Australian Salmon
Kahawai are New Zealand's most accessible saltwater sport fish — a hard-running, schooling species found along both coasts and in river mouths from Northland to the South Island. They're not related to true salmon despite the name.
Locals fish them from beaches, rocks, and boats year-round, and they'll take lures, flies, and bait with equal enthusiasm.
Scientific Name: Arripis trutta
Also known as Kahawai, Australian salmon
- Streamlined, torpedo-shaped body with a forked tail — built for speed in open water and surf zones.
- Silvery sides with a greenish-blue back and scattered dark spots along the upper flanks; a bony ridge runs beneath each eye.
- Most fish caught run 40–60 cm; specimens to 89 cm have been recorded, with a lifespan of around twenty years.
- Easily confused with kingfish at a glance, but kahawai are smaller, lack the yellow lateral stripe, and have a more mackerel-like spot pattern.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to New Zealand coastal waters — found around both the North and South Islands, from surf beaches and rocky headlands to estuaries and river mouths.
- A coastal schooling fish that also pushes several kilometres up rivers, particularly where rivers meet the sea — the Waioeka River near Opotiki is one documented example.
- Prefers cooler, well-oxygenated water; most common in the surf zone, around headlands, and in tidal river reaches rather than deep offshore water.
Key Locations
- Opotiki and the Waioeka River mouth (Bay of Plenty, North Island) — a documented spot where kahawai push into the river from the Pacific.
- Coastal surf beaches and rocky headlands around both the North and South Islands wherever baitfish schools are present.
Specific Spots
- River mouths and tidal reaches — kahawai follow baitfish schools into estuaries and will hold in current seams where fresh and salt water meet.
- Surf beaches with gutters and rips concentrate baitfish, which pulls kahawai in tight to the wash — work the edges of white water.
- Rocky headlands and reef edges where current accelerates; schools pin baitfish against structure and feed aggressively near the surface.
- In rivers, fish current breaks and deeper pools the same way you'd work a trout run — kahawai hold behind structure and ambush prey moving through the current.
Australian Salmon FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Australian Salmon?
Metal slices and casting jigs in the 20–40 g range are the go-to from beaches and rocks, cast into feeding schools and retrieve fast enough to stay near the surface.
What flies work for Australian Salmon?
Clouser Minnows (which imitate small baitfish) in white, chartreuse, or olive are the most reliable pattern, they sink quickly and can be stripped fast to trigger a chase.
When is the best time to fish for Australian Salmon?
Available year-round in coastal New Zealand, with activity peaking when baitfish schools are present inshore. River mouth and estuarine fishing can be productive in any season; watch for bird activity and surface feeding as the most reliable seasonal indicator regardless of month.
How do you catch Australian Salmon?
Most anglers target kahawai by locating feeding schools from shore, beaches, rock platforms, and river mouths, then casting metal lures or flies into the melee. In rivers, they're fished much like trout: light spinning gear or a fly rod, working current seams and pools upstream from the estuary.
What do Australian Salmon eat?
Primarily small baitfish, anchovies, herrings, and whitebait, plus squid and krill when available. Match the size and profile of whatever is being pushed to the surface; slender metal lures and small soft-plastics cover most situations.
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