A new balloting system is being implemented on two Fiordland Rivers in an effort to avoid over-crowding. The season on the Clinton and Worsley Rivers are due to open November 1 and anglers have to apply for and be granted a stretch to fish. The Clinton and Worsley Rivers and their tributaries are on the eastern flank of Fiordland and are truly wilderness in character.
Southland Fish & Game manager Zane Moss said the rivers were iconic and remote. Anglers often camped overnight and up to a week or more. However with too much rod pressure anglers were meeting each other which resulted in disturbed fish. The ballot system aims to avoid the conflict. The ballot is complimentary, rivers are balloted fortnightly and have been divided into six stretches.
The Worsley River is within the Glaisnock Wilderness Area and no commercial activities, such as fishing guiding, are permitted in the area.
Fish and Game will monitor compliance on the two backcountry fisheries. Fishing without a controlled period licence could result in a $5000 fine.
<c> North branch, Clinton River
Gosh, 5 million and we’re balloting stretches of rivers. Imagine when we have 10 million people!
But then some silly government might think about population planning and perhaps set up a Ministry of Population and Planning? And we won’t reach 10 million. What a shame that would be.
Just joking.
We all respect you Tony, but maybe youre out of touch with certain
popular Southern fisheries. Its great IMO to see Southland Fish and Game trying to preserve a wilderness experience. Otago F&G have done great things with their online booking system for the greenstone and Southlands beat system on the Oreti works great.
“… However with too much rod pressure anglers were meeting each other which resulted in disturbed fish …”
This made me laugh. Was it angler meetings that disturbed the fish? No, that just disturbed the anglers! I’m guessing it was the constant fishing that wound the trout up. Although avoiding ‘angler meetings’ is an entirely good reason to ballot a fishery (only some I’m met over the years, I hasten to add; most are entirely good people), this should do a good job of reducing fishing pressure. But surely weekly and three beats is more optimal.
More importantly, we need a voluntary ban on social media pics & videos that obviously show backcountry trophy locations to other anglers. There’s a certain North Canterbury headwaters that’s now getting a hammering after a DD trophy was splashed all over Instagram early last week. I pity the disturbed fush.
Thanks Chris. Perhaps I didn’t explaining properly in injecting irony into my comment.
I think the ballot system is a very good idea, indeed much needed.
That’s with 5 million people. What I was endeavouring to say was that the “problem” would be double with 10 million.
The bigger picture of course is that NZ governments steadfastly pursue growth and to hell with consequences. Chase GDP, chase growth and more growth, like a dog chasing its tail.
Have a look at the Council of Outdoor Recreation Associations of NZ (CORANZ) website for the election charter sent to all political parties. In it are two very important issues – ditching GDP and population planning and control. Both impact directly or indirectly on resources and that means in this case, rivers and trout.
On the CORANZ charter both Labour and National never replied, despite being given a reminder. Zilch!
Tops of those who responded were New Conservatives and Outdoors Party. The Greens who to me have lost their environmental way in morphing into a centrist socialistic party, scored a low 39%.
Ahhh, here are details of the ballot system.
The Clinton and Worsley beats are balloted fortnightly. The ballot for a specific fortnight period opens four weeks in advance. Anglers will then have two weeks in which they can enter the ballot.
There are six fishing allocations balloted for each beat, each fortnight period. These allocations are Monday/Tuesday, Wednesday/Thursday and Friday-Sunday.
Anglers can enter the ballot for up to six allocations across all beats, each fortnightly period.
A party leader and up to three companion anglers can be included on a ballot entry but each angler can only appear on one ballot entry, regardless of whether they are a party leader or companion angler. If an angler enters the ballot more than once for a given fortnightly period, all of their ballot entries will be void for that period.
The ballot will close two weeks out from the start of a fortnightly period. Anglers will be advised by email if they are successful with their ballot entry and issued with a Controlled Period Licence.
… and the beats are:
The Clinton River downstream of the Prairie has been split into two actively managed beats.
– The Lower Clinton Beat includes the Clinton River North Branch, the Clinton River downstream of the confluence with West Branch, and the Neale Burn.
– The Middle Clinton Beat includes the West Branch of the Clinton River below ‘The Prairie’ to the North Branch confluence.
The Upper Clinton River above the ‘The Prairie’ has no beat controls but normal angling etiquette applies.
The Worsley River Beat is only one actively managed beat, which makes perfect sense.
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More here: https://fishandgame.org.nz/licences/fishing-licence-info/controlled-fishery-licences/the-clinton-and-worsley-backcountry-fisheries/
I’m abroad fly fisherman that I’m in love with NZ, if I can permit a comment, another issue is that there are too many fisherman that kill fish and often bag limitations are too high.
Is only my opinion?
Best regards
Alessandro