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SPECIAL INTEREST TRAVEL
- FISHING
Fishing
With so much clean salt and fresh water close to every part of the country,
fishing is one of New Zealand's major recreations. The best dry fly waters
in the world are said to be in New Zealand, and its fishing guides are of
high international standing.
A local fishing license is required for freshwater fishing, but not for sea
fishing. There are no restrictions on bringing fishing rods into the
country, although fishing guides will provide all necessary equipment, and
every fishing centre has well-stocked tackle shops.
Hand-tied and commercially-tied flies may be imported without fumigation but
all fly tying materials including feathers attached to skin, hair or fur
require a permit to import. This costs in excess of$100 making it
impractical for most anglers to bring their own materials.
Fresh Water (Trout and Salmon)
Main
areas:
New Zealand's
trout fishing can be broadly divided into two categories:
-
Rotorua -Taupo:
rainbow steel head fishing demanding heavy gear, at times deep sinking fly
lines of weight 7 or 8; and .
-
Summertime
fishing: country wide (October -April) usually using a tapered floating
line equivalent fly line 4 or 5.
The rivers of
the east coast of the South Island are superb salmon fishing waters. The
Rakaia, Waimakariri, Rangitata, Ashburton and Waitaki are the main fishing
rivers.
Seasons:
Trout fishing is available all year in Rotorua, Taupo and the Central Otago
lakes, and is restricted ti October to April in most other districts.
Winter trout fishing is best in Rotorua, Taupo and Lake Tongariro, and
April-May, September- October are prime months.
Dry, fly, nymph, streamer and lure fishing are all practised in the South
Island from October to April, with January and February the best months for
fly-fishing.
The salmon season runs from October to April. January, February and March
are the best months.
Cost:
Fishing licenses are sold at fishing tackle and sports shops for
approximately NZ $15 a day, NZ $30 a month, or NZ $75 a season.
Local knowledge is recommended for successful fishing.
Members of the New Zealand Professional Fishing Guides' Association are
spread throughout the country. Guided fishing charters are approximately NZ
$300 to a half-day, and NZ $500 for a full-day. Heli- fishing is
approximately NZ $500 per angler (based on minimum of 4 anglers) and
includes 3 to 4 hours fishing and all equipment hire.
Big Game Fishing
Main
areas:
Pacific blue, black and striped marlin, broadbill, mako, thresher and
hammerhead sharks, yellowtail and yellowfin tuna are all caught mainly off
the east coast of the North Island. The Bay of Islands (NortWand), Great
Barrier Island (Auckland), Whitianga (Coromandel) and Mayor Island (Bay of
Plenty) are the major bases. Big game fish are caught further south as well
-excellent shark fishing exists in Fiordland.
Seasons:
There are no seasonal restrictions and no license is required. January to
May are the prime months for big game fishing.
Cost:
Chartering of big game boat with skipper for 4- 6 anglers is NZ $1,050 -NZ
$1,400 per day.
Salt Water
Fishing
Main areas:
Surfcasting is popular on most beaches and rocky coastal areas -Ninety Mile
Beach in Northland hosts an annual competition. Guided boat fishing is
available throughout the country.
Kingfish and kahawai, the best fighters, are popular and can be caught at
most places along the coast. The best eating species are hapuka, blue cod,
flounder, snapper and maomao.
For anglers with limited time, heli-fishing is available in the Hauraki Gulf
in Auckland.
Seasons:
There are no seasonal restrictions for salt water fishing but surf-casting
and boat fishing are most popular in summer (December to February). Some of
the best fishing for bottom fish, however, is the colder months of March to
November. Snapper fishing is mainly a summer sport.
Fishing is better in late summer, the further south you go, i.e. Marlborough
Sound. Consequently, the well-known Marlborough Sounds fishes best January
through March.
Cost:
No
license is required for sea fishing. Costs for charter boat hire with
skipper are NZ $80 -NZ $100 per hour or NZ $600 -NZ $800 per day. Surf
casting may be done at no cost other than equipment but visiting anglers
should be warned that many surf casting spots are extremely dangerous
without local knowledge.
Prices are approximate only and are subject to change.
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