how to catch salmon in nz

When the flow speeds up on the outgoing tide, the lure rod used with up to two ounces of lead weight will get your flies into the strike zone. The Best Salmon Fishing Rivers New Zealand Map â 27 waters in all. The Rakaia can boast to having the most consistent salmon runs of any of the NZ rivers. If you weren’t so lucky as a youngster all is not lost. It is often the first fish of the season that is the most difficult to catch. News, Catches, Photos, tips etc and reports. “Fresh” fish arriving overnight won’t have seen any. You can see some of this action in the video below. An old one but true. Sometimes you arrive at the river and catch a salmon straight away. High Country Salmon is now offering an amazing "Catch-A-Fish" salmon fishing experience at our farm near Twizel in the Mackenzie District. Some innovative anglers catch salmon using deep sinking fly line and a fly lure. King Salmon (Saku) - Sashimi Grade 1KG. The Waitaki being the greatest distance, at almost three hours drive from Christchurch. 2. Only for five months, or about 150 of those days will there be significant numbers of salmon about. Some will be better than others. If you wind too quickly your zed spinner will plane to the surface and you won’t catch many fish. 572 likes. The salmon will be down on the bottom. A fast retrieve seems to work best. You might well miss many of the most productive periods on the river! To take a â¦ Even when chased they stayed hard down. But the majority of salmon will be down hard on the bottom. How to Catch Salmon – 12 Tips to get you started, All Rights Reserved © fishingmag.co.nz 1999 - 2021, Tasmanian Devil Trout Spin Fishing Lure or Aquafoil – Including rigging tips on video, Lake Coleridge, Canterbury High Country – Trout and Landlocked Salmon Fishing MAP, Ashburton Lakes: Ten lakes make up the Ashburton Lakes Group, Ellesmere, Lake – Night Fishing Lake Ellesmere River Tributaries, Rangitata River – Trout and Salmon Fishing, Blue Cod (Parapercis colias) – How to Catch Blue Cod Fishing Tips, Skipjack Tuna – Katsuwonus pelamis – Powerful barrel-shaped body, Red Rock Lobster – Jasus edwardsii – Crayfish – spiny rock lobster, Best Kahawai Fishing Lure – Small sprat shaped lures are the best, Kahawai Spin Fishing at River Mouths – Great on Light Tackle Video, North Canterbury Fish and Game Newsletters, Catching a salmon in four different rivers, Tips to maximize your chances on the river by Clive Morriss, Rasmus Gabrielsson and Malcolm Bell Podcast Canterbury Salmon, The Best Salmon Fishing Rivers New Zealand Map – 27 waters in all, Salmon Fishing in the Lower Waimakariri River Video – Close to Christchurch City, Sockeye Salmon – Oncorhynchus nerka – Limited to Waitaki River Catchment – Video, Waitaki River Salmon Fishing Contest Winning fish weights since 1984, Millers Flat Salmon Fishing in the Clutha River, Otago, Salmon Fishers – 14 Different Types – Irreverent Though Often Accurate, Salmon Menu Mobile Index (Full Version) same contents as desktop, To catch four salmon from four different rivers during just one season. If you have never caught a salmon before I suggest a good place to start would be at Macintoshes Rocks 2 km upstream from the mouth of the Waimakariri River. If you really want a challenge this season, why not try to catch a fish in all five main east coast salmon rivers: the Hurunui, Waimakariri, Rakaia, Rangitata, and the Waitaki? Daily catch/bag limits (how many fish you can take) The "daily catch limit" is how many of a fish, shellfish, or rock lobster (crayfish) one person can take (or possess) each day. Again some years the rivers flood quite a lot. Other days there may be just a few taken throughout the entire day. The very best conditions for Salmon are when the water is 'milky blue' in colour, with about 1-2 feet of visibility. Your chances of taking a fish are just that much greater. NZ$ 69.90 KG. In that situation, the salmon gain no advantage by hugging the bottom and fish are often taken near the surface. If there is just one tip I can give you when it comes to catching your first salmon; it would be persistence. You shouldn’t get stuck in a rut, only ever fishing your own backyard. You have to preserve to succeed. Trolling boats use lead line or bibbed Rapalas to get depth, and anglers near dam walls often use soft-baits. The salmon caught in the video below was taken in the Rakaia River gut at the top of the tide. Chinook Salmon, also known as Quinnat Salmon, were successfully introduced