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Central South Island Fish & Game manages, maintains and enhances sports fish and game birds, and their habitats, in the best long-term interests of present and future generations of anglers and hunters. We are a not-for-profit organisation, funded through the sale of fishing and hunting licences. Community Guidelines

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11/06/2026

2026 Sea-Run Salmon Spawning Survey Summary

CSI Fish & Game staff and volunteers have now completed the annual sea-run salmon spawning surveys across Central South Island Fish & Game waters.

Generally we count redds (fish egg nests), but for the Rangitata River we count live fish.

Here’s a brief summary of what we found:

Ashburton Catchment: A very poor spawning season, with some of the lowest counts on record observed – 3 redds recorded at monitored sites.

Lake Heron: A strong spawning season – 68 redds recorded across monitored sites.

Rangitata Headwater Streams: A very poor spawning season, with an estimated 222 salmon spawning across the Rangitata headwater streams – the second-lowest annual spawning population on record.

Ōrāri Catchment: A very poor spawning season, – no redds recorded at the monitored site.

Ōpihi Catchment: A very poor spawning season, with some of the lowest counts on record observed – 11 redds recorded across monitored sites.

Waitaki Catchment: A very poor spawning season, with 54 redds recorded at monitored sites – the second lowest count on record, exceeding the lowest count (recorded last year) by just one redd.

Overall picture: Overall, 2026 sea-run salmon spawning numbers across the Central South Island Fish & Game region were again very low. Encouragingly, most catchments showed an improvement on 2025, which remains the poorest season on record overall.

In contrast, spawning at Lake Heron was strong, suggesting this sub-population continues to buck the broader declining trend in sea-run salmon numbers.

What about salmon harvest? Harvest surveys are currently underway. Once we get all the harvest and spawning data compiled, there will be a report written on the 2026 salmon run and shared with you.

Thank you: Spawning and harvest surveys help build a clearer picture of how sea-run salmon are tracking across the region and provide valuable information for ongoing fishery management. Thanks to all the anglers and volunteers who have participated in these surveys.

04/06/2026

Friendly Reminder — Upper Tekapo Canal Closed 1 June - 31 August.

This is the section of the Tekapo Canal that is upstream of the State Highway 8 Bridge, the entire section between the bridge and the dam at Tekapo. (All of the line shown in red here.)

Check the regulation guide for winter fishing options (or see our post from 29 May).

https://www.fishandgame.org.nz/assets/Fishing/Fishing-Licences-Regulations/Fishing-Regulations/104426-97495.01-Fish-and-Game-Sportsfishing-Regs-Brochure-2025-26-SI-Central-South-Island-V5-WEB.pdf

28/05/2026

Winter Fishing Options Open Monday 1 June!

Some CSI lakes and rivers provide winter fishing opportunities during June, July and August.

📍 Lake Opuha (New) – Open for fly, spin and bait fishing until 31 August.

📍Ashburton River – Open downstream of State Highway 1 for fly and spin fishing only until 31 August.

📍 Rangitata River – Open downstream of State Highway 1 for fly and spin fishing only until 31 August.

📍 Ōpihi River – Open downstream of State Highway 1 for fly and spin fishing only until 31 August.

📍 Waitaki River – Open downstream of State Highway 1 for fly and spin fishing only until 31 August.

📍 Lake Alexandrina – Open for fly and spin fishing only until 31 July.

Also, don't forget the Mackenzie Hydro Lakes are open year-round.

22/05/2026

Thanks again to everyone who took part in our upper Ahuriri River angler field survey during the 2025/26 fishing season.

For those interested in the results from this field survey, below is a link to this report.

The Central South Island Fish & Game Council will now undertake a workshop process to guide future management of this fishery.

The first part of workshop process will focus on reviewing and discussing the findings from previous research, including the 2024/25 displacement survey and the 2025/26 field survey (both links to reports below), to ensure a shared understanding of its findings.

The second part of the workshop process will then be undertaken to define the desired outcomes and objectives for the upper Ahuriri River fishery, and to consider the most appropriate management approach to achieve those outcomes.

