Some Interesting Fishing Locations in Hawke’s Bay (New Zealand)
Hawke’s Bay Fishing Locations – For all you sportfishing enthusiasts who feel like fishing somewhere in Hawke’s Bay. Here are a few locations.
Opouahi Lake (Hawke’s Bay Fishing Locations)
Opouahi Lake: A Haven for Kiwi Conservation
The Opouahi Lake, a 6-hectare body of water, enjoys a protected existence within a predator-proof enclosure on Department of Conservation (DOC) property. This enclosure serves as a vital kiwi crèche, supporting conservation efforts in the region. Here, young kiwi chicks are carefully nurtured until they reach a size and strength sufficient to withstand the dangers of the wild. Once they are ready, these fledgling kiwi are either released back into the Kaweka Ranges or transported to Cape Sanctuary at Cape Kidnappers for continued protection.
A Unique Ecosystem (Hawke’s Bay Fishing Locations)
Opouahi Lake sits at an elevation of approximately 480 meters above sea level, reaching a maximum depth of 24 meters. Its surrounding catchment area is primarily composed of native bush and swampland, though farmland accounts for roughly 20-30% of the land surrounding the lake. Like the nearby Tutira Lakes, Opouahi Lake is believed to have been formed by a landslide. Today, it plays a vital role in the Hydrilla eradication program, a project spearheaded by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).
Eradicating Invasive Species
The MPI-led project focuses on eliminating the invasive aquatic plant Hydrilla verticillata from Lakes Tutira, Waikapiro, and Opouahi. The eradication efforts utilize grass carp, a species known to consume Hydrilla. The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) leads this program and reports encouraging progress. The Hydrilla population has significantly decreased, leading to the recovery of freshwater mussel populations within the affected lakes.
Ruakituri River (Hawke’s Bay Fishing Locations)
The Ruakituri River: A Fly Fisher’s Paradise
For an unforgettable trout fishing experience, look no further than the renowned Ruakituri River in northern Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. This river, renowned for its wild and strong trout, offers guided trips for both overnight and multi-night stays. Anglers on the Ruakituri are restricted to fly fishing only, ensuring a truly authentic angling experience.
A River of Wild Beauty
The Ruakituri River carves a path through diverse landscapes over its length. The river originates in the remote Urewera National Park, north of Lake Waikaremoana, where it drains the Huiarau Range. It then meanders for many kilometers through rugged backcountry, weaving its way through dense bush. The river’s headwaters are a rugged wilderness area, marked by steep gorges and ideal for experienced anglers with strong bushcraft skills.
Accessible Fishing for All
While the headwaters demand a certain level of experience, the upper, middle, and lower reaches of the river offer more accessible fishing opportunities. These stretches, predominantly surrounded by native bush and farmland, provide over 30 kilometers of prime fly fishing terrain.
An Immersive Experience (Hawke’s Bay Fishing Locations)
The Ruakituri River offers an immersive backcountry fishing experience, allowing anglers to connect with the wild heart of New Zealand. Enjoy the thrill of catching a magnificent trophy brown or rainbow trout while staying in comfortable farm accommodation situated on a remote sheep and cattle station on the upper reaches of the river, above the Erepeti Gorge.
A Must-Fish Destination
The Ruakituri River stands as a must-fish destination in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. Its unique characteristics and diverse terrain make it an unforgettable destination for anglers. Whether you prefer a challenging adventure in the headwaters or a more accessible experience in the lower reaches, the Ruakituri River promises a truly unforgettable fishing experience.
Fishing Tactics and Season
Most anglers find success on the Ruakituri by utilizing well-weighted caddis and mayfly nymphs. As summer evenings descend, a lively caddis rise often occurs on the quieter pools. The fishing season on the Ruakituri River runs from October 1st to June 30th.
Tangoio Fishing Grounds (Hawke’s Bay Fishing Locations)
A Coastal Haven
Tangoio Beach, a small coastal settlement north of Napier, sits nestled between Waipatiki Beach and Whirinaki. This picturesque area draws visitors, especially during the summer months, with its diverse range of recreational activities. From fishing and diving to leisurely walks and refreshing swims, Tangoio Beach offers something for everyone.
Whakaari Headland: A Historic Landmark (Hawke’s Bay Fishing Locations)
A short distance north of Tangoio lies Whakaari Headland, a reserve designated for Maori canoe landings. This historic headland served as a strategic lookout point for early Maori. In the 1840s, Whakaari Headland transformed into a thriving whaling station, employing many local Maori.