to the South Island in 1901. Others spent their summer holidays camping at the Rangitata, Waitaki, Waimakariri and Rakaia River mouths. About two turns every five seconds is somewhere around the best speed – though obviously water speed and depth must be taken into account. Good luck! Get a couple of dozen ticers or zed spinners at once. Some innovative anglers catch salmon using deep sinking fly line and a fly lure. I mean right on the bottom. The anglers who consistently catch lots of salmon each season at Macintoshes’s are there nearly every day! Here an angler has hooked a salmon in the fast-flowing gut. Kaniere: Small to medium river fed â¦ Trout are plentiful throughout the country. Anglers fishing for salmon during a fishing contest held in the tidal reaches of the Waimakariri River back in March 2012. Spotting the best places to fish for salmon up-river also requires more knowledge and experience. It is New Zealand’s largest freshwater fish, and the largest species in the salmon family. In addition to above, we use other cookies and analytics to provide a better site experience. It will “up” your chances considerably. To view cookie details and how to opt-out, please see our Cookie Policy. It is one less explored and less publicized than other forms of rock or soft plastic fishing (or soft baiting as it sometimes known), at least here in NZ. To fish from the shore you will have to apply some techniques. On the other hand, if you live in Kaiapoi and only ever fish at Mclntoshes on the Waimakariri River – where you don’t even need waders to fish from the rocks – salmon angling can be a very inexpensive past-time. Access to mouth and tidal reaches from road/rail bridge on SH6 or turn off south ... 2. It is the most important single factor with salmon angling. Having a jet boat, knowing where to look up-river, and finding good holding, then fishing at first light will be way more productive. Eventually, your luck will change. In Christchurch, you have good salmon water nearby at the Waimakariri River. Schools to Streams programme for Fish and Game New Zealand, Salmon life cycle video for use in Fish in Schools classes. Sort By. We all tend to be very good at remembering the good days when we catch a fish, but quickly forget how many blank days it took to catch it. Our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy explain how we use your data and who our partners are. You can, of course, fish in the river when the sea is rough. We are a boutique salmon farm in the pristine waters of New Zealand's hydro canals. Some innovative anglers catch salmon using deep sinking fly line and a fly lure. As the water becomes low, clear and warmer again, salmon will settle down and hold up in large pools or beneath undercut banks, awaiting the next fresh. In this article, we’ll go back to basics so you’ll learn how to catch these most elusive of fish like an expert. Drift fishing is the most effective technique to catch fish from the shore. New Zealand Salmon. Up-river salmon fishing means finding fish-holding water. NZ$ 30.90 KG. You’ll see them porpoise upstream and wish! From Gone Fishin' with Graeme Sinclair, Series 5 episode 7 (circa 1997). Check out a bit of distant water. Spinning or bait casting gear using a 9kg (20lb) breaking strain line and a metal ticer lure is recommended for New Zealand salmon fishing. Follow the directions to Motueka (town close to Nelson). You must have a fishing permit to fish for commercial purposes. In co-operative decisions, the Central South Island Fish and Game Council (CSIFGC) and North Canterbury Fish and Game Council (NCFGC) have formally resolved that a sea-run salmon "season bag limit" regime should be â¦ Even the very best salmon anglers don’t catch a salmon every time they go out. The salmon will almost always be near the bottom. From there it's only a 50 minute drive to Takaka. As mentioned earlier, many start winding the moment the lure hits the water’s surface and then wind flat-out. If you are only a very occasional salmon angler who fishes on just six of those days you will need to be very lucky! Methven Info. The more times you can “arrive” at the river the better. If you live close to the mouth of the Waimakariri River, it might not make a lot of sense to fish mostly at the Hurunui, Rakaia, Rangitata, or Waitaki Rivers. Back in May 1996, I was helping to remove salmon from the dead-end of the Highbank tailrace and transfer them back to the Rakaia River so they could continue their upstream journey. Fisheries