Highly variable by season, weather, and angler skill.

Yes, peak fly fishing runs from November through April. The dry-fly season reaches its peak in December during the cicada hatch.

Wānaka and Central Otago is home to some of the best New Zealand trout and fly fishing. The season here runs from October 1 to April 30 for most rivers, offering world-class dry-fly and nymph action for wild trout.

• ‍Peak Summer (Dec–Feb): The ultimate time for dry-fly sight fishing and major insect hatches.
• ‍Shoulder Months (Oct–Nov & Mar–Apr): Perfect for hungry, aggressive spring trout or casting to large fish preparing for winter.

New Zealand, an angler’s paradise, was put on the big-game fishing map after a visit by legendary American writer Zane Grey in the 1920s.

New Zealand saltwater fishing catches vary by location—from tuna and shark around Fiordland to snapper and kingfish in the Marlborough Sounds. The far north, around the Bay of Islands, offers exceptional saltwater fishing, ranging from marlin, kingfish, and sporting kahawai to terakihi, which are available around most of the New Zealand coastline.

Kahawai, an exceptionally fast and acrobatic fish, will strike eagerly at a fly cast from a boat or river mouth. Other species, such as skipjack, tuna, and trevally, also provide spectacular sport.

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Yes, we can tailor fishing based on tackle requests.

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The deep-sea fishing season in New Zealand depends on the species you want to target. Here is the best time to try and catch each species:

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• ‍Black marlin – Comparatively rare; the best sea fishing in New Zealand is off the East Coast north of East Cape from January to April.‍
• Broadbill – A rare but prized catch, widespread in midwater and usually offshore. Best fishing from November to March.‍
• Hammerhead shark – Regularly enters New Zealand’s northern waters in summer. Other sharks, such as bronze whalers and tigers, can also be caught.‍
• Mako shark – Ranges from the north to the bottom of the South Island but is most abundant in the North Island, particularly the far north. With a streamlined body, it is a powerful fighter and spectacular leaper. Best sea fishing in New Zealand in summer.‍‍
• ‍Pacific blue marlin – Rarer in New Zealand; best sea fishing is off the East Coast north of East Cape from February to April.‍‍
• ‍Striped marlin – New Zealand reputedly has the largest marlin in the world, with many world records to prove it. Best fishing off the East Coast north of East Cape from December to June.‍‍
• ‍Thresher shark – A prized game fish most common from East Cape northward but can range as far south as Cook Strait.‍‍
• ‍Yellowfin tuna – A powerful fighter mainly found on the East Coast north of East Cape. Whakatane is a noted yellowfin tuna base; best fishing from December to April.‍‍
• ‍Yellowtail – Known in New Zealand as kingfish, ranges from the North Island to the northern South Island and sometimes farther south. A powerful fighter reaching a top weight of over 50 kilograms (120 pounds). Can be taken by land-based game fishing. Fishing is available year-round in the north but mainly from November to May in the Marlborough Sounds.

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In established sport fishing bases such as the Bay of Islands, Mayor Island, Whakatane, Tutukaka (near Whangarei), and Tauranga, charters are readily available, supplying equipment, tackle, bait, and refreshments.

Both day and overnight trips can be arranged. Charters range from NZ$700 to $1000 a day. Charter trips have also been introduced out of Milford Sound in Fiordland, the Marlborough Sounds (Havelock), and Kaikoura regions of the South Island. North Island charters are also available from Napier, Gisborne, and New Plymouth.

Rainbow and brown trout are the primary targets.

Some gear may be available, for fly-fishing, bringing your own setup is recommended.

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New Zealand’s pristine waterways host around 51 native freshwater fish species and roughly 20 introduced (exotic) species, making it a world-class fly fishing destination. 

Anglers from around the globe are drawn here for the exceptional, hard-fighting wild brown trout and rainbow trout found throughout both islands, as well as the excellent seasonal runs of wild Chinook (King) salmon and landlocked salmon in select South Island lakes and canals. Beyond these legendary sports fish, our rivers and streams are also home to unique native species, including the ancient, giant longfin eel and galaxiids—the adult fish behind New Zealand’s famous and highly prized whitebait. 

No. New Zealand Rainbow trout are not native to New Zealand. Settlers brought rainbow trout from North America to New Zealand in the early 1880s. The first successful shipments arrived from California around 1883.

No. New Zealand Brown trout are not native to New Zealand. They are an introduced species brought from Europe in the 1860s for sport fishing.

The best New Zealand fly fishing trips take place in New Zealand's South Island in the Central Otago/ lakes district. Fly fishing in the South Island of New Zealand will provide you with crystal-clear lakes and rivers from snow-fed mountain streams and spring creeks. The region also offers some of the best New Zealand fly fishing guides in the country.