and 2 people found this review helpful
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