Act 1996 â New Zealand Legislation . Salmon run the river when the flow rate best suits them. The water in the tailrace was just waist-deep. Time is at the top of my list. It is surprising how many salmon anglers adopt the least productive fishing methods without realizing it. If the rivers seem to be at their discoloured, logs-floating-down worst conditions on the weekends, a regular occurrence, then you could be in trouble. If you live in Christchurch and own a gas guzzler car, the cost of frequent trips to distant water can soon add up. However, on some of those approximately 120 days, there may be several dozen caught – sometimes day after day. He or she might catch the odd salmon, perhaps no more than one or two each year. Even after the salmon were herded down to one end by the net, there was still no sign of fish at the surface. More about winding speed for salmon. Landlocked salmon like the colour silver, so shore anglers use reasonably heavy silver, silver-green, silver-red, or silver-yellow hex ticers when seeking distance. New Zealand's trout and salmon fishing is rightly regarded as the best in the world because of the beautiful scenery, well-conditioned trophy fish and the variety of the New Zealand fly fishing experience. Lyndsay Bishop (left), and Allan Burgess with limit bags from the Waimakariri River. To be able to take advantage of both options you really need two fishing rods. Salmon are the premier sports fish in Canterbury. Even if you don’t catch a salmon yourself, seeing fish caught will boost your spirits. Strike your rod if you suspect a touch from a salmon. To this second group, salmon angling comes as second nature. New Zealand is one of the world's great fishing countries. Spinning or bait casting gear using a 9kg (20lb) breaking strain line and a metal ticer lure is recommended for New Zealand salmon fishing. We were there with guide Kevin Frazier and so were the salmon! A day or two spent fishing the surf at the mouth of the Rangitata River can be a very pleasant interlude. Sure, if you know what you are doing it will take a lot less time to get a fish on the stones, but you are still going to have to put the time in to Another tactic is to keep in touch with the top tackle stores. We all have blank days. There are 365 days in the year. It might be stating the obvious but you will never catch a salmon unless you are down at the river casting your zed spinner. While other anglers catch their first one almost immediately. We also use cookies to show you the best of New Zealand on other platforms. Find airfares. Guides provide all fishing gear and equipment, and will often use jet boats to gain access to pools where salmon may have paused.NZ chinook or quinnat salmon If you have to work for a living that might only leave you the weekends for chasing salmon. Frustratingly they may go several years without taking a fish! Troll the water for salmon. - See 264 traveller reviews, 238 candid photos, and great deals for Twizel, New Zealand, at Tripadvisor. As the river drops, they may hold up in deeper holes waiting for the flow to increase. The salmon angler who fishes morning and evening at Macintoshes Rocks, on the lower Waimakariri River, stands a good chance of catching a salmon without burning a lot of petrol. All you have to do is book online at a time convenient to you, then turn up and catch yourself a glacial mountain salmon! No matter how expensive your fishing gear it won’t catch fish unless you use it. Try to fish hard during the peak of the season between January and March. 5. Let us show you the best of New Zealand on other platforms by selecting 'On' and allowing us to share data from your visit(s) with our partners. The first group is composed of the occasional angler. While New Zealand is well known among anglers as a trout fishing destination, it is less known for its salmon fishing. Even in a poor season, there will still be anglers who catch a dozen or more salmon. Tasmanian Salmon. Such a rod is also ideal when salmon fishing from a boat. Others years the rivers are low and the fish may hold off in the surf. Let’s say that another 30 days are lost to dirty water or otherwise unfavourable conditions. Plus you’ll learn a lot you’ll be able to put into practice when out on your own. They will move quickly across the thin water where their backs are out of the water and rest in deeper holes. The New Zealand salmon season runs from early October (spring) through to late April (autumn). South Island salmon anglers