The Best Fishing Spots in West Coast
The West Coast of New Zealand offers rugged, remote fishing with strong freshwater and coastal options, from clear rivers and small lakes to exposed surf beaches and rocky inshore grounds; inland anglers chase brown trout, rainbow trout and sea‑run trout by fly fishing or spin methods, while coastal trips and surfcasting commonly target kahawai, gurnard and hapuku (groper), with seasonal whitebait runs in estuaries and occasional inshore sharks and other reef species for boat anglers.
Top Cities For Fishing
Top Saltwater Fishing Spots
Tauranga Bay
Sheltered by Cape Foulwind , this bay offers reliable surfcasting for kahawai, spring elephant fish, and rig, while small-boat missions find blue cod and reef species off nearby points.
Jackson Bay
This exposed bay at the end of the Coast is a renowned launch point for blue cod, trumpeter, and deep-reef hapuku, with productive shore fishing for kahawai and rig around the wharf and points near Haast .
Carters Beach
A long sandy strand just west of Westport that produces consistent surfcasting for kahawai, spring elephant fish, and evening rig, with winter red cod after rough weather.
Top Freshwater Fishing Spots
Whataroa River
Braided runs and clear side channels near Whataroa hold strong brown trout, with swing, nymph, and small spinner approaches effective in stable flows, and the lower river seeing occasional sea-run fish.
Lake Paringa
A classic Westland lake where anglers troll for landlocked salmon and brown trout, with early-morning runs and working the drop-offs near the Hall River inflow reliable tactics.
Lake Moeraki
A picturesque forest lake south of Fox Glacier that fishes well for brown trout along reed lines and inflows; subtle trolling and evening dry-fly activity can be excellent in settled weather.
Lake Mapourika
Set near Franz Josef Glacier , Mapourika is known for brown trout and occasional landlocked salmon, with trolling along the western shoreline and fly/spin around inflows producing in stable summer conditions.
Lake Mahinapua
A shallow lake near Hokitika popular for family-friendly sessions on schooling perch, with light spinning from jetties and slow trolling small hardbaits effective on calm afternoons.
Lake Kaniere
A deep, clear lake close to Hokitika with cruising brown trout along drop-offs and river deltas; flatlining and lead-line trolling work well, with evening shore fishing productive on calm days.
Karamea River
Renowned for sight-fishing to large, wary brown trout in clear pools and pocket water, with the lower tidals near Karamea turning on when whitebait are running.
Lake Ianthe
Also known as Wāhinemahuta, this roadside lake north of Harihari holds good numbers of brown trout and perch, with trolling passes along the eastern edge and shore fishing at the picnic areas.
Lake Brunner
The West Coast’s best-known trout lake, Lake Brunner produces quality brown trout with productive trolling runs and shoreline fly/spin options around weed beds at dawn and dusk; summer smelting runs can fire near river mouths like the Arnold River .
Top Saltwater & Freshwater Spots
Wanganui River
Flowing to the Tasman near Harihari , the Wanganui’s lower reaches and mouth turn on for sea-run trout and kahawai in summer, while upstream braids hold resident brown trout in clearer conditions.
Taramakau River
A sizable river south of Greymouth offering riffle-and-run brown trout water upstream and seasonal salmon and kahawai opportunities near the river mouth and adjacent beaches.
Okarito Lagoon
A vast, scenic lagoon mixing fresh and salt, ideal for small boats and kayaks targeting flounder, kahawai, and sea-run trout, with channels and flats accessible from Okarito township.
Hokitika River
Clear glacial flows hold strong brown trout with swinging and nymphing effective in riffles, while the river mouth and adjacent surf at Hokitika can produce kahawai and occasional sea-run trout in summer.
Haast River
Glacial braids and a surfy mouth near Haast produce sea-run trout, occasional salmon, and hot bites of kahawai on clean river water pushing into the bay.
Grey River
Meeting the Tasman Sea at the Greymouth breakwaters, the Grey offers river-run brown trout upstream and energetic kahawai and occasional salmon action in the tidal reaches and surf zone.
Buller River
A big, powerful system famed for sea-run brown trout in the lower reaches and seasonal salmon, with surfcasting for kahawai at the mouth near Westport and classic nymphing and swinging in the mid-river runs.
Arahura River
Famed for its clear water and jade history near Kumara Junction , the Arahura offers technical sight-fishing for brown trout and a productive tidal reach for sea-run trout when whitebait are present.