Last updated November 2026
The lower Kaituna River runs out of its bush gorge onto the farmland near Te Puke and reaches the sea through the Te Tumu Cut, west of Maketū. Fish & Game says rainbow and brown trout live here, and the lower river suits spin fishing in spring, when smelt and whitebait enter the river.
Downstream of the SH2 bridge it is open all year to fly, spin and bait. Access is from Rangiuru Road and Kaituna River Road East off SH2, with boat ramps at Bell Road and Ford Road.
Lower Kaituna River Fishing at a Glance
- Location
- Kaituna River from the SH2 bridge near Te Puke to the Te Tumu Cut
- Type
- Lowland and tidal river through farmland, with stopbanks and wetlands
- Water
- Kaituna River (freshwater, tidal near the sea)
- Main species
- Rainbow and brown trout
- Season and methods
- Below the SH2 bridge: open all year, fly, spin and bait
- Best time
- Spring, when smelt and whitebait run up the river
- Access
- Rangiuru Road and Kaituna River Road East off SH2; Bell Road and Ford Road boat ramps
- Whitebait
- Season 1 September to 30 October
- Rules
- Fish & Game Eastern Region; licence required
- Cost
- Free access; Fish & Game licence needed
Tidal near the sea. The river rises and colours after rain, and spring smelt and whitebait runs bring the trout in.
What to Expect
The Kaituna starts at Lake Rotoiti and runs through a bush-clad gorge before coming out onto farmland and reaching the sea near Maketū. Since 1956 most of it has gone to sea through the Te Tumu Cut, a man-made channel.
In February 2020 the regional council’s re-diversion began returning up to 20 percent of the flow to the Maketū Estuary through culverts at Ford Road. From the air at the SH2 crossing, the river winds between stopbanks through flat farmland.
The Waiari Stream meanders across farmland and joins the Kaituna near the sea. Fish & Game says its lower reaches and mouth are popular with spin anglers for rainbow and brown trout, reached from Te Matai and No 1 roads just east of Te Puke, and through private land with the owner’s permission.
Near the coast, DOC’s Kaituna Wetland is the largest area of original wetland left in the Bay of Plenty, and the Ford’s Cut area is a known whitebaiting spot. The upper Kaituna at Ōkere Falls, near Rotorua, is a different fishery with different rules.
How to Fish the Lower Kaituna
When and how
Fish & Game rates the lower Kaituna as spinning water in spring, when smelt and whitebait move into the river and trout follow them. Below the SH2 bridge, bait is allowed too. Surfcasters also fish the river’s mouth at the Te Tumu Cut, reached from Ford Road.
What to catch
- Rainbow and brown trout: in the lower river and up the Waiari Stream.
- Whitebait: in season, from 1 September to 30 October, under DOC’s whitebaiting rules.
- Methods: spinners in spring; fly and bait are also allowed below SH2. Ask at a Tauranga tackle shop for current lures.
Getting There and Facilities
- River access: Fish & Game names Rangiuru Road and Kaituna River Road East, off SH2 south of Te Puke, as the access roads to the lower reaches.
- Boat ramps: Bell Road, and Ford Road, which was upgraded in 2020 and gives access to the Te Tumu Cut and Maketū Spit.
- Kaituna Wetland: from SH2 take Maketū Road and Te Tumu Road, then cross the bridge at the northern end of Kaituna Road onto Pah Road; the DOC car park is on the right. Stay on formed tracks; dogs are not allowed outside the game-bird hunting season.
- Private land: much of the riverbank is farmland. Use road ends and reserves, and ask permission before crossing private land.
Rules and Safety
- The lower river follows the Fish & Game Eastern Region rules for the Kaituna River downstream of the SH2 bridge: open all year, fly, spin and bait. Above the SH2 bridge, it is fly and spin only.
- In bait water, you may not use whole fish taken from another water as bait. No fishing for sports fish between midnight and 5am. A licence is required.
- Freshwater rules apply at the Te Tumu Cut mouth and along the beach within 500 metres of it. Beyond that, sea fishing follows MPI’s Auckland and Kermadec rules and the Maketū Taiāpure.
- Keep clear of the re-diversion culverts and control gates at Ford Road.
- The lower river is tidal and runs strongly after rain. Do not wade it in high flows.
Tackle and Bait Nearby
- Hunting & Fishing Tauranga, 19 Bethlehem Road: trout tackle and licences.
- Top Catch Bait & Tackle Mount Maunganui, 147 Totara Street: bait and tackle.
- Licences: Fish & Game licences can also be bought online.
Official Sources for Lower Kaituna River Fishing
Fish & Game: Tauranga area trout fishery: access and timing for the lower Kaituna and Waiari.
Fish & Game Eastern Region regulations: seasons, methods and rules for the Kaituna.
DOC: Kaituna Wetland: access and rules for the wetland.
Common Questions
Can I use bait on the lower Kaituna River?
Yes, downstream of the SH2 bridge, along with fly and spin. Above SH2, it is fly and spin only.
What fish are in the lower Kaituna?
Rainbow and brown trout, plus whitebait in season.
When is the best time to fish the lower Kaituna?
Spring, when smelt and whitebait run up the river and trout follow them.
How do I get to the lower Kaituna?
From Rangiuru Road or Kaituna River Road East off SH2, or from the boat ramps at Bell Road and Ford Road.
When is the whitebait season?
From 1 September to 30 October, under DOC’s whitebaiting rules.
Is this the same as the Kaituna at Ōkere Falls?
No. Ōkere Falls is the upper river near Rotorua, with different rules: fly and spin only.
Do I need a licence?
Yes, a Fish & Game licence for trout.
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