Lower Clutha/Mata-Au putting food on the table for anglers

Almost a quarter of freshwater sports fish caught in the lower Clutha River/Mata-Au have been kept for the table, a year-long survey shows.

The angling activity survey of the Clutha River below Roxburgh Dam found that about 14,500 brown trout, rainbow trout, perch and salmon were caught in the 2023-24 season.

Otago Fish & Game officer Jayde Couper said the lower river has always been a rich source of wild-caught food for local communities.

“This survey highlights the importance of maintaining and protecting the environments where these activities take place,” Mr Couper said. 

Pictured: Kelly Maynard and John Lyall fishing for trout and perch in the lower Clutha River/Mata-Au. Photo: Ian Hadland

Despite only making up 14 per cent of the catch, perch accounted for almost a quarter of the fish kept for eating.

“Perch, with their delicious white fillets, are under-rated by some anglers,” Mr Couper said.

Brown trout were the most caught fish, at more than 60 per cent, and rainbows made up a further 25 per cent.

The Fish & Game survey was funded by Contact Energy as part of its consent requirements to monitor and improve sport fish habitat in the lower river and tributaries.

The survey involved almost 6000 interviews with licensed anglers from Otago and Southland.

Mr Couper said it also looked at when and where people fished the lower river.

“By far the most popular and productive fishing section of the lower river was below Balclutha,” he said.

“People fish this section not only because of the quality of fishing and access but also because they like fishing close to home.

“This survey adds to a growing body of evidence that anglers highly value nearby fisheries, which is why we need to actively manage and protect them.”

Contact’s head of generation Boyd Brinsdon said: ”We appreciate the dedication of Otago Fish & Game for conducting the year-long survey and the insights the report provides for understanding sports fisheries in the Lower Clutha/Mata-Au.”

The Lower Clutha/Mata-Au Angler Survey report is available and will be distributed directly to licence holders via the Otago Fish & Game Council Facebook page and the Fish and Game New Zealand website. It can also be accessed publicly by selecting here.