Freshwater Fishing in Southland
The Southland Plains are bisected by four major rivers, the Aparima, Waiau, Oreti and Mataura.
They represent just the starting point for a huge variety of fishing opportunities. When you consider the dozens of smaller rivers and streams, as well as the lakes, it’s not too surprising that Southland has one of the highest angling participation rates in the country.
Brown trout are the mainstay of Southland’s angling, and the rivers are justifiably famous for their quality. Perhaps you want to be able to spot very large brown trout, swaying in a crystal clear river, and carefully cast a nymph to tempt him to make a mistake? Or perhaps you’d prefer to take up the challenge of targeting super fussy and frustrating browns of the Mataura rise? Whatever your angling passion Southland can satisfy it.
Rainbow trout are more common in our lakes and their tributaries, providing even more diversity to the region's angling scene. Watching a large green snout close over a cicada pattern as you prepare to set the hook spins most anglers' wheels.
While our fly fishing tends to grab headlines, spin fishing opportunities are equally abundant. It remains the most popular fishing method in Southland that rewards many anglers. The sport has changed dramatically with the advent of modern spin fishing setups.
As with every other region, competent anglers catch more fish. For novices, there's a wealth of 'how to' information on both fly and spin fishing, in hard copy publications and online videos.
For information on fishing spots and access to Southland rivers, you can click on the ‘local fishing locations & access’ page in the left hand menu and scroll down to the various brochures that can be downloaded as Pdfs. You can also visit local fishing stores for tips and other info, or visit us at Fish & Game.
View our Fishing licence information in this section.
Get a BackCountry Licence endorsement
Fishing Licence FAQs
General Licence FAQs
Maps
Southland Fishing Spots
In this section:

Fishing Regulations
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Fishing for Your Mental Health
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Fishing Locations and Access
Please view the information below for details of the Southland fishing locations and access. Aparima River: Anthony McLean net RT crop horiz Anthony...
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Getting Started
Welcome! This part of our website has been specially created for Southland’s beginner anglers who need a bit of guidance to...
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Fishing FAQ
Fishing Licence FAQs can be viewed in our general FAQ's section View FAQ's here[/southland/about/fish-and-game-faq/general-licence-faqs/]
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Fishing Clubs
On this page you will find a list of Fishing Clubs in the Southland region. If you would like to add...
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River Flow & Lake Info
River flow, rainfall and lake level information is invaluable when planning your fishing trip. Find out what rivers are doing across...
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NZ Fish Species
New Zealand is one of the world's great fishing countries. The country offers a variety of fish species, each providing...
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Prep. & Cook Your Catch
Fresh New Zealand fish in good condition are superb for the table. In this section we share top tips for...
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Overseas Visitors
International Visiting Anglers - New Zealand offers some of the best trout fishing in the world – hard fighting, well-conditioned...
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Fishing Resources
So you've caught a tagged trout? FGNZ NM Riuwaka87 We don’t normally run a tagging programme in this region but...
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Fishing News & Events
Check here for the latest news and events from your local Fish & Game region
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