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There are countless lakes, rivers and of course the big ocean that surround both Islands home to a real abundance of stock and places to find your own private spot where to cast your line with the plus of not that many fishermen around (taking in account the population of 4 million).

Kiwi’s freshwater also holds an advantage compare to Europe as there is no fret for a dreaded predator, the pike, and adding that to the stock of fish that get through in every season to help maintain and regenerate the number of fishes it’s just their perfect habitat, no wonder why fish grown big over here.

We did have few skinny fishing days but brown or rainbow trouts, salmons, kahawai and spotties were among the menu’ many times.Had to thanks for that also the many locals fishermen: they hold the secrets of the best spots which sometimes they kept it jealously for themselves but many more times they shared it with us and, when they did, it was like hitting the jackpot, they really have the best knowledge on the matter.

·Lake Taupo, statistics never lie and this is the easiest place to hook a trout in NZ and a big one with a minimum size of 50cm; we didn’t want to spoil the fun and the effort of catching one plus you have to pay $30 per day so we move on;

·Bay of plenty and the Coromandel are big game fishing areas but we didn’t have much luck with surfcasting.You definitely need a boat to do the job but we didn’t leave either empty hands instead with a bag full of succulent mussels;

·Mount Cook Salmon Farm few km from Lake Tekapo where you could fish along the canal while enjoy great views of the peak.If unsuccessful you could always catch your salmon from inside the farm’s net but of course you will have to pay for this extra help;

·Ngongotaha stream at Rotorua Lake it’s a popular especially for fly-fishing; the water of this stream is so clear that you can see through if there is actually any fishes passing by which means they can too and I bet they don’t like the idea of being on your dinner plate. Another good place here is the Ohar Channel an outlet of the lake;

·Matakana coast at the sandspit channel accessible at low tide by crossing the hard sand beach. In particularly when the high tide is slowly coming back all fishes will jump strait into your bucket;

·Pohara Harbours, near the Abel Tasman NP, full of spotties, Australian salmon and also manta rays that will not think twice to snap effortlessyour line in a second;

·the Bullet River in Murchison;

·Opuha Lake, Chris’s favourite, it was one catch after another;

·Moke Lake near Queenstown not many catches here but when it happen they were big delicious brown trouts;

·the Dart River and Paradise Lake nearby Glenorchy, two fantastic spots to soak up the beautiful scenery while dangle your line.

You got the hits now but before cast your line in inland waters remember to get first your fishing licence ($60 for the winter season a truly well worth investment) and to check out the regulations as all places will have a minimum catch size requirements. Even the local anglers will not hesitate to tell you off if you disobey those rules moreover if you don’t watch out for the didymo (a threatening alga), don’t say I haven’t warn you! For more info check www.fishingnewzealand.co.nz and www.fishandgame.org .

If you feel like taste some local delights without getting your hand dirty just turn up at the right time at one of these festivals:the Scallops festival in Whitianga during August, the Bluff oyster & seafood fair in April and the Seafest in Kaikoura in October.