Lake Poukawa

Lake Poukawa sits in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand and offers the kind of structure-driven lake fishing that suits both bank anglers and those working from a small boat or float tube. Fish on a stillwater like this don't move much during the heat of the day — finding shade, cooler thermoclines, or current from inflowing streams is the local trick. Most successful trips to Lake Poukawa come down to reading the water before tying on a lure.

Location

-39.7816, 176.7016 · View on OpenStreetMap →

Species Reported in Hawke's Bay

These species are commonly caught at fishing spots across Hawke's Bay. Conditions at Lake Poukawa 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 Lake Poukawa 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 Lake Poukawa.

Nearby Spots in Hawke's Bay

See all fishing spots in Hawke's Bay →

Other Fishing Regions in New Zealand