Thread: Northland trout fishing rules liberalisation

All trout fisheries in Northland are now open year round and open to all methods of fishing including bait (as defined by Fish & Game). I don't do a lot of trout fishing up here now that we have lost Kai Iwi Lakes, but thought someone might benefit.

https://fishandgame.org.nz/assets/Up...and-V5-WEB.pdf

Does this mean that our freshwater fishery (trout) is at a sustainable level?
if it is then it's good news but should keep it strict rather than open all year around.

Hey MB, so no public fishing in Kai Iwi?

Originally Posted by Snap 4T

Does this mean that our freshwater fishery (trout) is at a sustainable level?
if it is then it's good news but should keep it strict rather than open all year around.

It's more that very few people go trout fishing up here. Remaining lakes/dams aren't too appealing for various reasons. Rivers are nearly always to high or too low (at least in the last couple of years) and the fish are small. I've no doubt poaching with nets goes on, but to what extent I don't know. Saltwater fishing is very good, fish taste better and no licence required (yet!).

EDIT: I think Fish & Game are trying to drum up "business" for themselves. With low participation levels, it must be hard to justify stocking and their own existence.

Originally Posted by Mistral

Hey MB, so no public fishing in Kai Iwi?

You can go fishing, but there aren't any fish to catch.

I've caught trout in Wilson dam and whau valley. Boring as hell tho. Only ever seen one person fishing when I was culling in there. See a few out pigs head rd. Unfortunately that stream gets super hot mid summer and they don't do that well over that time.