Kōura is the Māori name for freshwater crayfish in New Zealand. They often live in stagnant ponds and creeks where they can find food from decaying organisms at the bottom of the water. It’s such a shame as living in New Zealand for such a long time but I only knew about it since last year 😃 and very soon fishing Kōura became our favourite weekend activity in last summer.
The time for fishing Kōura in New Zealand is from December to April when the water is warm enough for Kōura to be more active. There is a limit for catching Kōura, maximum 50 per day and you need to return the female who is carrying eggs on its tail and the small one as well.
Fishing Kōura is a fun activity, but catching them requires some skill and luck. Our first trying was not lucky enough though 😊, we spent 3 hours and only caught two. However, it was so much fun and we also enjoyed our journey to the spot a lot thanks to the stunning views on the way and the fresh atmosphere in the nature.
Our second try was much better with a net trap and a better spot where we found lots of Kōura there. Fishing for this creature is not an easy task, but it can be very rewarding when it's caught.
And the best thing after every fishing trip is you have food to feed your hungry stomach. Kōura is low in fat, high in protein and its taste is so yummy. The easiest way to cook them is to boil them in water and wait for the color change to red orange then it’s ready to eat 😊. For me I prefer to put them in oven at 180 degree for 15mins, this way will keep all the taste and the meat will become chewier.
Catching Kōura is a perfect way to spending a sunny day with friends or family for seeking down at streams and rivers. It’s also a chance to immerse yourself in nature and learn about our amazing surroundings.
Thank you so much for reading!