Beat System: Upper Mataura River

The upper Mataura trout fishery operates under a Voluntary Beat System to avoid overcrowding. On the Mataura River, the Beat System applies upstream of Ardlussa Bridge (Keowns Bridge Road) to its confluence with Roberts Creek above Fairlight, including the Brightwater Spring. No other tributaries are included.

How it works

Each beat has its own beat signpost with a specified car park. Simply, park at your chosen beat and then fish within the boundaries of that beat. The presence of a vehicle at a beat sign indicates to other anglers which beats are occupied.

A beat sign that you will see at an access carpark.

If you are not leaving a vehicle (ie. getting dropped off or accessing the river via a different point), then please attach a note to the beat sign that states the date, time and your intentions. This small courtesy will ensure that everyone enjoys their day fishing.

You may fish an occupied beat downstream of (i.e., behind) other anglers.

Open reaches

There are six ‘Open Reaches’ that are not subject to beat controls - normal angler etiquette applies.

These are located near the townships of Athol and Garston and at popular camping and roadside rest areas. Anglers fishing the adjoining beats may also fish in these areas.

Local anglers

Most premier fisheries are remote, whereas the Mataura River provides world class fishing through populated areas. Local residents have a strong affinity with the river, and some have established informal accesses with adjoining landowners. Fish & Game respects this, especially for anglers who are elderly, infirm or injured and may not be able to fish the beats in the usual manner. Please respect their rights here and be cordial - they’ll likely have decades of experience fishing the river and a quick chat might just improve your success rate. Angler etiquette still and will always apply.

As a courtesy to fellow anglers, please respect this Beat System.

If you have any questions, please contact Southland Fish and Game at (03) 215 9117 or southland@fishandgame.org.nz

The Upper Mataura River fishing beats:

Individual beats are listed below, click on the image to display a larger map.

