Fish

Hāpuku (groper, wreckfish)

Cherna de Nueva Zelanda (hāpuku)

Polyprion oxygeneios

Saltwater

At a glance

Typical size

20–60 lb.

Depth

160–2,800 ft; mostly 300–1,300 ft.

Best time

Daylight hours, especially early morning and late afternoon.

Found in

3 areas

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: A big, heavy wreckfish with a large head, a projecting lower jaw, a rounded to square tail and a gray-blue to brown-gray body (young fish are mottled). A close cousin of the Atlantic wreckfish (cherna).
Typical size: 20–60 lb.
Maximum size: About 5 ft and over 200 lb (100 kg).
Diet: Fish, squid, octopus and crabs.
Behavior: A slow-growing, long-lived fish (over 60 years) of deep reefs, pinnacles and canyon walls.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from New Zealand, South-East Australia & Tasmania and Northern & Central Chile. Deep rocky reefs and pinnacles around New Zealand (Kaikōura, Fiordland, the Three Kings), southern Australia and Chile's islands.
Habitat: Deep rocky reefs and pinnacles around New Zealand (Kaikōura, Fiordland, the Three Kings), southern Australia and Chile's islands.
Depth: 160–2,800 ft; mostly 300–1,300 ft.
Fishing depth: 300–1,000 ft.
Best season: All year; calm summer days make deep fishing easier.
Best time: Daylight hours, especially early morning and late afternoon.
Best tides: Tides matter less offshore; look for current lines, temperature breaks and bait. Around reefs and seamounts, the tide change turns the fish on.
Best weather / conditions: Calm to moderate seas; light wind against the current stirs up bait. Watch for storms and cyclone season.

What to tie on and what to throw.

Best bait: Whole squid, fish fillets and live jack mackerel on heavy dropper rigs.
Best artificial lures: Heavy slow-pitch jigs and big glow jigs.
Tackle setup: Deep-drop rod with an electric or heavy conventional reel.
Hook size: 8/0–12/0 circle hooks.
Line: 80–130 lb braid.
Leader: 130–200 lb monofilament with heavy sinkers.

The rod, reel, line and lures BigJoe would use.

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Step by step, from first cast to landing.

Go where it lives: Deep rocky reefs and pinnacles around New Zealand (Kaikōura, Fiordland, the Three Kings), southern Australia and Chile's islands.
Rig up: Deep-drop rod with an electric or heavy conventional reel. 130–200 lb monofilament with heavy sinkers.
Pick your bait: Whole squid, fish fillets and live jack mackerel on heavy dropper rigs. Lures: Heavy slow-pitch jigs and big glow jigs.
Fish it: Drop big baits to the deep pinnacles found on the sounder and wind steadily; the fish float up when they near the surface.
Time it: Daylight hours, especially early morning and late afternoon. Tides matter less offshore; look for current lines, temperature breaks and bait. Around reefs and seamounts, the tide change turns the fish on.

Fishing techniques: Drop big baits to the deep pinnacles found on the sounder and wind steadily; the fish float up when they near the surface.
BigJoe's tip: Take one or two for the table and move on; fish from deep water can't be released.
Catch and release: Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Is it good to eat, and how to prepare it.

Edibility: Excellent eating — one of the best-tasting fish in its range.
Cleaning: Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.
Cooking suggestions: Excellent: thick, white, moist fillets; the "cheeks" and head are prized.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Deep fishing far offshore: carry safety gear. Big, spiny gill covers.
Regulations: New Zealand has a combined daily limit for hāpuku and bass (lower in some areas such as Fiordland) and marine reserves; Australian states set their own. Check current rules. Rules differ between Australia and New Zealand: NSW, Victoria and Western Australia (boat fishing) require a recreational licence, other Australian states and New Zealand's sea fishing need none, but bag limits, size limits and marine reserves apply everywhere.
Conservation: Slow-growing and easily overfished. Take only what you need.

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Sources & photo credits