Fishing & Hunting

Whether your clients want to cast a line in a tranquil river setting or stalk deer in rugged wilderness, New Zealand offers a great range of fishing and hunting opportunities against a backdrop of marvellous scenery.

For the ultimate thrill, try big game fishing in the Bay of Islands area – Striped Marlin grow to their largest size in these waters, averaging around one hundred kilos. No licence is required for big game fishing, but a guide will help visitors find the best fishing places.

Opportunities to fish for trophy-sized Brown and Rainbow trout are available throughout the country: try Rotorua, Taupo, Canterbury and Southland. Salmon fishing is also on offer in Canterbury and on the West Coast. A licence is required for trout fishing and regulations govern such things as quantity of fish and minimum catch sizes. Licences can be obtained from New Zealand sports shops – see www.fishandgame.org.nz for detailed regulations. Hiring a guide will get your clients the best local knowledge and information.

If your clients would rather hunt on land, New Zealand offers some of the world’s finest waterfowl or trophy hunting. There’s a wide range of species to stalk, all of which were artificially introduced. Hunting is encouraged to keep numbers in check and preserve native wildlife, but permits are required for those wishing to hunt on public conservation land. These can be obtained from regional Department of Conservation offices. Visitors should hire the services of a professional hunting guide – New Zealand’s wilderness areas are physically demanding, and high country weather is unpredictable. Local knowledge is essential.

For more information on fishing and hunting in New Zealand, see www.fishnhunt.co.nz or www.fishandgame.org.nz.

Big Game

New Zealand’s nineteenth century European settlers brought with them species of animals that were familiar in their homeland. Introduced into a fertile, temperate habitat with no natural predators, they thrived, often growing to larger sizes than they did in their original home. Hunting is encouraged in New Zealand to control the numbers of these introduced species, although all hunters are required to carry a licence (see www.fishandgame.org.nz for information). Big game species in New Zealand now include Wapiti, Red Deer, Sika deer, Rusa Deer, Sambar Deer, Whitetail Deer, Fallow Deer, Himalayan Thar, Austrian Chamois, Goat, Wild Pig and Wild Bull.

Trout & Salmon

Trout are not native to New Zealand, but the country’s rivers and lakes have proved an ideal habitat for the species. Rainbow Trout from California were introduced to New Zealand in the early 1880s and they now thrive in rivers and lakes throughout the country, growing to an average of 1.5 to 2 kg. Every year a handful of lucky anglers land fish up to 7 kg! Brown Trout are even larger. Introduced in the 1860s, this species has also established itself throughout the country, growing to an average of 1 to 3 kg in rivers and streams and larger in lakes. Sometimes these fish grow to more than 10 kg! Chinook Salmon are not as common as trout. They were introduced to Canterbury in the early 1900s and this is still the best place to hook one.