Go fishing in New Zealand
A few years ago, I spent several months in "the land of the long white cloud" with the objective of discovering the country by van with my wife. Beyond the discovery of the culture, the meeting of the locals, I had of course planned to take rods to fish from time to time.
I was specifically targeting two species, the trout in fresh water, but also the kingfish yellow tail, in the sea (cousin of the amberjack). At the beginning of my stay, I worked in Opotiki, on the North Island. I was working in kiwi picking, original you may say, but this job freed me a good part of the day to go fishing.
The kahawai or Australian salmon
The Waioeka River runs just a few yards from the campground and empties into the Pacific Ocean in a beautiful mouth only a mile away, perfect. This was one of the first places I threw a lure. The objective was to go a little upstream to increase the chances of finding a nice fario or a bow... But to my great surprise, it's a completely different fish that shows up in front of my Ryuki.
Two jerks later, I discover a new fish, a mix between a bass and a mackerel. It's a crazy fish that fights hard and likes to make some candles during the fights. After some research on the net, I finally discover its name, the kahawai (Maori name) or Australian salmon (arripis trutta), it is not however related to the salmon. It is a species very present on the New Zealand and Australian coasts, a coastal fish which also goes up in the rivers over several kilometers. It can measure up to 89 cm for the biggest subjects and it can live about twenty years.
Fishing for Australian salmon
I was able to fish it in different ways and in different places too. In rivers, first of all, as one would fish for trout in the current, with a fine and discreet approach. I have also been able to fish it in the sea, on moments of euphoria of several hours, with more consistent lures and on the surface for explosive attacks.
If you set foot in New Zealand and you come across the kahawai at the water's edge, I assure you that it is worth a visit.
