Central South Island Weekly Fishing Report - 17 April 2025
- Central South Island
- 17/04/2025
Make the Most of Two Long Weekends Back‑to‑Back!
Easter and ANZAC fall one after the other this year and it’s currently school holidays. If you’ve been cunning, you will have put in for leave for the three days in between so you’ll be looking at potentially 10 days off—the perfect chance to share the thrill of fishing with whānau and e hoa mā/friends.
Whether it’s baiting up on a canal bank, teaching the kids to cast from a boat, or instructing older kids in the art of fly fishing, this is your time to turn off the screens and make memories that last.
The hydro canals and our large lakes like Opuha, Tekapo/Takapō, Pūkaki, Ōhau, Benmore, Aviemore and Waitaki offer particularly good fishing options for the kids as they suit pairing other activities with bait fishing - great for young attention spans.
Click here for our online access map with satellite layering, detailing hundreds of access spots throughout the region.
Weather wise early on, aim for Good Friday and Saturday for your main outing—these are forecast to be generally calm and clear. Sunday through till Tuesday is looking a bit wet unfortunately but there will be gaps in the weather to get out there. Also, early mornings are getting chilly, so bring puffer jackets, a beanie and waders to keep everyone warm and comfortable.
Remember that most waterways close on 30 April, so this is your last big chance to get out there and fish the main season.
We’d love to feature your angler reports from your Easter weekend to put in our final weekly fishing report for the season next week, so please keep us in mind. After your trip, please email your angling reports and photos to Jase, here.
So, load up the gear, round up the family, and let these upcoming long weekends make for lasting memories and hopefully big fish.
Click here for fishing tips, fishery information and downloadable brochures covering our popular fisheries.
A family enjoys easy access fishing off the lake Benmore dam wall.
Improved Angler Compliance at the Mackenzie Hydro Canals
Happy and compliant anglers line the bank at Ōhau A Canal.
Central South Island Fish & Game Council is highlighting improved angling compliance at the Mackenzie Basin hydro canal fishery. This improvement has aligned with an increase in ranging and compliance activities this fishing season.
Fish & Game rangers have encountered 16 anglers committing offences since the start of the current fishing season in October 2024 at the Mackenzie hydro canals; this compares to 50 offending anglers for the same period during the previous season.
“The reduction in offenders encountered comes at a time when increased resourcing has been put towards ensuring canal anglers are licenced and sticking to the regulations,” says Central South Island Fish & Game Chief Executive, Steve McKnight.
“Our Council recognises the value of the internationally renowned canal fishery to anglers and the local community and has increased its ranging capability to aid in supporting the fishery’s sustainability. Rangers have increased angling compliance checks by 20% this season.”
“We believe the increased ranger presence at the canals and publicising successful prosecutions of offenders may have served as a tangible deterrent to would-be offenders.”
In March 2025 Central South Island Fish & Game prosecuted angler Terepoitirere Pita for fishing without a licence at the Ōhau B Canal. Mr Pita’s penalties for fishing without a licence were conviction and fines and cost totalling $800.
All anglers fishing for sports fish including trout, salmon and redfin perch in freshwater are required under the Conservation Act 1987 to obtain a sports fishing licence and adhere to the sports fishing regulations.
You can easily buy your licence online through the Fish & Game NZ website, here, or from your local licence agent in-store.
Make sure to review the latest CSI Sports Fishing Regulations 2024/25, here.
Upper Ahuriri River Pressure Sensitive Fishery Management Survey
The spectacular backcountry scenery of the Ahuriri River valley.
The Central South Island Fish & Game Council (CSIFGC) is aiming to understand the nature, scope and characteristics of angler behaviour on the upper Ahuriri River (above Longslip Creek confluence, also known as the Birchwood Road section). Findings will be used by CSIFGC to gain a better understanding of this fishery.
If you purchased a fishing licence in either the Central South Island, North Canterbury, Otago, or Southland regions during the 2024/25 season, check your emails! Your name may have been selected to complete a survey regarding the upper Ahuriri River Fishery.
This survey will apply to you if you have ever fished, plan to fish, or have even thought about fishing the upper Ahuriri River.
This survey does not seek information from licence holders from outside of the named regions above.
Weather and Water Outlook
The remnants of ex-tropical cyclone Tam is set to arrive across New Zealand today and the North Island and upper South Island look set to bear the brunt of this low-pressure system.
However during Easter Weekend it shouldn’t affect the Central South Island much until later in the weekend according to the NIWA long range forecast and YR.NO, so I’d plan to do the majority of your fishing on Friday and Saturday, particularly if you’re getting the boat out.
Over the long weekend it would be worth checking out Outdoor Access NZ who offer high quality live stream webcams of some of Canterbury’s favourite fishing spots. This is a subscription-based service, but they do offer a 30-day free trial.
Please remember to check the forecast for yourself before heading out.
NOTICE BOARD
Rangitata Jet Boating Restriction Reminder
Recently we were contacted by a disappointed angler on the Rangitata River. He was disturbed by jet boats boating upriver of the Red Rocks also known as Turn Again Point. The use of motorised craft on the Rangitata River at any time above this point is not permitted from 1 March to 31 July.
Access is restored to Wainono Wetland and Māori Lake via Poingdestres Road.
The failed pile keeping the bridge closed to traffic has been repaired and Poingdestres Bridge is now open for access to vehicles up to two tonne.
Waimate District Council are currently working towards being able to support vehicles up to five tonne.
Get your hunting permit for Wainono Reserve, or one of our other managed wetlands, on our website here, or contact our friendly office on 03 615 8400, email [email protected]
Fish & Game Salmon Bag Card Returns Now Open
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.
Even if you didn’t catch a salmon or if you didn’t go out fishing at all, that information is still important to us.
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.
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.
Please remember to share your angling experiences with us, it helps make our reports more engaging and inspiring for everyone! Please email your reports to Jase, here.