Reel Life September 2025 - Taranaki

Anticipation building for the start of the season

Excitement is starting to build as we count down to the new fishing season on Wednesday 1^st October. Now’s the time to dust off the gear and get ready with daylight saving just around the corner and warmer evenings on the way. June and July brought a few heavy rainfall events, particularly the big one on July 3, but ringplain rivers like the Hangatahua (Stony) and Waiaua have come through well. Both rivers remained stable last year, and if that continues, anglers can look forward to a great summer chasing fish that have had plenty of time to grow and put on condition.

Photo above: Jack Alvernaz with a solid hatchery fish from last season

Throughout the season, keep an eye out for the return of the Lower North Lowdown, a weekly fishing report produced jointly by Wellington and Taranaki Fish & Game. Each weekly update will provide local weather outlooks, tips and tricks, and news for anglers. Don’t forget to also check out the free fishing special issue of Fish & Game Magazine.

Fish Releases

It’s been a busy few weeks on the hatchery front, with 200 hatchery rainbows released into Lake Ratapiko, and 100 browns plus 100 rainbows into Lake Mangamahoe in August.

Rainbow on its way to Lake Ratapiko

Next on the list is Lake Rotomanu, which will soon receive 500 rainbows from Eastern Fish & Game’s Ngongotahā Hatchery for the 6^th annual Rotomanu Family Fishing Day on Saturday 11^th October. More details on this event are included below:

Lake Rotomanu Family Trout Fishing Day – Sunday 19th October 2025

The 6th annual Lake Rotomanu family fishing day is scheduled this year for Sunday 19th October in Fitzroy, New Plymouth.

Taranaki Fish and Game is funding the release of 500 rainbow trout into the lake for the event, which will run from 8am to 1pm in conjunction with the Inglewood Rod, Hunting and Clay Target Club and Taranaki Hunting & Fishing.

For children under 12 on 1st October, head to the Fish & Game website to obtain their free fishing licence. Children 12 and over can register at Taranaki Hunting & Fishing stores in the Valley or Oceanview Parade, New Plymouth, via this link or by emailing jharland@fishandgame.org.nz  and we’ll write them out a permit which can be collected on the day from the Rod & Hunting Club’s marquee tent located on the grass near the boat ramp.

Successful anglers at last years event

Bring what fishing gear you have to the tent and volunteers will assist with gear set-up, lures, bait etc. Families will then be able to distribute themselves at suitable fishing sites around the lake. If you have a supply of garden worms, they are a great bait for trout and perch.

Fish & Game has 100 spinners to give away to get you going and Taranaki Hunting & Fishing will have ready-to-go spin fishing sets available for purchase. There will also be free chocky fish and BBQ sausages available at the tent courtesy of Hynds New Plymouth, so come along and have an enjoyable day with the kids.

Regional regulation changes 

In terms of fishing regulations for the Taranaki region, there have been three small changes:

• Return to a 2-fish limit and the use of all methods (Fly, Spin, and Bait fishing) for the Waiaua River and Opunake Lake for the 2025/26 season. Opunake Lake is not currently fishable, but we are hopeful that it will be when the hydro scheme gets up and running again.
• A new clause (1.5) has been added to Note 1: Scented artificial lures may be used in all waters other than fly fishing only waters, when actively fished to imitate a bait fish. Scented soft baits can now be used in fly and spin only waters (e.g. Hangatahua [Stony], Kaiauai and Kapuni) when actively fished as a spinner. These days it’s hard to tell the difference between scented and unscented soft baits and so this is a change for practical reasons.
• And another new clause (1.6) has been added to Note 1: No licence holder, shall use as bait any fish taken from any water other than where the fishing is occurring. This is a biosecurity measure to reduce the risk of disease or organism spread (e.g. gold clam).

To correct a longstanding anomaly, Fish & Game have also updated the family fishing licence to ensure both adults named on the licence have equal fishing rights and are able to fish independently and exercise voting and standing rights in Fish & Game elections. As part of this change, the family license will need to include children or grandchildren that are under 18 years on the 1^st of October.

To ensure you are familiar with the latest regulations, you can check them out here, to purchase a license, click here. We hope everyone has an enjoyable and successful start to the fishing season!