are being asked for their help in the first east coast wide salmon harvest survey. If you are just starting out as a salmon angler I recommend you give Macintoshes Hole a good try for your first season. In the meantime, importing Atlantic salmon helps ensure our Kiwi and international consumers can still buy quality salmon at an affordable price. Catching them regularly requires experience and persistence. How to catch salmon comes down to knowledge and persistence. Let’s consider this a little further. Salmon Fishing. From Motueka it's only a 50 minutes drive to Takaka, Golden Bay. The Waitaki River is something of an exception as the huge wide flows in the lower river often make it impossible to gain access to the main channel. Rule number one is that you have to put the time in. Good anglers are always optimistic. In the South Island you can also fish for salmon in many places. All had been milling around on the bottom. The gut at the mouth is best fished when a run of salmon is going through. The fish won’t be running on all of these 120 days. The scenic Rakaia River is considered by many as the best salmon fishing river in New Zealand. Alaskan Salmon Fishing, Kenai Peninsula David. From there follow "Anatoki Salmon" signage for about 5.5km till â¦ Luck. Salmon Fishing Guide. When you do hook and land a salmon it will be worth all the effort. New Zealand also offers coarse fishing and great salt-water fly fishing. It is a member of the Pacific salmon genus Oncorhynchus and is both largest and least abundant of this group. Once in the river, they will in general swim up-stream from one deep part of the river to the next. This strategy has the additional advantage in that he will be able to see other salmon being caught and so will have a good idea of when salmon are present. This means recognizing likely holding water, and also necessitates a good deal of travelling. Where to catch King Salmon. From glacier to plate - we'll show you great salmon! Firstly, a quick history of the New Zealand industry: King salmon were introduced into New Zealand in the early 1900s as eggs from the Sacramento river in California, to establish a recreational fishing run. A second fish will often follow straight after the first. During these periods of discoloured water, the fish will be very difficult to catch because they can’t see your hardware (lures). Shane Evans-Rautahi reckons there is a couple of meals in the wild salmon he caught by jumping into Bluff Harbour. Commercial farming of the species began in the â70s and that paved the way for a retail supply to New Zealand customers. No matter how knowledgeable you are in the ways of the salmon it still takes time and sustained effort to catch them. Cast upstream and don’t wind too fast! New Zealand chinook do not grow as big as the North American counterpart which commonly weighs in at 20kg (45lb) in Alaska, but a four-year-old New Zealand-caught chinook is more likely to average 7kg (just under 16lb). Most waters in New Zealand are in the public domain. The Canal system is â¦ A few weeks later, the salmon runs peak in the South Island’s west coast rivers, including the Paringa, Taramakau, and Hokitika.Salmon fishing gear The angler who lives locally is always at an advantage. They are the largest freshwater sportsfish available to New Zealand anglers, confined to several of the larger South Island rivers. There is no substitute for being taught about salmon fishing from an early age by an expert, especially if that expert happens to be a dad. Expect a fish on every cast. Rasmus Gabrielsson talks with Malcolm Bell. Salmon may be present even if you can’t see them. The difference is between the two is best explained like this. It pays to buy the best salmon gear you can afford because the constant casting and continual use required of salmon tackle will soon show up the shortcomings of lesser quality products. A jet-boat is an obvious advantage for up-river salmon fishing but is less of an advantage near the mouth. We are now down to 120 days of good fishable water at best. Where you can find Kids Fishing and Hunting Events, image galleries and loads more. If you turn your handle at half the speed of the bloke next to you, you are more likely to be on the right track. So the name of the game when up-river salmon fishing is to fish the holes where the fish are resting. Hundreds of anglers have the same good idea. Be adventurous this season. Some days there will be none taken. Fishing guides operate mainly on the