Reel Life December 2024

Merry Fishmas to all our readers from the team at Fish & Game NZ.

With a week to go until Christmas, it’s time to get sorted for some summer holiday fishing. A bit of rain this week will refresh our fisheries perfectly in time for the holiday break. This will make all of our fishing options look good for the angler wanting to try out their new Fishmas gifts.

 

 

Fishing Access maps

If you are travelling around the country or even if you are staying close to home, Fish & Game has updated our online access maps.

You can check out the links on this page for where you intend to fish this season. We have loads of locations for anglers around the country for you to get in a bit of fishing. Have a look; you might be surprised to find a spot close to you that you never knew existed.

 

Trout fishing made easy

Our YouTube channel has heaps of helpful videos that will help you catch fish. We have everything from Five Quick Tips for River Fishing to Lake Fishing and our popular boat fishing video. There are also many other videos on lures, soft baits and fishing locations that can provide tips and tricks for anglers of all skill levels.

 

Licence Photo Competition Winner November

Sharna Brown is the November winner of our Licence photo competition. Sharna was with her son Ryker (2 years old), out fishing for the afternoon. She says, “He was playing around in the water with his own rod, and then I cast, and we were just asking each other if we caught anything. The next thing, I had one on. So he came by me, and we landed it together. Then Ryker held the net, and I held the fish. After a few pats, we sent it on its way”.

 

Sharna is the first monthly winner of a $250 Kilwell voucher.  December entries are open now and get your entry in now here. It’s your chance to get a photo you have taken on the 2025/2026 Fishing Licence. Generously sponsored by Kilwell Sports, the four monthly winners go into the grand prize draw in March for an additional $1000 voucher.

 

Check Clean Day

Invasive freshwater pests, including didymo, could squeeze the life out of our country's most precious rivers and lakes. They can be spread by a single drop of water or plant fragment or single fish egg. You can help to protect your favourite waterways if you always check, clean, and then dry any equipment that comes into contact with the water between every waterway, every time.

 

The 'Check, Clean, Dry' method

To prevent the spread of invasive freshwater pests (like didymo), whenever you move between waterways you must check, clean, and dry all your gear that comes into contact with water. If you don't want to treat your gear, make sure you only use it in one waterway.

 

Check

Remove any plant matter from your gear and leave it at the site (the river or lake bank), or put it in the rubbish. Don't wash plant material down any drain.

 

Clean

There are different requirements for North Island and South Island river and lake users.

 

Dry

Ensure your gear is completely dry to the touch, inside and out, then leave dry for at least another 48 hours before you use it (didymo can survive for months on moist gear).

 

 

Merry Fishmas

Once again, the team at  Fish & Game NZ would like to wish all our anglers a Merry Fishmas and tight lines for the summer holidays.