The 2012-13 salmon season is one of the best in the last 20 years, with high numbers of salmon and well above average size.

The season started well and continues to be outstanding. Many fish over 20 pounds (9.1kg) have been taken, with 800-plus fish taken at the Rangitata River mouth. A few 30-pounders (13.6kg) have been landed too, and we may very well see a salmon over 40 pounds (18kg) taken this season. With one more month of the main season remaining, March offers a good opportunity for you to get in on the action.

No doubt favourable feeding conditions at sea have led to the good salmon run, with many of the east coast rivers fishing well. From Otago Harbour up to the Clarence River mouth, good numbers of salmon have been taken, and this month usually sees salmon congregating upriver and the runs continuing at the late-season river mouths. The Clarence River mouth offers a good surf-casting option and can easily be accessed along the northern bank.

The Hurunui River has fished very well this season too, but fishing at the river mouth will be slowing down by March – from State Highway One up to the confluence of the North and South Branches of the Hurunui will provide better options.

Colorado spoons and Veltics are best for fishing the deep pools, but you will need to add some weight to get down. The Hurunui offers a very scenic upriver fishery.

The lower Waimakari River to Kairaki Beach is a top option this month, as the Waimak’ often has its best runs now. Situated next to Christchurch, the lower Waimakariri River is a popular salmon-fishing location and a great place to see some salmon action and chat with other anglers.

The Kaiapoi River mouth and Mackintosh’s Hole are favourite high-tide locations. Boats can be anchored out in the river on the high tide to provide extra fishing opportunities away from the crowds.

Mackintoshs Hole fishes best two hours either side of the high tide. The Waimak’ mouth at Kairaki fishes better on the outgoing tide, with the two hours just before the low tide often providing the very best fishing. Casting into the surf at low tide is also a good way to target a salmon and get some time away from the ‘picket fence’.

Both the northern and southern sides of the Waimakariri River mouth have been fishing well. The south side is easily reached by driving along the beach from Spencer Park (although you need to get a key from the park ranger at Spencer Park).

Early in the morning, on a high tide, the pools in the river around the main road bridges also offer a chance of a salmon. At times the pools in the Kaiapoi River – especially those near the confluence with the Cam – can provide good salmon fishing using heavy trout tackle, particularly after there’s been some rain to get the salmon moving.

Upriver there are plenty of good pools and runs to try on the Waimakariri between the main road bridge and the Gorge Pool at Sheffield, with a gravel road running along each side of the river providing good 4WD access. Invariably early morning is the best time to fish the mid-reaches of the Waimak’.

The Rakaia has been one of the most reliable rivers for salmon this season, with steady runs of fish. The salmon will be well spread throughout the middle reaches by now. The river’s lower reaches are best fished in early March, as by mid-March fishing at the rivermouth and in the lower reaches of the Rakaia slows down most seasons.

The Rangitata offers a similar scenario: most of the best fishing in March will be along the middle reaches, with some good pools around the Arundel Bridge and opposite Peel Forest. However, there will be high numbers of salmon all the way through the Rakaia and Rangitata Rivers in March, offering outstanding upriver opportunities. Quite a few salmon over 30 pounds have been taken out of the Rangitata this season.

The mouths of smaller rivers, such as the Orari and Opihi, are certainly well worth fishing, both in their guts and in the surf, especially after a fresh, as a late season run of both wild and hatchery fish occurs in these rivers. The Orari River gut has fished very well so far this season.

The Waitaki River, which often has the largest salmon of all the east coast rivers (‘big water, big fish’), can be another top option in March. The Waitaki is well known as being a late-season river, with the best salmon fishing often taking place in the final weeks of March, just before the season ends. The mouth is a good option for anyone without a jet boat, but for those with a jet boat, now is the time to get out on the Waitaki. There is every chance that a salmon over 40 pounds will be taken out of this river some time soon. The Waitaki has a controlled flow and offers reliable salmon fishing for the last few weeks of March.

Other salmon fisheries, such as the West Coast lakes and Otago Harbour, have also been fishing better than average, and March is the last of the main salmon months for these fisheries.

Our salmon fishery is highly variable, so when an exceptionally good season occurs (such as the one we are experiencing now), it is important to capitalise on the opportunity. Ultimately being in the right place at the right time is everything with salmon fishing. When the rivers rise after rain the salmon will take more freely. Also, the best salmon fishing is generally early in the morning, especially during clear river conditions, and usually slows down after 10am as the water temperature increases.

Choose gear to suit the river conditions. If the river is low and clear, use smaller lures down to 7g spinners – but make sure you use heavy-duty split-rings and good swivels. By using braid or lighter line (around 7kg breaking strain, say) and a good quality rod, you can handle salmon on light tackle. March is the best month for targeting upriver salmon on such gear.

Finally, numerous salmon fishing options are on offer right now, so keep in touch with other anglers and local fishing shops to keep your information up to date. For me, car-pooling and getting together with mates adds to the enjoyment of the salmon-fishing experience. But, most important of all, get out there now, as very soon it will be too late!

	This article is reproduced with express permission of NZ Fishing News written by Peter Langlands - 2013 Re-publishing elsewhere is prohibited Originally published in New Zealand Fishing News