May Marie Charters
Charter operator

May Marie Charters

Paihia, New Zealand
100+ reviews
We're a family-owned business with a love of fishing. Our Skipper, Trent, has been a keen fisho all his life, having caught his first fish when he was just 3 years old. He started deck-handing when he was 14 years old and, at the time of attaining his SRL, was the youngest Skipper in NZ. He's enthusiastic, friendly and a skilled fisherman. He has salt in his veins and loves getting out on the water with guests, teaching them some tricks of the trade and seeing the excitement as guests reel in their catch. Trent is down-to-earth and guests love his sense of humour and easy-going manner.

Charter

Rating

4.8
216 reviews
4.7
Boat & Equipment
4.8
Captain & Crew
4.8
Fishing Experience

What anglers say

95%
Good experience
98%
Friendly captain
98%
Recommend this charter
86%
Appropriate for children
99%
Satisfied with the boat
92%
Caught fish

All reviews (216)

Showing 1 – 5 of 216 reviews
  • Venasio Crawley
    Venasio Crawley
    nz
    New Zealand
    •
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified

    46 snapper: The BEST Fishing Charter Day - EVER!!!

    5 Hour Snapper Trip (Private) • 7 adults

    May Marie - should take the title for BEST Charter for every other month of the year: Jan Marie, Feb Marie, Mar Marie…through to Dec Marie. We had a Monday booking but because of Cyclone Vaiana, May Marie Charters kindly pushed our fishing trip out to Tuesday morning. We were a family of 7 and had a private charter which we found 100% fair value $$$ exchange for the experience of a lifetime. The crew headed up by Captain Trent Morgan and super-deckhand Johnny Van-Eyk always made us feel safe, were professional, personable, patient, courteous, kind, caring and great fun and nothing was a problem. We spent our first hour chasing schools of bait and caught lots of live bait. They did everything from setting up rods, hooking up bait, unhooking our catch, boiled the kettle for a cuppa, once loaded up with bait, we went snapper fishing. Aged from 13-64, we all caught plenty of fish, especially the teens who got bites every time they put their lines into the sea. 46 snapper, 5 kahawai and 1 kingfish (not quite big enough so returned with my sisters initials on the fish as she caught it). Johnny with help from Captain Trent, cleaned, filleted and bagged our large haul of fish. Johnny even prepared the freshest Ocean-to-plate sashimi. We are back at our rental, we butter panned fried snapper for lunch and made a beautiful Samoan oka (ceviche) which is chilling in the fridge for later. Fish is re-bagged, and covered with salt-ice in the fridge for sharing with friends tomorrow. Choose May Marie Charters - reliable and stable boat (especially if you have choppy seas), They have the best rating because it’s been earned honestly and with hard work and incredible customer care!!! MAY MARIE KNOW ALL THE SECRET FISHING SPOTS, GUARANTEED TO CATCH FISH. BONUS: They have a kettle for hot drinks, waters and even some chips snacks if you wanted some. SEVEN STARS ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

    Response from Charter operator

    Awww you guys!! We are so humbled reading this review - thank you so much for your kind words. Trent and Johnny work really hard to make each trip a truly memorable experience so to have this feedback is truly wonderful. They had an absolutely wonderful day out with your family today and we love that you have a great feed to take home to share with friends and family. Thanks again for choosing us. We will hopefully see you back on board again soon!

  • Forrest Bogue
    Forrest Bogue
    Repeat angler
    us
    Massachusetts, US
    •
    Member since 2023
    •
    2 trips
    5.0
    Verified

    Best Charter Out There

    7 Hour Kingfish Trip (Shared) • 1 adult

    The best charter experience I’ve ever had. Weather forced a change of plans but everyone was very communicative and went above and beyond to accommodate. Trent and Johnny put us right on some great fishing spots. The boat is very spacious with plenty of room for personal items and while using the fishing gear. Whether you want to book an open party or book the whole boat (which is what I’ll be doing next time), I cannot recommend May Marie Charters enough!

