The West Coast really is a year-round fishing location when you look at what is available in the winter season.

With most larger water bodies remaining open, and there still being plenty of fishing to be had, you would be foolish to hang your gear up come the 30th April. May and early June offers good fishing targeting trout in our lakes, with lake fish typically spawning later. Not to mention fishing the larger rivers that remain open downstream of spawning tributaries, where trout will be congregating.

Mid-winter on the West Coast typically brings low clear rivers. South Westland rivers that typically carry glacial and snow melt run clear offering sight fishing where you would not typically get it in the summer season. Late winter/early spring you have bait fish entering river mouths and the last trout returning from spawning, quite the combo resulting in aggressively feeding trout. So no matter the time of the year, its always a good time to be riverside on the West Coast!

Waters listed below are open all year unless a specific winter season is noted alongside the entry.

 

Key
  • F = Fly fishing
  • S = Spin fishing
  • B = Bait fishing
  • FSB = Fly, Spin, and Bait fishing permitted
  • FS = Fly and Spin fishing permitted only
  • Bag limit = maximum number of fish that may be taken or killed in one day

 

Bag limits

Note:  Winter bag limit is 2 brown trout, 2 rainbow trout. No bag limit on perch

Waters

Key

Bag Limit

Ahaura River – downstream of Granite Creek

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Arahura River – downstream of Milltown / Landsburgh Bridge

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Arawhata River – downstream of Haast-Jackson Bay Road

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Arnold River

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Big Ditch Creek – downstream of State Highway 67

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Big Totara River – downstream of State Highway 6

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Buller River – downstream of Lyall confluence

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Cascade River – downstream of Martyr confluence

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Cook River – downstream of State Highway 6

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Deadmans Creek – downstream of State Highway 67

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Grey River – downstream of Clarke River confluence

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Haast River – downstream of Pleasant Flat Bridge

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Hapuka River

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Hindleys Creek

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Hokitika River

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Inangahua River – downstream of Perseverance Bridge

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Jacobs / Makawhio River – downstream of State Highway 6

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Kaniere River

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Karamea River – downstream of cableway at mouth of Lower Gorge

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Karangarua River – downstream of State Highway 6

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Kohaihai River – downstream of Heaphy Track Bridge

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Kokatahi River – downstream of Styx confluence

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Kumara / Kapitea Reservoir system – downstream of Old Christchurch Road

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Lake Brunner

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Lake Ellery

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Lake Ianthe

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Lake Kaniere

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Lake Mahinapua

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Lake Mapourika

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Lake Moeraki

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Lake Paringa

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Lake Wahapo

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Little Totara River – downstream of State Highway 6

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Little Wanganui River – downstream of State Highway 67

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Mahinapua outlet creek

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Mahitahi River – downstream of State Highway 6

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Martins Creek – downstream of Martins Creek Bridge

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Mikonui River – downstream of State Highway 6

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Moeraki River – downstream of State Highway 6

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Mokihinui River – downstream of cableway at Welcome Creek

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

New River – downstream of State Highway 6 including estuary

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Ngakawau River – downstream of State Highway 67

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Nile River – downstream of Awakere confluence

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Ohinetamatea River

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Okari River – downstream of State Highway 6

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Okarito Lagoon

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Okarito River

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow 

Okuru River – downstream of Haast-Jackson Bay Road

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Omoeroa River – downstream of State Highway 6

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Oparara River – downstream of Karamea-Kohaihai Road

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Orowaiti River – downstream of State Highway 67

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Paringa River – downstream of State Highway 6

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Poerua River – downstream of State Highway 6

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Pororari River – downstream of State Highway 6

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Punakaiki River – downstream of State Highway 6

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Taramakau River – downstream of bridge at Jacksons

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Totara River – downstream of State Highway 6

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Turnbull River – downstream of Haast-Jackson Bay Road

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Waiatoto River – downstream of Haast-Jackson Bay Road

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Waikukupa River – downstream of State Highway 6

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Waimangaroa River – downstream of State Highway 67

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Waita River – downstream of State Highway 6

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Waitaha River – downstream of State Highway 6

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Wanganui River – downstream of State Highway 6

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Whakapohi River – downstream of State Highway 6

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Whareatea River – downstream of State Highway 67

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Whataroa River

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow

Whitcombe River

FSB

2 brown, 2 rainbow