Northland > Fishing Access

To view our access maps click on Kai Iwi Lakes or Lake Manuwai or Kerikeri River or Wairua River

Northland Fish & Game Council jurisdiction extends from a line north of Wellsford to Mangawhai Heads and continues right up through the region to Cape Reinga in the Far North. Being New Zealand’s northern most trout fishery is in deed a wonder of nature. Temperate climate conditions and warm water temperatures play havoc with sports fish generally suited to existing in colder, more oxygenated water.

Fish releases by the Acclimatisation Societies during the 1960s and 1970s paved the way for today’s progeny. The fish stocks of today are well adapted and exist in good numbers throughout most of Northland.

The need to restock rivers and streams is no longer seen as necessary as the early releases established a good base for today’s fishery.

Introductions involved two trout species, of which the Rainbow is the more predominant. Rainbows appear to have a greater tolerance to the warmer conditions while the Browns tends to inhabit cooler wooded areas. Fish of good size can be found in most waterways when conditions are right. Most types of fishing technique may be employed with good success. Fishing terrain encountered is varied and may be tree lined clear bush rivers to kilometres of farmland fishing.

The famous Kai Iwi lakes near Dargaville, or the manmade reservoirs in Whangarei and Kerikeri are another option for anglers. The Northland fishery has a preference for everyone’s taste, ability, and technique with plenty of accessible water. Landowners appear to be very obliging to trout anglers and access permission granted is generally good. Anglers are asked to check with landowners for entry permission, as a great majority of Northland waterways don’t have marginal rights. There are hundreds of kilometres of fishable waters throughout the region, so try some exploring, check current regulations and enjoy what is Northland's best kept secret.

Anglers are requested to check your boats and gear to ensure that NO aquatic plants are bought into the catchments. Nuisance aquatic plants establish very easily in Northland and become an environmental disaster that will cost a great deal of money and resources to remove and eradicate.

Lakes and Reservoirs

Northland Fish & Game has five bodies of water, which are stocked annually with some 4000 Rainbow fingerlings. Of these five catchments two are constructed reservoirs with the others being natural sand based lakes. The need to replenish these areas is necessitated by the lack of suitable spawning inflow and bottom substrates. The lake fisheries over the years have provided anglers in Northland with a bounty of beautifully conditioned Rainbow Trout. The reservoir fishing is challenging as water levels are manipulated and changed. The water levels dictate how and where anglers can fish. Northlands lakes and reservoir fisheries produce good fighting fish and are open all year round with Bait, Fly, and Spin fishing tackle catering for to types of anglers.

Anglers should check local regulations in their Fish & Game sport fishing guide.


Rivers and Streams

Northland has hundreds of kilometres of fishable streams and rivers. Most have been stocked with Rainbow or Brown trout under the management of the acclimatisation societies. Today’s fisheries are a result of those dedicated people and the work they achieved.

These rivers and streams fisheries are perhaps not as spectacular as some South Island waters but can still provide some great fishing.

Rivers and streams can hold 3 kilo plus fish, with the average being around 1 kilo. The diversity of fishing opportunity and surrounding countryside is quite unique, as Northland doesn’t have large, mountainous catchments. As such the angler can experience a multitude of settings within a few short kilometres.

The angling opportunities are great as the fishing pressure is somewhat of a lesser degree than fisheries further south. All rivers and streams are closed from May 1 to September 30 and all bait fishing is prohibited. A bit of exploring will generally produce the results and some anglers may be pleasantly surprised as to what they catch.