Fishing News index> November 2007

Early rise advised to catch a ‘Coast sea-runner. 
by Chris Tonkin

In the September edition we noted that in spring and early summer trout of all age classes would be frequenting estuarine areas, from fat maiden fish around the kilo mark to strong and feisty sea-runners.

And so it has proved, although it must be said that not all anglers have been satisfied with their estuarine angling experience.

One of the few certainties left in today’s world is that every 24 hours there will be two changes of tide. The timing and size of every tide is predictable, however from a fishes perspective no two tides are the same. If they were then every high tide during the whitebait season would bring a run of fish. But as any experienced baiter knows, the most prolific runs most commonly only occur on a few tides in the course of a season, so there are obviously influences other than tide affecting fish movements in and out of freshwater.

This is most certainly the case with sea-run trout.

In the past few seasons the West Coast seems to have developed a reputation for sea-run brown trout and one of the more common enquiries received from intending visiters is where to go and what to do to catch one.

It is a difficult question to answer except to advise to be at the river-mouth around high tide, and, whatever fishing method is employed try and imitate one of the many prey species available to trout at this time of year. Food options include whitebait, bullies, juvenile eels, flounders, smelt shrimps and a host of marine organisms that might prove more difficult to imitate. By way of example the typical sea-runner pictured here was found to be stuffed with tuatuas – a shellfish common at many ‘Coast Rivermouths, yet was caught on a spinning lure.

From my personal experience, while some daylight hour tides produce good fishing  the chances of catching a sea-run brown are very much improved by being on the water at daylight or just on dark. Unless the tide is fair ripping out there will often be fish near the edges, or where there is a lagoon there may be trout ‘herding’ prey fish.

Meanwhile up-river the reports have been great. Inangahua and Grey River fishers have been well satisfied with their results despite some challenging weather, and in major river tributaries and southern spring creeks early season trout are in top condition.

With rivers nicely freshened, lakes topped up and a favourable long term weather prediction all bodes well for some excellent summer holiday fishing.

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