Mataura River

Boat Ramps: 0
Access Points: 0
Species: 6

The Mataura River is one of New Zealand's most famous and storied trout fisheries, flowing through the Southland region and earning Gore the title of the Brown Trout Capital of the World. This river offers approximately 150 kilometers of easily accessed waters, providing diverse fishing environments from freestone headwaters to productive middle and lower reaches. The river is renowned for its consistent insect hatches, sight-fishing opportunities, and a healthy population of wild brown trout, making it a premier destination for fly anglers seeking a classic New Zealand fishing experience.

Species & education

Learn what type of fish are at Mataura River and what's needed to catch them.

Find which waters have the species you want to catch

Alpine Galaxias

Galaxias paucispondylus

Brown Trout

Salmo trutta

Common Smelt

Retropinna retropinna

Gollum Galaxias

Galaxias gollumoides

New Zealand Longfin Eel

Anguilla dieffenbachii

Puye

Galaxias maculatus

Fishing spots, boat ramps & amenities

Learn how to get on Mataura River. Uncover great fishing access points, boat ramps, and all the facilities you need for an unforgettable day on the water. Some locations shown may border or include private property. Always check property boundaries and applicable regulations before visiting. onWater's Public & Private Land layer can help you plan your access with confidence.

Beech Hut

Lodging

Cowshed Hut

Lodging

Know where you can legally fish on Mataura River

See public and private land boundaries along the water, turn on private parcels with owner details to know where permission is required, and find land-trust parcels that offer permitted fishing access.

Southland licenses and regulations

No licenses or regulations available for Southland.

Take Mataura River with you

The onWater Fish app keeps this water's access points, species and conditions in your pocket, with the tools you use once you're there.

Use the map without signal
Download the map around Mataura River to use it offline when coverage drops.
Log your catches here
Keep a private fishing journal for Mataura River to find where and when fish are biting for you.

Get the onWater Fish app

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