2023 2024 Season Opening South Island

The Dream is Over.

I’m genuinely worried for the South Island wilderness trout this summer. We’re halfway through December 2023 and southern accommodation is solidly booked for the peak summer period. Just check Booking.com for a South Island night in December/January and you’ll see what I mean. My guiding mates are booked out right through to the end of March. Every one of them. It’s going to be an outstanding season for the local professional fishing guides. I’ve personally heard from dozens of overseas anglers who are headed...

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An example Designated Water Licence river in New Zealand

Designated Waters Licence

In a positive move from Fish & Game New Zealand to tackle over-crowding on some of our more heavily fished trophy rivers, there’s a new endorsement to the Whole Season Freshwater Fishing Licence for 2023/24. This applies to both Resident Anglers and Non-Resident Anglers. The Designated Waters Licence operates in six regions, extending on the Backcountry Licence trial optionally added to the Whole Season Licence in recent years for specific rivers in the more popular remote fisheries across the South Island plus a few...

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Brown Trout South Island New Zealand

If they can make it here …

Just like Alicia Key’s ‘New York‘ song that espouses, “If I can make it here, I can make it anywhere”, consistently catching large wild brown trout in New Zealand’s South Island high country is a pretty solid foundation for fooling fish from other exotic places. It’s also a great place to take stock of your fishing skills. Earlier this season I had the pleasure of accompanying a couple of willing and passionate kiwi anglers up a beautiful South Island mountain stream. After mostly lone...

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Southflyfisher is fly fishing in the South Island of New Zealand.

Flyfish New Zealand’s South Island

Where to Fish So you want to flyfish New Zealand’s South Island? Well, the wild backcountry rivers and clear streams flowing through the southern regions of Central Otago, Southland, Westland, Marlborough, the West Coast and Canterbury collectively provide a lifetime of dream destinations for the pursuit of healthy and large Brown Trout. If you want to realise your dreams, here are some pointers to help you pursue happiness. But first a couple of ‘rules to live by’: Catch & release. Keep ’em wet.  Don’t...

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South Island Southflyfisher

Shining a Light on Fragile Fisheries

Hi, Michael here from Southflyfisher. If you know me, you know I love to fly fish. Heck, I live to fly fish. For me, my favourite fly angling is chasing sighted large wild brown trout in New Zealand’s rugged South Island backcountry rivers. Last year (2020) I fished these catchments than any other year in the past decade. Wilderness fishing means multiple tent nights cooking by headlamp, backcountry huts with candles flickering as we scan tattered fishing magazines. This time bestows our busy lives...

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Copyright 2021 Southflyfisher

A Sweet Deal?

Do New Zealand’s Influencer Regulations Apply to Anglers? Everyone loves getting a sweet deal on their fly fishing and camping gear. Some lucky fishers even get sent free stuff to test, review, or even promote. Many share their haul on Instagram and Facebook. Sometimes you’re not sure if they got it for free, or if they paid full price like you have to. You might be able to guess which brands they are being sponsored by from their consistent use of #brandtags. But maybe...

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Catching up on the Fish & Game Review

This is a commentary on New Zealand Fish and Game, their recent Review and the current 2021 election process, from just another licence holder. Background Fish & Game New Zealand (Fish & Game) was formed subject to Part 5A of the Conservation Act 1987 and reports to the Minister of Conservation. This entity updated the long-serving Acclimatisation Societies fisheries and gamebird management model. Fish & Game currently comprises a National council and 12 Regional councils which are public entities, for which elections are held...

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Copyright 2021 Southflyfisher

2021 Pre-Season Update

Winter floods mean major river changes. Two ‘mouse years’ in 2019 and 2020, followed by a benign 2020 winter, resulted in the wild New Zealand trout remaining in truly exceptional condition last year. However, this 2021 winter experienced several significant rain events that New Zealand had not seen for 38 years. The resultant flooding damaged spawning runs, reshaped river courses and the condition of our wild fish stocks is unknown. Damage was regionalised with Central Otago in much better shape than Nelson/Marlborough or the...

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