Cape River

Cape River is a river flowing through Wellington, 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 Cape 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

-41.4502, 175.4121 · View on OpenStreetMap →

Species Reported in Wellington

These species are commonly caught at fishing spots across Wellington. Conditions at Cape River may vary.

Eastern Australian salmonBrown troutAustralasian snapperRainbow troutSouthern yellowtail amberjackBlue cod

Fishing Techniques

• 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 Brown trout

  When fishing streams, focus on seams and current breaks, where trout hold to ambush prey.

• For Australasian snapper

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

Recommended Gear

Tackle commonly used to target the species reported in Wellington.

Plan Your Trip

Anglers heading to Cape River should sort licences and confirm seasonal regulations for Wellington 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 Cape River.

Nearby Spots in Wellington

See all fishing spots in Wellington →

Other Fishing Regions in New Zealand