Waitara River Fishing: Kahawai, Whitebait and Trout at Waitara

Last updated October 2026

The Waitara River is one of Taranaki’s largest rivers, and it meets the sea at the town of Waitara, about 16 km north-east of New Plymouth. Concrete training walls guide the river out through the mouth, with mixed sand and cobble beaches on either side.

Anglers fish the mouth for kahawai, whitebaiters work the tidal lower river from 1 September to 30 October, and Fish & Game says the lower reaches give good brown trout fishing in spring.

Lake Ngangana, beside the river in town, is stocked with rainbow trout. The river floods often and carries a lot of silt, so check the conditions before you go.

At a Glance

Location

Waitara River mouth and lower river, Waitara, about 16 km north-east of New Plymouth

Type

River mouth between training walls (moles), with mixed sand and cobble beaches either side

Water

Waitara River mouth and the North Taranaki Bight (sea and tidal river)

Main species

Kahawai at the mouth; whitebait in season; brown trout in the lower river

Methods

Lures and bait at the mouth; whitebait nets in tidal water; spinning for trout

Whitebait season

1 September to 30 October

Tide port

Waitara River Entrance (LINZ secondary port, same times as Port Taranaki)

Rules

MPI Central (sea); DOC whitebait regulations; Fish & Game Taranaki licence for trout

Safety

Strong currents and a shifting bar at the mouth; floods after heavy rain

Cost

Free; a Fish & Game licence is needed for trout

The Background

The Waitara drains the hill country east of Mount Taranaki and often runs brown with silt. It is prone to flooding, and stopbanks line both sides of the river below the town bridge. Taranaki Regional Council recorded a flood peak of 1,367 cubic metres a second at Bertrand Road during a July storm.

The river mouth has been trained for well over a century. In 1885 the mouth was narrowed to 70 m between concrete East and West Moles. Floods in 1965, 1967, 1971 and 1990 broke up much of the East Mole, and only a few outer blocks remained by 1996.

The West Mole is still essentially intact, and its tip was rebuilt in 1997, when a new 77 m groyne was also built on the eastern bank. The bar at the mouth shifts and builds with each flood.

The river takes its name from the tradition of Te Whaitara-nui-a-Wharematangi-i-te-kimi-i-tana-matua-i-a-Ngarue, and flows through the rohe of the Te Atiawa hapū Manukorihi, Otaraua, Pukerangiora and Ngāti Rahiri. The mouth was one of the first areas settled in Aotearoa.

Hapū fished from named, purpose-built platforms called whakaparu, and these customary fishing places are still used today. Kahawai, yellow-eyed mullet, flounder, herrings, īnanga (whitebait), tuna (eel), piharau (lamprey) and kōkopu have all been taken here.

Marine Park, beside the river, is co-managed by New Plymouth District Council and Te Kōwhatu Tū Moana Trust. The council describes it as a place where people have fished and enjoyed the coast and river for generations.

How to Fish the Waitara River

The river mouth

The mouth is the main shore fishery, and kahawai are the fish to target. Local anglers say it gets busy when the kahawai are in. Fish the current lines along the walls with small metal lures or soft baits, or with squid or pilchard on the hook (tie pilchard on so it stays put in the current).

Keep the lure or bait moving. Moving water on the incoming or outgoing tide, early or late in the day, is the usual advice. The Waitara Offshore Fishing Club warns of a rock just out from the start of the wall that is exposed at low tide.

The river often carries a heavy load of silt, and the lower reaches only clear in long dry spells. Clean water at the mouth usually fishes much better than a brown flood plume, so give the river a few days to settle after heavy rain.

Whitebait

The Waitara is a well-known whitebait river, and the season runs from 1 September to 30 October. Nets may be used only in tidal waters, never upstream of the back pegs, and only during the permitted hours (6am to 9pm while daylight saving is on).

The river mouth has groynes and stormwater outlets, and no net may be set within 20 m of a groyne, outfall or similar structure.

Trout in the lower river

Fish & Game says the lower reaches below the Manganui River confluence give good brown trout fishing in low flows, especially in spring before the water warms.

Spinning is the most productive method because the river is big and often discoloured. In dry spells, the upper tidal reaches can be reached from Mamaku Road. Access is through farmland, so ask the landowner first.

