The salmon catches on the Avon have improved greatly over the last few years – and it is not entirely clear which of the various factors are responsible: cleaner waters, less siltation from farms, cessation of weed-cutting, no netting at Christchurch harbour, better policing of poaching, cleaner gravels or some factors external to the river such as less netting at sea.
in 2021, our star fish was a 46″ cock salmon caught on the Lower Beat. Using the usual tables, this theoretically converts to a 42lbs. salmon, but our honest assessment is that it was more likely a 35-pounder, as it was slightly red and out of condition. Still, nice to know that the famous Avon genetics are still around!