Fishing licence compliance on Lake Dunstan has dipped slightly over summer, though Otago Fish and Game said most anglers were still following the rules.

Rangers have been out on the lake as part of a new three-year fisheries monitoring programme, carrying out short interviews with anglers in addition to routine licence checks.

Otago Fish and Game's Bruce Quirey said staff were using both highly visible boats as well as more discreet monitoring methods.

“Overall compliance has dipped slightly from recent highs of around 98 per cent, with current summer compliance sitting at about 95 per cent,” he said.

“While any offences are disappointing, the slight drop in compliance over the Christmas–New Year period might have been just a ‘blip’ with holiday-goers who don’t fish often."

The most common issues were fishing without a licence and using more than one rod, and in some instances Fish and Games seized fishing rods.

Survey work has been interrupted at times by persistent winds, which have limited both fishing and monitoring activity on some days.

“We’ve had a mix of blustery days and some excellent summer weather,” Bruce said.

Despite that, rangers said they had enjoying chatting with anglers on the water, many of them holiday visitors. 

“The annual influx of visitors to popular holiday fishing spots is positive for the local economy,” Bruce said. 

It is still too early to draw firm conclusions about fish numbers, with data from the 2025–26 season due to be analysed over winter as part of the longer monitoring programme.

Rangers said some anglers had found the season challenging, largely due to weather conditions and, in some cases, limited experience among those who fish only occasionally.

Brown trout, rainbow trout and perch were the main species caught so far.

Fish and Game encouraged anglers heading out for the rest of summer to ensure they held a valid licence and that everyone fishing, including friends and family, was properly licensed.

Bruce also shared a few tips for improving fishing success on Lake Dunstan when conditions allow, including trolling at walking pace, closely monitoring depth and using sounders to follow contours such as drop-offs and river mouths.

A fuller picture of the lake’s fishery is expected once the season’s survey data has been analysed later in the year.

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