Fly fishing in Southland

The Mataura River is famous for its world class brown trout fishing!

Fly fishing, salmon fishing, trout fishing and big game deep sea fishing. Southland really is a fishing paradise. Gore, which is Southland’s second biggest town and is divided into two parts by the Mataura River, is world famous for its brown trout fishing.

The Mataura River has, in fact, long been regarded as a magnet for international anglers, keen to test their skills on one of the best brown trout fishing rivers on the planet.

While the spotlight is often on the Mataura, there are numerous southern waterways that will richly reward the casts of any keen angler. And they are easily accessible, with most able to be reached within just two hours’ drive from Invercargill.

There’s also much demand for deep sea and big game fishing charters, especially off the coast off Stewart Island. The blue cod from Foveaux Strait are also legendary, while floundering on the beaches is a tradition for many families. Many boats are also available to take the keen angler out around Stewart Island for a day’s fishing, or visitors can go diving for shellfish and other delicacies.