The majority of anglers - 59% - who booked to fish on the upper Greenstone River during the controlled fishery season in February and March this year, were from overseas, the council heard this week at its meeting in Cromwell.
"We've scored an own goal," Cr Dave Witherow said.
"My suspicion is a lot of New Zealand anglers can't be bothered with the bureaucracy involved in phoning up and booking and so on.
"Who are we running this fishery for? I'm concerned about these blue-ribbon back country fisheries being commandeered by overseas anglers and their guides," Cr Witherow said.
The Greenstone is on the western shoreline of Lake Wakatipu, about 50km from Glenorchy.
Fish and Game officer Rasmus Gabrielsson said the upper Greenstone controlled fishery regulation was introduced in the 2004-05 season to respond to concerns about a continuous increase in angling pressure and crowding on several Otago back country rivers.
"It was hoped that by controlling angling pressure on the upper Greenstone, via the creation of a booking system, a high-quality angling and wilderness experience would be maintained."
Anglers have to book to fish on the river between February 1 and March 31, with numbers limited.
The river is divided into three fishing "beats" and a maximum of two anglers are permitted a day on each beat. During November, December, January, April and May, anglers can fish any section of the river without having to make a booking.
The Greenstone is the only controlled fishery in Otago, and is valued for its rainbow trout.
Mr Gabrielsson said a survey on the performance of the controlled fishery was carried out by a university student last summer. Fish and Game data showed that, in the past five years, an average of 58% of the bookings were by overseas anglers, and an average 27% of anglers had guides.
In the last controlled fishery season, 59% were overseas anglers and 32% guided.
The majority of anglers surveyed were happy with the system, he said.
The regulations had also removed competition for water between walk-in anglers and those arriving by helicopter, which used to be one of the major causes of dissatisfaction.
Cr Ian Cole was pleased with the information in the survey, saying it would give the council good data to use to better manage its fisheries.
Mr Gabrielsson said most overseas anglers sought out the "blue-ribbon" fisheries "but I don't feel the Kiwis are being pushed out".
The current booking system was fair to all, he said.
