The Best Fishing Spots in Canterbury
Canterbury in New Zealand is a great spot for recreational fishing, with clear braided rivers and high-country lakes offering excellent trout and salmon opportunities; popular targets include brown trout, rainbow trout and Chinook (King) salmon in rivers such as the Rakaia, Waimakariri and Hurunui and lakes like Tekapo and Pukaki. Along the coast and around Banks Peninsula you can enjoy boat, kayak or surf fishing for species such as kahawai, trevally, tarakihi, hapuku (groper) and blue cod, while many anglers favour fly fishing and light-spin methods for the freshwater runs.
Top Cities For Fishing
Sea Fishing
Addington
(15 km to coast)
Aidanfield
(17 km to coast)
Amberley
(9 km to coast)
Aranui
(6 km to coast)
Avondale
(7 km to coast)
Beckenham
(11 km to coast)
Belfast
(11 km to coast)
Bexley
(5 km to coast)
Bishopdale
(18 km to coast)
Bryndwr
(17 km to coast)
Burwood
(6 km to coast)
Casebrook
(17 km to coast)
Cashmere
(12 km to coast)
Christchurch
(14 km to coast)
Clifton
(0 km to coast)
Dallington
(9 km to coast)
Fendalton
(17 km to coast)
Gleniti
(8 km to coast)
Glenwood
(10 km to coast)
Halswell
(15 km to coast)
Heathcote Valley
(4 km to coast)
Hillsborough
(8 km to coast)
Hoon Hay
(14 km to coast)
Huntsbury
(10 km to coast)
Kaiapoi
(11 km to coast)
Ladbrooks
(17 km to coast)
Leeston
(10 km to coast)
Lincoln
(11 km to coast)
Lyttelton
(2 km to coast)
Mairehau
(12 km to coast)
Marchwiel
(6 km to coast)
Merivale
(16 km to coast)
Mount Pleasant
(4 km to coast)
New Brighton
(3 km to coast)
New Brighton North
(3 km to coast)
Northcote
(15 km to coast)
Northwood
(14 km to coast)
Papanui
(15 km to coast)
Parklands
(6 km to coast)
Parkside
(2 km to coast)
Pegasus
(7 km to coast)
Rangiora
(18 km to coast)
Redcliffs
(2 km to coast)
Redwood
(14 km to coast)
Riccarton
(18 km to coast)
Richmond
(11 km to coast)
Saint Martins
(11 km to coast)
Seaview
(4 km to coast)
Shirley
(11 km to coast)
Somerfield
(13 km to coast)
South New Brighton
(3 km to coast)
Spreydon
(14 km to coast)
Strowan
(16 km to coast)
Sumner
(1 km to coast)
Sydenham
(13 km to coast)
Temuka
(11 km to coast)
Timaru
(3 km to coast)
Waimataitai
(4 km to coast)
Waimate
(16 km to coast)
Wainoni
(8 km to coast)
Waltham
(11 km to coast)
Watlington
(5 km to coast)
West End
(6 km to coast)
Westmorland
(13 km to coast)
Woodend
(9 km to coast)
Top Saltwater Fishing Spots
Sumner Bay
Urban-friendly surf and rock platforms that produce kahawai, red cod, and occasional rig; cast into forming gutters on a flooding tide, and roam east toward Scarborough or west toward Shag Rock when baitfish schools move.
Pegasus Bay
A vast surf-line north of Christchurch producing seasonal spikes of kahawai, red cod, school shark, and spring elephant fish; beach-launch small boats for wider drifts or fish gutters from shore near Spencer Park , Waimairi Beach , and Woodend Beach .
New Brighton Beach
An iconic Christchurch surf spot with consistent runs of kahawai, winter red cod, and spring elephant fish; fish cut baits into outer gutters and follow bird activity, with the nearby New Brighton Pier offering elevated casting when swell is up.
Lyttelton Harbour
Tide-swept channels and wharf edges hold kahawai, mullet, and winter red cod, while rocky points produce moki on calm evenings; boat anglers work current lines toward Quail Island and Diamond Harbour for steady mixed-bag action.
