The West Coast offers hunting of all types from Tahr, deer, pigs and goats to gamebirds such as the Grey and Mallard duck, shoveler, Paradise shelduck and Pukeko. Making your own fishing sinkers at home will save you a lot of money over time. Recommended by: Vicky, Day Out in England. Grab your rods and head to the rivers, lakes and sea to see what you can catch! West Coast Region Hotels on Tripadvisor: Find 13,599 traveller reviews, 5,005 candid photos, and prices for hotels in West Coast Region. Starting at the northern tip to the furthest southern point you can reach by car. The West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island is a rugged, remote region where the high southern Alps descend into glaciers, temperate rainforest, and the wild Tasman Sea. Kahawai can also be present in big numbers so be sure to carry some ticers and a spin rod. Croiselles Harbour, on the western side of the Marlborough Sounds, offers an ideal location for kayak and small boat angling, with a wide variety of fish species available, including good numbers of gurnard, tarakihi and snapper over the summer months. The West Coast- South Island- NZ. These bizarre fish fight quite hard and use their massive pectoral fins to ‘fly’ through the water. Be sure to apply plenty of bug spray especially in the evening as there can be a lot of sand flies on the beach. ... SURFCASTING The whole of New Zealand's coast is suitable for surfcasting with species varying from one location to another. You can catch snapper, kahawai, rig, conger eel, stingray, gurnard and other species from this steeply shelving beach so try a variety of rigs and baits. Our personal highlights at the west coast of the South Island of New Zealand. When visiting New Zealand a lot of people, as did I, travel on the scenic ferry from Wellington to Picton (details at bottom) and definitely use it if they have rented a … Due to the recent set-net ban, moki populations are set to increase in many areas, opening up the line-fishing opportunities further, so give them a go, as you might be pleasantly surprised. This 1-week South Island itinerary covers the following West Coast … New Zealand’s south island is the bigger of the two and I’ll talk about the east coast in this post and if you want the best attractions on the west coast of New Zealand’s South Island then click on the link. A 5.7-magnitude earthquake near St Arnaud, in the upper South Island, has been felt by more than 25,000 people across the country. See it for Yourself! Bruce's Scotland Tours 23 Ashbrae Gardens Whins of Milton Stirling Stirlingshire Scotland FK7 0LD. •Surfcasting Map covers from a line between Takatu and the Kaipara Harbours South Head in the north to the Waikato River in the south. 6 years ago | 7 views. The New Zealand Department of Conservation can help you with issuing permits, seasons and suitable locations for big game hunting, on conservation land - including advice. Many will be unaware that there is very good salmon fishing to be had on the South Island's West Coast. Description •Surfcasting Map covers from a line between Takatu and the Kaipara Harbours South Head in the north to the Waikato River in the south. e.preventDefault(); This West Coast New Zealand itinerary however, covers pretty much the entire western coastline of the South Island. The West Coast of South Island is one of the best drives in the world. Summary: With direct beach access, and glow worms across the road, this accommodation complex with a farmlet attached, is a great place to base yourself in Hokitikia. Himalayan Tahr are similar in appearance to large goats and thrive in the Southern Alps of the South Island where they graze at high altitudes in alpine grasslands … Never more than 50 kilometres wide, the whole stretch down the West Coast of the South Island - of which Greymouth is the largest town - is home to only 31,000 people. Clearly, this is a place where nature takes control, which is evident is some amazing natural features, such as the Pancake … From there you can swing by Lake Kaniere on your way back to Hokitika — check out Dorothy Falls if you’re in the area. South Island. The Mokihinui River is popular with white-baiters during the season which starts on the Coast on 1 September. Thorney Island is a small island off the south coast, in Chichester. Photos, as they come onto the group will be transferred to our sister site Recollect - West Coast History so … document.getElementById('date_time').value= date ; The West Coast is a region of the western South Island of New Zealand that's long and relatively narrow, squeezed between the Southern Alps and the Tasman Sea. var year=mydate.getYear(); 4464 Great Alpine, Jackson, West Coast, South