The Best Fishing Spots in Marlborough
In Marlborough, New Zealand, recreational fishing is centred on the sheltered inlets and channels of the Marlborough Sounds and the region’s rivers and estuaries. Anglers commonly target coastal species like snapper, kingfish, tarakihi, gurnard and blue cod from boats or rocky shorelines, while fast, surface-feeding kahawai offer exciting light-tackle action. Inland waters deliver good trout and seasonal salmon fishing, often pursued by fly anglers or from small boats, and local charters make reefs and channels accessible for bait, jigging, spin and fly techniques.
Top Cities For Fishing
Sea Fishing
Blenheim
(12 km to coast)
Havelock
(1 km to coast)
Mayfield
(12 km to coast)
Picton
(3 km to coast)
Rapaura
(17 km to coast)
Redwoodtown
(12 km to coast)
Seddon
(12 km to coast)
Springlands
(14 km to coast)
Waikawa
(1 km to coast)
Witherlea
(12 km to coast)
River Fishing
Top Saltwater Fishing Spots
Whites Bay
A picturesque surf beach that fishes well for kahawai, rig, and spring–summer snapper when swells ease; cast into gutters along the bay and explore nearby points toward Rarangi and the track over to Port Underwood for varied water and structure.
Waikawa Bay
Close to town yet productive, Waikawa Bay offers easy shore access for squid, mackerel, and kahawai, with boats quickly reaching nearby points and mussel farms for snapper, trevally, and blue cod; the marina area provides sheltered fishing, with quick hops to Allports Island and Grove Arm .
Port Underwood
A scenic bay with reefs, kelp beds, and points that hold blue cod, tarakihi, butterfish, and in summer kingfish; work the headlands from Ocean Bay to Robin Hood Bay , and probe kelpy margins for ambush predators on light tackle.
Tory Channel
Fast currents funnel bait through Tory Channel, producing powerful action for kingfish, blue cod, and deeper-water hapuku near the Cook Strait entrance; focus on pressure points and upwellings around Cape Koamaru and the outer tide lines shared with Queen Charlotte Sound .
Rarangi
The shingle beach at Rarangi is a local favorite for surfcasting kahawai, rig, and occasional elephant fish, with evenings bringing squid close to shore; roam the beach toward Whites Bay or down the coast toward Cloudy Bay to find the best gutters and current seams.
Queen Charlotte Sound
The broad waters and countless bays of Queen Charlotte Sound hold abundant blue cod, snapper, kingfish, and seasonal albacore at the outer reaches, with squid and kahawai common inshore; work points and current lines near Cape Jackson , the entrances around Tory Channel , and pins off Motuara Island for pelagics, while sheltered coves and wharves offer relaxed family fishing.
Pelorus Sound
Pelorus Sound’s intricate channels and mussel farms attract schooling baitfish that draw snapper, kingfish, and trevally, while reefs and drop-offs yield blue cod and tarakihi; target current edges near farm structures (mind boat handling), and try the entrances toward Maud Island and the approaches from Havelock for consistent action.
Nydia Bay
Accessible by boat or track, Nydia Bay’s structure and farm lines concentrate bait that attracts snapper, trevally, and evening squid, with blue cod and tarakihi on nearby foul; work current edges and points, and range toward Pelorus Sound and Okaramio by water for more options.
Kenepuru Sound
Known for winter runs of big snapper holding in the deeper basins, Kenepuru Sound also produces gurnard, kahawai, and squid in the evenings; try soft-baits and straylines along channel edges, with accessible shore options at jetties and reserves near Portage and Double Bay .
Port Gore
Open to Cook Strait, Port Gore offers bluewater proximity for kingfish, albacore in season, and inshore tarakihi and blue cod; focus on headlands, contour changes, and current lines near the entrance, with notable structure around the points toward Cape Jackson .
Endeavour Inlet
Sheltered waters with good bait activity make Endeavour Inlet a reliable option for snapper, gurnard, and evening squid, with kingfish patrolling points and current lines; drift soft-baits along the drop-offs and work toward Furneaux Lodge and Resolution Bay for variety.
Cloudy Bay
This big, open bay is renowned for surfcasting kahawai, rig (spotted spurdog), and summer snapper on calmer days, while boats can seek blue cod and tarakihi around offshore reefs; popular access points include the sweeping beaches from Rarangi to Marfells Beach .
Cape Campbell
Where currents wrap the iconic headland, anglers encounter kahawai, blue cod off nearby reefs, and roaming kingfish on clearer, settled days; surfcast the surrounding beaches or launch to probe foul ground stretching toward Marfells Beach and along Cloudy Bay .
Marfells Beach
Popular for camping and long-distance surfcasting, Marfells Beach produces kahawai, rig, and summer snapper, with calmer spells bringing in elephant fish; work the drop-offs near the lighthouse track and roam toward Cape Campbell for shifting channels and gutters.
Ward Beach
A dramatic shingle coast known for powerful surf that brings in kahawai, moki, and rig, with occasional snapper during warmer months; target calmer windows and fish the deeper holes, exploring the coast between Ward and Marfells Beach .
Picton Harbour
Easily accessed wharves and sheltered waters make Picton Harbour ideal for families and casual anglers targeting squid, spotties, mullet, and summer trevally, while small boats can venture toward Shakespear Bay and the outer points for snapper and blue cod.
Ship Cove
Historic Ship Cove’s deep, clear water drops quickly from the beach, attracting trevally, snapper, and schooling kahawai, while nearby points and channels produce kingfish and blue cod; use small metal lures around bait schools and explore toward Resolution Bay and Motuarohia Point .
Top Freshwater Fishing Spots
Pelorus River
A classic clear-water river offering sight-fishing for brown trout with nymphs and small dries, plus soft-baits and light spinners in deeper runs; popular access around Pelorus Bridge and upstream tributaries rewards careful stalking and accurate presentations in the pools and riffles.
Lake Argyle
A compact hydro lake famed for eager rainbow trout and regular releases, with brown trout also present; fish from shore or small craft along weed edges and the inlet/outlet flows, and explore nearby reaches of the Waihopai Valley for additional clear-water opportunities.
Top Saltwater & Freshwater Spots
Wairau River
From its clear upper reaches for brown trout to the surf line for kahawai and sea-run trout, the Wairau River fishes year-round with nymphs and small spinners inland and surf-casting or soft-baits near the mouth; work riffles, braids, and tidal seams, and explore nearby beachfronts like Rarangi when conditions suit.