Coastal Beauty and Historical Significance
The large flat rock jutting out into the sea beside the headland is known as Te Papa or Flat Rock. Further north, along what was once a section of the coastal walking trail to Wairoa, lies Stingray Bay and Punakarau (Tait’s) Beach. This scenic spot, with its golden sands, offers breathtaking views. The inland swamp and nearby coastline experienced a significant rise of four meters during the 1931 Hawke’s Bay Earthquake. This area holds historical significance, with the discovery of moa bones, kumara pits, and other signs of Maori habitation.
Tutira Lake and Waikopiro (Hawke’s Bay Fishing Locations)
A Fishing Paradise
Tutira Lake and Waikopiro Lake, located approximately 45 minutes north of Napier along State Highway 2, offer a tranquil escape for anglers and nature enthusiasts. Tutira Lake, spanning approximately 178 hectares, is separated from the smaller Waikopiro Lake (3 hectares) by a causeway at the southern end. This area provides ample opportunities for parking, camping, fishing, and exploring the surrounding environment. A walking track encircles the eastern side of Tutira Lake, while a boat ramp on the western side provides access for non-motorized vessels. The lake, designated as a Wildlife Refuge, prohibits power boats, ensuring a peaceful and serene atmosphere.
Abundant Fishing Opportunities
Both brown and rainbow trout thrive in these lakes, thanks to annual stocking with Tarawera-sourced fish. These trout grow rapidly during the summer months, providing excellent sport for anglers fishing from the shore or trolling in rowboats. To help monitor the fishery, tagged trout are released annually. Anglers are encouraged to return tags to Fish and Game, providing valuable data about the lake’s fish population. This act of participation also enters anglers into a draw to win a free fishing license for the following season.
Seasonal Fishing Strategies (Hawke’s Bay Fishing Locations)
While fishing is most successful during the winter months using a variety of techniques, anglers can achieve success throughout the year. During the warmer summer months, targeting the cooler depths of the lake, often accessible by dinghy or kayak, proves advantageous. The average size of trout caught in these lakes is 1.5 kilograms, with many exceeding this size. These lakes offer year-round fishing with a bag limit of 4 trout and a minimum size limit of 350mm.
Lake Opouahi: A Scenic Jewel
Another notable lake in the region is Lake Opouahi, located approximately 10 kilometers from the Tutira store on Pohokura Road. Nestled within a steep valley surrounded by native bush, Lake Opouahi presents a unique challenge for anglers. The dense surrounding vegetation makes shore fishing nearly impossible, making a kayak or fishing from the wharf the most suitable options.
Tukituki River (Hawke’s Bay Fishing Locations)
The Tukituki River: A Dry Fly Paradise
The Tukituki River, with its crystal clear waters, offers anglers an exceptional dry fly fishing experience, particularly during the summer months. Numerous hatches, including caddis, stimulate strong rises, especially during the early morning and late evening hours. These hatches create prime opportunities for anglers to test their dry fly skills.
Spring Creeks and Challenging Waters (Hawke’s Bay Fishing Locations)
Many spring creeks feeding the Tukituki River provide additional dry fly fishing opportunities throughout the summer. Upstream of State Highway 50, the river is closed during the winter season, but it opens to anglers during the summer months. This area offers challenging fishing experiences, especially in the smaller pools.
Wilderness Fishing and Diverse Techniques
Anglers can explore the Tukituki River’s upper reaches, venturing deep into the Ruahine Ranges for a truly immersive wilderness fishing experience. While dry fly and nymph fishing are popular techniques, wet line fishing proves equally effective, particularly during the winter months and when river levels are high. Spinning also offers a productive method, making it an ideal way to engage children and beginner anglers.
Tutaekuri River (Hawke’s Bay Fishing Locations)
The Tutaekuri River: A Rainbow Haven with Brown Trout Bounty
The Tutaekuri River, like many rivers in the region, predominantly harbors more rainbow trout than brown trout. However, spring presents an excellent opportunity to target large brown trout congregating around the river mouth, where they feed on whitebait.
Navigating the Tutaekuri: From Mouth to Upper Reaches
From the river mouth upstream to the expressway bridge, the Tutaekuri River flows in a single, deep channel, providing ideal conditions for wetline fishing. Upstream of the bridge, the river braids, frequently shifting its course. This creates challenging but rewarding fishing experiences as anglers navigate the changing riverbed.
