Reel Life April 2024 - Wellington

The days are getting shorter and the temperatures are falling... but the fishing is still absolutely firing!      

If you’ve got a friend or family member who wants to get out on the water with you, it’s the perfect time!

Now that we're officially into the 'Winter' angling season, there’s a significant price reduction for fishing licences. The Adult Winter Angling Licence is just $92.

Above: Camlo Carter with a beautiful Wairarapa brown.

Allowing anglers to fish from April all the way through to the end of September, it really is exceptional value.     

Grab your discounted winter angling licence

Plenty of Prime Fish Around   

Winter can be one of the most exciting periods on the angling calendar with the pre-spawning runs about to start. 

Trout throughout the Wellington and Taranaki regions are in prime condition having had a settled summer with no major floods, meaning they're in great shape for the spawning season ahead. 

They will now start to get highly territorial and strike aggressively at lures and flies too, so expect some sizzling angling action over the months ahead!  

It's also a superb time to harvest some wild protein with wild winter trout making excellent table fare.   

Buy your fishing licence online

Top Winter Fishing Spots 

The water in the Wellington and Taranaki Fish & Game regions that remains open over the 'Winter' season produces some quality fishing.

Some of the top picks from our staff include: 

Taranaki

Manganuioteao River - open all year downstream of Ruatiti Road Bridge.

Lake Mangamahoe - open all year excluding the Waiwhakaiho inlet and Mangamahoe Stream.

Hangatahua (Stony) River - open all year.

Mangawhero (pictured above) - open all year downstream of Raetihi-Ohakune Road Bridge.  

Wellington

 Hutt River - open all year. 

Mangahao River - open all year downstream of Marima Reserve Bridge.

Rangitkei River - open all year downstream of Mangaohane Bridge. 

Ruamahanga River - open all year downstream of SH2 Bridge.  

There's plenty more fishing on offer over winter - see below to find more hot spots!

Tips to Help You Succeed    

As well as encouraging you to get on the water this winter, we also want to share some resources we’ve put together to help you make the most of the amazing angling.

Whether you’re new to the pursuit or experienced, there’s something for everyone and the team at Wellington-Taranaki Fish & Game is always here to help.

Just click on the information you’re interested in below.

• There's plenty of other prime water available to fish this winter. Check out the regulations guide booklet to find fishing near you. 
• Online access maps and information for our major fisheries.
• Our YouTube channel has heaps of ‘how-to’ videos and angling action.
• Fish & Game NZ magazine has articles, reviews and regional fishing round ups.
• Heading away over Easter? Our Park & Cast resource will point you to places you can pull up, cast and be in with a chance of a hook-up.

We're Here to Help

Need any further advice for fishing the lower North Island? We're here to help!

Just jump on our website or get in touch with the friendly team at Fish & Game by calling Wellington on (06) 359-0409 or Taranaki on 021 270 0239.

If you’d like hard copies of the latest Fish & Game NZ magazine, select back issues, our angling newsletter or Wellington regional QR access map, send us an email and we’ll pop it in the post for you.

Tight Lines

The Team at Wellington Fish & Game