Island. Surfcasting off the beach There is a diverse range of fish that most people don’t catch when sea fishing in southern waters, as they don’t target them. North or South New Zealand? •The fishing Consultant for this chart is Lance Pulman a highly respected surf, rock and land based game fisherman who works in an Auckland tackle shop. Nature at the North End. Ideally both, but the combination of natural beauty and driving pleasure makes the West coast of South NZ hard to match. Rig are fascinating in that they feed almost exclusively on crustaceans (crabs, shrimps, small crayfish), so unless you are using one of these baits, you are unlikely to catch them! $('#tbodyid').html(''); // Clear #tbodyid div Please have a look at our Scotland on Screen section for more information. Pick a beach with a fair amount of current. document.getElementById('tzone').value= timezone.name(); Follow. Excellent white-baiting during the season. Consequently, by knowing more about your quarry before fishing for them, you will increase your catch-rate tenfold. At the northern end of the West Coast you can revel in the wild perfection of the landscape. Also brown trout in the river. The area is known for stunning coastline, glaciers, wet climate, and a rough … The Cool Little Town Tour. Our trees are skyscrapers that touch the sky, our rivers and lakes are the best New Zealand has to offer and … ... West Coast South Island Reply #10 - Dec 16 th, 2013 at 11:48am Print Post : wetgumboot wrote on Dec 16 th, 2013 at 10:55am: Anywhere in the Karamea Bight will produce snapper in the summer. Categories: Campervan/RV Park Campground . The populations given in the table below are provisional New Zealand usually resident populations, June 2020 estimates, and refer to the urban area defined under the Statistical Standard for Geographic Areas 2018 (SSGA) unless otherwise stated. { Hokitika Gorge is inland from the West Coast. Otherwise known as ‘grey boys’ or tope, these sharks are not as selective as rig and elephant fish, but taking the time to choose the best-possible bait will still increase your chances of catching them. Surfcasting near Christchurch New Brighton Pier. $(document).one("ready",function(){ The world's most accessible glaciers, a UNESCO Heritage area, natural arches big enough to park a truck in, New Zealand's West Coast … The place is also popular with white-baiters during the season. A visit to the West Coast would be incomplete without seeing the Franz Josef and Fox glaciers. West Coast The West Coast is an untamed natural wilderness, with scenery so stunning it takes your breath away and sunsets so impressive even Instagram told us to tone it down. Gemstone Beach. In fact, the Great Coast Road stretching from Westport to Greymouth was recently voted one of the top 10 coastal … On the Great Coast Road between West Port and Greymouth, stop off at Cape Foulwind to see the seal colony sunbathing on the rocks. This really is a delightful wilderness area of mostly unspoilt native bush. Originally published in New Zealand Fishing News. With the pressures of modern life, increasing numbers of anglers rate isolation, peace and solitude almost as highly as the opportunity to fish for wild trout. I do a lot of freshwater fishing around Canterbury but i the last year have gotten into surfcasting and saltwater fishing. •The fishing Consultant for this chart is Lance Pulman a highly respected surf, rock and land based game fisherman who works in … Drive around from the south end of 90 Mile Beach, across the rock ledges and the … Use good quality 4/0-6/0 hooks for rig and elephant fish, 5/0-8/0 for school shark, and 3/0-4/0 hooks for moki, due to their smaller mouths. Try a variety of baits to appeal to different species. Move your mouse over the ocean swell symbols or the surf breaks on the coastline to see a more detailed surf forecast … Half an hour by car north of Westport. Indeed this is one surfcasting place where every time you cast out there is a good chance of catching a good eatable fish. var montharray=new Array("Jan","Feb","Mar","Apr","May","Jun","Jul","Aug","Sep","Oct","Nov","Dec"); Gentle Annie Beach is a top surfcasting spot on the South Island’s West Coast situated 42 km by road north of West Port. An offshore wind is best. In this article you can find our personal highlights on the west coast of New Zealand. A long-line deployed off the beach (by electric kontiki, kayak or surfboard) baited with paddle crabs, is a sure way to catch rig. Home to secluded bay, historic sites, marine reserves and precious island sanctuaries, which foster kiwi and other native species. Phone(s): 03 7380474 Shining Star Beach Front Accommodation. $("#minor4").html(" " + data[1].minor2); Rather than fly, we chose to take the ferry from Wellington in North Island to Picton in the South. 