The trout fishing season opened on lakes Rotoiti, Tarawera and Okataina this week, with Bay of Plenty Regional Council harbourmaster Peter Buell delighted with the good behaviour of boaties.

Tauranga's Fynn Newman with a 4.65kg Lake Rotoiti trout.

'We would have had about 300 boats out on the lakes for the first day of the fishing season, and only one had no lifejackets on board,” says Peter.

'These people were using a borrowed boat. It's a reminder to people providing holiday accommodation which includes use of water craft that they really need to provide safety equipment and lifejackets for everyone on board.”

He says the group went back and got lifejackets once they realised the mistake.

The behaviour on the water is the best Peter has seen.

Boaties showed an exceptionally good attitude to boating safety, he says.

Maritime officers inspected more than 150 boats at Lake Tarawera and along with lifejackets, more boats had fire extinguishers, flares and EPIRB locator beacons than seen before.

Maritime officers were also at Lake Rotoiti on Wednesday from the early hours of the morning, with one vessel not fully complying with correct navigational lights.

Out of about 40 boats launched pre-dawn this is a good result, says Peter.

Four dinghies out of 70-80 boats being launched on Lake Tarawera didn't have adequate lighting and weren't permitted to launch until it was light enough.

All vessels had the correct number of lifejackets and most were wearing them in the rough conditions.

'We hope that attitude lasts throughout the summer, and we see fewer incidents of silly behaviour putting boaties and others at risk on the water,” says Peter.

'Given the high winds, which added to launching and retrieving problems, it was noticeable that skippers were more tolerant, and overall compliance has improved dramatically.

'Ramp protocol and courtesy was good, despite boats backed up to 10 to 15 at a time waiting to launch, and speed was well controlled to and from the ramps.”

Three boats failed to start at the ramps, and Rotorua Lakes harbourmaster Pererika Makiha reminds boaties to service their boats before going on the water.

'It was going okay last summer.” was the standard comment from the skippers, says Pererika.

'Servicing your vessel is very important. The last thing a boatie wants to happen is a breakdown on the lake, or even worse out on the ocean away from assistance.”

A national Safer Boating Week begins on October 17 to focus boaties' attention on key boating safety messages in getting their boats and gear ready for the season.

The National Pleasure Boat Safety Forum and Maritime NZ are organising activities to remind people to prepare their boat, check their gear and know the boating rules.

People are not required to have a licence to operate a boat in New Zealand, but ignorance of maritime rules or regional bylaws can lead to fines or prosecution.

Enough lifejackets of the right size and type for everyone on board must always be carried, and should be worn at all times on the water.

Boaties must also stick to safe speeds – five knots within 200 metres of the shore, a boat with a dive flag or any other boat or swimmer.