Mata River

As a stream in Gisborne, New Zealand, Mata River fishes best when the flow is steady and the water is clear enough to see a foot or two down. Anglers who do well at Mata River pay attention to small things: the angle of the current, the colour of the water, what's hatching, where the wading birds are working. Fly anglers can match local insect activity; spin anglers can run small spinners or soft plastics through the same lies.

Location

-38.1282, 177.9800 · View on OpenStreetMap →

Species Reported in Gisborne

These species are commonly caught at fishing spots across Gisborne. Conditions at Mata 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 Mata 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