    Reported catch:
    Pink Snapper
    Australian Salmon
    John Dory
    Response from Charter operator

    Thanks so much Forrest- really appreciate your kind words. Trent and Johnny enjoyed your company - they'll be looking you up if they get over your way! Thanks again for coming out with us and for being so easy to work with while we changed plans with this dodgy weather coming through. We'll look forward to seeing you back on board for the next one!

  • Genaya Cations
    Genaya Cations
    nz
    New Zealand
    •
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified

    Such a great day!

    5 Hour Trip – Snapper Shared • 3 adults

    I have been on a couple of charters and this has been the best by far. The weather was perfect, the team were a vibe and they were attentive to the guests! Even spending quality time with a young boy and giving him the experience of his life, making sure he catches a Kingi - his target fish. The boat was extremely clean - this was a bonus, because you usually expect charters to be slightly messy, but this was by far the best - almost looking new, but knowing it's not, as they clean as they go...this is probably not important to other people, but I loved everything about it...thank you May Marie - you are amazing!!!

    Reported catch:
    Pink Snapper
    Australian Salmon
    Response from Charter operator

    Thank you so much for your kind words - this has made our day! The guys loved having you on board and stoked to help get the young fella his kingi! Thanks again for choosing May Marie Charters and we hope to see you back this way again in the future!

  • Chris Watson
    Chris Watson
    nz
    New Zealand
    •
    Member since 2026
    4.0
    Verified
    NEW

    We had a great time.

    7 Hour Kingfish Trip (Shared) • 2 adults

    Not our best day fishing on May Marie. I have been out several times before on the May Marie and caught some big snapper. We tried for Kingfish this time and one of us landed a decent kingfish. That was exciting for all of us and enough fish for a few days back at the resort. We also went out two days later for a snapper trip and caught some small snapper but no where near our pb’s on May Marie a few years earlier. A really good crew made it once again a great day out in the Bay.

  • Richard N Julie Watts
    Richard N Julie Watts
    nz
    New Zealand
    •
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified

    Fishing with Heather

    5 Hour Trip – Snapper Shared • 2 adults

    Went out on 13th of March 07am had a great time captain Trent was great and Johnny the deckhand was great as well caught fish 🐟 even catching our bait was fun as then out to deeper water was absolutely 💯 👌 wife and I had a great time was very happy with the service would recommend May Marie charters to anyone that wants go on fishing charter very please thankyou to the Trent the captain and Johnny deckhand

    Reported catch:
    Pink Snapper
    Response from Charter operator

    Thank you Richard - much appreciate your kind words! Thanks very much for choosing May Marie!

Real catches shared by our community

  • May Marie Charters
    May Marie ChartersPaihia
    We had a great time.
    Chris W.
    Chris W.
  • May Marie Charters
    May Marie ChartersPaihia
    My first fishing trip ❤️
    George K.
    George K.
  • May Marie Charters
    May Marie ChartersPaihia
    Outstanding morning on Mae Maree
    Geoff &.
    Geoff &.
  • May Marie Charters
    May Marie ChartersPaihia
    Lovely Big Snapper
    Mark A.
    Mark A.
  • May Marie Charters
    May Marie ChartersPaihia
    46 snapper: The BEST Fishing Charter Day - EVER!!!
    Venasio C.
    Venasio C.
  • May Marie Charters
    May Marie ChartersPaihia
    Best Charter Out There
    Forrest B.
    Forrest B.
  • May Marie Charters
    May Marie ChartersPaihia
    Awesome
    Andy S.
    Andy S.
  • May Marie Charters
    May Marie ChartersPaihia
    Great trip
    Luis S.
    Luis S.
  • May Marie Charters
    May Marie ChartersPaihia
    Awesome Snapper
    Darren E.
    Darren E.
  • May Marie Charters
    May Marie ChartersPaihia
    March fishing trip
    Jai B.
    Jai B.

What's biting with May Marie Charters in Paihia

Spring is on its way, and the fishing is about to change. For now, your time is best spent casting lines close to shore for Snapper, Kahawai, Trevally, and more.

Top catches for September