Hundreds of Kids Set to Cast a Line at Take a Kid Fishing

Fifteen-year-old Koopa Morris has been hooked on fishing for as long as he can remember — and he’s already told his granddad he’s coming back for more at this year’s Take A Kid Fishing event.

Held at Southern Reservoir in Dunedin over two weekends in September (20–21 and 27–28), Take A Kid Fishing is a free, family-friendly event run by Otago Fish & Game that gives young people up to age 17 the chance to catch a trout.

Pictured: Koopa Morris (now 15) shows Fish & Game officer Steve Dixon his trout at last year’s Take A Kid Fishing event at Southern Reservoir. Photo: Otago Fish & Game

Koopa, who lives in Mornington, has fished for trout in the reservoir many times and excitedly remembers last year’s event.
“It was real cool how it was set up — heaps of people, really fun. I only caught one fish, but it was a big one,” he said.
Dave Duncan, Koopa’s granddad, has been taking Koopa fishing since he could walk.
“He loves it. He gets out as much as he can — he’s got all the gear. Since he could hold a rod, he’s had one in his hand,” Mr Duncan said.
Koopa says fishing is the “funnest thing ever”.
“Once you start catching, you can’t stop. I mostly soft-bait, and taught myself how to fly fish. Anything that’ll catch fish,” he said.
“I even got my friends into fishing — now they’ve spent hundreds of dollars on gear and blame me!”

Fish & Game officer Steve Dixon said the event, now in its 16th year at Southern Reservoir, is a great way for kids and families to enjoy the outdoors together.
“The excitement when a child lands a fish is fantastic. We stock the reservoir with rainbow trout from the Macraes hatchery to give them a good chance.”

Volunteers will be on hand to help with advice, tangled lines, and fish cleaning. A limited number of fishing rods and lures can be borrowed on the day, and there’ll be a sausage sizzle and coffee cart on site.

UPDATE: Registrations for 2025 Take A Kid Fishing events at Southern Reservoir are full.

Fishing at Southern Reservoir is closed to the public during September to support the kids’ events and adult beginner fishing classes. The new fishing season opens October 1.

Thanks to our generous supporters from Otago Community Trust, OceanaGold and Dunedin City Council.