Canterbury - August 2009

Tasty shellfish treats

A large green-shell mussel from Pigeon Bay; top tucker.

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Low snow on the Alps has slowed down fishing in the high country, while discoloured water along the coast has affected many sea fisherman.

Charter boat fishing off Kaikoura has been the best option, and the northern reefs have been getting a fair amount of attention in recent weeks. Groper of around 10kg have been taken. Sea perch remain the core catch, but at least they ensure a feed after a day’s fishing.

Surfcasters have had a fair amount of success for red cod off the beach at the Railway Station at Kaikoura, but spiny dogfish continue to be a problem; try shellfish bait to avoid them. The dogfish are a problem for Christchurch surfcasters too, but it is worth persevering for the red cod amongst them. Dusk has been the best time for red cod off the Brighton Pier.

Some good-sized sole have been caught from the Waimakariri River mouth in recent weeks by anglers using ghost shrimps. Drag netting is increasing in popularity, and yellow-bellied flounders have been caught from the estuary over the winter.

Christchurch anglers are becoming increasingly frustrated by the lack of a developing trout fishery for adults close to the city. West Lake at Halswell is one location where a put-and-take trout fishery could be developed, as trout have historically been present.

Winter is a great time for gathering shellfish locally. The beaches around Christchurch have good sized tuatuas, as do some of the sandy beaches on the Peninsula, such as Le Bons and Okains Bays. Taylors Mistake is my favourite place for gathering tuatua when the southerly flattens out the sea. There are some huge green-lipped mussels in outer Akaroa Harbour top tucker. Many of the bays around Banks Peninsula have good stocks of green-lipped mussels. The mussels at Pigeon Bay are particularly tasty and you can be assured that they come from clean water. Large paua can be found in the outer bays of the peninsula, but a boat is needed to access some of the remoter spots where legal-sized ones can be found. Also, there are good numbers of large rock oysters in upper Akaroa Harbour. Take your neoprene waders at this time of year.

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