Chinook Salmon in the Waitaki River.
Graeme Hughes.

Without the benefit of a spawning survey in the Waitaki River it is difficult to say at this time if there are more salmon in the Waitaki River this year. The low flow in the Hakataramea River does little to encourage migration from the Waitaki and the migration or lack of one doesn’t help “get a feel” for fish numbers.

The run appears to be later and from all accounts the anglers catch was no worse or better than the catch in 2006/2007 season. 20 diarists who fished the Waitaki River landed 73 salmon with the largest season bag of 12 fish. Two fish exceeded 30 pounds were landed, one of 36lb the other  33lb. (Sea run trout fishing was good with one angler landing a 12.4lb brown, 10lb, 9lb and 3 x 8lb brown trout).

Salmon were reported to be in excellent condition, as they were last year, there were some larger fish, as there was last year. Some anglers who did well last year for the same amount of effort did poorly this year. So although the picture is not crystal clear the impression is that the season could be considered as similar to last year , no better, no worse.

From a management perspective it is far from ideal and there has been many hours spent by anglers, Fish and Game councillors and Fish and Game Officers discussing ways and means to improve the situation. Season bag limits, lowered daily bag limit, fishless days, catch and release are “hardy annuals” and there is seldom agreement from the  majority on any of the above.

Catch and release has always been an obvious solution, the angler still gets to fish for salmon, he may catch a salmon however he can never kill a salmon. For a number of anglers this would be an acceptable salmon conservation technique. On the opposing side there are those who claim that the salmon would die soon after release  due  to the stress and trauma of being hooked, played, handled and released.

Some time ago I was searching for catch and release information for Chinook salmon, none were available however in Canada there had been a catch and release programme for Atlantic salmon.

In Eastern Canada Atlantic salmon stocks were showing a steady decline and drastic measures were considered necessary to protect and enhance a once great fishery. A five year programme which included catch and release regulations throughout much of region was put in place by the Department of Fisheries. The exception was Quebec where different techniques excluded catch and release but relied on reduced daily bag limits, river closures and delays in opening dates.

As an incentive or reward for C&R anglers, commemorative pins and certificates were issued by the Fisheries Department to those who complied and sent in witnessed photographs of the release of their fish. There was  also a “20 Plus Pin” award for those anglers who released a fish heavier than 20 lbs. The new regulations were greeted with absolute hostility by many of the old salmon anglers.

Did it work? The recovery of salmon stocks in those provinces  where C&R regulations were enforced  was significantly faster compared with the salmon fishery of Quebec. Two top salmon rivers, Miramichi  and Restigouche showed an increase in spawner returns from 10% to 93%, and 11% to 70% respectively. In  these two waters, as with many other rivers it was considered that close to target escapement had been achieved. In contrast the majority of Quebec’s  rivers continued to fall short of spawning requirements. Pretty amazing stuff and in a 5 year period!

Atlantic salmon are not Chinook salmon and Canada is not New Zealand but as  the Atlantic Salmon is considered “The King of fish” because of its fighting and leaping ability I  would consider this species  to be in the high risk category for a catch and release programme. Obviously not. If it worked for the “Atlantic” it could be a  technique worth consideration with the less hyperactive “Chinook” if the spawning runs decline further.

Ever the optimist I’m hoping we’re at the bottom of a cyclical  low  and that were about to see a steady improvement in salmon numbers in the seasons to come. An indicator is an increase in the number of salmon smolts we have rescued, along with Brown and Rainbow trout, from unscreened irrigation races which divert water from the Waitaki River. In the 1970’s through to the 90’s smolts were netted in their thousands. While we are nowhere near those times of plenty, there are definitely more in the nets now compared to the catch over the last 5 or 6 years.

Back to Reel Life