Central South Island Weekly Fishing Report - 19 February 2026

Teenager experiences the thrill of sea-run salmon fishing

Teenage angler Ollie Christensen experienced the thrill of catching a sea-run salmon recently – a once common, but now rare, experience.

Ollie and his dad Jack, decided to try for a trout in the Rangitata River on Waitangi Weekend. They fished a spot for 40 minutes without a bite and then used Google Earth to find a better-looking section of water nearby.

Pictured above: Ollie Christensen's prized catch from the Rangitata River - his first sea-run salmon.

New spot reached and some reading of the water had Jack pointing out a ‘fishy’ looking spot to Ollie. However, it was a difficult cast, and Ollie needed to land the lure in some deeper water near the bank and an overhanging willow tree. After three ‘test casts’ Ollie’s fourth cast was spot-on but the swing of the lure was met with the feeling of a snag.

Ollie struck to free the lure from the snag and to his surprise the ‘snag’ shot off and the reel screamed! Excitement set in as they realised he had hooked a big fish and when the fish jumped it was confirmed; it was the biggest ‘trout’ Ollie had ever hooked. Soon after, it jumped a second time and then the realisation set in, this wasn’t a trout, rather, Ollie was hooked into his first sea-run salmon!

Ollie played the powerful fish patiently like a pro. Jack was buzzing and excitedly coached him through the fight. Sure enough, Ollie had the salmon landed in good time. 

Ollie was beaming, absolutely chuffed with his catch! He’s still chuffed a couple of weeks later – that’s the magic of salmon fishing. After the fish was dispatched Jacks crusty old scales weighed the salmon at 10-pounds. Jack took Ollie through the process of filling out their season bag limit card. He was surprised to realise that his catch had filled their one-salmon season bag limit and that he and his family’s salmon fishing was now over for the season. Jack explained how rare his catch was due to the current sea-run salmon crisis and why a season bag limit was needed to allow more of the salmon run to spawn.

Ollie and family have treasured their salmon harvest noting its flesh quality being superior to salmon from the canals and Lake Tekapo. They have enjoyed some sashimi and barbequed salmon and a fillet is in the freezer for a special occasion. 

Jet boats are a great tool for accessing fishing spots but boaties must be mindful that jet boating is only permitted on some rivers.

Jet boats are a great tool for accessing fishing spots on rivers but jet boaters need to be mindful that they can only boat a limited selection of river sections in New Zealand.

The use of jet boats is legally restricted in New Zealand primarily through speed restriction (Regional Councils /Harbourmaster) and restrictions on activities undertaken on surface water (District Councils). However, there are other restrictions too on the use of motorised craft, such as at wildlife refuges and reserves etc.

The Regional Councils Navigation Safety Bylaws list waterways with “speed uplift” where jet boating can take place. Speed uplifts allow a boat to be used at speeds in excess of 5 knots;  this means that jet boats can operate at the high speeds they are designed for. There are also restrictions listed where speed uplift may only apply to a certain river stretch and specified times of year. 

You can request a temporary reservation or exemption from the Harbourmaster by submitting a form, as specified by them, and including the necessary fee. Exemptions can allow for jet boating events and club days etc where a speed uplift is not provided for in the bylaws.

District Councils Plans list permitted and prohibited activities and rules including the use of motorised craft on surface water.

To ensure you are jet boating legally our advice is to treat all rivers as if the use of motorised craft is prohibited until you have done your own research and confirmed the use of motorised craft in excess of 5 knots is permitted.

Examples

Rangitata River – jet boating partially permitted, excluding upper section above Red Rocks / Turn Again Point between March and July, and excluding Deep Creek tributary at all times.

Navigation Safety Bylaws specifies that the Rangitata River, including the lagoon and tributaries, is a Speed Uplift Zone (see page 29).  

The Timaru District Council (TDC) and Ashburton District Council (ADC) Plans specify that use of motorised craft like jet boats is permitted on the Rangitata River at any time other than above Red Rocks also known as Turn Again Bend (NZMS 260, Sheet J36, Grid Reference 515208) between March and July inclusive (see section 6.20.2.1(4) TDC Plan and section 3.8.7 (a) ADC Plan). Additionally, ADC Plan specifies jet boating is prohibited at all times in the Deep Creek tributary.

