Pegasus Bay is a vast coastal bay on the South Island's east coast, stretching approximately 75 kilometers wide from Banks Peninsula north to Motunau Beach. It presents a diverse coastline, with the northern end characterized by steeper, gravelly beaches and cliffs, transitioning into a long, continuous stretch of sandy surf beach that runs south past Christchurch suburbs like New Brighton and Sumner. Several significant rivers, including the Waipara, Ashley/Rakahuri, Waimakariri, and Avon/Ōtākaro, flow into the bay, their mouths often forming productive fishing boundaries. The bay's southern boundary features the sheltered waters and deep rock platforms around Banks Peninsula, offering a different angling environment from the open surf beaches.