Diverse Fishing Opportunities (Hawke’s Bay Fishing Locations)
Between Dartmoor and the confluence of the Managtutu River, the Tutaekuri River becomes less braided, flowing between high terraces. These terraces create more defined pools and shallow runs, making spot fishing easier. The upper reaches of the river offer a demanding but rewarding fishing experience as the river carves its path between steep ranges and around large boulders.
Limits and End of the Trail
Fishing on the Tutaekuri River ends above the Lawrence Hut, where waterfalls mark the limit for both fish and anglers. The journey upstream offers a diverse range of fishing opportunities, from the easy accessibility of the lower reaches to the challenging, yet rewarding, wilderness fishing of the upper stretches.
Tutira Lake (Hawke’s Bay Fishing Locations)
A Fishing Haven with Easy Access
Tutira Lake, a picturesque 178-hectare lake, offers anglers a pleasant and productive fishing experience. The lake boasts easy access, making it a popular destination for anglers of all skill levels. To ensure the effectiveness of ongoing monitoring efforts, anglers are urged to avoid snagging anchor lines on the lake’s monitoring buoys.
Stocked with Quality Fish and Tagged Trout
Tutira Lake is stocked annually with top-quality fish from Lake Tarawera in Rotorua. These fish thrive in the lake’s environment, growing quickly during the summer months and providing excellent sport for anglers. The lake also features a number of tagged trout, which help monitor the lake’s fish population. Anglers who catch a tagged trout can submit the tag information to Fish & Game for a chance to win a free fishing license.
Accessibility and Diverse Fishing Opportunities
State Highway 2 runs along the western side of Tutira Lake, which is located approximately 40 minutes north of Napier. Several access points along the western shoreline provide easy access to the lake. An access track at the northern end of the lake and a causeway at the southern end, between Tutira and Waikopiro Lake, offer parking and excellent shore-based fishing.
Effective Fishing Techniques
When trolling from a rowboat or kayak, spinners such as Toby’s and Z spinners in copper, silver, or yellow and green finishes prove effective. For fly fishing, flies like Hamill’s Killer, Red Setter, Mrs. Simpson, and Parson’s Glory are reliable choices. Nymph patterns such as pheasant tail, hare and copper, and glo bugs also yield success.
Beyond Fishing: Recreation and Conservation
Tutira Lake offers more than just fishing. It’s a great spot for a picnic, a family day out, or a leisurely cruise. However, motorized boats are prohibited to prevent the spread of the invasive aquatic weed Hydrilla.
Waipawa River (Hawke’s Bay Fishing Locations)
The Waipawa River: A Tributary with Diverse Flow
The Waipawa River, a significant tributary to the Tukituki River, shares a similar character with its larger neighbor. Both rivers exhibit varying water levels throughout the year, especially during the summer months. The upper Waipawa River, in particular, can experience low water levels during drier periods as it flows across the Ruataniwha Plains.
Flowing Against the Grain: A Unique Feature (Hawke’s Bay Fishing Locations)
Despite the lower water levels in the upper Waipawa River, the river’s flow is replenished as it encounters the hard limestone of the Raukawa Range. This geological interaction forces water to the surface, ensuring a consistent flow in streams like the Mangaonuku and Cochranes Creek year-round.
Finding Water: A Strategic Approach
Anglers seeking a fishing spot in the upper Waipawa River during low water periods can often find a higher flow below the Raukawa Range. This unique feature provides a reliable source of water and excellent fishing opportunities even during dry spells.
Wairoa River (Hawke’s Bay Fishing Locations)
A Gateway to Fishing Adventures
Wairoa, a charming town nestled on the banks of the Wairoa River in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand, offers a diverse range of fishing experiences. Anglers of all skill levels are drawn to the region’s exceptional fishing opportunities.
Explore Lake Waikaremoana: A Scenic Gem (Hawke’s Bay Fishing Locations)
A short journey inland from Wairoa leads to the stunning forest-fringed Lake Waikaremoana, a breathtaking gem nestled within Te Urewera National Park. This pristine lake offers anglers a tranquil and scenic backdrop for their fishing adventures.
Diverse Fishing Experiences: From Rivers to the Sea
Wairoa’s fishing charters cater to a variety of angling preferences, providing access to lakes, rivers, backcountry streams, saltwater fishing, and big game fishing. Alternatively, anglers can explore the region’s exceptional fishing spots independently. Wairoa, known for its diverse fishing opportunities, consistently ranks among the world’s premier fishing destinations.