Esk River

Esk River is a river flowing through Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. River fishing rewards anglers who learn to read current — fish hold in the seams between fast and slow water, behind rocks and submerged logs, and at the heads and tails of pools. At Esk River, working a lure or fly down-and-across the current usually outperforms casting straight upstream. Higher water concentrates fish; clear, low water makes them spookier.

Location

-39.2812, 176.7945 · View on OpenStreetMap →

Species Reported in Hawke's Bay

These species are commonly caught at fishing spots across Hawke's Bay. Conditions at Esk River may vary.

Rainbow troutEastern Australian salmonSouthern yellowtail amberjackBrown troutAustralasian snapperJackass morwong

Fishing Techniques

• For Rainbow trout

  Vary your retrieve speed when using spinners to find what triggers a strike; sometimes a slow, steady retrieve works best, while other times a faster, erratic retrieve is more effective.

• 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 Hawke's Bay.

Plan Your Trip

Anglers heading to Esk River should sort licences and confirm seasonal regulations for Hawke's Bay before the trip. A quick weather check the morning of helps too — wind direction in particular can make or break a session at a spot like Esk River.

Nearby Spots in Hawke's Bay

See all fishing spots in Hawke's Bay →

Other Fishing Regions in New Zealand