1 Day. $("#major2").html(" "+ data[0].major2); Sport. There are plenty of yellow-eye mullet around which make ideal surfcasting bait. ©juergenschacke.com. Incorporating some of the best short, and mid-length day walks in Arthur’s Pass National Park, and on the West Coast of the South Island, your journey of discovery takes you from East to West Coast over 4 days of walking. $("#minor2").html(" " + data[0].minor2); The best of the West. For many anglers, half a paddle crab is a well-proven bait, although the increasing availability of prawns in supermarkets gives anglers another bait choice. Re-publishing elsewhere is prohibited dateFormat:"dd-M-yy", It lies at the foot of the western slopes of Mount Cook and is in the middle of the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand. Elephant fish usually pick up the bait and swim inshore, causing your line to suddenly slacken off – a characteristic sign of an elie take. This property offers a private pool and free private parking. On the ‘Coast these attributes exist in … The southern head of the port is one of the best spearfishing locations in the South Island. Mokihinui is a small coastal settlement on New Zealand’s West Coast in the South Island, about 40km north of Westport. •This map includes a close up … }); There is a diverse range of fish that most people don’t catch when sea fishing in southern waters, as they don’t target them. All about sharing your fishing spots in New Zealand and grabbing a few new ones to try out yourself. The West Coast of the South island has a run of bluefin tuna each year and, while fishing is limited by weather conditions, it can be good. It lies at the foot of the western slopes of Mount Cook and is in the middle of the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand. $("#major4").html(" " + data[1].major2); For over an … The 15-minute Truman Track takes you through a rainforest to a rugged coastline with caverns and blowholes. The wind pushes the water into the cavern from where it explodes high up with a spray. Paul Corliss takes a look at the odds on catching a salmon in the Hokitika, Taramakau, Paringa, and the Grey Rivers. This is unfortunate, as blue moki are quite common in many areas, fight hard, are good eating, and reach around 7 or 8kg in size. The West Coast is an untamed natural wilderness, with scenery so stunning it takes your breath away and sunsets so impressive even Instagram told us to tone it down. Cruise or kayak your way through the Sounds, spotting the wildlife along the way. I am quietly optimistic that our inshore fisheries are to some extent recovering, perhaps as a result of stringent controls on inshore fish-stock quotas over the last decade, so now is the time to target them. var date=(daym+"-"+montharray[month]+"-"+year); West Coast South Island Surf Forecast map for predicting the best wave and wind conditions across the region. One year Ron Prestage caught a huge 38kg eagle ray to win the Christmas holiday surfcasting contest open section. I was there one year when a bloke caught a blue shark off the beach and another angler landed a big stingray! Keep water away from molten lead or it will explode. Many will be unaware that there is very good salmon fishing to be had on the South Island's West Coast. A few simple rules will keep you safe: Wear leather gloves and a face mask. type: "post", CATEGORY. dataString = $("#caldata").serialize(); So swell, plus that wind, means surfers galore descend on the place and it was during my time surfing the consecutive point breaks there that I learned they also held fish galore, as well as crays, mussels and paua. The West Coast Trail is achievable for all levels and is recommended for those wishing to explore the region in depth with a series of day walks. These sharks are well worth targeting, as they fight hard and taste great. $("form#caldata").submit(); It is about a three hour drive from Christchurch over the Southern Alps via Arthurs Pass to get to Hokitika. $("#minor1").html(" " + data[0].minor1); The late Joe Chidgey with a conger eel caught surfcasting at Gentle Annie Beach. It is one of the rare spots on the west coast where a sou’westerly is an offshore. That means surfcasting is still a worthwhile pastime. There isn’t any place quite like New Zealand’s West Coast. It is always with having a good size shark bait out on at least one rod when surfcasting. To catch yabbies you need a bait pump like the one shown in this video to suck them up out of the sand. Avoid the fumes. Birdlings Flat – Sevengill Shark Surfcasting at Birdlings Flat, Gentle Annie, Accommodation, Camping, Cafe, and