Rakaia, Rangitata and Waitaki rivers, in the South Island, but can be found operating in other regions. Fishing soft plastics (SPâs) from the shore is not a new form of angling. More than 200 people entered the latest Otago Salmon Anglers' Association fishing competition, held over the weekend, but not a single salmon above â¦ Often salmon will “mouth the hook” and not give a sharp tug. Established spawning runs are found in the Rangitata, Opihi, Ashburton, Rakaia, Waimakariri, Hurunui and Waiau rivers. When fishing the surf you can hook salmon anywhere from near the surface to the bottom. There are several reasons why those in our second group are so much more successful. Being able to drop everything and spend some of that precious time casting a line mid-week when you hear the fish are running, gives you a huge advantage in the salmon angling stakes. Catching a salmon in four different rivers. Sure, you are going to lose a bit of gear from time to time when you snag a stick or get stuck behind a big rock – a particular problem with the big stones just above the state highway bridge on the Rakaia River – but if you aren’t dropping a bit of gear you are most likely winding too fast. Some years they will take none, despite many fruitless hours on the water. Provided the sea and river are clear, salmon anglers fish the surf at low tide and then move back up to fish the gut and lower braids as the tide comes in. For river work, a graphite rod of around seven feet in length is best for the job. All salmon anglers experience a difficult patch from time to time when they struggle to catch a fish. Contact. This is a bonus tip: keep your hook points super sharp. Above all be persistent. The ocean-swelling chinook salmon swim up the rivers to spawn, offering a prized catch for anglers. The Nelson/Marlborough, North Canterbury, Central South Island and Otago Fish and Game Councils are asking anglers to actively participate in the annual sea-run salmon harvest survey that is about to be undertaken. Following a flood that good salmon hole which until recently had been so productive may now be bypassed altogether by the river’s main channel leaving it high and dry. This can be beneficial when catching salmon since salmon tend to move with the current of a river or stream rather than staying stationary. Fishing near the mouth offers easier access, the company of other salmon anglers, regular updates about fish caught. Losing the odd one seems somehow less painful if you still have plenty more in your bag and back at the car! A member of the prestigious New Zealand Professional Fishing Guides Association (NZPFGA), your salmon/trout fishing guide Ben offers tailor-made trout/salmon fishing tours. The best known salmon fishing rivers are the Rakaia, Rangitata and Waitaki rivers. Having a long rod to fish the surf adds another string to your salmon fishing bow. Salmon will still run up-river even when the water has the consistency of thick brown onion gravy, but you won’t be able to catch them. Just as importantly they will still catch their share of salmon even in a poor season. The chinook salmon - known in New Zealand as quinnat, king or spring salmon - is one of five species of Pacific salmon. The difference in size is largely attributable to the fact that Alaskan salmon spend more years at sea, whereas New Zealand chinook return at three to four years of age.New Zealand salmon season In these big flows salmon can easily travel in through the mouth, and head upstream without shore-based anglers getting a shot at them. Many very successful salmon anglers from Christchurch regularly fish the four northern rivers. Cook Alpine Salmon Shop: Great to catch you own! The only general exception to this rule is when fishing for salmon in the surf off a river mouth. Late in the day, there was a run of salmon taken on the north side of the gut at high tide. On the morning of the final day of the 2015 Rakaia Salmon Fishing Competition, there was a run of salmon taken in the surf on the south side near low tide. The best time to fish for salmon is often at first light. Salmon fishing in New Zealand is based mainly on the South Island east coast rivers. During part of these 150 days, the rivers will be high and dirty following north-west conditions meaning rain in the Southern Alps. The answer to this question lies with how much time and, to a certain extent, how much money you have. Better still use chemically sharpened hooks. I have often heard even experienced anglers say things