NZ King Salmon predicts bumper 2014 season

March 19, 2012

NZ King Salmon predicts bumper 2014 season

Tomorrow 15,000 King salmon smolt are being released into West Coast Lakes. And that signals good news ahead for the 2014 season – as the mature King Salmon swim up the rivers to spawn, offering a prized catch for anglers.

The smolt are being brought to Westland by New Zealand King Salmon as part of an agreement to supply Fish & Game New Zealand with fish from its Waiau Hatchery near Rotherham in North Canterbury.

When the salmon return to the West Coast rivers, they will be between about 6 and 11lbs in weight, lovely size for sports fishers.

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King Salmon is one of five species of Pacific salmon. It is New Zealand’s largest freshwater fish, and the largest species in the salmon family. The breed was introduced into New Zealand rivers on the South Island’s east coast in Canterbury and Otago more than 100 years ago.

While the King salmon is now scarce along the Californian Pacific coast, it has thrived in New Zealand waters. Established spawning runs are found in the Rangitata, Opihi, Ashburton, Rakaia, Waimakariri, Hurunui and Waiau rivers.

ENDS

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