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.
In February or 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
The waters of Leith downstream
from Leith Street foot bridge