Photographs, Pilchard Distance Casting for Rock Anglers and Surfcasters, Hi-Viz Surfcasting Rod Holders Using Reflector Tape, Catch and Release – Exquisite Moment at Larry’s Creek, Landbased Kingfish Downunder in NZ – By Scott Hollis-Johns, Surfcasting Baits – Using different baits to target different species, Whitebait Streamer Fly – Make your whitebait stand out in a crowd, Surfcasting and land-based fishing near Christchurch City, Hotel Hapuka – Sonnet by Pat Trembeth – Grand Hotel Hapuka, Haast, Whitebaiting in the Arawhata, Waiatoto, Turnbull, and Okuru Rivers. Boasting pool views, La Rochelle West Coast Cottage offers accommodation with a patio and a kettle, around 10 km from Dassen Island Reserve. When people refer to the West Coast, they mean a specific region along the coastline in the West of the South Island. All Rights Reserved © fishingmag.co.nz 1999 - 2021, Tasmanian Devil Trout Spin Fishing Lure or Aquafoil – Including rigging tips on video, Lake Coleridge, Canterbury High Country – Trout and Landlocked Salmon Fishing MAP, Ashburton Lakes: Ten lakes make up the Ashburton Lakes Group, Ellesmere, Lake – Night Fishing Lake Ellesmere River Tributaries, Rangitata River – Trout and Salmon Fishing, Best Kahawai Fishing Lure – Small sprat shaped lures are the best, Kahawai Spin Fishing at River Mouths – Great on Light Tackle Video, Catch and Release or Catch and Kill – By Dick Marquand. This West Coast New Zealand itinerary however, covers pretty much the entire western coastline of the South Island. Activities; Natural Attraction ; Free Things to Do; Outdoor Activities; Sightseeing; Sport & Recreation; Features. At times there can be large numbers of red cod caught from this beach. West Coast. Anytime. Wedged between towering mountains and the crashing sea, our trees are skyscrapers that touch the sky, our rivers and lakes are the best New Zealand has to offer and our attractions are authentic. Photo: … In this article you can find our personal highlights on the west coast of New Zealand. Gentle Annie, Accommodation, Camping, Cafe, and Photographs. Rig move inshore along South Island beaches from October to May, but in the winter months they move into deeper water, so getting your timing right is important. Surfcasting New Zealand - Fishing The Wild West Coast. The area is known for stunning coastline, glaciers, wet climate, and a rough and tumble mining history. Ocean spray splashing up through Punakaiki's pancake rocks. Black Magic Snatchers® are rigged with quality Black Magic components, including Black Magic Tough Trace and KL recurve hooks. Moving away from the shark realm, blue moki are a very underrated and overlooked fish in the South Island. The long stretching region of the West Coast on the South Island is as rugged as it gets! This is a very big area of course, but as far as the shore-fisher is concerned, it is remarkably uniform almost from Cape Maria Van Diemen in the north to Wanganui in the south. After an exhilarating run across the blue … 1 Our personal highlights at the west coast of the South Island of New Zealand. }); 8 year old Fletcher Hill snatched this 9lb Snapper while surfcasting off the South Island’s West Coast (NZ) with a little help from a Black Magic Snatcher® 5/0 Saury rig. Elephant fish are also specialist feeders: they love shellfish baits, with the tuatua being best of all. Browse more videos. $.ajax({ } success: function( data ){ Admittedly moki are more challenging to catch than many other species; not only do they have a specialised diet, they also only feed in shallow water during periods of low light, with late evening and on through the night being best. minDate:new Date(2007, 1 - 1, 1), 1.1 Pancake Rocks; 1.2 … "There's a sweet town where you land with a funky bar/ cafe, very cute summer cottages as you walk further away from the port and also a very nice hotel restaurant where you can get lunch before beginning your hike." Rather than fly, we chose to take the ferry from Wellington in North Island to Picton in the South. DISTANCE. It takes a while to get around the largest region in New Zealand, but the journey is the best bit, from mountains to stunning coastal scenery. Best Dining in West Coast Region, South Island: See 27,355 Tripadvisor traveler reviews of 175 West Coast Region restaurants and search by cuisine, price, location, and more. All the species profiled can be caught on a standard ledger rig, but it is presenting the right bait that makes the difference. The West Coast of the South Island is a 600km stretch of coastline pounded by the Tasman Sea and hemmed in by the snow-capped peaks of the Southern Alps. Things to Do in West Coast Region, South Island: See Tripadvisor's 107,927 