| Fish type |
Brown
trout and the occasional salmon. |
| Situation |
The Mataura begins south of
Lake Wakatipu, travels south-east to Gore, then turns south
again before emptying into Toestoes Bay at Fortrose, near Invercargill.
|
| Maps |
Upper Mataura
maps:
Access
map
Access
map with topography
Lower Mataura maps:
Access
map
Access
map with topography
F46
Mataura
F45
Gore
F44
Waikaia
E44
Lumsden |
| Check conditions |
River level,
rainfall and river flow
View details and graphs at the Environment
Southland website of the current Mataura River:
Weather forecast
View the MetService
weather forecast for Gore.
|
| F&G pamphlet |
Mataura
River Anglers Access |
| Description |
Regarded
by many as New Zealand's top dry fly water, the Mataura is
a premier fishery offering over 150kms of fishable water.
The prolific hatches of mayfly distinguish this river as trout
will rise freely at all times of the day for this delicacy.
The river generally runs clean and clear and mostly flows
over open land and through stands of willows that line the
banks.
Don’t be shy of shallow fishing
as many brown trout will lie in waters hardly covering their
backs.
The season runs from December to April.
|
| Upper reaches |
Description:
Fairlight to Cattle Flat
Although not as heavily fished as the
lower reaches, the conditions here are excellent, even through
the Nokomai Gorge.
Catching trout is a challenge during the
day unless there’s a hatch of insects. Evenings are
your best bet, when trout rise freely in good numbers.
You can easily cross the river at the
tail of most pools, although watch for slippery stones.
Fish numbers and size
0.75-2.5kg
Access
Best reached from Parawa, just north of
Nokomai Gorge via a shingle road on the east side.
Above Garston from SH6, you can gain across
private farmland. Between Garston and Athol acces to the willow-lined
river is easy across farmland.
See the Upper
Mataura access map |
| Middle reaches |
Description
- Cattle Flat to Gore
This stretch of slow-flowing river is the
most popular. Below Waikawa, the river enlarges so you shouldn’t
attempt to ford. As with the upper reaches, fish are difficult
to spot.
Fish numbers and size
High numbers, 0.5-1kg and largest at Cattle
Flat.
Access
Bridges, beaches and roads all give good
river access, including Ardlussa, Waipounamu, Pyramid and
Otamita bridges; Monaghan’s Beach; and Ardlussa-Cattle
Flat road. There’s no vehicle access from Cattle Flat
to Nokomai Station.
See the Upper
Mataura access map
|
| Lower reaches |
Description
- Gore to the mouth
The river gets deeper here and the water
quality is not good, particularly below Mataura Island. The
stretch from Wyndham to Gore Road Bridge is especially favoured
and easy enough to wade in.
Fish numbers and size
Prolific, up to 4.5kg.
Access
The road follows the river from Mataura
to Gore so access is easy, particularly at Beattie’s
Beach. There’s also good access at Gorge Road Bridge.
On the west bank at Gorge Road township, the Hamill’s
Road takes you to a great spot.
Lower
Mataura River access map |
| Methods |
Fly fishing, nymphing, spinning. |
| Recommended tackle |
Lighter range threadline using
a small bubble and a nymph cast upstream into ripples; live
bait. |
| Recommended lures |
In general,
small flies work better on the Mataura.
Nymphs: Pheasant
Tail.
Dry flies:
Dad’s
Favourite, Blue
Dun, Adams
(tied parachute-style), Caddis,
Coch-y-Bondhu,
Dark Red Spinner.
Wet flies / Streamers
- Early season: Twilight
Beauty, Purple
Grouse, Adams.
Mid-late season: Greenwell’s
Glory, Dark
Red Spinner, Red
Tipped Governor.
Spinners: Tobys,
Mepps , Rapalas,
small Veltic. |
| Tributaries |
Tributaries
of the Mataura River include:
- Waikaia River
- Waikaka River
- Mimihau River
- Mokoreta River
- Otamita Stream (view
photos)
- Waimea Stream
|
| Regulations
(1) |
| Applicable to |
Mataura River and tributaries
upstream of Humes' Road Bridge, Garston (Trophy Trout Zone -
all fish larger then 400mm must be returned) |
| Region |
Southland
regulations |
| Season |
Trout: 1 Oct-30
Apr
Salmon: 1 Oct-31 Mar |
| Methods |
Artificial fly, spinner |
| Bag limit |
Total: 1
Salmon: 1 |
| Size limit (cm) |
400mm maximum
(Trophy Trout Zone) |
| Regulations
(2) |
| Applicable to |
Mataura River - Garston Bridge
to Gore Road Bridge |
| Region |
Southland
regulations |
| Season |
Trout: 1 Oct-30
Apr
Salmon: 1 Oct-31 Mar |
| Methods |
Artificial fly, spinner, bait
|
| Bag limit |
Total: 4
Salmon: 1 |
| Size limit (cm) |
No limit |
| Regulations
(3) |
| Applicable to |
Mataura River - Gore Bridge
to the Gorge Road Bridge |
| Region |
Southland
regulations |
| Season |
Trout: 1 Oct-31
May excluding 3 and 4 May 2008.
Salmon: 1 Oct-31 Mar |
| Methods |
Artificial fly, spinner, bait
|
| Bag limit |
Total: 4
Salmon: 1 |
| Size limit (cm) |
No limit |
| Regulations
(4) |
| Applicable to |
Mataura River - Gorge Bridge
to the sea |
| Region |
Southland
regulations |
| Season |
Trout: All
year
Salmon: 1 Jun-31 Mar |
| Methods |
Artificial fly, spinner, bait
|
| Bag limit |
Total: 4
Salmon: 1 |
| Size limit (cm) |
No limit |
| Regulations
(5) |
| Applicable to |
Mataura River upstream from
the Mataura Island bridge |
| Region |
Southland
regulations |
| Methods |
Fishing from any boat or flotation
device is not permitted |