The Marlborough province is the sunniest in the South Island and boasts many fishing havens. The Wairau River, which flows into Cloudy Bay near Blenheim, can be accessed quite easily along both sides. Sea-run trout are in plentiful supply at the river’s mouth, also the upper Wairau provides excellent fishing. Highway 63, on the south bank, connects Blenheim to the Nelson Lakes, offering interesting tributaries en route.

Great fishing can be encountered at the mouths of rivers and creeks along the north coast between Havelock, Nelson and Motueka. Inland from Motueka, Highway 61 provides access to many spots, including that on the western side of the old suspension bridge leading up the Graham Valley to Flora Hut on Mount Arthur.

Magnificent lakes and rivers encompass the spectacular Nelson Lakes National Park.

Most favoured by anglers is peaceful Lake Rotoroa, well known for its abundant brown trout and lack of boats and water skiers. Supplies of rainbow trout inhabit the lake, however are no longer being restocked. The south end of the lake is home to the very best boat fishing, at the mouths of the Sabine and D’Urville rivers. Smaller streams entering the lake also provide an array of fish.

The Buller River flows from Lake Rotoiti to Wesport, paralleled by Highway 6, and provides suburb fishing along its entire length. The adjacent township of Murchison is perched on a small plain at the junction of the Upper Buller and Matakitaki rivers, boasting magnificent trout streams in all valleys encircling the river. The Mangles and Tutaki Rivers offer great fishing, as do numerous streams near Reefton.

Rivers in and around Nelson Lakes National Park can be fished between the 1st of October and the 30th of April. The Buller River is open to anglers all year round.