There are some big salmon caught in Otago Harbour. This one was caught during a local fishing competition.
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In 1985, I.C.I. Watties, a New Zealand food manufacturing company specializing in canning released thousands of quinnat salmon smolt into a river near Dunedin. A couple of years later big salmon were being caught regularly from the wharves in Otago Harbour. A new fishery was born!
However the Otago salmon fishery is not completely self-sustaining. It operates on a "put and take" basis. In other words if smolt weren't released each year the Otago Harbour fishery would eventually disappear. Restocking has been carried out by the Otago Branch of the New Zealand Salmon Anglers Association. The smolt paid for by donations from the public and local businesses.
This superb 18 pounder was caught
in Otago Harbour aboard Katrina .
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Salmon eggs have been planted in the nearby Taieri River and smolt have also been released there as well. No rivers flow directly into Otago Harbour other than the Leith Stream, the lower reaches of which have been concreted as a measure against flooding. Despite this it is thought that at least some fish are returning and spawning in the local rivers.
Like salmon fisheries everywhere returns are variable. Some years there are considerable numbers caught, while other years catches and fish sizes are down. There were poor catches in Otago back in 2000-2001 much the same as elsewhere. This was likely the result of poor feeding conditions for the salmon at sea.
Another beauty from Otago Harbour.
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Anglers fish for salmon in Otago Harbour in their own unique fashion. Whereas in the main salmon rivers to the north almost all fish are caught on zed spinners and hex-ticers, in Otago harbour 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. These methods are rarely used for salmon fishing in New Zealand.
Most salmon are caught trolling. Indeed this method is by far the most productive. Locals know the best places to troll their lures both within the harbour and outside the entrance off Taiaora Head. The salmon appear to gather at certain spots where they are detected by the boat's echo sounder. The paravane seems to be the most popular way to get a spinner down to the salmon as the fish are mostly caught on or near the bottom. With a bit of thought and adjustment of the attachment point it is possible to troll several paravane at the same time without a tangle.
A great salmon caught a few hundred metres from the center of Dunedin.
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For those without boats the inner harbour and Port Chalmers are very popular with anglers fishing with baited hooks. The method here is to use a whole baitfish bridle hooked with two to three hooks (1/0 - 3/0 Gamakatsu Octopus hooks) and suspended just off the bottom with the aid of a float. I'd use 40lb mono for the rig. The exact rig differs between anglers with many insisting their rigging method is the best. The bait fish are either locally caught yellow-eyed mullet about 10-20cm in length or frozen pilchards (imported from Australia) purchased from local tackle stores. This wharf fishing is an immensely enjoyable and laid-back form of fishing and a wonderful way to spend an afternoon with the kids.
An essential item of kit is a drop-net. The water can be five meters of more from the wharf and any attempt to lift a 20 pound fish with the rod only will result in a certain bust-off. Most anglers make a drop-net from a 26 inch bicycle rim attaching a net from the local tackle store and tying on a rope to lower it down to the water with three or four attachment points. There are few places where steps lead down to the water so the net really is an essential item to have in the car boot! The hooked salmon is played out and eventually lead over the net before being lifted. The operation requires the help of another angler to guide and lift the net. Interestingly Dunedin and Port Chalmers continue to permit the public almost total access to their wharves while elsewhere in New Zealand anglers are met with high fences and locked gates!
Home-made rod holder
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Rods and reels are generally the same as those used for river fishing. However many prefer a 12 foot rod as this helps to keep the float, and later the hooked salmon, away from a tangle with the dreaded wharf piles. Most anglers would fish with an eight foot rod and 20lb monofilament line.
Some Otago salmon anglers have come up with all sorts of extra items of tackle and kit that you don't often see elsewhere. Various devices are employed to hold the rod safely so that the rod tip and the float are kept away from the wharf. As there are long hours of waiting for a bite involved with this fishing method some anglers bring small camp stoves, television sets, playing cards, and so on. Being in the harbour of course means that there are yachts and boats of every description going by so a pair of binoculars are a must.
You might also be interested in what salmon eat at sea? History of salmon fishing in the Waitaki River and Line of Salmon Anglers at the Rangitata River. Learn how to fix that annoying leak in your waders. Fishing with white salmon lures. Much depends on the speed at which you wind in your zed spinners. Still keen? Take a look at super salmon spinners, even more about salmon zed spinners. Salmon ticers designed for long distance casting (also called weight-forward hex wobblers).
Salmon caught in Otago Harbour.
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