10 of the Biggest Fish Ever Caught Around Christchurch

Christchurch might not immediately spring to mind when you think about monster fish, but the coastline, rivers and lakes surrounding the city tell a different story.

From the deep water beyond Banks Peninsula to the surf at Birdlings Flat, Lyttelton Harbour and the mighty Waimakariri River, local anglers have encountered everything from huge sharks and rays to trophy trout and enormous Chinook salmon.

There is no single official record book ranking every fish ever caught in the Christchurch area, and several historic catches were recorded by length rather than weight. Instead, this collection brings together 10 of the largest documented catches from Christchurch and nearby Canterbury waters.

1. The 153 kg Banks Peninsula Mako Shark

One catch stands well above most others documented around Christchurch. Angler Grant Collins landed an enormous 153 kg shortfin mako shark off Banks Peninsula during a Canterbury Sport Fishing Club event.

The shark was attracted to the boat using a berley trail before being hooked offshore. At 153 kg, it provides a striking reminder of just how large the predators cruising Canterbury's offshore waters can become.

Mako sharks are renowned for their speed, power and spectacular fights, making a fish of this size an extraordinary catch by any measure.

2. The Giant Sevengill Shark from Birdlings Flat

Birdlings Flat has a legendary reputation among Canterbury surfcasters, and one catch helps explain why.

In March 1990, angler Allan Burgess hooked a broadnose sevengill shark while surfcasting from the beach. The shark measured an incredible 8 feet 3 inches, or approximately 2.5 metres long.

Landing a fish of that size from the shore is very different from fighting one from a boat. The angler has to contend with waves, current, rocks and the challenge of bringing a huge fish through the surf.

3. The 76 kg Port Levy Sevengill Shark

Another enormous sevengill was caught by John Crawford at Port Levy on Banks Peninsula, near Lyttelton.

This fish tipped the scales at 76 kg. Sevengill sharks are one of the largest shark species regularly encountered close to the South Island coastline and have long featured in Canterbury fishing stories.

Port Levy and the waters surrounding Banks Peninsula provide exactly the sort of coastal habitat where these large sharks can turn up unexpectedly.

4. The 8 Foot Grey Nurse Shark from Lyttelton Harbour

Christchurch fishing history goes back considerably further than modern rods, reels and fishing photography.

Newspaper reports from December 1925 recorded an eight foot grey nurse shark being caught near Ripa Island in Lyttelton Harbour.

Even more remarkably, reports from the same period described other very large sharks being sighted inside the harbour. It paints a fascinating picture of what Lyttelton Harbour looked like to anglers a century ago.

5. The 37 kg Lyttelton Stingray

Sharks are not the only heavyweight fish found around Lyttelton.

A huge short tailed stingray weighing 37 kg was caught off Lyttelton by Anna Valentine. Another documented Lyttelton catch weighed 36 kg and was landed with rod and reel from the harbour breakwater.

Stingrays can grow considerably larger than many people realise. Hooking one often results in a powerful fight as the ray uses its broad body against the angler.

6. The 42 lb Waimakariri Salmon

The Waimakariri River has produced some extraordinary Chinook salmon over the years, but few compare with the fish caught by Norm Thackwell.

His salmon weighed 42 pounds, approximately 19.1 kg, making it one of the heaviest salmon documented from a New Zealand river.

For generations of Christchurch anglers, catching a sea run salmon from the Waimakariri was one of the great prizes of Canterbury fishing. A fish exceeding 40 pounds sits in an entirely different league.

7. The 35 lb Waimakariri Salmon

Another monster from the Waimakariri was a 35 pound salmon documented in 2011.

That works out at close to 16 kg, substantially larger than the salmon most anglers are likely to encounter today.

Historical accounts show that Canterbury once produced considerable numbers of very large salmon, particularly during the strongest runs of the twentieth century.

8. The 21 lb Trout from the Avon River

One of the most surprising catches on this list comes from much closer to central Christchurch.

Historical records from 1880 report a trout weighing 21 pounds being caught in the Avon River.

At roughly 9.5 kg, that is an astonishing trout by modern standards and almost difficult to imagine swimming through the city's waterways today.

The catch also offers a fascinating glimpse into the early history of introduced trout fishing in Canterbury.

9. The 6.5 kg Elephant Fish from Woodend Beach

Head north from Christchurch and Canterbury's beaches offer another kind of heavyweight fishing opportunity.

Paul Newbigging landed a 6.5 kg elephant fish while surfcasting at Woodend Beach near Christchurch.

Elephant fish are unusual looking members of the cartilaginous fish family and are powerful fighters when hooked from the beach. Canterbury's shallow coastal waters are an important area for the species, particularly during the warmer months.

10. The 5.9 kg Lake Ellesmere Brown Trout

The waterways surrounding Te Waihora Lake Ellesmere have long been famous among local anglers for producing unusually large brown trout.

One standout fish caught by Carey Prior measured 72 centimetres and weighed 5.9 kg, or around 13 pounds.

Remarkably, it was only the second trout he had caught on a fly. The lower reaches of the waterways feeding Lake Ellesmere have historically produced exceptionally well conditioned trout, with fish over 10 pounds considered genuine trophies.

Why Does Christchurch Produce Such Big Fish?

The answer is largely geography.

Christchurch sits beside Pegasus Bay with Banks Peninsula extending into deeper Pacific waters. To the north and south are long surf beaches, while major braided rivers such as the Waimakariri connect the Southern Alps directly with the ocean.

Add Lyttelton Harbour, the bays of Banks Peninsula and the extensive waterways around Te Waihora Lake Ellesmere and anglers have access to an unusually diverse range of fishing environments.

Within a relatively short distance of Christchurch it is possible to target trout, salmon, elephant fish, kahawai, kingfish, rays and several species of shark.

Where to Find Big Fish Around Christchurch

Some of Canterbury's most famous fishing areas include Banks Peninsula, Lyttelton Harbour, Birdlings Flat, Woodend Beach, the Waimakariri River and the waterways surrounding Te Waihora Lake Ellesmere.

The species, conditions and fishing rules vary significantly between each location, so anglers should always check current fishing regulations, weather and local conditions before heading out.

Could Another Christchurch Monster Be Out There?

Absolutely.

Some of the catches on this list date back more than a century, while others are considerably more recent. Together they show just how varied the waters around Christchurch can be.

Whether it is a huge shark cruising beyond Banks Peninsula, a trophy trout feeding after dark or a salmon pushing its way up the Waimakariri, there is always the possibility that the next cast produces something memorable.