Hawke's Bay Anglers Season Expectation Survey Results

Over 260 anglers shared their views in our pre-season expectations survey for the 2025/26 Hawke’s Bay angling season. Here’s what you told us:

Who responded:
Most respondents were local anglers (84%), with the majority aged 55 and over. Men made up 92% of participants.

Fishing methods:
Fly fishing remains dominant, with 73% expecting to use it most often, compared to 27% using spin fishing.

Favourite rivers:
The Tukituki River continues to be the most anticipated fishery (69%), followed by the Mohaka (53%), Ngaruroro (43%), and Tutaekuri (34%).

Fishing frequency:
Nearly a third of anglers plan to fish weekly, and another quarter fortnightly — showing a strong, regular commitment to local rivers.

Top expectations for the season:
Anglers are most looking forward to:

• Healthy river flows and habitats (67%)

• Good fish numbers (67%)

• Accessible fishing locations (63%)

• Larger fish size (35%)

• Quiet fishing areas (39%)

Satisfaction with last season:
Almost two-thirds were satisfied or very satisfied with their 2024/25 fishing opportunities — a positive sign for local fisheries health and management.

Staying connected:
Anglers prefer updates via our local fishing condition email newsletter (61%) and Fish & Game’s Reel Life newsletter (49%), with growing engagement through social media.

To view the full survey results click here

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Thank you to everyone who took part!
Your feedback helps shape habitat work, access improvements, and fishery management priorities for the year ahead.

Congratulations to Olly who picked up the $200 Hunting & Fishing Voucher for participating in the survey.