Last updated October 2026
The Waimakariri River is a braided, snow-fed river that reaches Pegasus Bay just north of Christchurch, close to Kaiapoi. It has a sea-run salmon fishery as well as brown and rainbow trout, and the lower river is the easiest part to reach from the city.
The salmon run comes late, mainly in February and March. You need a sports fishing licence, plus a sea-run salmon licence and season bag limit card if you want to fish for or keep salmon, and floods can change the river at any time of year.
At a Glance
- Location
- Waimakariri River, from Kaiapoi and Kairaki Beach upstream, north of Christchurch
- Main species
- Sea-run chinook salmon, sea-run trout, brown trout and rainbow trout
- Method
- Spin and fly (salmon: fly and spin only); blind fishing is common
- Best time
- Tidal reaches: top half of the outgoing tide, especially early morning
- Season
- Salmon 1 October to 30 April, mostly February and March; trout in the lower river all year
- Licence
- Sports fishing licence; sea-run salmon licence and season bag limit card for salmon
- Suits
- McIntosh’s Rocks suits beginners; the gorge and braids suit experienced anglers
- Access
- Old Main North Road and Kaiapoi for the tidal reaches; tracks on both banks above State Highway 1
- Tides
- Affect the lower river and mouth only; flow and floods rule the rest
- Toilets
- One public toilet at McIntoshs (Ferry Road, Kaiapoi)
No tides above the lower reaches. The top half of the outgoing tide fishes best at the mouth; further up, flow and floods decide whether the river is fishable.
What Makes It Worth the Trip
The Waimakariri rises in the Southern Alps and crosses the Canterbury Plains to the sea. Its name comes from the Māori words wai (water) and makariri (cold). It runs for about 151 km, and its flow is highly variable because it is fed by snowmelt and Alpine rain.
Unlike most Canterbury river mouths, the Waimakariri empties into a wide tidal bay, often over 100 m across. Salmon gather in the tidal reaches and move upriver when a rise in flow prompts them.
Chinook salmon were introduced from California in the early 1900s, and the river is one of the main rivers Fish & Game uses to estimate the sea-run salmon population, using aerial spawning counts and angler bag card returns.
It is a heavily fished river, but there is plenty of room. Environment Canterbury manages the Waimakariri River Regional Park along the river, and anglers fish the whole park from the Brooklands river mouth up to the gorge. Silt makes sight fishing hard on the main stem, so most fishing is blind, casting to likely water.
How to Fish the Waimakariri River
The mouth and tidal reaches
Fish & Game says the top half of the outgoing tide, especially in the early morning, is the most productive time in the tidal reaches.
McIntosh’s Rocks, about 1 km upstream of the mouth on the north bank, is the most popular spot. It needs no wading and has a wheelchair-accessible fishing platform. Salmon here are mainly caught in February and March.
Middle reaches: State Highway 1 to Gorge Bridge
Salmon fishing is unpredictable here. Fish hold in the tidal reaches until a rise in flow sends them upriver, and the first clear day after a rise, from mid-February to late March, is often best.
Look for slow, deep water near willows and groynes. Brown and rainbow trout are also present, especially in autumn and winter, in side channels and deeper runs.
The gorge and the upper river
The gorge is steep and fast, with limited public access at places such as Gorge Bridge, Woodstock and the Kowai River confluence. Salmon fishing is more consistent here in March and early April.
Salmon fishing is not allowed above the Staircase Gully confluence, a few kilometres upstream of Woodstock. Above Mt White Bridge there is some trout fishing, and summer low flows can push trout downstream.
Sea-run trout
Sea-run trout arrive in spring and early summer. The riffles near the Old Highway Bridge are a favourite, best fished when the river is discoloured, in the last hour of daylight near low tide. Streamers and soft baits that imitate native smelt work in fast water, and spin gear suits slower water.
What to catch and what to use
- Sea-run salmon: Fish & Game suggests a medium-action spin rod of 2 to 2.5 m with a reel holding about 200 m of 7 to 10 kg line in the tidal reaches. Popular lures are 42 g ticers and 28 g zed spinners. Above State Highway 1, lighter 17 to 22 g zed spinners fished right on the bottom are the usual choice.
- Brown and rainbow trout: fly or spin on the main stem. The tributaries (Broken River, Winding Creek and Porter River, off State Highway 73) suit light fly gear and stealthy sight fishing. Fish & Game asks anglers to limit their harvest there.