Lake Ngangana, a 4 hectare lake at the end of Joll Street next to the kart club, is stocked with rainbow trout from time to time and also holds perch. It is open all year to fly, spin and bait fishing, though weed can be a problem. The riverbank walking track beside it reaches some fishing spots on the river too.

What to catch

• Kahawai: the main catch at the mouth, on small metal lures, soft baits or fresh bait.
• Whitebait: in season, in the tidal lower river, under the whitebaiting rules.
• Brown trout: in the lower river below the Manganui confluence, mostly on spinners. Fish & Game licence needed.
• Rainbow trout and perch: in Lake Ngangana in town. Fish & Game licence needed.

Getting There and Facilities

• Road: Waitara is about 16 km north-east of New Plymouth on State Highway 3. The river mouth is reached from West Beach on the western side and East Beach on the eastern side.
• Boat ramp and jetty: New Plymouth District Council looks after a boat ramp, jetty and pontoons on the lower river. Expect boat traffic around the ramp and through the mouth.
• Lake Ngangana: turn east into Princess Street off SH3 just north of the Waitara River bridge, then take the first right into Joll Street.
• Toilets: the toilets at Waitara Holiday Park on West Beach are for guests only. Check the council’s facilities list for public toilets in town.
• Dogs: Waitara’s beaches and the river mouth fall under New Plymouth’s district-wide rule: dogs may be off the leash but must be under control, and you must carry a leash.
• Other users: the river is popular for boating, kayaking and other water sports, and surfers use the break at the mouth.

Rules and Safety

• Sea fishing at the mouth follows MPI’s Central area rules. Check the current limits on the MPI website or the NZ Fishing Rules app before you go. No licence is needed for sea fishing.
• Set netting is restricted along the Taranaki coast. Check MPI’s Central rules for the set net areas before using any net other than a whitebait net.
• The Western Taranaki temporary closure on shellfish and other species runs from Tapuae Stream to Taungatara Stream, south-west of New Plymouth. It does not reach Waitara. The nearest marine reserve, Tapuae, is also south-west of New Plymouth.
• Whitebaiting follows the national whitebait regulations: one net at a time, stay within 10 m of your gear, total gear no longer than 6 m, at least 20 m between fixed gear, no fishing from a bridge or boat, and gear may take up no more than a quarter of the waterway’s width. The infringement fee is $400, and fines go up to $5,000 with gear seized.
• Trout fishing needs a Fish & Game licence. Check the Taranaki rules for the Waitara and Lake Ngangana.
• Water quality: LAWA monitors Waitara West Beach, Waitara East Beach and the river at the town wharf. In July 2025 West Beach carried a caution notice after a sewage overflow during heavy rain. Stay out of the water and do not gather shellfish for a few days after heavy rain.
• The mouth has strong currents and a bar that shifts with every flood. The broken remains of the old East Mole are a hazard, and swell from the west and north-west can make the walls dangerous. Never fish the walls in a big swell or when the river is in flood.

Official Sources for Waitara River

Common Questions

Where do people fish on the Waitara River?
Mostly at the river mouth, along the training walls, for kahawai. Whitebaiters fish the tidal lower river in season, and trout anglers fish the lower reaches upstream through farmland.

What can you catch at the Waitara River mouth?
Kahawai are the main catch from the shore. The river is also a well-known whitebait river, with brown trout further up.

When is whitebait season at Waitara?
From 1 September to 30 October each year, in tidal waters only and during the permitted hours.

Can I catch trout in the Waitara River?
Yes. Fish & Game says the lower reaches below the Manganui confluence fish well for brown trout in spring, mostly on spinners. You need a Fish & Game licence.

Is there a lake for trout fishing in Waitara?
Yes. Lake Ngangana at the end of Joll Street is stocked with rainbow trout from time to time, holds perch and is open all year to fly, spin and bait.

Is it safe to fish the Waitara River mouth?
Take care. The mouth has strong currents, a shifting bar and an exposed rock off the start of the wall. Do not fish the walls in a big swell or when the river is in flood.

Do I need a licence to fish at Waitara?
Not for sea fishing at the mouth or for whitebaiting. You need a Fish & Game licence for trout in the river and Lake Ngangana.

Spotted something incorrect on this page? Let us know.