Reel Life March 2025 - Central South Island

Sockeye Salmon Spawning

Last week (13 – 16th of March), marked the peak of the spawning run for the Waitaki Lakes’ sockeye salmon population. The Waitaki sockeye are the only self-sustaining landlocked population of sockeye salmon in the Southern Hemisphere.

On the 14th of March we conducted the annual aerial spawning count, made possible by funding contributions from Mount Cook Alpine Salmon. 

See our facebook page for a video we put together from clips from our spawning surveys.

Image above - Sockeye salmon school ready for spawning

The final estimates are still pending but the raw data suggests Lakes Benmore and Pūkaki sockeye populations remain healthy with the Twizel River once again serving as a key spawning ground. 

This year, we estimate that around 11,000 sockeye returned to the Twizel River to spawn.

Last season the Tekapo and Twizel River were affected by low flows preventing fish passage so it was great to see the rivers flowing and the sockeye taking full advantage of the available habitat.

There is still time to get down to an access point in a sockeye spawning stream and take a look at the action. 

A good vantage point is the SH8 Bridge over the Twizel River, where you can observe the fish without disturbing them.

Remember, it is an offence to fish for sockeye in a river or stream where sockeye are present in March and April.

After spawning, sockeye salmon die, contributing vital nutrients to the freshwater ecosystem. 

Be aware you may come across salmon carcasses in various stages of decay. This is natural and an important part of the cycle.

CSI’s Nikki Dellaway counts sockeye from helicopter Ahuriri River

Triennial Review of Central South Island Region’s Sports Fishing Regulations

The Central South Island Fish and Game Council (CSIFGC) is seeking feedback on eleven proposed changes to the sports fishing regulations across a range of its regional fisheries as part of its triennial regulations review.

To support CSIFGC in making informed decisions around each proposal, feedback is requested from anglers and the public on the following proposed changes:

1. Lake Opuha / Ōpūaha – introducing a winter fishing season.
2. Lake Heron / Ōtūroto – enforcing use of single hooks to manage caught and released lake-type salmon.
3. Bells Pond – reducing trout daily bag limit.
4. Rangitata River / Rakitata – introducing an April trout season upstream of Turn Again Point.
5. Bait fishing – permitting restricted use of a portion of fish as bait.
6. Scented artificial lures (bait) – permitting restricted use in spin fishing waters.
7. Bait fishing – introducing regulation to clarify offence of bait fishing with salmon farm and trout hatchery feed pellets.
8. Upper Ahuriri River Catchment – Introducing November season opening date.
9. Awakino River / Te Awakinonui – Introducing an open season.
10. Lake Alexandrina / Takamana – Introducing a winter season brown trout bag limit.
11. Canal fishery – Introducing a universal bag limit across interconnected waters.

The proposals, their assessment by CSIFGC staff, and online feedback forms can be found here at our website here.

For further information about providing feedback please contact our office: ph. – 03 615 8400, email – [email protected]  

Feedback will be accepted until 27 April 2025.

Have your say on the review of Central South Island's sports fishing regulations

Outlook for April

Bruce bamboozled this brown with a blowfly in a balmy NW breeze.

April is the last month of the main “summer season” and with Easter and ANZAC holidays to utilise there is plenty of time left to get out on your local or high-country waters before the summer season wraps-up on April 30th.

Winter is just around the corner, get out on the water now while mild autumn conditions allow. This is especially important for those who are prone to cold fingers and toes.

For fly anglers, April can provide excellent mayfly hatches but be sure to carry a range of flies of varying size and colour as matching the hatch can be critical.

The recent March 20 Weekly Fishing Report has some great tips for fishing after rainfall.

April is also a pre-spawning time for brown trout. They can start to get aggressive and chase each other around – in this case swinging a bead head woolly bugger or similar could get their attention. 

April often marks the last trip out on the boat for the season, especially for those who pack-up their camp sites at the Waitaki Lakes over Easter or ANZAC holidays. 

Our advice is just stick to your favourite trolling spots and enjoy the crisp autumn air and the well-condition trout.   

We do hope you enjoy your time on the water this April and if you are looking for access info or some ideas of a new spot to try then check out our locations info and angler access map here.

April is the first month that our Winter Fishing Licence is available – if you need a fishing licence, winter licences may fit your needs — they’re on sale from 1 April.

Waitaki sea-run salmon season – ‘upper’ section closed April 1st

The yellow highlight marks the powerlines at Stonewall & Bortons Pond - salmon fishing is closed upstream of these powerlines in April.

The implementation of the season bag limit has allowed sea-run salmon fishing to continue longer in some waters of the Central South Island Region for the month of April. 

For example, the “lower half” of the Waitaki River now remains open for sea-run salmon fishing for April. 

The lower half being that part of the river between the sea and the powerlines that cross the river between Bortons Pond on the South and Stonewall on the North. 

The “upper" section, being everything above the powerlines is closed.

Otago Anniversary public holiday on Monday the 24th March is a great time to get out and take advantage of the Waitaki salmon season.

Remember to always carry your sea-run salmon license with you (and a pen) if you are fishing for sea-run salmon or want to keep one incidentally caught whilst trout fishing.

If you need clarification on any regulation please refer to the 2024/25 sports fishing regulation guide.

If you have finished salmon fishing for the season please return the details on your card to us.
You can do this online here, give us a call on 03 615 8400, email [email protected] or post the card to us at P.O Box 150 Temuka 7948. 

We need your information even if you didn’t catch a salmon and even if you didn’t go out fishing at all as it is all.

Annual General Meeting - Waitaki Riparian Enhancement Society

WRES, better known as the Waitaki Voluntary Salmon Hatchery, are a voluntary organisation who aim to increase the wild sea-run salmon population of the Waitaki River. For more information check out their web page or head along to the meeting next Tuesday 25 March, 7pm at Glenavy Hall.

Tight lines,

Nikki Dellaway, 
CSI Fish and Game Officer