Media release from Eastern Fish & Game

Fish & Game: more shoreline fishing for holidaymakers

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A revamp of fishing rules is good news for holidaymakers visiting Rotorua this summer – giving them more chance than ever of hooking up a fish or two.

The rules re-write has opened up lots of lake shoreline fishing, so you don’t even need a boat – just some inexpensive spin fishing gear.

Spin fishing or spinning, for the uninitiated, is an easy method using light-weight gear where a spinning lure that imitates a bait fish is cast out, and retrieved. The idea is to get a predatory trout to strike at your lure…hook up!

Fish & Game’s revamp of the rules opens up the whole of Lake Tarawera’s shoreline to this fun and simple method – between October 1 and the end of March every year (and some locations after April 1).

Eastern Region Fish & Game Officer Matt Osborne, says the changes mean loads more opportunity for the holidaymaker this summer.

One of the key aims was to make the rules easier for everyone to understand, without having to pore over maps and regulation booklets, to figure out what areas where closed or open for different fishing methods.

The regulations for shoreline fishing on lakes Tarawera, Rotoiti and Okataina were identified as particularly complicated. Now, instead of some areas being fly fishing only (normally the chosen method of more experienced anglers), at this time of year, the whole shoreline is open to spinning and fly fishing.

“Rock on up at any spot along the shore on these lakes and you’re safe in the knowledge it’s legal to fish there,” Mr Osborne says.

Now easy spinning methods can be used at some popular holiday spots like The Landing on Lake Tarawera.

“This means it’s possible for Mum and Dad to go to the café for a coffee and a bite, while keeping a close on little Johnnie spinning to his heart’s content from the beach a stone’s throw away.”

Other areas where spinning was previously banned include ‘The Orchard’ around the point from The Landing, and the Waitangi Stream mouth.

The new rules bring Tarawera into line with Rotoiti and Okataina. One or two exceptions remain, such as on Lake Rototi - spinning is not permitted within 300 metres of the Ohau Channel delta’s landmark pole.

Mr Osborne says spinning is the perfect choice for holidaymakers with families. “It’s easy for children to pick up – they learn quickly and if you’re the father, uncle or grandad doing the teaching – it’s also a fast method to teach.

“Children can learn to spin pretty competently in about ten minutes compared with the ten hours that might be needed to teach fly fishing skills.”

The equipment is simple to master and relatively cheap to purchase and light-weight salt water gear can be used for this lake fishing. For adults who are more serious about getting into freshwater sport fishing, spinning is the perfect way to start out.

Matt Osborne says that of course, just because these rules have been simplified, doesn’t mean that other rules and regulations have been relaxed. Please make sure to study the North Island sports fishing regulations booklet, give us a call or visit our website for information: www.fishandgame.org.nz

Fish & Game is also reminding anglers of the ‘check, clean, dry‘(CCD) message which applies to both boats and trailers and personal gear such as waders and fishing equipment.

“Rotorua’s lakes and streams are free from most pest fish and some aquatic weeds and we need anglers to help us keep it that way.”

New fishing rules in a nutshell:

• Lake Tarawera: Shoreline fishing areas that were traditionally fly fishing only all summer are now open to spin fishing until March 31. This brings Tarawera into line with the rules for Rotoiti and Okataina, and promotes lots more opportunity for spin fishing. All landmarked tributary stream mouths at Tarawera will be fly and spin fishable to March 31st, and then fly fishing only from April 1 until the end of the open season.

• Utuhina Stream: From December 1, 2012, spin fishing will be permitted in the Utuhina Stream between Devon Street Bridge and Pukehangi Road Bridge.

• Lake Rotoiti: More angling opportunity is also being provided through extending the winter shoreline fishing area on Lake Rotoiti to include Hauparu and Tapuaekura Bays.

(Colour coded fishing guides can be downloaded to smartphones. Go to www.fishandgame.org.nz and click on Eastern, then ‘local fishing regulations.’ Look the the guides up while you’re out fishing!)

ENDS

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