Push for trout season extension
Calls have been made to extend Canterbury’s trout fishing season to make up for anglers missing the ‘‘golden time’’ on the river due to the coronavirus lockdown.
Keen anglers have had just three days post-level four lockdown before restrictions come into force for most of the region’s rivers from May 1.
Fish and Game has called for a one-off extension on selected waterways until June 30, to make up for the nearly five weeks that anglers were not able to put a fly in the water – after paying for a licence to do so.
All fishing was banned under alert level four, but fishing without using a boat is allowed at level three. Fish and Game rangers have been encouraging anglers to return to the rivers now the rules have relaxed.
Fishing for trout and other fresh water game fish is strictly regulated, with authorities allowing many waterways to be fished only at certain times of year, and only with a licence. The start and end date of the season varies, sometimes even between sections of the same river.
Most seasons end on April 30, meaning some keen anglers who hung up their rods through lockdown have only three days of fishing before their local season ends. Canterbury is the hardest hit region, with about 70 waterways set to close to fishing tomorrow – including sections of the Rakaia, Waimakariri, Ashley, and Waiau rivers – though other districts such as Nelson, Otago, and Southland are also affected.
North Canterbury Fish and Game is applying to Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage for the extension. Its application is currently with the Department of Conservation (DOC) and will be passed on as soon as possible.
Chief executive
Rasmus
Gabrielsson said he hoped the extension could come into effect from mid-May, but was mindful the minister and DOC had ‘‘quite a few things on their plate’’.
It would apply to a ‘‘select number’’ of lakes and rivers, many of which were close to towns or cities, so anglers could stay local in keeping with the Covid-19 restrictions.
These would include sections of the Avon, Heathcote and Halswell rivers in Christchurch, the lower half of the Rakaia, Waimakariri, Ashley, Hurunui and Waiau rivers, and other fisheries such as lakes Coleridge, Pearson and Lyndon.
Gabrielsson said the waterways had been ‘‘carefully chosen to ensure that no known major spawning areas are put at risk’’.
Martin Langlands, a keen angler and full-time fly fishing guide, said April was ‘‘the golden time’’ for trout fishing because the fish were in the best condition possible and were quite active.
Most anglers did not have a problem with the lockdown and understood why it had to happen, but some felt a bit denied, he said.
‘‘There was pain for sure, hanging up the rod ... but it had to happen.’’