Last updated October 2026
The Wairau River mouth at the Wairau Bar is where Marlborough’s biggest river meets Cloudy Bay, east of Blenheim. Surfcasters come for the big schools of kahawai, and in summer quinnat salmon gather off the mouth before running upriver, often travelling with the kahawai.
Sea-run brown trout move into the lower river too. Two sets of rules meet here: kahawai and other sea fish come under MPI, but trout and salmon at the mouth are under Fish & Game rules and need a licence.
At a Glance
- Location
- Wairau Bar, Cloudy Bay, east of Blenheim; vehicle access to the northern side of the mouth
- Type
- River mouth on an open gravel and sand coast
- Main species
- Kahawai; quinnat salmon in summer; sea-run brown trout
- Methods
- Surfcasting and spinning with metal lures
- Licence
- None for kahawai and other sea fish; Fish & Game licence for trout and salmon
- Boat ramp
- At the Wairau Bar, northern side of the mouth
- Tide port
- Wellington, with Wairau River Entrance offsets
- Rules
- MPI Challenger area for sea fish; Fish & Game Nelson/Marlborough for trout and salmon
- High about 1:39 am
- Low about 7:42 am
- High about 2:05 pm
- Low about 8:19 pm
Best times today: around 1:39 am, 7:42 am, 2:05 pm and 8:19 pm (2 hours either side of each tide change), and around 8:17 am and 8:40 pm (moon overhead and underfoot).
Moving water around the tide changes usually fishes best. Full 7-day Blenheim tides ›
Tide predictions: LINZ (CC BY 3.0 NZ), adjusted from Wellington using LINZ secondary port offsets. Predictions only; actual tides vary with weather.
More About The Wairau River mouth
The Wairau runs more than 140 km from the ranges near St Arnaud to the sea. Below Renwick it is confined to a single channel, and it reaches Cloudy Bay at the Wairau Bar, on the northern side of the mouth. The Cloudy Bay beaches either side are sandy or gravelly and unstable underfoot.
The bar is Te Pokohiwi o Kupe, the Boulder Bank Site Historic Reserve: one of the oldest and most significant archaeological sites in New Zealand, and the site of the first large Polynesian settlement in Aotearoa around 1250 to 1300 AD.
Since February 2026 Rangitāne o Wairau has managed it day to day, with DOC’s support. It remains a public reserve, so treat the place with respect.
Salmon spend five to ten days in the mixing zone around the mouth, adjusting to fresh water before they run upstream, and they often wait off the mouth for rain to start the run. When the river is low they sit even closer to shore than usual, which is when the mouth fishes best for them.
There are other places to fish the lower river. See our Wairau Diversion guide for the Diversion nearby, and our Wairau River guide for the river upstream.
How to Fish the Wairau River Mouth
Where and when
Fish from the gravel beside the mouth, casting into the outflow and the edge of the bay. Kahawai are the mainstay here, and they come in large numbers when they are chasing baitfish.
Salmon travel the coast from the Marlborough Sounds to Ward, generally within 10 km of shore, often moving with the kahawai schools. They gather off the mouth in summer, especially when the river is low and they are waiting for rain.
Moving water around the tide changes usually fishes better than slack water. Ask at a Blenheim tackle shop how the run is going before you make the drive.
What to catch and what to use
- Kahawai: usually taken on spinning lures. Metal lures that cast a long way are the simplest choice.
- Salmon: summer, when the fish gather off the mouth. Fish & Game reported fish of about 10 kg off the mouth in January 2019, when the rivers were low, heavier than the usual Wairau salmon.
- Sea-run trout: sea-run browns move up the lower river from February.
Getting There and Facilities
- Road: follow Wairau Bar Road out from Blenheim to the mouth. Fish & Game’s access guide lists vehicle access to the northern side of the mouth at the Wairau Bar.
- Boat ramp: at the Wairau Bar. The bar is an open coast river entrance, so only cross it in a suitable boat, with local knowledge and settled weather.
- Parking: park on the open gravel off the road and keep clear of the ramp and of private property.
- Facilities: the mouth is remote. Bring water, food and everything you need from Blenheim.
Rules and Safety
Which rules apply
- Sea fish: kahawai and other sea fish come under MPI’s Challenger area rules. No licence is needed.
- Trout and salmon: under the Fish & Game regulations, freshwater includes all waters in the mouth of every river, including every outlet, the seashore between the outlets and the sea, and anything within 500 m of where the river meets the sea at low tide. Fishing for trout or salmon at the Wairau mouth needs a Fish & Game licence.
- Season and methods: the Wairau downstream of the Wash Bridge is open all year for fly, spinner and bait. Fish & Game Nelson/Marlborough bag limits apply, and there is no minimum size for trout or salmon.
- Tagged fish: report tagged fish, and any trout or salmon with the adipose fin clipped, to Nelson/Marlborough Fish & Game.
- Set nets: set netting is banned from Cape Jackson to the Clarence River, including Cloudy Bay, out to 4 nautical miles.
Safety
- Current: the outflow at a big river mouth is strong. Do not wade into the channel.
- Weather: Cloudy Bay is open to the sea. Check the MetService marine forecast, and keep off the bar when swell is running.
- River flow: after heavy rain in the ranges the river rises and carries debris. Check the Marlborough District Council flows before you go.
- Heritage: the Wairau Bar is a nationally significant archaeological site. Do not dig, light fires or disturb the ground.
Trusted Sources
MPI Challenger fishing rules: size limits, daily limits and set net rules for Cloudy Bay.
Fish & Game Nelson/Marlborough regulations 2026/27: the river mouth rule, seasons and bag limits for trout and salmon.
Fish & Game Wairau River access guide: access to the Wairau Bar and the lower river.
Common Questions
What can you catch at the Wairau River mouth?
Kahawai in large numbers, quinnat salmon in summer, and sea-run brown trout.
Do I need a licence to fish the Wairau River mouth?
Not for kahawai and other sea fish. For trout or salmon you need a Fish & Game licence, because the river mouth counts as freshwater under the Fish & Game regulations.
When do salmon arrive at the Wairau mouth?
In summer. They gather off the mouth before running upriver, often waiting for rain, and sit closer to shore when the river is low.
What lures work for kahawai at the Wairau mouth?
Kahawai are usually caught on spinning lures. Metal lures that cast a long way are the easiest option.
How do I get to the Wairau River mouth?
Follow Wairau Bar Road from Blenheim. There is vehicle access to the northern side of the mouth at the Wairau Bar, with a boat ramp.
Can I use a set net at the Wairau mouth?
No. Set netting is banned from Cape Jackson to the Clarence River, including Cloudy Bay.
Why is the Wairau Bar significant?
It is Te Pokohiwi o Kupe, one of New Zealand’s oldest and most significant archaeological sites, managed by Rangitāne o Wairau as a public reserve.
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