Fishing Reports index > June 2008

West Coast Fishing Report

My mid April fishing opportunities were curtailed by a spell in Grey Base Hospital. I cannot remember when I was last in hospital as a patient, about fifty years ago at a guess. What has this got to do with anything I hear you say?

Rural New Zealand and the West Coast in particular have always struggled to attract and retain top quality medical staff and I noticed that a large number staff members were not New Zealanders by birth. In discussion with doctors, surgeons and nurses I discovered that one of the main reasons they were on the West Coast was a life style choice. In fact, two of the senior medical staff had more than a passing interest in trout and salmon fishing. These people have made a choice to come here to stay despite their ability to earn much more in the UK and the USA.

What we need to think about is that while a community needs to have employment and growth, it also needs to look after its assets. Rivers such as the Arnold and the Mokihinui are still wild and natural and once dammed or drained they will never be the same again. Our lakes are at present free from eutrophication but may not remain this way if phosphorus and nitrate levels get out of control.  We need to wake up and smell the flowers.  Some of the world’s best Brown trout fishing is here on our doorstep and the low number of anglers makes this a truly unique place. 

Mark my word in the future people will want to come here from all over the northern hemisphere to get what some of us take for granted.

Meanwhile I thought I might give some of the soft spinning lures a go, so armed with a six pack, my fishing partner and I headed to the Taramakau mouth. My partner hooked into a good fish after only one or two casts. I remain unconvinced as apart from a couple of tentative nibbles I had no success!

See you Down the River some time.

Charles Teasdale

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