Tairua River

Tairua Harbour, output of the Tairua river into the Pacific

The Tairua River is a river located on the east coast of the Coromandel Peninsula in the North Island of New Zealand.

It flows north and then northeast for a total of 35 kilometres (22 mi) from its source in the Coromandel Range to the west of Whangamatā, passing through the town of Hikuai before reaching the Pacific Ocean at Tairua on the peninsula's east coast emptying into the Tairua Harbour.

The small Shoe Island lies directly opposite the river's mouth, 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) into the Pacific.

Fishing

The Tairua River is used for recreational angling. It features a large rock bed, and is noted for its picturesque landscapes. It supports a variety of fish species, including rainbow trout,  which weigh averagely just under 1 kg. Access to the Tairua River is commonly gained from various central points. The middle reaches can be easily accessed from the Hikuia Valley Road that runs alongside the river for approximately 10 km (6.2 miles). The upper reaches can only be accessed by foot from the track that begins near the bridge on State Highway 25A. For more secluded fishing experiences, anglers often access the river by foot from either the northern or southern ends.

Fishing Techniques and Regulations

Various fly lures are used for fly fishing in the Tairua River, depending on the season. There are several choices of fly lure. Cicada lures are most commonly used in mid-summer. Green beetles’ pattern is more often used around the month of November. All wet flies are accepted at the river. Spinners may be used only with a small blade tail.  The red and gold spinner patterns are the most common used colours. When fishing in the Tairua River, it is common to only bag up to 5 fish a day. The majority of the fish are usually 30 cm or longer.