Trout fishing season open

The new trout fishing season opened on October 1.

New Zealand’s world class fishing attracts not only national anglers but international anglers from more than 70 countries around the world - in particular Australia, The United States and Britain.

The sport provides a good injection of tourists dollars to the economy.

In the year ending August 31, Fish & Game sold more than 5600 licences to non-residents – up around 20 per cent from the previous year.

In Northland the Kai Iwi Lakes are a very productive fishery.

Fly fishing is also recommended in a number of the Dargaville rivers and at Te Karae, south of Kaitaia.

It is the first time in five years the opening of the trout fishing season has fallen on a Saturday, and being in the middle of school holidays, provides lots of opportunities for families to get on the water.

To fish for trout you must obtain a licence.

Full season licences can be used anywhere in New Zealand except the Taupo area, which is administered by the Department of Conservation.

If you buy a Local Area Licence you can only fish in the one region you nominated.

Your licence is a permit to fish in accordance with the regulations governing the region in which you are fishing.