Mangatokerau River

Running through Gisborne, New Zealand, Mangatokerau River is the kind of river that fishes well at the right water level. Drop a lure or fly into the bubble line at the head of a pool and let the current swing it past holding fish. Long, slow glides at Mangatokerau River hold the bigger fish; the broken water above and below holds the smaller, more aggressive ones. Stay quiet on the bank — river fish are easily spooked.

Location

-38.2859, 178.2225 · View on OpenStreetMap →

Species Reported in Gisborne

These species are commonly caught at fishing spots across Gisborne. Conditions at Mangatokerau River may vary.

Australasian snapperEastern Australian salmonSouthern yellowtail amberjackHapukaTope sharkBrown trout

Fishing Techniques

• For Australasian snapper

  Use berley (chum) to attract snapper to your fishing spot and hold them there, increasing your chances of a successful catch.

• For Eastern Australian salmon

  Eastern Australian salmon often school, so if you catch one, keep fishing the same area; they are aggressive feeders and readily strike at moving targets.

• For Southern yellowtail amberjack

  When fishing structure, use a heavier leader to prevent break-offs, as yellowtail will often run hard into rocks or reefs.

Recommended Gear

Tackle commonly used to target the species reported in Gisborne.

Plan Your Trip

Before fishing Mangatokerau River, make sure your licence covers Gisborne, New Zealand and that any species-specific seasons are open. Local regulations change year to year, so check the current rules rather than going from memory.

Nearby Spots in Gisborne

See all fishing spots in Gisborne →

Other Fishing Regions in New Zealand