like, “I’ve been out fourteen times this season and haven’t had a salmon yet!” Or worse, “I’ve been out twenty-five times this season, still haven’t touched a fish, are sick of wasting my time, so have given up!” This sort of thing can happen at times to the best of us. Fresh Seafood Marinara (500G) NZ$ 13.90 pack. Lakes, rivers, back country stream and spring creeks all offer fantastic opportunities to fish for brown and rainbow trout. Sharp hooks are a must. You should be able to feel the lure hit bottom every now and again as you wind, depending on the flow rate. For salmon are, as we all know, hard to catch. If you can fish there at first light most mornings during the season you are certain to catch salmon. First, we are going to go over the best trolling lures which are used when â¦ The breed was introduced into New Zealand rivers on the South Island’s east coast in Canterbury and Otago more than 100 years ago. 1 km before entering Takaka, on state highway 60, you turn left onto "Long Plain Road" (see brown road sign). To begin with many Canterbury and Otago salmon anglers learn the secrets of salmon angling from their fathers, uncles, or grandads. Trolling is a kind of boat fishing where you periodically move your boat up and downstream instead of anchoring in one spot. Then just follow "Anatoki Salmon" signposts for about 5.5km till you reach your destination (easy peasy). Sure you’ll find the odd fish jumping out of the water. Getting together to share information about when the salmon are running with a group of mates is a great idea. Even when you think it will be on the bottom, wait a second before putting your reel in gear. See our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy to understand how you can manage cookies. Then wind very slowly. It is at times possible to fish the pocket of clear water in the surf (usually on the south side) even when the river is in flood. They need the flow to be high enough so they won’t find themselves stranded. This is a page for all those salmon fishing in NZ. If you can afford it, always buy your zed spinners in bulk. Stick at it and you will catch one. Though this varies from year to year and river to river. 2 were here. You might get in a few casts before and after work, but it can be a frustrating business if duty calls elsewhere. King Salmon (Steaks) 1KG. Chief among these is winding the handle on their reels far too quickly. You can also change tactics within the same river. The male and female of the species have different colouring. We have a floating cafe and salmon â¦ 1 km before entering Takaka, on state highway 60, you turn left to "Long Plain Road" (see brown tourist sign). You can get chemically sharpened salmon hooks at The Complete Angler in Christchurch. When starting out go salmon fishing with an experienced mate. Salmon anglers fall into one of two groups. You have to keep an eye out for sweeper waves coming over the spit. You will often see a line of jet-boats anchored along the main flow in the lower Waitaki River. The more times you go salmon fishing during the season (between December and April), the greater the chance you will find yourself in the right place, at the right time. It could take some doing, and a bit of time at that! It is however an incredibly rewarding form of fishing â¦ Check out what other travelers say about New Zealand on TripAdvisor. An awesome advantage of fishing in New Zealandâs ocean waters is the opportunity to spot an array of sea birds, such as gannets that can dive at 145km/hour, black petrel that fly between New Zealand andSouth America every year, royal albatross with a wingspan that can reach more than 3 metres, and, of course seagulls. Spinning or bait casting gear using a 9kg (20lb) breaking strain line and a metal ticer lure is recommended for New Zealand salmon fishing. Although it can get crowded along there when the salmon are running you will get the advantage of finding out from other anglers how many salmon were caught during your absence. Try to use your salmon angling time wisely. Each summer - beginning in late December, peaking in February, and continuing until March - chinook salmon ascend the rivers of the South Island's eastern regions. The emergence of a world class fishery for salmon, brown and rainbow trout in the Central South Island of New Zealand has been a magnet for anglers from all over the world as they try to catch extraordinary fish in a fantastic unspoiled environment. Video filmed and edited by Allan Burgess.