Kaikoura Peninsula
Deep water close to shore brings blue cod, tarakihi, and powerful kahawai within casting range, while boats probe reefy drop-offs for hāpuku in settled weather; work the ledges on a rising tide and roam to South Bay when the northerly picks up.
Gore Bay
A relaxed North Canterbury surf beach turning on with kahawai, winter red cod, and the odd rig in clean swells; fish the rip heads at dawn and slide north or south toward Port Robinson and Manuka Bay to find working bird life.
Birdlings Flat
Steep shingle beach famous for hard-fighting kahawai, spring elephant fish, and school shark on calm days; cast heavy gear beyond the shore break and adjust with wind by shifting along Kaitorete Spit toward Lake Forsyth outlet.
Akaroa Harbour
Sheltered Banks Peninsula waters where kahawai, red cod, and gurnard are common, with moki and butterfish along kelp edges; launch for deeper drifts or fish the points from shore, and explore adjacent bays like Le Bons Bay and Takamatua Bay when wind conditions shift.
Motunau Beach
A prime small-boat launch to reefs holding blue cod, tarakihi, and gurnard, with shore-based kahawai and red cod in the surf; work change-of-light windows and consider nearby shelter at Motunau Island margins in settled seas.
Taylors Mistake
A scenic cove with rock edges and sandy gutters yielding kahawai, moki, and winter red cod; fish the points at dawn and explore the coastal track toward Boulder Bay and Godley Head for extra ledge options.
Top Freshwater Fishing Spots
Lake Tekapo
Turquoise glacier-fed lake holding strong rainbow and brown trout plus occasional salmon; work river mouths and drop-offs with spinners or trolling patterns, and check the inflow at Godley River and outflow toward Lake Pukaki for current-driven feeders.
Lake Coleridge
Clear alpine waters famed for rainbow trout, brown trout, and landlocked Chinook salmon; troll tassie-style lures along drop-offs, or stalk wind-lanes with fly gear on bluebird days, and consider nearby Lake Lyndon and Lake Selfe when conditions shift.
Lake Benmore
Canterbury’s powerhouse fishery with prolific brown and rainbow trout plus cagey salmon; target evening slicks for surface feeders, drift the edges with soft-baits, or troll the basin arms, with productive detours to Ahuriri Arm and Haldon Arm .
Top Saltwater & Freshwater Spots
Waitaki River
Big water on the southern boundary with hard-fighting salmon and quality brown and rainbow trout; swing heavy hardware through seams from shore or anchor and drift from boats, with productive reaches near Kurow and below Benmore Dam .
Waimakariri River
Close to Christchurch, the Waimakariri produces spring sea-run trout, summer salmon, and autumn kahawai blitzes near the mouth; upstream braids and pools reward early-morning spin and fly anglers, with side trips to Kaiapoi River and Brooklands Lagoon when baitfish are schooling.
Waiau River
Powerful North Canterbury river known for solid brown trout, summer rainbows, and occasional salmon; target seams and pocket water from shore or drift with soft-baits, with scenic options around Waiau township and the braids near Leslie Hills .
Rangitata River
Renowned for summer salmon and strong sea-run trout, the Rangitata’s braids and pools fish well with spoons and winged lures; try the lower river on cleaner tides and venture to Rangitata Mouth or upstream near Arundel as flows settle.
Rakaia River
Legendary for Chinook salmon runs in late summer and sea-run brown trout in spring, the braided Rakaia offers accessible surf casting at the mouth and drift or spin fishing upriver; try the pools around Rakaia Gorge for rainbow trout and the lower braids for fast-moving kahawai when they push in on clear tides.
Hurunui River
Braided lower reaches and clear upper gorges offer sea-run trout in spring and well-conditioned browns and bows through summer; probe riffle corners and deeper runs, and consider side trips to Hurunui Mouth or the upper forks near Lake Sumner .
Lake Ellesmere
A large shallow lagoon (Te Waihora) producing flounder, eel, and seasonal sea-run trout near inflows; fish channels on wind-driven currents and explore tributary mouths like Selwyn River and Halswell River when baitfish concentrate.