Reel Life October 2025

The team at Fish & Game hope that all anglers have been able to get out for a fish in the first month of the season.

The weather has certainly been challenging, but here at Fish & Game we have some great resources available if you are forced to change plans on the fly.

Pictured above: Weesang Paaka in Nelson Marlborough region - despite the huge floods in June and July, the fishing has been surprisingly good. Photo: Jacob Lucas

Our world-class access mapping pages here will help you explore new spots and guide you to the easiest points to get on the water.

Our regional links above always have great tips and tricks, and the intel on your region’s fishing, or the region that you might want to explore to try out some new opportunities.

We also have some great resources on our YouTube channel, plus our regions often have upcoming events for anglers of all skill levels on their Facebook pages.

Greg Smith with one of many good Hutt River browns he caught early season.

World's largest angling mental health study reveals remarkable benefits

I think we would all agree it’s great to get some time on the water for a fish, and now those benefits have been scientifically measured.

A significant New Zealand study of nearly 1,900 anglers, the largest of its kind globally, has shown that fishing can significantly boost wellbeing and mental health.

According to the study published in the international journal Leisure Sciences, active anglers were 52 percent less likely to report psychological distress or thoughts of self-harm.

Fish & Game’s Cohen Stewart and Heather Sanders-Garrick teamed up with Dr Shyamala Nada-Raja, University of Otago, and independent researcher Paul Garbett, led the research examining the link between recreational fishing and mental health.

The research used validated clinical assessment tools to demonstrate that active anglers were 52% less likely to report moderate-to-severe psychological distress and thoughts of self-harm, and 46% were less likely to experience moderate-to-severe anxiety.

Fish & Game New Zealand Chief Operating Officer Richie Cosgrove said the scale and rigour of the findings provided significant and emerging evidence of fishing's mental health value.

"We've long suspected that the peace and connection anglers find on our rivers and lakes goes deeper than just recreation, but this research provides further proof at a scale never before achieved globally.”

Cohen Stewart added: "With nearly 1,900 participants from across Aotearoa, this study contributes to previous international research and gives us confidence that trout fishing genuinely supports mental wellbeing. The fact that we found a clear dose-response relationship – the more you fish, the better your mental health outcomes – is particularly compelling."

Dr Nada-Raja, a wellbeing and suicide prevention researcher from the University of Otago, said the findings could reshape approaches to mental health support.

"What we're seeing here is evidence that nature-based interventions like trout fishing could serve as valuable complements to traditional mental health treatments," Dr Nada-Raja said.

"Some people who might not access conventional counselling services may find heading out to a river for a few hours both appealing and beneficial."

Dr Nada-Raja said another special thing about the study was it was essentially one of the largest studies focused on men’s mental health and wellbeing done in New Zealand.

“By seeking information about angling and its benefits we have learned a lot about the mental health and wellbeing of men from all walks of life as they were the majority of participants.”

The research identified specific elements enhancing mental health outcomes, including water contact through wading, fishing with companions, and physical activity involved in accessing fishing locations.

Importantly, the benefits remained consistent across gender and ethnic groups, including New Zealand European and Māori participants.

Read our media release and fact sheet about the study here

High country opening in November

Airi Naka 7 years old and Dad Tai from Mt Cook at last year’s Kid’s Salmon Fishing Day.

Our South Island High Country fisheries all open in early November; these great fisheries should be on every angler’s bucket list.

These waters open later to allow the rainbow trout that live in these incredibly picturesque landscapes time to finish spawning.

Both the Central South Island and North Canterbury regions hold events when these fisheries open on the first Saturday in November.

Central South Island will be hosting their annual Kids Salmon Fishing day at Loch Cameron near Twizel, and the North Canterbury team will be up at the Harper River Campsite for the Lake Coleridge Fishing competition.

These events are a great excuse to take the family fishing, and are really popular with hundreds of anglers attending both.

Our Otago and Southland high country fisheries open on the same day this year (normally they open on 1 November, which tends to be earlier than the first Saturday in November for CSI and NC), which means Saturday 1 November is a great day for angling opportunities in the South Island.