Fish

Blue cod (rawaru)

Bacalao azul de Nueva Zelanda

Parapercis colias

Saltwater

At a glance

Typical size

12–18 in and 1–3 lb.

Depth

15–500 ft; mostly 30–200 ft.

Best time

Daylight hours, especially early morning and late afternoon.

Found in

1 area

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: Not a true cod: a long, round-bodied sandperch with big lips, a rounded tail and blue-green to gray-brown color (young fish are paler with brown blotches). Found only in New Zealand.
Typical size: 12–18 in and 1–3 lb.
Maximum size: About 2 ft and around 7 lb.
Diet: Crabs, small fish, worms and shellfish.
Behavior: Curious and territorial; swims up to divers and baits. Starts life female and many change to male.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from New Zealand. Rocky reefs, gravel and cobble bottoms around New Zealand, especially the South Island, Marlborough Sounds, Fiordland and Stewart Island.
Habitat: Rocky reefs, gravel and cobble bottoms around New Zealand, especially the South Island, Marlborough Sounds, Fiordland and Stewart Island.
Depth: 15–500 ft; mostly 30–200 ft.
Fishing depth: 30–150 ft.
Best season: All year in most areas; some areas have seasonal closures.
Best time: Daylight hours, especially early morning and late afternoon.
Best tides: Moving water: the hours around the tide change, when current pushes over the reef edges and bait gets swept along.
Best weather / conditions: Stable weather with clean water; a few days of steady conditions beat a front coming through.

What to tie on and what to throw.

Best bait: Squid, pilchards, paua guts and fish pieces.
Best artificial lures: Small soft plastics and flasher rigs.
Tackle setup: 6½–7 ft medium boat rod.
Hook size: Size 2/0–5/0 circle hooks (circle hooks are required in some areas).
Line: 20–30 lb braid.
Leader: 30–40 lb monofilament.

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: Rocky reefs, gravel and cobble bottoms around New Zealand, especially the South Island, Marlborough Sounds, Fiordland and Stewart Island.
Rig up: 6½–7 ft medium boat rod. 30–40 lb monofilament.
Pick your bait: Squid, pilchards, paua guts and fish pieces. Lures: Small soft plastics and flasher rigs.
Fish it: Drop baited two-hook rigs onto rocky ground; if you catch only small fish, move to a new spot.
Time it: Daylight hours, especially early morning and late afternoon. Moving water: the hours around the tide change, when current pushes over the reef edges and bait gets swept along.

Fishing techniques: Drop baited two-hook rigs onto rocky ground; if you catch only small fish, move to a new spot.
BigJoe's tip: Circle hooks hook blue cod in the corner of the mouth, so undersize fish swim away healthy.
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: New Zealand's favorite fish and chips fish; sweet white fillets.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Harmless; cold water — dress warmly and wear a life jacket.
Regulations: New Zealand manages blue cod by area, with minimum sizes, low daily limits, circle-hook rules and seasonal closures in some South Island areas. Check current MPI rules for your area. Sea fishing in New Zealand needs no licence, but daily bag limits, minimum sizes and marine reserves apply; freshwater fishing for trout and salmon needs a Fish & Game licence (or the special Taupō licence).
Conservation: Keep only what you'll eat and release the big breeders; wet your hands, support the fish's belly and get it back in the water fast.

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Sources & photo credits