Captain

Derek Gerritsen

Paihia, New Zealand

100+ reviews

Captain Derek runs fishing trips around the rich waters of the Bay of Islands. His vast experience in the area will be of great help if you want to land a memorable catch here and enjoy your day on the water. Derek grew up in Paihia and got into fishing at an early age. He fished for Marlin while he was still in school. He spent a great deal of his childhood going rock fishing and diving. He also worked as a guide. Capt. Derek worked for a decade for the second oldest gamefish club in the world - Bay of Islands Swordfish Club. His skills took him to the management level. Derek knows a lot about the local fishing grounds. He has fished around the world, landing Mahi, Wahoo, Tuna, Marlin, and more during the years. From Hawaii to the Great Barrier Reef, he's fished with success. Add to the years of experience of crewing on many well-known vessels around the Bay of Islands, and you'll understand why so many repeat customers come onboard with Capt. Derek.

Charter

Big Fish Bay Of Islands

Paihia

Instant Confirmation

Trips from

US $451

Rating

4.9

155 reviews

4.9

Boat & Equipment

4.9

Captain & Crew

4.8

Fishing Experience

Anglers' gallery (135)

What anglers say

99%

Good experience

100%

Friendly captain

99%

Recommend this charter

89%

Appropriate for children

100%

Satisfied with the boat

95%

Caught fish

All reviews (155)

Showing 1 – 5 of 155 reviews

Helen Schell
Australia
Member since 2026
5.0
Verified
Great day!
6 Hour Trip – VIP Fishing (max two) on May 4, 2026 • 2 adults
What a great day out on the water! From start to finish, this fishing trip was absolutely top-notch. The weather conditions weren’t perfect but the scenery was stunning. Captain Derek knew exactly where to go and made sure we had a great chance at landing something special. His knowledge, patience, and friendly attitude really stood out—it felt like more than just a trip, it was a proper experience. And the fishing itself? Solid bites, great action, and some quality fish landed that made the whole day unforgettable. If you’re thinking about getting out on the water, I couldn’t recommend Captain Derek enough. Great guy, great fishing, and memories that’ll stick with you for a long time. 🎣
Reported catch:
Liz Dutton
Nevada, US
Member since 2026
5.0
Verified
Captain Derek is hands-down the best guide for red snapper fishing in the Bay of Islands—knowledgeable, fun, and he puts you right on the fish every time.
6 Hour Trip – VIP Fishing (max two) on March 23, 2026 • 2 adults
Our experience fishing with Captain Derek in the Bay of Islands was absolutely incredible and easily the highlight of our trip to New Zealand. He put us right on the red snapper—we caught enough to feed two people for three days! Beyond the fishing, Derek is incredibly knowledgeable about the history of the Bay of Islands and made the whole trip even more special by sharing stories and local insights along the way. He’s easygoing, fun, and truly loves what he does, which made the entire experience unforgettable. We honestly wished we had more time out on the water with him and will absolutely be returning and booking with him again in the future.
Reported catch:
Response from Captain
April 4, 2026
Cheers Guys ! Pleasure having you on board, hope to see you again. Tight lines, Capt D
Aaron Fong
Hawaii, US
Member since 2026
5.0
Verified
NEW
Good tines, great memories!
4 Hour Trip – Half Day Snapper on October 9, 2026 • 4 adults • 2 children
Derek was great! He took great care of my family and I during the fishing charter. We could tell he wanted us to catch fish and cocomplete our experence. Thank you for a great time Derek! 🤙🏾
Reported catch:
Demi Leca
Repeat angler
Australia
Member since 2022
2 trips
5.0
Verified
Bay of Islands Fishing Trip
6 Hour Trip – VIP Fishing (max two) on July 22, 2026 • 2 adults
Captain Derek took care of us the whole 6 hour trip. Within 15 minutes he had us hooked on bait fish. We snagged a couple of Pink Snappers and a Carraway for the day. For a lovely final touch he took us to Otehei Bay, we explored whilst he filleted our catch. Great boat and equipment, experienced captain and beautiful scenery. A must do charter!
Theo Elliott
Australia
Member since 2025
5.0
Verified
Outstanding - Best charter by a mile
6 Hour Trip – VIP Fishing (max two) on February 17, 2026 • 2 adults
Derek was absolutely brilliant, went out catching bait fish within seconds were on, within 20 minutes had caught almost 50 bait fish. Then went out immediately on fish, kahawai, snapper and caught an absolute monster. caught our quota and so finished up early because we had done too well. then he dropped us at an island to have a couple beers while he fillited the near 25 fish we had. absolutely brilliant, will be back again for sure.
Reported catch: