Fishing in New Zealand is a popular sport, hobby and pastime. With lakes, rivers and ocean everywhere you look, fishing fanatics will be in their element.
You just have to go to any beach or wharf to see how popular fishing is in New Zealand. With more than 15,000 kilometres of coastline there’s a fish and a fishing spot with your name on it. If you’re up north you can expect to catch snapper, kingfish and tarakihi. In the far south, you’re looking at blue cod, trumpeter and grouper for your dinner. Snapper is the prized fish for most sea fishermen. Go snapping as they call it and you could be looking at a fish in excess of 10kg.
From December to June, it’s the big game fishing season, Head out on a charter from Russell or Tutukaka in Northland, or from Tauranga in the Bay of Plenty and you can be chasing some seriously big fish including marlin, billfish, yellowfin tuna and kingfish. New Zealand’s crystal clear rivers and lakes provide excellent freshwater fishing with rainbow and brown trout being found in rivers and lakes of both islands and sea-run salmon in the South Island. Lake Taupo, in particular, is world-renowned for trout fishing. (refer article below)
Diving in New Zealand is paradise. With accessible coastlines, marine reserves and hundreds of offshore islands, the underwater world is vast and diverse.
The late Jacques Cousteau once said that he thought that the Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve, off New Zealand’s Bay of Islands, were one of the world’s top five diving locations. This is a measure of what you can expect when you go diving in New Zealand.
You can dive wrecks, drop-offs and sub-tropical reefs in clean, clear waters. You can explore huge kelp forests, swim with school fish or alongside dolphins. For a different adventure and experience, try kayak diving or a descent after dark. Most of the popular spots are easily accessed from the mainland coast or you can take a boat to the more remote reefs and islands. Don’t forget your diver’s certificate card. And if you’re new to diving and would like to experience the wonders of the undersea world, lessons and certification in scuba diving are readily available as well as organized diving tours to show you the good places for your first dive.
Source: 100% Pure NZ
Additional Information can be found at these sites:
New Zealand Freshwater Fishing - nzfishing.com is the complete guide to New Zealand trout and salmon fishing for planning a fly fishing trip or angling vacation in any part of the North or South Island.
NZ Fishing Spots - nzfishingspots.co.nz lets all you keen fishermen/woman find and add to NZ top fishing spots.
The Fishing Website - The Fishing Website has fishing reports, fishing tips, fishing charters, advice, hints and techniqueson everything from snapper fishing to game fishing.
Fish & Game NZ - Fish & Game NZ manages, maintains and enhances sports fish and game birds, and their habitats, in the best long-term interests of present and future generations of anglers and hunters. We are a not-for-profit organisation, funded through the sale of fishing and hunting licences.
NZ Fishing World - Heaps of information, news and comments about fishing in NZ.
Ministry of Primary Industries - Fishing - Fishing is one of New Zealand's most popular recreational activities. Every year a large number of finfish, rock lobster and shellfish are taken by recreational fishers, which can seriously affect local fisheries. This means it is important for all fishers to act responsibly and help conserve the resource.
Paul's Fishing Kites - Heaps of information on Kite fishing.
ITM Fishing Show - The ITM Fishing Show or The Ultimate Fishing Show is a New Zealand television program about extreme sports fishing. It features stunt fisherman Matt Watson who catches game fish such as marlin in unusual ways such as from jet ski and surfboard.
Gone Fishin - Gone Fishin' with Graeme Sinclair is a slice of outdoor New Zealand designed around a central fishing theme.
Outdoors with Geoff - Outdoors with Geoff features the best hunting and fishing New Zealand has to offer. Follow Geoff Thomas as he embarks on adventures and meets the locals ...
BigAngryFish - Big Angry Fish is a TV show all about teaching you the knowledge & techniques to catch trophy fish in shallow water.
