Summer Fishing in NZ
From the stunning rivers filled with trout and salmon, to 15,000 km’s of ocean filled with a variety of fish species, New Zealand offers some of the best fishing in the world. To find the best fishing spots and an almost guaranteed catch, hook up with a fishing tour to find secret locations and learn from the best.
Check out these legendary experienced guides for the best day out on the water. Support local. BOOK DIRECT for the best deals.
North Island
Ocean Fishing
- The Far North, around the Bay of Islands, Doubtless Bay, the Three Kings Islands and Tutukaka are prime spots for good sea fishing. Here the weather and the sea temperatures are warmer.
- Whitianga and the eastern side of the Coromandel Peninsula are also popular, with great fishing around the Mercury Islands and further out towards Great Barrier Island.
- The Hauraki Gulf on the Western side of the Coromandel Peninsula is the best spot in New Zealand for snapper fishing.
- Heading south a bit, the Bay of Plenty lives up to its name with bountiful fishing in the area, with the actively volcanic Whakaaro/White Island providing a showpiece in the centre of the bay
- Hawkes Bay, towards the lower end of the North Island has some great fishing on what is quite an exposed coastline. It’s certainly worth a visit if you want to see something a bit different.
Fly Fishing
The best fly fishing in on offer right now! Fly fishing season peaks in high Summer, and the Rotorua stream mouth action is remarkable in January & February.Though, for fly fishermen willing to brave the cold weather, it is technically a year-round sport. Additionally, with an abundance of warm weather destinations, fly fishing can be enjoyed all year long.
South Island
Ocean Fishing
- The Marlborough Sounds forms the jagged north-eastern coastline of the South Island and is a magical place of deep sounds and thickly forested hillside that drop abruptly to the sea. The outer Sounds and Cook Strait areas are top fishing spots
- Try saltwater fly-fishing for kingfish on the tidal sandflats in Golden Bay. A local guide will get you to the best spots for a day full of exciting fishing
- The West Coast provides a small but exciting tuna fishery that is heavily dependent on good weather as the coastline is open to the Tasman Sea. If tuna is your thing then it’s well worth a visit
- Fiordland is one of the most remote spots in the country with much of it taken up in national park. But the fishing can be remarkable at times and this is an ideal place to do a week-long liveaboard fishing trip as the fiords can generally provide a sheltered anchorage in even the worst weather. This is a great option for a group of fishing mates.
Fly Fishing
The main trout fly fishing season opens on the 1st October and runs through until the end of April. February/March is usually the most settled time weather wise. By March the fish have seen many fishermen and are pretty wary but it's still a productive time to fish.
NZ Fishing Licence - Everyone who fishes in freshwater in New Zealand must purchase a fishing license to legally fish in New Zealand. Fishing licenses are sold at local fishing stores, visitor information centres or online at the Fish & Game website. These fishing licenses let you fish anywhere in New Zealand, except Taupo.
