Reel Life February 2025 - West Coast

Autumn Fishing Opportunities on the West Coast

Autumn is an excellent time to get out on the water, offering anglers a wide range of opportunities to target our prized sport fish species. Whether you're aiming for salmon, trout, or perch, the fishing season is in full swing, and conditions are perfect for success.

Photo above: Kyah Sutherland bringing a trout to the kayak in Lake Brunner.

The trout fishing season is thriving, especially in our larger rivers. With reduced river flows, the fishing conditions are optimal, and the trout are in prime condition, having fed heavily over the summer in preparation for spawning. Small waterbodies were starting to fish tough over the summer dry spell but the recent rain will have cooled things down and got the trout feeding.

Harvey Rubbo finding success in larger rivers during low flows.

Perch fishing is also going strong, particularly while the lakes remain warm. Recent reports indicate abundant perch populations, with some impressive specimens being caught. Lake Mahinapua has been the most productive, but anglers have also had great success at Lake Kaniere and Dillman’s Dam, with excellent catches reported in recent weeks.

Regulations Reminder

For those that have not read the first schedule of the fishing regulations, I’d highly encourage you to do so. It’s the responsibility of anglers to ensure they aware of the regulations.

At the front of the regulations, you will find fishing conditions generally common to all Fish and Game Regions.

Important regulations such as no licence holder when fishing for sports fish shall use more than 1 assembled rod and running line or no licence holder shall continue to fish for a particular species of sports fish on any day in which he or she has already killed the limit bag for that species except where provided for in the Second Schedule.

Knowing the regulations allows you to be an ethical angler and when you get a visit from a ranger, it’s a positive one!

Also, for those fishing in the South Westland lakes, anglers are reminded that salmon under 450mm must be returned. Please ensure the utmost care is taken when returning undersize salmon.

Lastly, be sure to get and carry your West Coast Designated Water licence when heading into the head waters of the Karamea and Mokihinui.

Field Work Update

We are near the end of our trout dive surveys with finally dives being competed next week.

The overall trend has found that trout numbers have been slightly below average, although our high fish density fisheries continuing to offer great fishing opportunities. The Grey River in its mid reaches was above average, supporting an impressive 234 trout/km!

For more detail of the dive results, check out the drift dive report which will be posted on our website following it being presented at a council meeting in June.

As mention in a previous reel life, we are carrying out a research project in the Mawheraiti River Catchment.

Two of the many five-gram trout captured from electric fishing the research spawning streams in the Mawheraiti Catchment.

We carried out their second electric fish of the research spawning creeks in January.

The next generation of brown trout are doing well with similar numbers caught and them growing rapidly.

This year’s trout offspring on average have increased more than five times their weight recorded 11 weeks ago, going from just under a gram to now five grams!

Lagarosiphon Control Works Planned

Just a heads up to anglers intending on visiting lake Ianthe or Paringa in March. Department of Conservation have indicated they are likely to be doing some Lagarosiphon control for a day or two during this period. Once we have confirmed dates, we will put a post on our Facebook page, so keep an eye out for it. As always, please ensure you are check clean and drying going between our lakes, it would be terrible to see Lagarosiphon spread to neighbouring lakes.

Kyah, Hazel and Olly having a successful fishing outing with their Granddad Lyndon  at Lake Brunner.

Upcoming Fishing Competition

The Ahaura Hunting and Fishing Competition will take place over the Easter weekend, from Thursday, April 17th to Sunday, April 20th. This event focused on fostering community involvement, particularly for younger anglers and hunters, and is a fantastic way to engage with the local hunting and fishing scene. Here is the link to their Facebook page to find out more - https://www.facebook.com/ahaurahuntingandfishingcomp/

We hope to see you out on the water, enjoying all that our West Coast fisheries have to offer!

Baylee Kersten
West Coast Fish & Game Officer