Reel Life September 2024 - West Coast

Spring is a fantastic time to be out on the water!

2024/25 Sports Fishing Season Fast Approaching!

The new fishing season kicks off on Tuesday October 1st, perfectly timed with the school holidays starting just few days earlier. It is a fantastic opportunity to gather the whole crew and hit the water!

Recent rain has really energised our fisheries, providing excellent feeding opportunities. Active trout are easier to catch, and don’t worry—trout won’t turn down an easy meal, even if they’ve already got a full stomach! Our lakes, in particular, are set to fish well following the wet month we’ve had. The flooded margins are rich with food, like drowned worms, drawing trout into the shallows for exciting action right at your feet. Additionally, mild winter temperatures and recent rain have warmed our lakes and rivers, enhancing early-season fishing prospects.

In a recent trip to Iveagh Bay numerous trout could be spotted cruising the flooded grass.

Reminder: You’ll need a 2024/25 sports fishing license starting October 1st to enjoy our fantastic fishing resources. If you haven't secured your new license yet, you can easily grab it online here.

Explore Your Options

As a visiting or new angler, knowing where to fish can feel daunting. To combat this, we’ve been actively expanding our locations displaying angler access signs and now provide an online access map. It has never been easier to get a line in the water and a fish in the net! The West Coast is fortunate to have an abundance of fantastic fisheries with great access—now you know just where to look!

Come opening day, while many will flock to newly opened locations, don’t forget about the fisheries that have remained open throughout the winter! Anglers are already reporting great catches in the lower reaches of our rivers. With no significant floods for two years, our rivers are in prime condition, which is reflected in the health and the number of trout present. River mouths are particularly popular fishing spots in spring, offering good early-season opportunities and the chance to catch a personal best.

A young well-conditioned brown trout caught in the lower reaches of the Hokitika River.

Estuarine trout can grow quite large due to their diet of mullet, crabs, bullies, and smelt, providing them with a protein-rich menu. When targeting the lower reaches, use tackle that mimics these food sources—a silvery soft bait or crab pattern works wonders. Focus your efforts in areas where crabs are present, especially around high tide, and you might just find a trout visiting their favourite feeding grounds! For more tips on estuarine trout fishing check out our video West Coast Estuarine Trout Fishing.

Regulation Changes for 2024/25

There are no changes to regulations on the West Coast for the 2024/25 season. However, you may notice some updates in the regulation guides: Fish & Game is now using regional guides instead of the traditional South Island/North Island guides. Additionally, the West Coast has simplified regulations by specify popular fisheries or those that are the upper section of winter fisheries, even though they fall under the regions default regulations.

The Karamea and Mokihinui headwaters are now in their second season under the designated waters licencing and management regime. With largely positive feedback from the first year, we are optimistic that Designated Waters will continue to enhance anglers’ experiences by distributing non-resident angling across our diverse fisheries instead of concentrating it in a few hotspots.

This season, we encourage anglers to be ethical and considerate of others. To ensure a great day on the water, please:

• Avoid crowded areas and communicate with fellow anglers to ensure everyone has a good experience.
• Spread your angling pressure by not fishing the same spot-on consecutive days.
• Limit catch and release to no more than six trout per day.
• Practice upstream fishing to minimise disruption.

For the complete West Coast Sports Fishing Regulations 2024/25, click here.

Salmon Management Update

Since March 2023, sea conditions have been favourable under El Niño patterns, leading to a promising rebound in salmon numbers observed spawning. Our lake resident fish play a crucial role in maintaining the population during years with unfavourable sea conditions, as seen in 2023 when all observed salmon spawning appeared to be lake residents.

IA salmon spawning in MacDonalds Creek, May 2024.

During the 2024 spawning counts, we were pleased to observe that the majority of the spawning population consisted of salmon believed to be sea-going. Sea-going fish are typically significantly larger and produce far more eggs, which enhances recruitment. To further bolster riverine populations, we will continue our strategic releases, with the hope that sea conditions remain favourable for growth. For more West Coast salmon management information, please check out our article in the magazine West Coast Salmon Management, and our staff report Salmon Management Review.

Keeping in mind the important role that lake resident salmon play in our fishery. If you a fishing on the South Westland lakes, please ensure you are complying with the size restriction that salmon must be greater than 450mm. Please also ensure you are handling and returning the undersize salmon with the utmost care. Proper handling of the lake resident salmon keeps them healthy, allowing them the chance to go to sea and attain their full potential or sustain the population when sea conditions are unfavourable.

Field Work Update

Our team has been busy this winter with compliance checks, spawning surveys, and improving access. It has been great to see anglers enjoying our winter fishing opportunities! Access signs have been refreshed, and new sites have been added. If you encounter any access issues, please reach out to us—your feedback helps us address issues!

Best of Luck!

We wish you all the best for the 2024/25 fishing season. As always, we’re eager to receive your photos and reports, so don’t hesitate to send us an email.

 

We hope to see you out there!

Baylee Kersten

West Coast Fish & Game Officer