Sorry about my delay getting back to you on the west coast. Much of the coast around Haast is beach fishing which shelves off to a bit of depth reasonably quickly. Unfortuantely the spiney dogs are in plauge numbers at the moment. two weekends ago I did a mission over and fished 15 minutes south of Haast on the way to jacksons bay. Spend 1 hour with a friend at change of light in  the evening, between us we caught 15-20 spiney dogs in the hour and 3-4 grey boys (apparently ok to eat). Pulled the pin and then hit back packer for the night. Next morning we headed north just north of Knights point. A 15- 20 bush walk we arrived at our spot. A beach with reef of the right, a creek to the left, and some foul straight out. It was sheltered from all but a westerly. From the start we had KY's about 10 foot off the beach in reasonable numbers, over the 7 hours we fished we caught 5-6 reaonable blue cod, a dozen kelpies (wrasse), 1 octopus, a few KY's. A good day. The KY's were only around first thing in the morning. There were several spots north of knights point that could be fished but you really need some locals to show you or you will never find them. The spot I mentioned above could quiet easily have you lost in the bush just getting there.

Another thing to remember is that bait is had to get on the coast, particulary good bait. So if you are going take a good supply with you. I spend a while catching fresh bait which helped alot.

At the reiver mouths you will get KY and sea run trout, pretty much at most reasonable rivers. Around white bait season then even more but don't intrude on the white baiters as its a hang able offence.

regards JB