7 Must-Visit Fishing Spots in New Zealand

When the largest ocean on planet earth is a few minutes drive away, you've got to go fishing.

New Zealand is blessed with lakes, gulfs, rivers and oceans filled with the most delicious
seafood.

But where are the best spots for fishing? It's hard to choose when there are so many.

That's why we have compiled a list of the best fishing spots in New Zealand.

Question: What's the trout fishing capital of the world? Hint: It's right here in New Zealand and is mentioned somewhere in this blog, you've just got find it - good exercise before you go out and catch that fish.

1.  Lake Rotorua, Bay of Plenty

Lake Rotorua is open all year and contains a generous amount of fish. If you like trout, this is the place to be.

The shallowness of the lake along with the abundance of fish makes it one of the best spots for trout fishing in New Zealand.

Did you know? The maximum depth of this lake is just 25 metres.

This shallowness results in rapid temperature rises during summer. Expect to find brown, as well as rainbow, trout here.

2.  Clutha River, Otago

The Clutha river is the fastest flowing river in New Zealand. It offers an excellent fishing experience - but you have to be at the right spot.

The best spot for fishing in this 338-kilometre-long river is the upper part, where the catch rate is substantially higher than other areas.

What sort of fish can you expect here?

Chinook salmon, perch and trout - sea, brown and rainbow trout, specifically.

You can go for either species, fly fishing as well as spin fishing, however, fly fishing is known to be more productive during the summer months.

3.  Kaikoura, Canterbury

Do you like crayfish? Well, then you better have your cray pots ready, because you'll find heaps of them in Kaikoura.
The gorgeous waters of Kaikoura are filled with a huge variety of marine life. Apart from the delicious crayfish, you can also find blue cod, grouper, sea perch, blue nose and tarakihi here.

On another note, please don't forget that there are some rules that you must follow here, for example, you're not allowed to gather shellfish and seaweed up to a certain distance between Marfells Beach and the Conway River.

Before you head out for an exhilarating fishing trip, make sure you have read the rules here

4.  Whakatane, Bay of Plenty

Whakatane is renowned as one of the best fishing spots in the North Island.

You either go for land based fishing or take a chartered boat into the dazzling Whakatane waters.

The type of fish you can catch depends on the time of the year. If you're keen to go fishing in summer, expect yellow fin, skipjack, albacore tuna, and marlin because these fish are found in the Whakatane region from December through April.

But some species of fish are found year round, which includes snapper and kingfish.

5.  Inner Hauraki Gulf, Auckland

The inner Hauraki Gulf is one of the most prolific fishing spots in New Zealand.

And you know what the best part is? Its proximity to the city. That's right, you could be working your day job in the morning and catching fish in the breathtaking waters in the evening.

Once you're on the water, be prepared to catch snapper and kingfish because they rule
the inner Hauraki Gulf.

6.  Coromandel, Waikato

The very shape of the Coromandel Peninsula makes it suitable for fishing all around the year - that's why fishermen of all skill levels love it.

Whether you go for land based fishing or boat fishing, this place is highly unlikely to disappoint you.

If you're into land based fishing, head for Fletcher Bay, Port Jackson, or Fantail Bay.

There are plenty of easily reachable ledges in the area, just ask someone or better yet,
use Google Maps.

7.  Turangi, Waikato

Welcome to the trout fishing capital of the world. If there's one fishing spot you must visit, it's this. 

There are around 30 rivers within an hours drive, so you'll never run out of waters that are filled with brown as well as rainbow trouts. 

In winter months, tens of thousands of fish move up the river during their spawning period. That's why it's regarded as the prime time to go fishing in this region.

What happens after fishing?

After a long day of catching fish, you'll probably come home tired and forget to  remove your fishing boots  before you step on your nice clean carpet. 

The result: stains. But don't worry, download our Ultimate Stain Removal Guide where we have mentioned stain removal methods for almost every type of stain.

Get it now, it's free.