New 2020/2021 NZ Angler Regulations

[marlsounds]

https://www.gazette.govt.nz/notice/id/2020-gs3048 The 2020/21 Regulations for New Zealand Freshwater Anglers have been released.

I see that the North Canterbury region has designated some new Backcountry Fisheries (BCF) for the Hope River upstream of the Boyle confluence, plus the Upper Waiau above the Hope confluence, the Upper Hurunui north of Lake Sumner and South Branch sections. These BCF changes were well forecast last April. It will be interesting to read the data from this coming year as in 2019, 58% of anglers in the Lewis Pass area were non-residents.

[Andy W]

Wow - your on the ball. I only got a copy of the draft yesterday from a source. Did you notice that the vital 4 fish limit for salmon in NC and CSI was missing?

As I mentioned on another post - lot of changes for North Canterbury with many of the High Country lakes being opened all year - Selfe, Pearson and Lyndon included plus a lot of other winter relief on the offer.

There will be opposition to theses lakes being opened all year and in particular to all methods. Experience has shown that when the same situation occurred at Lyndon when it was open through spawning (1997 - 2000) the fish became fly shy and refused to eat anything, which is exactly the same thing that we found this last season at Pearson and Lyndon after they got a thrashing.

[Dave]

Southland has gone to a 2 fish bag and all methods everywhere except the Upper Oreti. Upper Oreti, 1 fish, fly & spin only. Spin includes soft baits. A couple more lakes open all year as well. This is in response to people saying the regulation are too complicated.
Dave

[marlsounds]

Hi Andrew,

Have only scanned for new BCF's so far as I tend to fish the high country tributaries almost exclusively nowadays to avoid the crowds (ironically it seems on some days) so most interesting in what is broadcast to those getting licences. It's good that the more pressure-sensitive waterways will get a reprieve with our closed border policy for a while yet and perhaps kiwi anglers will spread out further to take advantage of this unique opportunity.

Dave - I'm wondering about a need for more fly-only water next season across Nelson-Marlborough, North Canterbury & Otago, as well as some Southland waters, but I guess F&G doesn't want to further limit licence revenue ...

[Dave]

Southland regulations are only changed every three years unless there is something serious that needs to be sorted so what is there will stay for that long. With this Southland has lost its last fly only water, the Eglinton River. With this being on the way to Milford Sound many casual overseas anglers wouldn't have bothered with the regulations so I think there was a fair bit of spin fishing anyway. I have picked up spinners on the river bank. Fish & Game are out to get more people fishing and allowing all methods should help with that. Yes they want to sell more licences and more licences gives them more power and more supporters to try and protect the rivers.
Dave

[marlsounds]

Got my new 2020/2021 licence and backcountry endorsements yesterday. In doing so, I noticed the link for the Wellington Region BCF endorsement was broken so messaged F&G. This will impact anyone fishing the upper Rangitikei catchment. Hopefully sorted soon if not already ...

[marlsounds]

Also worth noting that the new North Canterbury BCF endorsements are not showing yet.

[marlsounds]

Update: Link to Wellington endorsement (NZ$10) is now working, plus they've added the new North Canterbury BCF endorsements.