Otago Harbour Salmon Fishing

Since thousands of quinnat salmon smolt were released into a river near Dunedin in 1985, big salmon have been caught from the wharves in Otago Harbour. The Otago salmon fishery is restocked with smolt each year by the Otago Branch of the New Zealand Salmon Anglers Association as it is not completely self-sustaining.

Fish type	Quinnat salmon. The size and numbers vary from year to year.
Location	Otago Harbour, Dunedin The Leith Stream is the only rivers that flows directly into Otago Harbour, though the mouth of the Taieri River is nearby.
Maps	See the Otago region map.
Annual competition	In March each year, the NZ Salmon Anglers Association holds a salmon fishing competition at Otago Harbour.
Methods	Fish are caught either on bait or by trolling lures behind a boat with the aid of a paravane, or in some cases a downrigger (methods rarely used for salmon fishing elsewhere in New Zealand).
Trolling	Location Within the harbour and outside the entrance off Taiaora Head.
Bait fishing	Locations The inner harbour and Port Chalmers wharves Recommended tackle Generally an eight foot rod and 20lb monofilament line. However, a 12 foot rod helps to keep the float and the hooked salmon from tangling with the wharf piles. Use a whole baitfish bridle hooked with two to three hooks (1/0 - 3/0 Gamakatsu Octopus hooks) suspended just off the bottom with the aid of a float. Use 40lb mono for the rig. A drop-net is essential. Local anglers use various devices to hold the rod safely so that the rod tip and the float are kept away from the wharf during the long hours of waiting for a bite. Bait Locally caught yellow-eyed mullet about 10-20cm in length or frozen pilchards (imported from Australia) purchased from local tackle stores.
Tributaries	Leith Stream
Regulations
Applicable to
Region	Otago
Season
Methods
Bag limit
Size limit (cm)

Top of page