Putting the Aeroo Pro fishing drone to work in real New Zealand conditions
This summer, Boating New Zealand is adding a new piece of equipment to the mix. We have been swapping notes with the crew at Aeroo Drones and liked the idea of their Aeroo Drone Pro so much that we will be putting the fishing drone through its paces in real Kiwi conditions.
The Aeroo Pro fishing drone will be travelling with us as we move around the upper North Island, tested in the same conditions and locations where Kiwi boaties actually fish. This will not be a short demonstration or a one off outing. The goal is to see how the Aeroo Pro performs when it becomes part of everyday boating life.
The approach is straightforward. Regular use, changing weather, and a mix of platforms that reflect how most New Zealanders fish. That is where practical strengths appear, and where limits quickly become obvious.
Help shape our summer testing route
We have mapped out a broad testing plan between now and March, with the Aeroo Pro fishing drone travelling alongside us as we cover other stories and assignments around the upper North Island. However, local knowledge often proves more valuable than any planned route.
If you know a beach, bay, or stretch of coast that you think would make a useful proving ground for the Aeroo Pro fishing drone, we would like to hear from you. We cannot promise to reach every location, but standout ideas will help guide where and how the drone is tested through summer.
Know where to go drone fishing? Contact us on ahoy@boatingnz.co.nz.
What we are testing
Our setup is the Aeroo Pro Combo Kit with Smart Controller. This includes live video, stabilised control, and an integrated bait release system. Aeroo claim the Aeroo Pro can lift a meaningful fishing payload and reach water well beyond casting distance. Over the coming months, those claims will be tested through repeated, real-world use.
Rather than short trials, this will be a long form evaluation. The Aeroo Pro will be launched and retrieved in changing weather, packed away with other gear, and used on days when conditions are far from ideal. That is typically where practical realities emerge.
Testing from a cruising yacht
Our yacht acts as a working base for much of the year.
Flying the Aeroo Pro from a yacht presents a unique set of challenges. Decks are rarely still, anchor lines swing, and wind behaves differently around masts and booms. From this platform, we will assess how cleanly the Aeroo Pro launches and lands, how airflow around the rig affects stability, and how effectively the Smart Controller assists with accurate bait placement while the boat shifts at anchor.
Storage and onboard organisation will also be considered, as access and space matter when equipment is used repeatedly over longer periods.
Testing from trailer boats
Because the trailer boat setup is familiar to so many Boating New Zealand readers, we will be testing the Aeroo Pro in the same environment, on boats typically under nine metres.
Trailer boats place different demands on fishing gear. Space is tighter, conditions can change quickly, and fishing days often involve several stops. In this setting, the focus will be on how quickly the Aeroo Pro can be launched and recovered, how stable it feels in short chop, and how manageable the controls remain when the boat is drifting or repositioning. Performance here will be a strong indicator of how well the Aeroo Pro suits everyday recreational fishing.
Testing the Aeroo from shore
The final environment is shore based fishing. Beaches, harbour edges, rocky headlands, and sheltered bays will all feature through summer.
From land, we will be watching how the Aeroo Pro handles onshore winds and glare, how clear the camera feed remains when reading structure, and how usable the range is across different conditions. Responsible operation is also part of the assessment, including how practical it is to fly cleanly and safely around other people using the same spaces.
Following the results
We will share what we learn along the way, including what works well and where limits appear. By the end of summer, we should have a clear picture of how the Aeroo Pro performs when it is used regularly, in the places Kiwi boaties actually fish.