For a map showing all beats, click here

43 - Pig Creek Beat - 1.7km To fish the Pig Creek Beat, please park next to the Fish & Game Beat sign and fish between the blue markers. Click on the map for fishing boundary details. Note: There are no beat controls beyond the upstream boundary of this beat.
42 - Futtah Beat - 2.2km To fish the Futtah Beat, park next to the Fish & Game Beat sign and fish between the red markers. Click on the map for fishing boundary details.
41 - Upper Fairlight Beat - 5km To fish the Upper Fairlight Beat, park next to the Fish & Game Beat sign and fish between the blue markers. Click on the map for fishing boundary details.
40 - Fairlight Beat - 1.8km To fish the Fairlight Beat, park next to the Fish & Game Beat sign and fish between the red markers. Click on the map for fishing boundary details. Note: There is an Open Reach downstream, which is not subject to beat controls.
39 - Fairlight - Open Reach - 0.8km An Open Reach is not subject to beat controls - normal angler etiquette applies. Simply find an appropriate parking spot and fish between the yellow markers.
38 - Diggers Creek Beat - 2.3km To fish the Diggers Creek Beat, please park next to the Fish & Game Beat sign and fish between the blue markers. Click on the map for fishing boundary details. Note: There is an Open Reach upstream, which is not subject to beat controls.
37 - Above the Brightwater Beat - 1.1km To fish the Above the Brightwater Beat, park next to the Fish & Game Beat sign and fish between the red markers. Click on the map for fishing boundary details.
36 - Scott's Beat - 1.9km To fish Scott’s Beat, please park next to the Fish & Game Beat sign and fish between the blue markers. Click on the map for fishing boundary details.
35 - Garston Bridge Beat -1.3km To fish the Garston Bridge Beat, park next to the Fish & Game Beat sign and fish between the red markers. Click on the map for fishing boundary details. Note: There is an Open Reach downstream, which is not subject to beat controls.
34 - Garston - Open Reach - 1.3km An Open Reach is not subject to beat controls - normal angler etiquette applies. Simply find an appropriate parking spot and fish between the yellow markers.
33 - Homestead Beat - 1.8km To fish the Homestead Beat, park next to the Fish & Game Beat sign and fish between the blue markers. Click on the map for fishing boundary details. Note: There is an Open Reach upstream, which is not subject to beat controls.
32 - Beehive Beat - 1.7km To fish the Beehive Beat, park next to the Fish & Game Beat sign and fish between the red markers. Click on the map for fishing boundary details.
31 - Cattle Yards Beat - 2.1km To fish the Cattle Yards Beat, park next to the Fish & Game beat sign and fish between the blue markers. Click on the map for fishing boundary details.
30 – Naylor’s Beat - 1.8km To fish Naylor’s Beat, park next to the Fish & Game Beat sign and fish between the red markers. Click on the map for fishing boundary details.
29 - Athol Bridge Beat - 2.1km To fish the Athol Bridge Beat, park next to the Fish & Game Beat sign and fish between the blue markers. Click on the map for fishing boundary details.
28 - Flagstaff Beat - 1.3km To fish the Flagstaff Beat, park next to the Fish & Game Beat sign and fish between the red markers. Click on the map for fishing boundary details.
27 - East Road Beat - 1.3km To fish the East Road Beat, park next to the Fish & Game Beat sign and fish between the blue markers. Click on the map for fishing boundary details. Note: There is an Open Reach downstream, which is not subject to beat controls.
26 - Athol - Open Reach - 0.8km An Open Reach is not subject to beat controls - normal angler etiquette applies. Simply find an appropriate parking spot and fish between the yellow markers.
25 - Paddy’s Beat - 0.8km To fish Paddy’s Beat, park next to the Fish & Game Beat sign and fish between the red markers. Click on the map for fishing boundary details. Note: There is an Open Reach upstream, which is not subject to beat controls.
24 - Q Creek Beat - 1.7km To fish the Q Creek Beat, please park next to the Fish & Game Beat sign and fish between the blue markers. Click on the map for fishing boundary details.
23 - Eyre Mouth Beat - 1.5km To fish the Eyre Mouth Beat, park next to the Fish & Game Beat sign and fish between the red markers. Click on the map for fishing boundary details.
22 - Parawa Creek Beat - 2.4km To fish the Parawa Creek Beat, park next to the Fish & Game Beat sign and fish between the blue markers. Click on the map for fishing boundary details.
21 - Parawa Downs Beat - 1km To fish the Parawa Downs Beat, park next to the Fish & Game Beat sign and fish between the red markers. Click on the map for fishing boundary details. Note: There is an Open Reach downstream, which is not subject to beat controls.
20 - Nokomai Cabins - Open Reach - 1.6km An Open Reach is not subject to beat controls - normal angler etiquette applies. Simply find an appropriate parking spot and fish between the yellow markers.
19 - Len's Beat - 1.5km To fish Len’s Beat, please park next to the Fish & Game Beat sign and fish between the blue markers. Click on the map for fishing boundary details. Note: There is an Open Reach upstream, which is not subject to beat controls.
18 - Petrie’s Beat - 1.3km To fish Petrie’s Beat, park next to the Fish & Game Beat sign and fish between the red markers. Click on the map for fishing boundary details.
17 - Hore's Beat - 1.3km To fish Hore’s Beat, park next to the Fish & Game Beat sign and fish between the blue markers. Click on the map for fishing boundary details.
16 - Rocky Beat - 1.8km To fish Rocky Beat, park next to the Fish & Game Beat sign and fish between the red markers. Click on the map for fishing boundary details. Note: There is an Open Reach downstream, which is not subject to beat controls.
15 - Nokomai Camping - Open Reach - 1.9km An Open Reach is not subject to beat controls - normal angler etiquette applies. Simply find an appropriate parking spot and fish between the yellow markers.
14 - Nokomai Gorge Beat - 3.7km To fish the Nokomai Gorge Beat, please park next to the Fish & Game Beat sign and fish between the blue markers. Click on the map for fishing boundary details. Note: There is an Open Reach upstream, which is not subject to beat controls.
13 - Lower Nokomai Gorge Beat - 3.8km To fish the Lower Nokomai Gorge Beat, park next to the Fish & Game Beat sign and fish between the red markers. Click on the map for fishing boundary details.
12 - Upper Cattle Flat Beat - 4.2km To fish the Upper Cattle Flat Beat, park next to the Fish & Game Beat sign and fish between the blue markers. Click on the map for fishing boundary details.
11 - Cattle Flat Beat - 3.3km To fish the Cattle Flat Beat, park next to the Fish & Game Beat sign and fish between the red markers. Click on the map for fishing boundary details. Note: There is an Open Reach downstream, which is not subject to beat controls.
10 - Cattle Flat Cabins - Open Reach - 1.85km An Open Reach is not subject to beat controls - normal angler etiquette applies. Simply find an appropriate parking spot and fish between the yellow markers.
9 - Young’s Beat - 3.2km To fish Young’s Beat, please park next to the Fish & Game Beat sign and fish between the blue markers. Click on the map for fishing boundary details. Note: There is an Open Reach upstream, which is not subject to beat controls.
8 - Glenlapa Beat - 3km To fish the Glenlapa Beat, park next to the Fish & Game Beat sign and fish between the red markers. Click on the map for fishing boundary details.
7 - Boggy Creek Beat - 2.1km To fish the Boggy Creek Beat, park next to the Fish & Game beat sign and fish between the blue markers. Click on the map for fishing boundary details.
6 - The Elbow Beat - 2.5km To fish The Elbow Beat, park next to the Fish & Game Beat sign and fish between the red markers. Click on the map for fishing boundary details.
5 - Sheepwash Creek Beat - 3km To fish the Sheepwash Creek Beat, please park next to the Fish & Game Beat sign and fish between the blue markers. Click on the map for fishing boundary details.
4 - Above the Tommy Beat - 4.1km To fish the Above the Tommy Beat, park next to the Fish & Game Beat sign and fish between the red markers. Click on the map for fishing boundary details.
3 - Below the Tommy Beat - 1.5km To fish the Below the Tommy Beat, park next to the Fish & Game Beat sign and fish between the blue markers. Click on the map for fishing boundary details.
2 - Tower Creek Beat - 1.1km To fish the Tower Creek Beat, park next to the Fish & Game Beat sign and fish between the red markers. Click on the map for fishing boundary details.

Brightwater Spring fishing beats

Individual beats are listed below, click on the image to display a larger map.

For a map showing all beats, click here.

2 - Upper Brightwater Beat - 0.7km

To fish the Upper Brightwater Beat, park next to the Fish & Game Beat sign and fish upstream of the red marker. Click on the map for fishing boundary details.

1 - Lower Brightwater Beat - 0.9km

To fish the Lower Brightwater Beat, park next to the Fish & Game Beat sign and fish between the blue markers. Click on the map for fishing boundary details.