North Canterbury > Fishing Access

Fish & Game New Zealand’s North Canterbury region is best known for the prolific salmon runs that enter the large braided rivers such as the Rakaia and Waimakariri. However other sports fishing opportunities are available ranging from trout in the high country lakes to coarse fishing in low country waters.

Access Brochures and Maps

Close to Christchurch

Hurunui and Waiau Rivers

High Country Lakes

Rakaia River

Waimakariri River

Salmon Fishing

The annual salmon runs are erratic and it is difficult to predict just how good the fishing will be from one season to the next. For example salmon returns to the Rakaia River have varied between 2500 and 25 000 fish over the last ten years.

Most salmon are caught on spinning tackle, either in the river, the river mouth or the surf. Fishing upriver involves selecting a quiet piece of water and working it thoroughly making sure that the lure is on the bottom the whole time. The best time to fish upriver is as it clears following a fresh.

As the season goes on salmon can be found further and further up the rivers. By the end of February they should be present right through the river systems, from the mouth to the spawning grounds. Please note that salmon fishing is not permitted in the upper reaches of many rivers, check the regulations guide for details.

Fishing at the river mouth is similar to fishing upriver except that there are a lot more people present! The incoming tide tends to be best and once again it is important to fish the lure very close to the bottom. Fishing in the surf can be very productive but relies heavily on suitable river and sea conditions.

Most successful surf anglers are able to cast long distances in order to cover as much water as possible. Specialist rods, reels and terminal tackle are required for this form of salmon fishing.

High Country Lake Fishing

There are more than thirty high country lakes in the North Canterbury region offering a wide range of fishing experiences. Brown trout, rainbow trout, landlocked chinook salmon, splake and mackinaw are all present.

Trolling is popular on the larger lakes and is a good way to get the whole family involved. Spinning and fly fishing are the other techniques suitable for the high country lakes.

Spinning tends to work best on a windy day; go to the downwind end of the lake and fish straight into it. Flyfishing also works well in these circumstances but a skilled angler can catch fish almost any time. Regulations vary quite significantly from lake to lake so please check them before going out.

High Country River Fishing

Canterbury high country rivers are known for small numbers of big fish. Once the season of snow melt is over, most rivers run clear and trout can be spotted and stalked. This is one of the most challenging forms of fishing there is with stealth and cunning required to land a fish.

The middle of the day when the sun is highest is the best time as the fish are more easily spotted. There is often a lot of walking involved in this type of fishing but once the fish are located they can be quite easy to catch compared to high country trout in other regions. Flyfishing is the most commonly used method for high country river fishing but spinning is more effective than many people think.

Small Low Country River Fishing

Low country river trout fishing generally revolves around good populations of small to medium sized fish. Many Canterbury streams become too low and clear during summer months to provide good fishing and so it pays to get in early, during the first few months of the season.

Flyfishing, spinning and bait fishing all work well in the right conditions. It pays to check the legal status of the access when fishing small low country rivers as some lie on private property.

Large Low Country River Fishing

The presence of sea run brown trout in the lower reaches of the larger rivers make for exciting fishing over the summer months. These can be big in size and very numerous at times during the season. The best times are often in the evening after a hot day. In these conditions many will follow prey species in from the sea into the mouth and lagoon areas to feed. Feathered lures are most popular, whether fished on a sinking line or on monofilament with lead weights.

Access
There is not enough room here to give a comprehensive guide to fishing access in the North Canterbury Region. Such information is available from a separate booklet; “Fishing Access: A Guide to Popular Fishing Locations in the North Canterbury Fish & Game Region” which is available free of charge from licence agents and the Fish & Game office.

The North Canterbury Fish & Game region is divided into two zones; the eastern and the western zones. More liberal regulations tend to apply in the eastern zone and more conservative ones in the western zone. The map below gives a general indication of the zones, please see the North Canterbury regulations for the legal description.