The Karamea is a remote far-north West Coast wilderness river in Kahurangi National Park — clear granite pools and boulder runs holding strong, wild brown trout, much of it reached only on foot or by air. A spectacular back-country fishery: gin-clear and rewarding when low, unfishable and fast after rain. Plan access and safety carefully and tread lightly.
The Karamea drains the granite and marble wilderness of Kahurangi National Park to the far-north West Coast, a remote, beautiful river of clear pools and boulder runs in deep bush. When low it runs gin-clear over pale granite; after rain it rises hard. Strong, wild brown trout hold its pools in country a long way from the road.
Wading: Remote wilderness, fast rises after rain, slick boulders — back country care
The same West Coast terrestrial pattern as the Grey and Hokitika — green beetles early in summer, cicadas from late summer, both needing the clear water this river doesn't always hold — drawn from practical guides rather than published monitoring.
- River
- Granite
- Confined
- Pool riffle
- Gorge