Early season fishing in the Auckland/Waikato Fish and Game Region

Ben Wilson, Fisheries Officer

Last season, many of the rivers in the Waikato region were plagued with vast schools of juvenile trout.  Indeed the Awakino River had by far the highest number of small fish since we first started surveying this river in the early 1970’s.  This occurred because of the exceptional mild winter we experienced in 2005, which allowed for the high survival rate of juvenile fish as well as providing excellent conditions for spawning. So at the start of the season we are expecting to see large numbers of fish 25-45cm, and these fish should put on good growth over the summer. 

Early season fishing in the Waikato is typically dependent on the weather conditions, which are often atrocious at this time of the year.  However there is nearly always somewhere fishable and it does pay to check conditions on the internet before heading out.  For example, on opening day last year there was heavy rain in both Hamilton and Auckland, and many of the local rivers were in flood.  But the weather on the Coromandel was perfect with blue skies and the rivers running clear, a good time to explore waters that you may not have fished before. 

But lets assume that the weather for opening day is going to be fine everywhere and that all rivers are running clear.  This year, opening weekend is on a Sunday, so a long weekend down at Taumarunui is an attractive option.  The Whanganui River between Taumarunui and Kakahi is open all year and is probably one of the most productive stretch of rivers in the North Island.  So this is an appealing option on Saturday before hitting the Whakapapa on the Sunday.

However with the high petrol prices many anglers will be fishing close to home and we are predicting a good season on the Waipa and its many tributaries.  First choice would have to be the Mangatutu, but this popular stream should be well fished over by 9 a.m.  So unless you thrive on getting up well before dawn, I would head for the less heavily fished waters, especially the Puniu and Pirongia streams. 

Auckland/Waikato Fish & Game have access pamphlets on all our fisheries.  This year we have republished the Waitomo/Kawhia pamphlet, which covers the west coast rivers including the Awakino rivers.  Auckland/Waikato anglers will receive this pamphlet with the fishing season edition of the magazine Fish & Game.  Otherwise all our pamphlets are available from the Auckland/Waikato office.