Avon River Fishing Christchurch: Brown Trout Spots and Rules

Last updated October 2026

The Avon River / Ōtākaro is a spring-fed river that rises in Avonhead and winds through Christchurch to Ihutai / the Avon Heathcote Estuary. Fish & Game rates it, with the Heathcote, as a good junior and beginner fishery for brown trout, and it is usually clear and fishable. The central city is the catch.

You cannot fish between the Armagh Street and Barbadoes Street bridges or in the Botanic Gardens, and the council also bans fishing from its riverside structures, such as punting landings and steps, through the inner city. Above Armagh Street the season runs from 1 October to 30 April; below Barbadoes Street trout can be fished all year.

At a Glance

Location

From Avonhead through central Christchurch to Ihutai / the Avon Heathcote Estuary

Main species

Brown trout

Season (upper)

Upstream of the Armagh Street Bridge: 1 October to 30 April

Closed reach

Armagh Street Bridge to Barbadoes Street Bridge: no fishing at any time

Season (lower)

Downstream of the Barbadoes Street Bridge: trout all year

Methods

Fly, spinner and bait in the open reaches

Licence

Fish & Game licence (free for children under 12)

Access

Riverside paths, the Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor and the City to Sea Pathway

Tides

None above the lower reaches; rain and stormwater colour the river

Rules

Fish & Game North Canterbury, plus council no-fishing zones

Getting to Know Avon River / Ōtākaro

Ōtākaro means “the place of a game”, after the children who played on the banks while their families gathered food.

The river was highly valued as mahinga kai by Waitaha, Ngāti Māmoe and Ngāi Tahu, who took pātiki (flounder), tuna (eels), inaka (whitebait) and birds from it. The Waitaha pā Puari stood on its banks, and springs at Ōrakipaoa in Fendalton were used for healing.

Trout fishing on it was popular through the 19th and early 20th centuries, until, as the council puts it, fish numbers dwindled with a decline in their food and in water quality from stormwater and wastewater.

After the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes the land along the lower river became the residential red zone. Almost 5,500 properties were bought by the Crown, and the 602 hectare Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor, three and a half times the size of Hagley Park, is now being turned into parks, wetlands and paths over 30 to 50 years. Dallington Landing and new Snell, Avondale and Medway bridges were completed in 2022.

Because the Avon rises from springs, Fish & Game describes it, like the other rivers close to the city, as stable, clear and fishable much of the time. It is an easy place to learn, and a good place to fish for an hour after work.

How to Fish the Avon River

Where to fish

There are two open stretches. The upper river, upstream of the Armagh Street Bridge at Hagley Park, is open from 1 October to 30 April, except inside the Botanic Gardens.

The lower river, downstream of the Barbadoes Street Bridge, is open for trout all year and runs out through Avonside, Dallington, Avondale and the red zone towards the estuary. Fish & Game says access is very good along the river.

Methods

• Fly: light fly tackle in daylight for wary trout, and streamer flies on a floating or slow-sinking line after dark.
• Spinning: works best when the water carries some colour. Fish & Game suggests Toby, Tasmanian Devil and small ticer-type spinners.
• Bait: allowed for everyone in the open reaches. Worms, freshwater shrimp or live cockabullies fished on the bottom.

Salmon and coarse fish

Below Barbadoes Street the river is also listed for salmon from 1 October to 30 April, by fly and spinner only and with a sea-run salmon licence. That reach is also a listed coarse fishing water, where perch and tench may be fished with coarse methods.

Getting There and Facilities

• Upper river: follow the riverside paths through the western suburbs and Hagley Park, upstream of the Armagh Street Bridge.
• Lower river: the City to Sea Pathway is an 11 km shared path following the river from Barbadoes Street to Pages Road in New Brighton. Sections are opening in stages through to early 2027.
• Landings: Dallington Landing and the Snell, Avondale and Medway bridges give access into the red zone reaches.
• Other users: expect punts in the central city, and walkers and cyclists on the paths.
• More to do: for walking the river, see our Avon River Walk guide.

Rules and Safety

Where you cannot fish

• Armagh Street Bridge to Barbadoes Street Bridge: closed to all fishing under the Fish & Game regulations.
• Botanic Gardens: a council no-fishing zone.
• Council structures in the inner city: from where the river passes under Harper Avenue and Bealey Avenue to Fitzgerald Avenue, you cannot fish for anything, including eels, from council structures such as punting landings and steps. The riverbank itself is not covered by this rule.

Licence and rules

• Everyone needs a Fish & Game licence, carried while fishing. Children under 12 can get one free.
• Fish & Game North Canterbury sets the season, methods, size and bag limits in the 2026/27 Anglers Notice. Check them before you fish, and return any fish you do not keep straight away.
• General rules: one rod, no more than three flies or spinners or one bait assembly, stay within 15 metres of your rod, and no felt-soled waders.
• Fishing from council facilities: leave no rubbish, fish waste, line or hooks, and do not cast when people are around.

Water quality

• The council can discharge untreated wastewater into city rivers during big storms, and publishes recent overflows on its website.
• Environment Canterbury advises avoiding contact with rivers for 48 hours after heavy rain, including when gathering mahinga kai. Check LAWA and ECan for health warnings.

Tackle and Bait Nearby

• Hunting & Fishing Christchurch, 75 Clarence Street, Tower Junction, Addington.
• The Complete Angler, 484 Cranford Street, Redwood: a Fish & Game licence agent.
• Fish & Game North Canterbury, 595 Johns Road, Harewood: licences and advice. Licences can also be bought online.

Official Sources for Avon River / Ōtākaro

Common Questions

Can you fish the Avon River in Christchurch?
Yes, upstream of the Armagh Street Bridge from 1 October to 30 April, and downstream of the Barbadoes Street Bridge all year for trout.

Where is fishing banned on the Avon?
Between the Armagh Street and Barbadoes Street bridges, in the Botanic Gardens, and from council structures such as punting landings between Bealey Avenue and Fitzgerald Avenue.

Do I need a licence to fish the Avon?
Yes, a Fish & Game licence. Children under 12 can get one free.

Is bait fishing allowed?
Yes. Fly, spinner and bait are all allowed in both open reaches.

What fish are in the Avon River?
Mainly brown trout. The lower river is also listed for salmon and for coarse fish such as perch and tench.

Is the Avon good for beginners?
Fish & Game rates it as a good junior and beginner fishery. It is spring-fed, so it is usually clear and fishable.

Is the water safe after rain?
Avoid contact with the river for 48 hours after heavy rain. Wastewater can overflow into city rivers in big storms.

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