Reel Life December 2025 - West Coast

Holiday Fishing on the West Coast

With Christmas, New Year, and the long summer evenings upon us, many anglers are looking forward to spending extra time on the water and for good reason. Fishing opportunities across the West Coast remain strong, from action-packed perch sessions to reports of very large trout. Lakes in particular have been producing consistently and are proving popular with families and visiting anglers this season.

Image above: Spencer Kelly making the most of favourable conditions with soft baits.

Fishing with friends and whānau is a highlight of the season, and it is great to see young anglers getting involved. Calm lake edges, boat fishing, and easily accessed shoreline spots provide ideal conditions for introducing newcomers to the sport while still offering plenty of excitement for experienced anglers. Summer long weekends often bring more visitors, so plan ahead and consider exploring alternative locations or fishing early and late to avoid the busiest times.

As expected, popular waters and access points will be busier over the holidays. Reaching out to landowners can open up productive stretches of water that see very little pressure. Areas with naturally higher fish densities, such as lake outlets and the mid to lower reaches of larger stable rivers, often fish well even during busy periods as trout continue to feed despite increased angler presence.

Corey Bergthold enjoying the great perch fishing currently on offer.

Rainfall and Summer Conditions

Regular rainfall over recent weeks has continued to benefit fishing conditions. Unlike prolonged dry spells that leave rivers low and clear, these patterns have helped maintain flow and colour, which is particularly important for angler success. These conditions are especially forgiving for newer anglers and kids, helping keep catch rates up and enthusiasm high.

Lake fishing has remained a standout, with temperatures and lake levels supporting strong food availability and trout activity. Soft baiting continues to be very effective, especially when targeting larger brown trout. Bright, high-visibility soft baits are a good option when water clarity is reduced, while more subtle natural colours excel once rivers and lakes clear.

Micah Thomsen enjoying a successful fishing outing after a Fish and Game education event.

Looking After the Fishery

With warmer weather and increased angling activity, anglers are reminded to take care when handling fish, particularly if practising catch and release. Minimise air exposure, keep fish wet, and release them quickly. Summer can place extra stress on fish due to higher water temperatures, so handling with care is more important than ever.

Anglers are also urged to remember the threat posed by invasive weeds like Lagarosiphon. Please Check, Clean, Dry all boats, fishing gear and equipment between waterways to stop the spread of Lagarosiphon and protect our native ecosystems. Simple actions like these help keep our fisheries healthy for everyone.

Divers gearing up to complete a trout dive survey on the Mawheraiti River.

Fieldwork and Education Update

Staff and volunteers have been busy completing trout dive surveys whenever conditions allow. Results so far have been broadly average, with healthy numbers of catchable-sized trout observed across surveyed sites. A big thank you to our dedicated volunteers, as your time and effort are critical to the success of our monitoring programme.

Electric fishing surveys have also been carried out to identify spawning streams and support ongoing research projects. Despite a wet spring, encouraging numbers of juvenile trout have been recorded across many systems, indicating positive recruitment heading into future seasons.

Over the past month, staff have also delivered several education events, including one spin fishing course and two fly fishing courses. Thank you to everyone who attended and supported these sessions. It was great to meet keen anglers from across the Coast and help them take their first steps into freshwater fishing.

Hope to see you out there!