Rescue Fish is aimed at increasing the numbers and size of fish in our coastal waters, and in doing so, restoring biodiversity in the marine ecosystem. It will take a collective effort and behavioural changes by all of us to achieve success.

A major change will be learning how to fish in an abundant fishery.

As Rescue Fish kicks in there will be more small fish inshore so we need to fish smarter, to avoid hooking or damaging these fish before they have a chance to breed. Using lures and appendaged hooks which tend to lip hook fish will mitigate the risk.

Spring-time fishing is another opportunity for being more thoughtful about how we fish. The excitement generated by chasing flocks of working birds means there is the temptation to take every fish that comes aboard. It’s important that you only keep enough fish to feed the family, taking into account the time it will take to process the fish when you get home. Utilising as much of the fish as possible, as fillets, smoking the frames and making fish stock is a great way to reduce wastage.

If we all fish in a responsible manner there will be plenty of fish to catch, to breed and to save for another day. For tips and techniques to improve your fishing please visit

Rescue Fish is aimed at increasing the numbers and size of fish in our coastal waters, and in doing so, restoring biodiversity in the marine ecosystem. It will take a collective effort and behavioural changes by all of us to achieve success.

A major change will be learning how to fish in an abundant fishery.

As Rescue Fish kicks in there will be more small fish inshore so we need to fish smarter, to avoid hooking or damaging these fish before they have a chance to breed. Using lures and appendaged hooks which tend to lip hook fish will mitigate the risk.

Spring-time fishing is another opportunity for being more thoughtful about how we fish. The excitement generated by chasing flocks of working birds means there is the temptation to take every fish that comes aboard. It’s important that you only keep enough fish to feed the family, taking into account the time it will take to process the fish when you get home. Utilising as much of the fish as possible, as fillets, smoking the frames and making fish stock is a great way to reduce wastage.

If we all fish in a responsible manner there will be plenty of fish to catch, to breed and to save for another day.

For tips and techniques to improve your fishing please visit fishcare.co.nz.

Rescue fish – website