Reel Life April 2024 - Taranaki

Winter fishing in Taranaki

While the fishing main season almost at an end, as waters close over winter for trout spawning, there is still plenty of Taranaki water open all year round.

Check out the table below or your regulation guide to see which waters are open.

The mainstem of the Manganuioteao River (downstream of the Makatote confluence and excluding tributaries) remains open until June 30 and is a productive place to fish as trout move upstream in readiness for spawning. Follow the link below to the Manganuioteao angling information and download the access map to find out which landowner to contact for access. https://www.fishandgame.org.nz/freshwater-fishing-in-new-zealand/where-to-fish/regional-info/taranaki/ruapehu-fisheries/

On the Taranaki ringplain, the Hangatahua (Stony) River remains open, but a recent headwater erosion event means the river is currently carrying a lot of sand and runs milky during freshes.

Taranaki perch fisheries such as Lakes Rotokare and Rotorangi east of Eltham and Lake Wiritoa near Whanganui are worth a visit at this time of year, with Lake Rotomanu in New Plymouth providing fishing for both perch and rainbow trout.

For the flyfisher, Lake Mangamahoe is currently providing good fishing for hatchery rainbow trout and the occasional wily brown. A casting platform provides good access to deeper water for cruising fish.

Above: Lake Mangamahoe, the region’s only fly fishing only water, can provide good fishing for brown and rainbow trout.

Sattler’s dam rainbow trout release

Thanks to the generosity of DOC’s Tongariro National Trout Centre, 120 good-sized rainbows were released into Sattler’s dam near Raetihi on 26th March.

So far there has been relatively little angling activity and there are still plenty of fish available.

To get to Sattler’s dam, head west on Seddon Street through Raetihi onto the Pipiriki - Raetihi road. Turn right onto Mangaeturoa North Road.

Follow the gravel road for about 5.5km and the dam is on your right.

You can park right next to the dam away from the road.

The dam is a great spot for families to go for a day’s fishing while taking a picnic basket.

However, we advise people to be extremely careful on Mangaeturoa North Road as it is frequently used by logging trucks and has several narrow stretches and blind corners.

Evenings after work and weekends will likely be safest. Rangers will be checking the dam regularly, so make sure you have your fishing license on hand.

Waitangi Stream Rahui

On Thursday 18th April Taranaki Fish & Game was notified of large numbers of dead koura (freshwater crayfish) in Waitangi Stream near Tangiwai in the Waimarino.

Horizons Regional Council has taken water samples and samples of the koura but we don’t yet know what caused this tragic event.

Fred Clark of Ngāti Rangi Iwi (Ngā Waihua o Paerangi Trust) has put a temporary rahui on the stream and we ask anglers to respect the rahui and not visit the stream, which in any case closes to angling on 30th April.

TARANAKI REGION WINTER SEASON ANGLING WATERS

Rivers and Lakes	Open From	Brown Trout	Rainbow    Trout	Perch	Area Open
Taranaki Ringplain
Lake Mangamahoe	1 Oct-30 Sept	*	*		Excluding inlet & tributaries.  Fly fishing only with fly rod, fly reel and fly line
Lake Rotomanu	1 Oct-30 Sept	*	*	*
Lake Ngangana	1 Oct-30 Sept		*	*
Opunake Lake	1 Oct-30 Sept	*	*		Currently unfishable
Waitara River	1 Oct-30 Sept	*			Below Manganui River confluence
Waiwhakaiho River	1 Oct-30 Sept	*	*		Sea to landmark pole at the end of gravel track at the right-hand end of Rimu St. extn.
Huatoki Stream	1 Oct-30 Sept	*			Below Brois St. Bridge
Manganui River	1 Oct-30 Sept	*			Below Bristol Road Bridge
Mangaoraka Stream	1 Oct-30 Sept	*			Below Devon Road SH3 Bridge
Waiongana Stream	1 Oct-30 Sept	*			Below Devon Road SH3 Bridge
Patea River	1 Oct-30 Sept	*	*	*	Below Patea Dam
Waingongoro River	1 Oct-30 Sept	*	*		Below SH45 Bridge
Waiaua River	1 Oct-30 Sept	*	*		Below SH45 Bridge
Kapuni Stream	1 Oct-30 Sept	*	*		Below SH45 Bridge
Kaupokonui Stream	1 Oct-30 Sept	*	*		Below SH45 Bridge
Stony River	1 Oct-30 Sept	*	*		Entire river
Warea River	1 Oct-30 Sept	*			Below SH45 Bridge
Lake Ratapiko	1 Jun-30 Sept	*	*	*	Except inlet race
Lake Rotorangi	1 Oct-30 Sept	*	*	*	Dam face to Mangamingi Bridge
Whanganui
Lake Wiritoa	1 Oct-30 Sept			*
Lake Kohata	1 Oct-30 Sept			*
Whanganui River	1 Oct-30 Sept	*	*		Below Ohura River confluence, excluding tributaries
Waimarino
Manganuioteao River	1 Oct-30 June	*	*		Below Makatote River confluence. Excluding tributaries
Manganuioteao River	1 Oct-30 Sept	*	*		Downstream of Ruatiti Road Bridge. Excluding tributaries
Mangawhero River	1 Oct-30 Sept	*			Downstream of the Ohakune - Raetihi Road “golf course” Bridge
Tokiahuru Stream	1 Oct-30 Sept	*	*		Downstream of SH49 Bridge
Waitaiki Stream	1 Oct-30 Sept	*	*		Downstream of SH49 Bridge
Retaruke River	1 Oct-30 Sept	*	*		Downstream of Oio Road Bridge
Sattlers Dam	1 Oct-30 Sept		*

Tight Lines

The Team at Taranaki Fish & Game