Number of junior anglers pleasing - Fish & Game

A feature of the opening of the new trout fishing season has been the number of young anglers on the waterways - this year October 1 fell within the first week of the school holidays.

Pictured: 8 year old Mitchell Dickey of Gore with a 3 ½lb brown trout, caught first cast, 1 October 2015 on the Mataura River, Southland.

Fish & Game says many of their compliance staff reported an increase in the number of junior anglers on rivers, lakes and streams this opening, some with fish, but all seeming to enjoy the day out with family.

“What better way to start your season than getting up early, packing a lunch and hitting the water with your kids,” says Fish & Game’s South Island Communications advisor Andrew Currie.

Mr Currie adds that Fish & Game has seen a steady increase in the sale of Family Licences over the last few seasons and sales were already up ahead of this season.

“For $161 a family, including up to two adults (parents or grandparents) and 4 children (or grandchildren) under the age of 18 on 1 October can be licenced for the whole year. You have to admit that’s pretty good value,” he says.

“I spent opening day in Central Otago and witnessed a few tangled lines and lost lures, but we also saw plenty of our junior stakeholders happily carrying fish back to the car too.”

According to Mr Currie, as the season progresses a number of Fish & Game regions will be holding ‘junior only’ or family fish out events across the country, and anyone interested should either check the website or call their local Fish & Game office.

These participation-focused days offer a great opportunity to either pick up some skills, or simply enjoy a day out in a supportive, fun environment, he says.

“On the plus side, we make sure the fish out ponds have enough reasonable size fish so that the kids can take home something big enough for the barbecue.”

In the meantime, Fish & Game is encouraging families and junior licence holders to make the most of the last few days of the school holidays, find a sheltered waterway, and enjoy the good early season conditions, before the school bell rings next week.