Fish & Game New Zealand’s Taranaki region offers a wide variety of freshwater fishing experiences in a scenic and uncrowded environment.
Even the most popular Taranaki fisheries have a low level of angling use by national standards.
Anglers can sight fish for brown trout in small streams on Taranaki Maunga, target the evening rise on large boulder-strewn rivers in the Ruapehu area, or go boat fishing on lake Wiritoa near Whanganui.
Many trout fisheries have their source within Te Papakura o Taranaki (formerly Egmont National Park) or the Tongariro National Park and good water quality provides the basis for the region’s trout fishing.
Taranaki ringplain waterways provide good sight fishing opportunities for large brown trout, particularly in the upper reaches of streams.
Rainbow trout fishing is also available at lakes Mangamahoe and Ratapiko, in the Waingongoro River between Eltham and the sea and in several other south Taranaki streams.
Whanganui has two lakes that provide fishing for perch within a few minutes of the city. Ruapehu district rivers support some of the most productive fisheries in the region, including the upper Mangawhero River and the nationally significant Manganuioteao River.