Walking Access Commission

• Published date: 12 April 2023
• Publication title: West Coast Farming Times, The

To help anglers find their way to more fishing spots, Fish and Game officer on the West Coast, Baylee Kersten, is installing more signs where public access to the river is available or has been negotiated with the landowners

Mr Kersten is also developing helpful information (available on-line later this year) explaining how to reach each fishing spot, where best to leave a car and where to walk to stay within those publicly accessible or agreed routes.

When planning a fishing outing, Mr Kersten recommends first checking the regulations for the intended fishing location, which can be found in the current South Island Sports Fishing Regulations guide.

He then advises starting with your favourite weather app for the specific location, checking the West Coast Regional Council's rainfall and river levels online maps, and finally checking the publicly accessible areas to reach the location using Herenga.

Nuku Aotearoa, the Outdoor Access Commission's maps and PocketMaps app, both at herengaanuku.govt.nz/maps.

You may have seen the distinctive blue Angler Access signs around the region. Many of those signs have been in place for years, but it may be that practical access has changed. For example, a fence may have been erected, a sign installed indicating private land or a lock put on a gate.

Such hindrances may be easily resolved, perhaps by installing a stile to hop over a fence or checking the status of the land with the sign or locked gate and, if legal access exists, arranging for the sign or lock to be removed. Legal access is important and, for those with restricted mobility, practical access is critical; being able to drive to a fishing spot...