Public fishing lakes, rivers and canals in Manawatū-Whanganui Region — Trout, Salmon, Perch, Coarse.
Filter by species, water type and size. Permit and rules information for every public venue in Manawatū-Whanganui Region and across New Zealand.
The Manawatū River is one of four large catchments named in Fish & Game's Wellington Region notice, giving productive brown trout river fishing right up to the doorstep of Palmerston North. The backcountry reaches run up into the Ruahine and Tararua Forest Parks.
Whanganui, at the region's northern end, has several lakes offering easy perch fishing (part of Fish & Game's Taranaki Region) - a good introduction to the sport for children. A Fish & Game licence covering all 12 regions except Taupō is required; there's no national night-fishing clock rule.
Every angler needs a Fish & Game licence. A single season or short-term licence covers all 12 Fish & Game regions nationwide; Taupō is managed separately by DOC under its own licence and rules.
The 2026-27 Anglers Notice, approved under the Conservation Act 1987, sets the open season, authorised methods (Fly/Spin/Bait) and daily bag limit for named waters in each region, with a regional default for everything else.
There is no national night-fishing clock rule — hours are set per water in the Anglers Notice, so always check the specific venue rather than assuming a blanket rule.
Whether you can camp or bivvy overnight nearby depends on land ownership and public-access status, not the fishing regulations themselves — check this region's venues for their confirmed access status, and DOC's hut/campsite network for a legal place to stay.
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