traveller reviews and photos of West Coast Region attractions. Areas close to rivermouths often have increased marine productivity and dense shellfish beds, so are good places to target elies. Westcoast Map + FREE Surfcasting Knots Surfcasting Spots •Map covers Waikato River in the north to Cape Egmont in the south. After an exhilarating run across the blue waters of the Cook Strait, the ferry entered a Sound, a wide inlet of the sea with mountains on either side. He discusses the advantages of both approaches, and explains how to car... more >. ... •Map covers Waikato River in the north to Cape Egmont in the south. Fishing into gutters on sandy beaches at low tide is a good option, as are steeper gravel beaches with a moderate surf churning up the bottom sediments, as this situation tends to attract rig closer inshore. BEST TIME . We took the opportunity of the long weekend to head over to the West Coast for a road trip with some friends and our kids. The picturesque Marlborough Sounds, located at the top of the South Island, boasts 1,500km of New Zealand coastline. This page is for historic photos from around the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand. Live yabbies make great bait for mullet, flounder, kahawai and other species. Mokihinui Gentle Annie Beach is a fabulous surfcasting beach on the north side of the Mokihinui River mouth. You will be driven by a genuine local guide, with a true passion for sharing our beautiful country. You can expect things to be different on the West Coast– more real, bigger than anticipated, greater than you thought. The area seems to attract its fair share of sharks with rig and big school sharks in summer. $("#minor3").html(" " + data[1].minor1); The West Coast of the South Island – New Zealand. Molten lead is very dangerous. The West Coast, South Island You can expect things to be different on the West Coast– more real, bigger than anticipated, greater than you thought. Having the right bait is often a deciding factor, but so is knowing the locations and time of year to target specific species. Smaller ones can be caught on squid (these dogfish-sized schoolies are known as ‘pencils’), but for the big boys – which can reach 40 kilograms – use a jack mackerel or whole salmon smolt for bait. On the flip side, Adam Clancey suggests th... more >, New Zealand company Sealegs recently launched its latest design – a 6.1m alloy amphibian aimed squarely at the coastal fishing market.... more >, Tony Orton usually spends his winters abroad guiding fishing trips in some of the most remote and fertile fisheries in the world. The best swells are generated from big storms in the Atlantic that push the swell up the channel. }); The West Coast of the South Island offers a variety of experiences including glacier walks, jet boating and kayaking. Home → Oceania → New Zealand → South Island. Surfcasting from the Hokitika Beach: ©juergenschacke.com . var mydate=new Date(); The apartment has 2 bedrooms, a kitchen with dishwasher and microwave, and 2 bathrooms with a shower, a hairdryer and a washing machine. $("#caldata").submit(function(e){ In fact, Kiwis are more accustomed to calling it the “Wild West Coast”. It is situated between the sea and the foothills of the Glasgow Range and State Highway 67 passes through Mokihinui just before reaching its northern end on the other side of the Mokihinui river. if (daym<10){ daym="0"+daym;} Whitebait Streamer Fly for Sea-Run Trout. I suggest using a GPS to mark out any gutters and prime areas adjoining exposed reefs at low tide, then returning to fish for them at night, preferably in still sea conditions with clear water. South Island West Coast drive: Truman Track rainforest. Gemstone Beach. For surfers, the map shows the most powerful swell tracking across near-shore open water and not the peak waves experienced by boats out at sea. It stretches 600 km from Westport to Haast and is blessed by mountains, an untamed natural wilderness of rivers and rainforests, glaciers, and geological treasures. It’s a nice enough drive but isn’t really on the way to anywhere. Report. Your Down Under Travel Specialists since 1988. From Hokitika (the town situated on the coast) it’ll take around half an hour to reach the gorge. This property offers a private pool and free private parking. $("#major1").html(" " + data[0].major1 ); While there will always be by-catch, welcome or not, targeting a certain fish (perhaps it fights well or is good on the dinner plate) and catching it is one of the most satisfying aspects of sea fishing. The main spots like Bournemouth Pier get very busy when there is a good swell. var month=mydate.getMonth(); Best to do this trip in the Winter for snow capped … These