Northland > Fishing

If you catch a tagged fish, please contact the regional Fish & Game office

The Northland Fish and Game Region extends from a line midway to a point between the North Head and South Head of the Kaipara Harbour, then running due east to a point just North of Wellsford and then a line running northeast to Te Arai Point which is just south of Mangawhai Heads. The Northland Fish and Game Council administer the fish and game bird resources north of this line up to Cape Reinga and North Cape.

To fish for sports fish Northland has hundreds of kilometers of fishable streams and rivers. A majority of the streams and rivers are heavily wooded along the banks which tend to keep the water cooler in the summer. Angler pressure on these streams is low, offering a semi-wilderness experience.

Winter fishing in Northland offers the best opportunity to fish the lakes and reservoirs when the trout become more active in the cooler surface water.

Fish and Game undertakes a stocking programme of hatchery raised rainbow and brown trout which are released annually into two natural lakes and three artificial reservoirs to provide further angling opportunities.

A number of rivers in Northland require permission from the individual landowner to gain access however landowners are only too willing to allow access across their properties providing you seek their permission, shut the gates and do not disturb stock.

There are a number of good access brochures associated with the regional hunter and angler access which provide good information and locations to participate in your chosen sport and can be downloaded off this site as PDF files