Hopkins / Dobson Rivers – Jet boating permitted in mainstem but excluded in tributaries

Navigation Safety Bylaws specifies that the Hopkins and Dobson rivers (mainstems) are Speed Uplift Zones but that their tributaries (Spring Creeks / Temple Stream etc) are excluded and the 5 knot speed limit applies (see page 28).  

Opihi River – jet boating is not permitted unless part of authorised events held by the New Zealand Jet Boat Association

Navigation Safety Bylaws do not provide a Speed Uplift Zone.

The Timaru District Plan (see section 6.20.2.1(3)) specifies that use of motorised craft is permitted for the New Zealand Jet Boat Association for up to two family day events on the Opihi River between the State Highway 1 Bridge and the confluence of the Opihi and Opuha Rivers. within the period September to February (inclusive) conducted between 10.00am and 3.00pm when the river flow measured at the State Highway 1 Bridge exceeds 30 cumecs.

And

Up to one jet sprint event conducted by the New Zealand Jet Boat Association outside but adjacent to the mainstream of the Opihi River, of up to two days duration in September of any one year.

Important Links to Plans and Bylaws regulating jet boating in the Central South Island Fish & Game Region rivers.

• Environment Canterbury Navigation Safety Bylaws 
• Timaru District Council Plan – Activities on the Surface of Water
• Ashburton District Council Plan – Rural Zones
• Mackenzie District Plan – activities on the surface of water
• Waimate District Plan – Rural
• Waitaki District Plan – Rural Zones
• Apply to Harbourmaster for a temporary exemption

Ashburton Lakes trip report

South Canterbury's Anglers Club member Grant Weston with a top-conditioned brown from Lake Heron.

Garry Parker, treasurer of the South Canterbury Anglers Club, reports on the club’s annual trip to the Ashburton Lakes, held last weekend

Four hardy anglers fished Friday, two at Lake Clearwater &  two at Lake Heron. David Pope fished Clearwater & did the best, landing 7 perch & 3 trout, releasing them all. The weather was wet and the wind got up around 1 pm with whitecaps on the lake. All sought refuge back in the hut by 1 pm.

Saturday with the weather improved, all four went to Lake Heron. On the way we picked up a prospective member from the campground at Heron. When fishing was over, he enjoyed listening to different fishing styles and techniques learning a lot on the day. Hopefully he will soon join the club as the members have a tremendous amount of knowledge that they are happy to share. Twelve fish were landed with Grant Weston & Simon Gibb landing 5 each. See photo of Grant’s nice fish, a 5lb brown. In total 22 fish were landed over two days.

Next month the club holds its March fishing trip. Every year the club travels to locations all over the South Island. This year we're going to Lake Coleridge. As accommodation is limited, we have more members wanting to go than we have beds. 

The weekend is currently predicted to be mostly fine or high cloud according to NIWAWeather extended forecast, here.

Also be sure to check out Outdoor Access NZ. They offer high quality live stream webcams of some of Canterbury’s favourite fishing spots. This is a subscription-based service, but they do offer a 30-day free trial.

The Flows

As of Wednesday afternoon, the ECan River flow data website shows the following river flow rates read in cubic meters per second (m³/s). Click on the river name to go to the ECan website for more information.

• Ahuriri -  14 m³/s
• Ashburton -  54 m³/s
• Hakataramea – 5 m³/s
• Ōpihi –  41 m³/s
• Otematata - 9 m³/s
• Pareora – 5 m³/s
• Rangitata – 80 m³/s
• Tekapo – 14 m³/s
• Twizel –  6 m³/s
• Waitaki –  430 m³/s

Please always check the weather and waterway conditions yourself before heading out to ensure an enjoyable day on the water.

NOTICE BOARD

Return Your Sea-Run Salmon Bag Card

If you have finished your sea-run salmon fishing for the season, please remember to return the details of your salmon bag card to us.  Even if you didn’t go fishing, or catch or keep any sea-run salmon, your information is very important.

You can do this online by clicking here, give us a call on 03 615 8400, or email csi@fishandgame.org.nz or post the card to us at P.O Box 150 Temuka 7948. 

Please remember to email your angling reports to Fish & Game Officer, Jase Van Beers, at jvanbeers@fishandgame.org.nz.  We’d love to hear from you!

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For any questions, please email csi@fishandgame.org.nz or call 03 615 8400.