bizarre, metallic-silver fish – a type of highly-modified shark – are also a seasonal species in the South Island, and are present in shallow, coastal waters from October to March. There are also brown trout in the river but they can be difficult to catch when the river is low over summer. Sussex Thorney Island. Pictures show massive rockfall on key South Island route Experts may have to use explosives to remove it. Many locations on the West coast have been used as locations for films and television series including Harry Potter. url: 'https://www.bitetimes.fishing/cgi-bin/fishing.cgi', Alpine ranges, rocky coastlines, and World Heritage areas come together in perfect harmony to create some of the South Island’s most incredible backdrops. We invite you to discover our local hidden treasures where time … 1 Our personal highlights at the west coast of the South Island of New Zealand. Plus you can make sinkers in shapes and sizes not available in tackle stores. So wind to remove any slack before striking gently, and the elphantfish should be on. Rig is also a great target species for long-liners. They also fight hard – to the point they are considered a premier gamefish in the UK). The West Coast (Māori: Te Tai Poutini) is a region of New Zealand on the west coast of the South Island that is administered by the West Coast Regional Council.It comprises the territorial authorities of Buller District, Grey District and Westland District.The principal towns are Westport, Greymouth, and Hokitika.The region is one of the more remote and most sparsely populated … Short video showing how to make your own surfcasting sinker mold from materials readily available in your home workshop. ‘Elies’ like sandy beaches in particular, especially those with deep gutters, which you can find by noting areas where the waves smooth out as they come ashore. $(function(){ Also a great beach for Surfcasting. Content. On the whole, the larger the bait, the larger the shark attracted. Please enable JavaScript to use this form. BEST TIME. The time of year is also a big factor when it comes to snapper fishing around New Zealand, especially when surfcasting and shore fishing. Photo: Tiimta, CC BY-SA 3.0. DISTANCE. Ideally both, but the combination of natural beauty and driving pleasure makes the West coast of South NZ hard to match. The apartment has 2 bedrooms, a kitchen with dishwasher and microwave, and 2 bathrooms with a shower, a hairdryer and a washing machine. The Mokihinui River, with its camping ground, and Gentle Annie surfcasting beach is a fantastic fishing holiday fishing destination. A fishing contest is held over the Christmas holiday period. Moki have small mouths, so a compact but very strong hook is required. Oceania. Cool Ideas | Go fish. West Coast Quinnat Salmon. If not, you can also join a tour in Greymouth to have a stress-free … West Coast (Regional Council Area, South Island, New Zealand) with population statistics, charts, map and location. Discover the Oparara limestone … During the Christmas period sure it can rain sometimes but the beaches on a hot day can seem positively tropical. ).datepicker("getDate"); Your contributions are most welcome, so dig out those old photos from your drawers and share them here. $("#date1").html("

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"); These predatory fish feed on other fish, including live prey. This tour gives visitors the opportunity to experience the stunning scenery and attractions that lie between the Tasman Sea and the dramatic Southern Alps. … Correct Jig Head Weights can increase soft-bait hook-ups! After, you can follow the South West Coast Trail east in the direction of Looe or west in the direction of Polruan. Discover the beauty of New Zealand on our small group tours of the South Island - from the vineyards and delicious wines of Marlborough in the north, to the majestic Southern Alps and cascading glaciers in the west, to the world famous oysters in Bluff in the south. Colour has now gone on the upper bridge, and the first of the guide coats have been applied to the hull, with its aesthetically pleasing lines now clearly taking shape. You can catch snapper, kahawai, rig shark, conger eel, stingray, gurnard and other species from Mokihinui Gentle Annie Beach. With a cer... more >, Rob Fort walks us through the basics of fish replicas and taxidermy. Remember to drop, cover and hold in an earthquake. In Canterbury, the reefs just south of Timaru are worth a look, as are those around Oamaru and Moeraki. $('#loadingmessage').hide(); // hide the loading message Freshwater fishing - You can fish for perch and brown trout at Lake … $("#date2").html("

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