Fishing near Riverton, Southland

Riverton (Aparima) sits on the Southland coast where the Aparima River meets the sea at Jacobs River Estuary. The area draws anglers for surfcasting off its beaches — where rig, kahawai, school shark, and the occasional seven-gill shark are all realistic targets — as well as for trout fishing in the Aparima River itself, which runs the full length of the town's doorstep and is rated among Southland's standout fisheries. Sea-run brown trout in the tidal zone and estuary are a particular drawcard, and the wider region puts rivers like the Ōreti, Waiau, and Mataura within reach for those chasing trophy or high-volume trout fishing.