Getting There and Facilities
- Tidal reaches: reach them off Old Main North Road or through Kaiapoi. The north side of the mouth is reached via Kairaki.
- Above State Highway 1: roads and tracks run along both banks. Gorge access is limited and improves near State Highway 73 west of Cass.
- McIntoshs: on Ferry Road east of Kaiapoi, with a small car park off Ferry Ave and one public toilet. It is open 7am to 10pm from October to March and 7am to 7pm from April to September. Fires are not permitted, and dogs must be under effective control.
- Fishing platform: the platform at McIntoshs is for wheelchair users and blind anglers. Email du*********@*******vt.nz for a key. You must hold a current fishing licence.
- Driving on the riverbed: a park gate key from Fish & Game and Environment Canterbury is needed to drive beyond normal public access. Take your licence, photo ID and vehicle plate number to the Christchurch office on Tuam Street or the Amberley depot. A bond applies, and the gate locks change on 1 October each year.
- Boat ramps: Askeaton Park in Kaiapoi (off Hall Street) and the end of Featherstone Avenue at Kairaki Beach. Keep to 5 knots in the Kaiapoi River and below the Motorway Bridge.
- Licences: Kaiapoi Library (176 Williams Street) and Rivers to Ranges (98 High Street, Rangiora) are listed as North Canterbury licence agents, and Fish & Game’s office is at 595 Johns Road, Harewood.
- Camping: overnight beach and dune camping is not permitted at Kairaki and the other northern Pegasus Bay beaches.
Rules and Safety
Licences and rules
- Rule set: North Canterbury Fish & Game. Check the current North Canterbury sports fishing regulations for seasons, methods, size and daily limits before you go.
- Trout: a sports fishing licence is needed. In the lower river, below the Staircase Gully confluence, trout fishing is open all year for the 2026/27 season.
- Salmon: a sea-run salmon licence and a season bag limit card are required to fish for or keep salmon, including within 500 m of the river mouth. Salmon fishing is open from 1 October to 30 April, with fly and spin only. You cannot fish for salmon from 1 May to 30 September. Night-time limits apply, and you must return your bag card each season even if you caught nothing.
- Boats: check the current regulations before fishing from a boat or other craft.
Floods and river safety
- The Waimakariri is a braided river with highly variable flows. Floods can happen at any time of year, and heavy north-west rain in the Alps often causes flooding the next day.
- Check Environment Canterbury’s river flow data and the weather forecast before you leave home. Do not cross channels when the river is rising.
- Fish with a companion and tell someone where you are going.
- Riverbed birds such as wrybill, black-fronted terns, black-billed gulls and banded dotterel nest and feed on the ground. Leave the area if birds are sitting on the ground or acting unusually, and keep dogs away.
- Many rivers and streams in the district cross private land. Ask the landowner before you cross.
Where to Learn More
Fish & Game: Waimakariri River: access, salmon and trout seasons and methods.
Fish & Game sea-run salmon licence: how the licence and season bag limit card work.
Environment Canterbury: fishing in the regional park: access keys, fishing sites and bird nesting.
The Waimakariri River: Common Questions
Do I need a licence to fish the Waimakariri River?
Yes. You need a sports fishing licence for trout, and a sea-run salmon licence plus a season bag limit card to fish for or keep salmon. These also apply within 500 m of the river mouth.
When is the best time to catch salmon in the Waimakariri?
In the tidal reaches, February and March. In the gorge, March and early April is more consistent. The first clear day after a rise in the river is often best.
Where is the easiest place to fish the Waimakariri?
McIntosh’s Rocks, about 1 km upstream of the mouth on the north bank. It needs no wading and has a wheelchair-accessible platform.
What is the best tide to fish at the mouth?
Fish & Game says the top half of the outgoing tide, especially in the early morning, is the most productive in the tidal reaches.
Can I fish for trout in winter?
In the lower river, below the Staircase Gully confluence, trout fishing is open all year. Brown and rainbow trout are most common in the middle reaches in autumn and winter. Check the current regulations for the part you plan to fish.
Can I fish for salmon above Staircase Gully?
No. Salmon fishing is not allowed above Staircase Gully, a few kilometres upstream of Woodstock.
How do I check if the river is safe to fish?
Check Environment Canterbury’s river flow data for the Waimakariri River at Old Highway Bridge and the weather forecast. Floods can occur at any time of year.
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