Record 400 salmon released into the Groynes Lakes since October 2011

Since October last year Fish & Game have released over 4000 salmon into the Groynes Fishing Lakes. This is significantly more than they have ever released into the lakes before, and has proved very popular with Christchurch families.

Fish & Game Hatchery Manager Dirk Barr said the lakes had been ‘buzzing’ with junior anglers and their families this season. Today Mr Barr released 300 more salmon into the lakes. This will be the last fish released until the weather warms up again in October.

Mr Barr said that those anglers who receive the weekly fishing report via email are notified of when the fish have been released, and while they can be caught for many weeks afterwards there is defiantly a flurry of fishing activity in the days following the release.

The releases have occurred roughly every two to three weeks since October. Previously Fish & Game have only released salmon into the lakes for the Take A Kid Fishing Event in October (with generous support from Lady Isaac) and when there have been surpluses from commercial hatcheries, such as the Silverstream Hatchery near Kaiapoi.

The Fish are hatched at the Fish & Game Montrose Hatchery in the Upper Rakaia, where the cold, low nutrient water provides the perfect hatching conditions. After six months they are transferred down to raceways on a property owned by the Isaac Wildlife Trust at McLeans Island Road. Here Fish & Game on-grow the salmon for a further six months before releasing them into the lakes. By the time they are released they are up to 1.5kg. Mr Barr said that while some will catch and release most are taken home for supper.

The lakes are only open to junior anglers (17 and under as of the 1st of October). Fish & Game Officer Emily Moore said that while generally people are good at sticking to the rules Fish & Game have received a number of calls from the public about adults fishing at the lakes. They have responded by sending rangers to patrol the lakes on a regular basis. Mrs Moore said it was ok for adults to assist junior anglers, for example help them cast and retrieve as necessary, but the junior anglers must do most of the fishing.

To make sure the fish stay put Fish & Game and the CCCC park rangers have recently installed new fish screens where streams flow in and out of the lakes.

ENDS

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