Local Fishermen Vigilantes Take Action Against Outsiders
Written by John Freer on November 10, 2025
By John Freer
Perceived fish poaching and a lack of respect for fishery protection, along with a boat ramming, has seen several Tairua and Pauanui locals taking matters into their own hands.
The matter came to a head recently when one local while out diving, confronted a group of people who he believed were plundering the local fishing grounds. A verbal altercation occurred as his boat was rammed.
A call to other locals concerned about how some outsiders are treating local fishing beds resulted in some 20 people mobilising to catch the alleged culprits.
Pauanui’s Royal Billy Point Boat Ramp was blocked preventing the visiting anglers from leaving.
Spence Hall was the diver, and it was his boat that was rammed.
When checking the catch Spence was angry that a large number of juvenile fish had been landed instead of being thrown back so they could mature.
He tells CFM his version of events and that local fishermen have simply had enough.
Open the link below to hear our interview.
Susan On November 10, 2025 at 7:04 am
Maybe Spence could give us some car rego’s so that we can keep an eye out on our side of the peninsula.
Robert On November 11, 2025 at 8:27 am
good on you guys Spence,it’s also happening up here on whangaparaoa peninsula and west coast,muriwai etc,we could also use car reg,etc,some way of identifying these scum,all the best for the future over there 👍
Steve Duncan On November 10, 2025 at 7:05 am
Confiscate thier gear, vehicles and boat and if they own a food type business, max fine 🙂 👍🏻
Gary Conway On November 10, 2025 at 8:36 am
spot on Spence! what’s more the Pink Maomao are all resident around these pins. targeting several hundred each trip is decimating their numbers! max take on our most prolific fish (snapper) is 7pp but the law allows 20 of a largely unknown specie. the grasses also targeted and in limited numbers. we believe the buggers did a quick rendezvous with another boat out there ( spotted by Spencer) trailor also at Pauanui, to likely drop the pink Maomao onto that boat. this targeting is also happening about of islands. The locals of Tairua, Pauanui, whangamata won’t watch this continue.
Gary Conway On November 10, 2025 at 8:49 am
some spellcheck errors in my post. Wrasses also heavily targeted (scarlet wrasse, Red pig fish, Grandad hapuka) easy to wipe these specie out. Bay of Islands also being targeted with one website talking of “checking our cray pots before heading out for Pink Maomao, Grandad Hapuka” etc. Min Fish is simply not keeping up with current fishing trends and our colourful and limited specie are being plundered. 4 pink Maomao pp per per day is sustainable. Red pig fish and Sandagers Wrasse will be gone overnight if targeted. Grandad Hapuka too.
it’s really time for all local communities to start educating people about what’s acceptable.
Bronwyn On November 10, 2025 at 8:57 am
appreciate your passion and commitment to keeping the fisheries sustainable! Kia kaha!
Lorraine Snell On November 10, 2025 at 9:32 am
Fantastic about time keep up the good work
Donna Santner On November 10, 2025 at 9:35 am
Billy goat really !!! Royal Billy would be correct
Chris Burn On November 10, 2025 at 9:43 am
flat tires annoy those sort of people
Graeme Hunn On November 11, 2025 at 11:56 am
Where is your local fisheries officer? it would be his job I would have thought? It not just a so called outsiders are the problem it is every bodies problem ? Locals don’t own fishing rights, it belongs to everyone involved in the fishing resources.
John On November 11, 2025 at 10:45 pm
Thanks it is fixed – an age thing!
Neil Connolly On November 12, 2025 at 8:06 am
Doing great work. it’s now up to locals to get these bastards. I have a creek at the back of my place on the shore in Forrest Hill. It used to be full of Eels. Beautiful creatures. Now only one left. Guess who’s been taking them. I caught one guy about 10 years ago. Asian. He had a net full of eels and was walking down the road with them. I told him that these eels are endangered and he should put them back. I guess in hospital country anything is fair game. Just keep taking taking taking until it’s completely fucked.