kinnadian Posted July 4, 2012 Report Share Posted July 4, 2012 Hey, I'm starting up a native tank (getting some Koura on the weekend) and hope to populate my 3footer with some Bullies, Inaga, etc. I went out a couple weeks ago to try and find fish in our rivers, but had no luck. I went south to Selwyn river, which was all dried up, and then further south to Raikaia River, but this was too fast flowing to be able to catch fish in (couldn't see any, either). My other alternatives are going north to try and find some side-streams in the Waimak, or the river near Rangiora. So do we have any native fish keepers here in Christchurch? Or does anyone know where I can feasibly find some? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spoon Posted July 4, 2012 Report Share Posted July 4, 2012 try the otakaikino (southbranch) also i noticed at the ashley gorge there were thousands of tiny bullies ( i think) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chopper Posted July 4, 2012 Report Share Posted July 4, 2012 selwyn river dries up near state highway 1 as farmers have stolen all water for irrigation. If you go further down towards Leeston it has water in it again as other creeks drain into it. Failing that follow it to Coes Ford and onwards towards lake Ellesmere. Rivers like the rakaia, ashburton and rangitata,huranui, clarence are now usually swollen due to rains so best going to smaller creeks and streams.Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted July 4, 2012 Report Share Posted July 4, 2012 There is a small branch goes into the Sewyn at Coes Ford. Upstrem on the Lincoln side. Used to catch eals there when I didn't know any better. Had a rellie got fined for catching trout there illegally as well--silly man was frying it up when Mr PLod arrived---almost got a bit added to the fine for asking the judge if he could take the evidence home with him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted July 5, 2012 Report Share Posted July 5, 2012 No maori blood in him? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Godly3vil Posted July 5, 2012 Report Share Posted July 5, 2012 No maori blood in him? :rotf: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinnadian Posted July 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 5, 2012 Thanks all. Will head north and give Otukaikino a try, and then head over to ashley's gorge. If I'm only after juveniles do I still need to head out at night and do spotlighting? Or will I have sufficient luck during the day? I'm a complete fishing amateur. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted July 5, 2012 Report Share Posted July 5, 2012 He had Maori as well as Australian Aboriginal blood and a few others. Getting caught with trout in the frying pan is a bit of a give away---wouldn't matter what your heritage was. I don't have Maori blood but I have never been caught. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Godly3vil Posted July 5, 2012 Report Share Posted July 5, 2012 He had Maori as well as Australian Aboriginal blood and a few others. Getting caught with trout in the frying pan is a bit of a give away---wouldn't matter what your heritage was. I don't have Maori blood but I have never been caught. Yet.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted July 5, 2012 Report Share Posted July 5, 2012 One would have thought that since introduced trout have decimated native freshwater species, that Maori would be entitled to exercise indigenous rights to fish instead for trout for personal consumption without the need to be specifically granted a license, but that appears not to be the case. http://www.bennion.co.nz/mlr/1998/may.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chopper Posted July 5, 2012 Report Share Posted July 5, 2012 if you are only after juveniles you will find them hanging in the shallows during the day. To catch bigger bullies during the day flip over the rocks and they will swim out. Other methods such as spot lighting and using traps work well and these can be used to catch numerous species of white bait and bullies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueether Posted July 5, 2012 Report Share Posted July 5, 2012 ...Other methods such as spot lighting and using traps work well and these can be used to catch numerous species of white bait and bullies.If you aim for whitebait wait untill they are in season Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CodKing Posted July 6, 2012 Report Share Posted July 6, 2012 I'd say head inland just north or the Waimak. Plenty of accessible streams up there with great populations. Pretty fish too. If you wait a couple more months you'll see 10 times the numbers and a lot more variety. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chopper Posted July 6, 2012 Report Share Posted July 6, 2012 Whitebait season doesnt open until mid august so have to wait until then to capture those. Without wanting the risk of running into the trouble. Then you can catch bucket loads and kill them then eat them and its ok! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinnadian Posted July 14, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2012 Ended up going first to Otukaikino, nice looking river but couldn't see any fish and couldn't get amongst the deep water without hip waders. Went up to Ashely's Gorge, spent an hour flipping over rocks and got ~20 of them, ranging from 0.5 inches to 2 inches. Thanks all! Got 3 crayfish from Vince Skully as well. Working on getting the light dimmed (currently using 1 18W 36" bulb, but it's too bright). I've got the tank set to summer-conditions to promote activity, but they are barely moving around. I've tried feeding them a variety of foods but they aren't really eating them (sinking pellets, carrot, pea, liver, hot house turtle food). It's been a week so I thought they would have settled down by now, but I guess I'll just keep offering them food and hoping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15hguy Posted July 14, 2012 Report Share Posted July 14, 2012 my bullies started on frozen bloodworms within a day and moved to pellet foods after a couple of days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chopper Posted July 18, 2012 Report Share Posted July 18, 2012 bullies go nuts on earth worms. Cut them up into smaller pieces for smaller fish. You can feed them thin strips of beef heart too. I feed mine heaps of different things to vary their diet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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