Best Fishing Gifts in NZ

Shopping for someone who'd rather be on the water than anywhere else? I get it, and I'll be honest, fishing gear is one of the hardest things to buy for. Anglers are particular, they usually already own the basics, and the gear they really want tends to be the gear they'd never quite justify buying themselves.

That's exactly where a good gift comes in. The best fishing presents are the ones that either solve a problem they live with every trip, or hand them the upgrade they've been eyeing up for months. And because Christmas in New Zealand lands in the middle of summer, whatever you give gets used straight away, on the very next weekend out.

Here's what I'd actually buy this year, from a big-ticket electric combo right down to a handful of softbaits that never miss. Many product pages let you split the cost with Afterpay, too, if you'd rather spread a bigger gift out.

If you don't fish yourself, buying for someone who does can feel like guesswork. It doesn't have to be. The trick is to think about how and where they fish, then match the gift to that, rather than to a price tag. A land-based beginner, a weekend boatie and a deep-drop diehard all want very different things.

A few simple questions sort most of it out: How experienced are they? Do they fish off the rocks and wharves, or from a boat? And have they already got the basics covered? Here's a quick way to narrow it down.

Still not sure? When in doubt, consumables and the things they'll wear every trip are the safest bets, you really can't go wrong with lures, a cap or a good pair of sunnies.

If you want to make someone's whole year, this is the one. The Daiwa 22 Tanacom 1200AJ electric combo is everything a deep-drop fisher needs in a single box: the electric reel, a matched bent-butt rod and the line, all ready to fish.

I'd choose it because it takes every bit of guesswork out. There's no piecing a setup together, no wondering whether the rod suits the reel, it's done and balanced out of the box. It's also exactly the kind of gear a keen angler will stare at online for months and never quite buy for themselves, which is what makes it such a good gift to receive.

It's a serious investment, so it's worth knowing the product page offers Afterpay if you'd like to spread the cost across a few payments. And if electric reels are new territory for you, our Daiwa electric reel guide breaks down the range so you can match the gift to how they fish.

My big gift pickDaiwa 22 Tanacom 1200AJ Electric ComboRRP $1,749.98Shop the Daiwa 22 Tanacom 1200AJ Electric Combo

Not everyone needs a top-of-the-line electric reel. If you're buying for someone earlier in their fishing journey, the kindest thing you can give them is a rod and reel that already work together, so they can skip the learning curve and just go catch a fish.

My pick is the Shimano Nexave combo, matched with an Aquatip rod. I'd choose it because it takes the guesswork out of pairing a rod to a reel, it's smooth and forgiving to learn on, and it's a proper setup they won't outgrow in a season, the kind of first rod people hang onto for years. If you want to spend less, the Jarvis Walker Red Bone general-purpose combo is a great in-stock starter for not much money. Either way, you can see more options in our rod & reel combos range.

A matched first comboShimano Nexave + Aquatip Softbait ComboRRP $229.98Shop the Shimano Nexave + Aquatip Softbait Combo

For someone who already knows their way around a boat, step up to a Daiwa Leobritz electric reel. I'd choose it because it's a proper upgrade, the sort of reel that changes how they fish rather than just replacing what they've got, winding baits up from the deep without the sore arms.

If you're not sure which model suits them, read our Daiwa electric reel guide first. It walks through the range from the everyday workhorses up to the serious units, so you can match the reel to the kind of fishing they actually do.

The keen-angler upgradeDaiwa 23 Leobritz S500JP Electric ReelRRP $1,049.99Shop the Daiwa 23 Leobritz S500JP Electric Reel

Here's my cheat code for the angler who seems to have everything: they never, ever have enough softbaits.

My pick is the Z-Man MinnowZ. I'd choose it because anglers always run out, so it's an easy win for the person who's impossible to buy for, there's simply no risk of doubling up on something they already own. They're tough, they catch, and a few packs tucked into a stocking never go to waste. Want more ideas in this bracket? Have a look through our softbaits range.

Stocking-filler heroZ-Man TRD MinnowZ SoftbaitRRP $16.10Shop the Z-Man TRD MinnowZ Softbait

A good fishing gift doesn't have to be tackle. The gear they'll pull on every weekend is just as useful, and it's usually the sort of thing they put off buying for themselves.

My pick is the Columbia PFG Solar Stream hoodie. I'd choose it because it's proper sun protection they'll reach for every time they're out on the water, light long-sleeve fabric built for a full day under a Kiwi summer sun, and it looks the part off the boat too. PFG stands for Performance Fishing Gear, so it's made for exactly this.

Sun protection, sortedColumbia PFG Solar Stream HoodieRRP $139.99Shop the Columbia PFG Solar Stream Hoodie

If you want something smaller, or you're topping up a bigger gift, this is where I'd spend the last of the budget. These are the bits every angler reaches for and somehow never quite replaces.

For a cap, you can't go past Just Another Fisherman, a proper Kiwi fishing brand with the kind of lived-in look that suits anyone who spends their weekends on the water. And a decent pair of polarised sunglasses earns its keep on every trip, cutting the glare so they can actually see into the water. A classic pair from Oakley or Ray-Ban will earn its keep for years.

A proper Kiwi capJust Another Fisherman Old Sea Dog CapRRP $69.99Shop the Just Another Fisherman Old Sea Dog Cap

Not every great fishing gift costs a fortune, in fact some of the best ones are the cheapest. Here's a quick way to shop by what you want to spend.

Want more small-and-smart ideas? See our Best Fishing Gifts on a Budget guide for picks under $25, $50 and $100, and our stocking stuffers roundup for the little extras. Or just browse the full fishing range and shop by whatever they're into.

To have your gifts arrive in time, place your order by 12pm on these dates (standard shipping):

Allow an extra 2 working days for rural delivery. These are indicative cut-offs and may change - we'll confirm the final dates with our shipping partners closer to Christmas.