The southern part of the South Island is a popular destination for fresh water fishing with a number of lakes and rivers to choose from.
The large Waitaki river has abundant salmon runs, and the smaller rivers and high country lakes are habitat to significant brown and rainbow trout fisheries. Hydro lakes and canals are home to massive trout which feed in close proximity to the prolific salmon farms.
Saltwater fishing for blue cod and hapuku is also a great option. Pacific bluefin tuna are a target species in the winter months off the West Coast. Fish up to 300kg have been caught by recreational boats.
For Nelson contributor Dan Govier there is as much enjoyment in planning a mission as actually being out on the water. Deciding where to go, what... Read More >
On a recent trip to the Mackenzie Country canals, Mark Kitteridge learnt a few important lessons the hard way. Thankfully, after receiving a rapid rundown of... Read More >
The trophy trout are just one of many things Mainland contributor Peter Langlands loves about Twizel. He shares a few tips for any anglers lucky enough... Read More >
The Southern Alps are a defining part of our island nation. Spanning the entire length of the South Island, the alps, valleys and basins have a... Read More >
Greg Morton took a trip to Tuapeka West to fish a new section of the Clutha River and was not disappointed. He shares the story of... Read More >
Greg Morton had heard rumours about the small, colourful Treviot River trout, but had never targeted them himself until recently. With a favourable forecast, he ventured... Read More >
Grant Blair recently went on a trip to Fiordland and it exceeded his already high expectations. There was no shortage of fish, crayfish or fantastic sights,... Read More >
Planning a fishing trip takes some thought but using technology such as Google maps makes it even easier.... Read More >
Fiordland is one of those exceptional places that is often raved about but remains relatively untouched due to its vast, hard-to-access country and coastline.... Read More >
The Catlins region of Otago is a beautiful, though wild, place. It has a fascinating history where hardy humans had to adapt their lifestyle to succeed... Read More >
Alistair Arkell typically shies away from fishing competitions, but with many organisers now moving towards a more sustainable ‘measure only’ format, he decided to make an... Read More >
“I’ve never done anything else, and I started fishing with my dad when I was three and a half,” Roy told me over the phone. “Just... Read More >
Bea Bagnall creates a refreshing Hapuku with Summer Salad dish... Read More >
Here's what you need to know about catching yellowfin tuna using live baits, jigs and using top-water lures as well as chunking techniques.... Read More >