Upper Waitaki power canals, renowned for their big trout and escaped salmon, are also the worst water for anglers breaking the law in the Central South Island Fish and Game Council region.
Council officer and ranger Mark Webb attributed this to the large number of anglers attracted there, many first-time anglers not knowing the rules, and more complaints about illegal fishing leading to more checking by rangers.
The Central South Island region stretches from the south bank of the Rakaia River in the north to Moeraki in the south and inland to the Southern Alps, which includes the Tekapo and Ohau power canals.
According to figures for the 2011-12 financial year, 21 out of 28 fishing offences occurred on the two canals.
The Waitaki River was next with four, Hakataramea with two and Rangitata with one.
"It was bedlam last year," Mr Webb said about the number of anglers visiting the canals, which are open year-round for fishing.
Fish which escape the from salmon farms attracted large numbers of anglers, and the canal's reputation for producing record-sized trout which thrive on food from the fish farms, is also gaining attention.
"More anglers mean more breaking the law, and more ranging means more are caught" he said.
And more anglers, particularly experienced anglers, meant more illegal fishing was being reported to the fish and game council.
The council has two volunteer rangers based at Twizel and a third being trained. They were also supported by the council's full-time officers.
But Mr Webb said more checking of the canals was needed and more volunteer rangers, not just in the upper Waitaki, but throughout the region, were always welcome.
The number of offences also meant the council would be carrying out more enforcement along the canals this season, with support from anglers reporting illegal fishing.
Those caught are dealt with in either or two ways - prosecution in court or by payment of reparation without a court conviction being entered.
At the same time, the canals were a marvellous facility for introducing people to fresh water angling, which was part of the problem, Mr Webb said.
Some of those caught fishing illegally were first-timers who said they did not know the rules, or believed they did not need a licence because the salmon they were fishing for had escaped from commercial farms.
That was wrong, Mr Webb said, with all salmon, regardless of their origin, and trout listed as sports fish requiring a licence.
Other first-time anglers were sea anglers and thought they could use the same bait and methods on fresh water.
However, Mr Webb pointed out information covering fresh water fishing regulations was freely available from sports and fishing shops, on the internet and in the free fishing regulations handbook.
Offences
Numbers noted by Central South Island Fish and Game Council 2011-12. -
Tekapo Canal ... 14
Ohau Canal ... 7
Waitaki River ... 4
Hakataramea River ... 2
Rangitata River ... 1
TOTAL ... 28
Type of offences: No licence, exceeding limit bag, more than 15m from rod, out of season, two baits, two rods, illegal bait, use of a net, taking fish from a fish trap, use of a spear.
