Fishing in Hawke's Bay

Hawke's Bay sits on the east coast of the North Island, sheltered from the prevailing westerlies by the Kaweka and Ruahine ranges.

That geography shapes everything: long dry summers, rivers that drop clear and low by January, and a coastline of open sandy beaches facing a wide bay. The fishing here splits cleanly between freshwater and salt, and both are worth knowing about.

The four main river systems — the Mohaka, Ngaruroro, Tutaekuri, and Tukituki — run from the ranges to the coast and between them cover a lot of ground. Brown and rainbow trout are present throughout.

The Tukituki is the most accessible, with multiple entry points close to Havelock North and Hastings, and its middle reaches are well suited to dry fly work in summer when fish are rising. Trout here average around 1. 5kg and fight hard.

The Waipawa, a significant tributary of the Tukituki, can run very low across the Ruataniwha Plains in dry months — worth knowing before you drive out — but picks up again where it hits the limestone of the Raukawa Range.

The Ngaruroro and Mohaka are a different proposition. Both push into genuine backcountry, and the fishing up there is rated among the best in the country for trophy-sized fish in clear water.

The Mohaka in particular draws anglers who want remote pools and long days away from the road — raft fishing is one way to reach the harder sections. Heli access is also used for the upper reaches of several rivers in the region.

Lake Tutira, about 35 minutes from Napier, is stocked and fishes well through summer for both shore anglers and those trolling from a rowboat.

A freshwater licence issued by Fish & Game is required for river and lake fishing; check with Fish & Game for current regulations, as rules vary by water and season.

On the coast, the beaches south of Napier — including the long stretch at Porongahau — offer surfcasting for kahawai, gurnard, trevally, and tope. Snapper are scarce along this stretch of coast, so don't build a trip around them.

Boat fishing out of Napier targets snapper, terakihi, kingfish, and kahawai, and the bay has a reputation for striped marlin and yellowfin tuna when conditions are right. No licence is needed for saltwater fishing.

The rivers fish year-round in the lowlands, but the main trout season runs from October through June — confirm current dates with Fish & Game before you go.

Summer low flows concentrate fish and make sight fishing possible; it also means you need to move quietly and fish carefully. The water is clear enough that the fish will see you first if you're not paying attention.