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West Coast Fish & Game

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West Coast Fish & Game

We manage, maintain and enhance sports fish and game birds, and their habitats, in the best long-term interests of present and future generations.

21/05/2026

This month’s Both Barrels is out now. Get an update on how the season is progressing, plus helpful tips and what’s coming up in our events calendar.

Link in comments.

06/05/2026

2026 Gamebird Season Opens

Rangers spread throughout the coast over opening weekend encountered good numbers of hunters in high spirits. Patchy hunting on opening weekend is to be expected with hunters preferring to utilise traditional waterbodies and hunting areas rather than specifically targeting areas with high concentrations of birds. As such, some hunters had exceptional hunting and others were content with a few birds and the social occasion of opening weekend.

Rangers always find opening weekend interactions with hunters most enjoyable as they encounter some of the keenest and friendliest of hunting groups. Largely, the hunting groups encountered are aware of the demands placed on hunters to get it right ethically and safely to preserve hunting into the future and therefore don’t find the visits too burdensome.

The continuation of gamebird hunting and access to wetland areas in the face of opposition from many quarters requires us to be extremely aware of our ethical code and ensure our pastime is not dragged into disrepute by poorly behaving individuals. More hunter licence-holders equals a stronger voice and Fish and Game encourages all hunters to promote the good work hunters do to maintain and enhance wetland habitats, our ethical hunting with clean and quick kills, and the sustainable utilisation of a natural resource that if left unmanaged can cause problematic populations of birds for others.

As the keenest of hunters know, the season only gets better from here with birds increasingly congregating in undisturbed locations near to food sources. So - make the most of the 2026 season and get out there again amongst some of the most diverse gamebird hunting opportunities in the country. Landowners, other hunters and your mental wellbeing will thank you for it!

If you like to hunt socially, keep an eye out for Fish and Game West Coast organised hunts throughout the season. These hunts focus in areas with problematic populations of birds and utilise our keen hunters to reduce these populations.

Please also take the time to let your friendly caller from Fish and Game know of how the seasons progressing if you get surveyed. Every year Fish and Game, on behalf of gamebird hunters, has to make the case for being able to continue sustainably harvesting gamebirds. Yes, in a region where we all know there are plenty of ducks and not enough hunters, we still need accurate data to make our case every year.

23/04/2026

🦆 Opening Weekend is almost here!
Get sorted, get scouting, and check out the latest Both Barrels West Coast update — duck numbers are looking solid heading into the season.

Link in the comments 👇

16/04/2026

🦆 Duck Shooters Eye Opener – Get Ready for Opening Weekend! 🦆

We always encourage hunters to get their preparation sorted ahead of opening weekend to maximise their opening weekend experience in the field.

A great way to sharpen your eye and dial in your shooting is the Kokatahi Clay Target Club’s Duck Shooters Eye Opener:

📍 Kokatahi Clay Target Club Grounds, 1194 Kaniere Kowhitarangi Road
📅 Sunday 26 April
⏰ 9:30am start

🎯 Clay target shoot designed specifically for duck hunters
🏆 Wild Outdoorsman–sponsored prizes
🎟️ Plus two Fish & Game NZ game bird licences to be won (1 adult, 1 junior)
🍔 BBQ lunch and refreshments available

Entry: Adults $70 | Juniors $45

A great social day out and the perfect chance to sharpen your skills, test your shotgun, and get ready ahead of opening weekend.

We look forward to seeing you there! 🦆

25/03/2026

26 March already — but some of the best fishing is still to come 🎣

Trout are in top condition at this time of year, and many anglers rate April as their favourite month of the season. With fewer people out and fish feeding well, it’s a great time to make the most of what’s on offer.

👉 Check out this month’s Reel Life for the latest updates and where to focus your efforts:
https://www.fishandgame.org.nz/freshwater-fishing-in-new-zealand/follow-the-fish/reel-life/reel-life-march-2026-west-coast/

Get out there while it’s firing 👌

24/03/2026

Come and get amongst it!

20/02/2026

🎣 Reel Life – West Coast | February 2026

The cicadas are out, the trout are feeding, and the forecast is perfect for a weekend on the water! 🌞 Trout are eagerly taking cicada patterns — prime time for both spin and fly anglers to wet a line.

🎣 Tight lines!

Link to Reel Life Article in the comments.

22/01/2026

📰 Reel Life – January 2026 is out now! 🎣

Regular summer rainfall has kept West Coast rivers and lakes in great shape, and fishing opportunities remain strong right across the region. In this month’s Reel Life, we cover current summer conditions, research and monitoring updates, impressive holiday compliance from local anglers, and what to expect as we head into February — including the increasing chance of encountering salmon.

👉 Link in the comments

Whether you’re planning a lake session, river trip, or just want to stay informed on what’s happening across the Coast, there’s plenty worth a read.

Hope to see you out there!

19/12/2025

🎣 West Coast Fishing – Holiday Update 🎣

Rivers and lakes across the West Coast are in excellent shape heading into the holiday season, with trout and perch ready for anglers of all levels.

Recent monitoring and competition results show healthy trout populations and excellent catches, giving anglers plenty to look forward to over the holidays.

Fishing with friends and whānau is a highlight of the season, and it’s great to see young anglers getting involved. Remember to handle fish carefully if practising catch-and-release, and check, clean, and dry all equipment to protect our waterways.

👉 Link to Reel Life December 2025 in the comments for full tips and the latest fishing reports.

18/12/2025

On Sunday we wrapped up our final educational event of the year, a fly fishing course in Franz Josef, with attendees travelling from as far as Karamea, Nelson, and Christchurch. This year’s events have been well attended and full of enthusiasm, so thank you to everyone who joined us!

We were thrilled to pass on a fly rod combo donated by Kevin & Marie Bennett to 13-year-old Liam Ralston, who showed great focus and commitment, travelling five hours with his father to attend.

If you’re keen to join our next round of events or have event ideas to enhance your angling experience, please reach out. We would love to hear from you!

Address

2 Bert Mercer Drive
Hokitika
7810

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 1pm
Tuesday	8am - 1pm
Wednesday	8am - 1pm
Thursday	8am - 1pm

Telephone

+6437558546

Website

http://www.fishandgame.org.nz/

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