Investigating Angler Use and Satisfaction at the Upper Ahuriri River 2026:

https://www.fishandgame.org.nz/assets/DMS/About-us/FG-Regional-Councils/Central-South-Island/Council-Downloads/2026/Ahuriri-Field-Survey-Report-BH.pdf

Investigating Angler Displacement and Support for Management Intervention at the Upper Ahuriri River 2025:

https://www.fishandgame.org.nz/assets/DMS/About-us/FG-Regional-Councils/Central-South-Island/Council-Downloads/2025/Ahuriri-Displacement-Survey-BH.pdf

21/05/2026

BOAT RAMP CLOSURE

Please be advised that the public boat ramp adjacent to the Opuha dam will be closed from Friday 22 May to Sunday 24 May 2026 (inclusive) to allow for essential construction work.

During this time, access to the ramp will not be available.

We advise all visitors to plan accordingly and use alternative boat ramps where possible.

We apologise for any inconvenience this might cause and appreciate the public's understanding as we carry out this important work.

For any questions or further information, contact the Opuha Water office 03 614 7801

Thank you for your cooperation.

13/05/2026

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐓𝐨 𝐏𝐥𝐮𝐜𝐤 𝐚 𝐃𝐮𝐜𝐤
Are you faster than Hamish?
If you have a better way, let us know!

11/05/2026

𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬 𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐋𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞.
An Australian visitor has been convicted in the Timaru District Court for fishing without a sports fishing licence at Ōhau A Canal.

Paul Southern, of New South Wales, was convicted before Community Magistrate O’Brien after being found guilty via formal proof hearing of fishing without a valid licence on 10 January 2026.

The Court imposed a $500 fine, along with $300 in contribution towards solicitor costs.

Fish & Game Ranger Jase Van Beers encountered Southern while conducting routine compliance checks at the canal. He had purchased a day licence several days earlier but chose not to obtain another before fishing again.

In explanation, Southern said he thought the licence price was high and that he couldn’t be bothered driving to Twizel to buy another one from the shop.

Fishing for sports fish without a licence is an offence under the Conservation Act 1987, and we remind all anglers that licences are mandatory when fishing for freshwater sports fish in New Zealand.

07/05/2026

The family duck hunt tradition continues in Mackenzie Country and South Canterbury.

On Saturday May 2nd, Opening Day of the 2026 game bird hunting season, Central South Island Fish & Game had teams of rangers operating in three areas, Temuka, Fairlie and Wainono Lagoon.

Opening Day weather was pleasant for hunting with low cloud clearing early to a sunny day and mild temperatures, well suited for what is for many hunters a social occasion with friends and family first and foremost.

Rangers checked on 78 hunters, a mix of local and visiting hunters. Rangers were pleased to find the majority of hunters fully compliant with the hunting regulations. However, four individual hunters were found offending, hunting without a game bird licence and/or in possession of lead ammunition within 200 metres of open water.

Here are some photo's our team managed to get while out in the feild.

06/05/2026

The sea-run salmon season has now wrapped up and we hope you enjoyed your time on the water.

Now it’s time for the final part of the 25/26 season: returning your season bag card.

If you’ve already submitted yours, thank you. Your input is hugely valuable.

If not, there’s still time. Even if you didn’t get out or didn’t harvest a fish this season, your information is just as important. It all contributes to better understanding of the fishery.

The deadline for returns is 7 May, just two days away, so please take a moment to complete the online form below.

Every response counts. We appreciate your support.

Return your card here: https://www.fishandgame.org.nz/freshwater-fishing-in-new-zealand/fishing-licences-and-regulations/sea-run-salmon/sea-run-salmon-return-form-2025-2026/

01/05/2026

Hot barrels to the hunters today!

Stay safe out there and keep an eye out for our rangers!

Address

32 Richard Pearse Drive
Temuka

Telephone

+6436158400

Website

https://www.fishandgame.org.nz/about-us/f-and-g-regional-councils/central-south-island/, http://linktr.ee/fishandgame

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