Fishing licence sales since the start of the season have been buoyant in the South as sales in other regions flounder.
At the Otago Fish & Game Council meeting in Dunedin on Thursday, Otago acting chief executive Ian Hadland said fishing licence sales in Otago "were going pretty well".
Nearly $700,000 worth of licences had been sold in Otago since the season started on October 1.
"We are 6% ahead on where we were this time last year so we are going quite well and we are one of the few regions who are."
When compared with the same time last year, licence sales had increased in Southland, while Central South Island sales were about the same and North Canterbury sales were down about 10%.
However, licence sales in regions such as Auckland, Waikato and Wellington appeared to be in "freefall".
"I hope that doesn’t continue . . . but it’s early days yet," Mr Hadland said.
Council member Colin Weatherall said the council needed to find out why sales were up in the south but down in other regions.
"Maybe it’s all the international visitors coming here?" Mr Weatherall said.
Council member John Barlow said Cantabrians could be sold licences to fish in Otago.
He recently took his grandchildren to a "take-a-kid" fishing event in Christchurch and about 5000 children attended.
"I was astounded."
The children wanted to fish but as many small Canterbury rivers were dry, the better fishing in Otago could attract "potential customers".
