Still an issue I see....

[Johnno]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/116030 ... s#comments


And it’s no better at the top of the South. I’ve noticed a massive increase in angling pressure on some waters in the past few years....

[Steve]

Yes the mantra that growth is good, regardless of consequences, and the fact that Governments are judged a success if they have rosy growth figures leads to these types of issue, the Kiwi way of life is under threat, over run by tourists which is predicted to keep growing strongly, and fishing wise is compounded by a decline in opportunity as rivers have declined. That decline is huge in canterbury with the salmon fishery on the brink, the searun trout fisheries crashing and the loss of many of the smaller rain/spring fed streams...

[marlsounds]

So ... we've had a correction in international tourists for some summer season. It will be interesting to see if the 15,000 missing licence holders are noticeable, given the high volumes of local anglers out in the backcountry streams this year. The Christmas/NY period will be an interesting one. Forward hut bookings suggest it's going to be carnage in the hills.

[fraser hocks]

Well its crazy down here. Hardly a fisher to be found. I fished the Oreti last week on a perfect day (with forecast of several days of ugly ahead, so would have though everyone would have been out) and we didn't find another angler at any beats on the Oreti and not a car parked at any beat on the Mataura on the way home at 3:30pm (had to be home before 5pm).

Talking to other rangers they have had the same thing. License checks are a shadow of what they were.

Time to take advantage while you can lads. I'm guessing this covid thing will be a bad memory by next season.

[marlsounds]

That's good to hear, Fraser. North Canterbury rivers have been busy, particularly those that held big fish last season.