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Central South Island > Fishing Regulations
Angling regulations are updated annually. Each region has specific regulations for individual rivers and lakes within the framework of national angling regulations.
When fishing in the Central South Island region, please ensure you are aware of and adhere to local regulations at all times.
2007/2008 regulations for the Central South Island
Reference to Description: New Zealand Gazette, No. 83, 24 May 1990, page 1861, as amended by New Zealand Gazette, No. 129, 29 August 1991, page 2786
1. INTERPRETATION
See First Schedule.
2. OPEN SEASON, PERMITTED METHODS AND BAG LIMITS
2.1 The open season in all waters of the Region is from 1 October to 30 April except where otherwise specified in Section 2.4 or closed under Section 3 of this notice.
2.2 All legal methods as described in the First Schedule are permitted in all waters of the Region except where otherwise specified in Sections 2.4, 4 or 6 of this notice.
2.3 The daily limit bag in all waters of the Region is 2 trout and 2 salmon except where otherwise specified in Section 2.4 of this notice.
2.4 Open season, permitted methods and daily bag limits for Central South Island Rivers and Lakes:
|
Rivers / Lakes |
Season |
Permitted Methods |
Trout
Limit |
Salmon
Limit |
|
Ahuriri River and its tributaries upstream of and including Longslip Creek |
1 Dec – 30 Apr |
Spinner/fly |
2 |
2 |
|
Ahuriri River and its tributaries downstream of Longslip Creek except Omarama Stream |
3 Nov – 30 Apr |
Spinner/fly |
4 |
2 |
|
Ahuriri River Lagoons |
1 Dec – 30 Apr |
Fly fishing only |
2 |
n/a |
|
Alexandrina, Lake and its tributaries |
3 Nov – 30 Apr |
Spinner/fly |
4
max 1 brown |
2 |
|
Alexandrina, Lake Winter Season |
1 Jun – 31 July |
Spinner/fly |
2 sports fish
nil brown trout |
|
Ashburton River North Branch |
1 Oct – 31 Mar |
Spinner/fly |
2 |
2 |
|
Ashburton River North Branch |
1 Apr – 30 Apr |
Spinner/fly |
2 |
Closed |
|
Ashburton River South Branch and tributaries upstream of Taylors Stream junction |
1 Oct – 31 Mar |
Spinner/fly |
2 |
2 |
|
Ashburton River South Branch and tributaries upstream of Taylors Stream junction |
1 Apr – 30 Apr |
Spinner/fly |
2 |
Closed |
|
Ashburton River South Branch and tributaries downstream of Taylors Stream junction |
1 Oct – 31 Mar |
All legal methods |
4 |
2 |
|
Ashburton River South Branch and tributaries downstream of Taylors Stream junction |
1 Apr – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
4 |
Closed |
|
Ashburton River downstream of State Highway 1 |
1 Jun – 31 Aug |
Spinner/fly |
2 sports fish |
|
Aviemore, Lake |
All year |
All legal methods |
4 |
2 |
|
Aviemore, Lake tributaries except Deep Stream and Otematata River |
3 Nov – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
4 |
2 |
|
Benmore, Lake other than when fished from a boat or flotation device |
All year |
All legal methods |
4 |
2 |
|
Benmore, Lake when fished from a boat or flotation device |
All year |
Spinner/fly |
4 |
2 |
|
Benmore, Lake tributaries except Tekapo, Ahuriri and Otematapaio rivers |
3 Nov – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
4 |
2 |
|
Cameron, Loch |
3 Nov – 30 Apr |
Fly fishing only |
2 |
n/a |
|
Camp, Lake |
3 Nov – 31 May |
Spinner/fly |
2 |
n/a |
|
Centennial Park Lake (Timaru) |
All year |
All legal methods |
2 |
n/a |
|
Clearwater, Lake and its tributaries |
3 Nov – 30 Apr |
Spinner/fly |
2 |
n/a |
|
Deep Stream and tributaries East of the bridge where it enters Lake Aviemore |
3 Nov – 30 Apr |
Spinner/fly |
2 |
2 |
|
Deep Creek, a tributary to the upper Rangitata River |
Closed |
None |
0 |
0 |
|
Deep Stream, a tributary to the upper Rangitata River |
Closed |
None |
0 |
0 |
|
Denny, Lake and its tributaries |
3 Nov – 30 Apr |
Fly fishing only |
2 |
n/a |
|
Donn, Lake and its tributaries |
3 Nov – 30 Apr |
Fly fishing only |
2 |
n/a |
|
Emily, Lake and its tributaries |
3 Nov – 30 Apr |
Fly fishing only |
2 |
n/a |
|
Emma, Lake and its tributaries |
3 Nov – 30 Apr |
Spinner/fly |
2 |
n/a |
|
Grays River |
3 Nov – 30 Apr |
Spinner/fly |
2 |
n/a |
|
Hakataramea River upstream from State Highway 82 |
3 Nov – 31 Mar |
Fly fishing only |
2 |
2 |
|
1 Apr – 30 Apr |
Fly fishing only |
2 |
Closed |
|
Hakataramea River downstream from State Highway 82 |
3 Nov – 31 Mar |
Spinner/fly |
2 |
2 |
|
1 Apr – 30 Apr |
Spinner/fly |
2 |
Closed |
|
Heron, Lake and its tributaries |
3 Nov – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
6 sports fish total
and no more than
4 to be trout
or 6 to be salmon |
|
High country tarns or lagoons |
3 Nov – 30 Apr |
Fly fishing only |
2 |
n/a |
|
Hinds River child or junior licence holders |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
2 |
2 |
|
Hinds River other than child or junior licence holders |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
Fly fishing only |
2 |
2 |
|
Irishmans Stream |
3 Nov – 30 Apr |
Spinner/fly |
2 |
n/a |
|
Kakanui River and tributaries upstream of Five Forks Bridge |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
Spinner/fly |
2 |
2 |
|
Kakanui River and tributaries downstream of Five Forks Bridge |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
4 |
2 |
|
Lake Stream |
1 Oct – 31 Mar |
All legal methods |
2 |
Closed |
|
Larch Stream |
3 Nov – 31 Jan |
All legal methods |
2 |
2 |
|
Macgregor, Lake |
3 Nov – 30 Apr |
Spinner/fly |
2 |
2 |
|
Maerewhenua River upstream of State Highway 83 |
3 Nov – 30 Apr |
Fly fishing only |
2 |
2 |
|
Maerewhenua River downstream of State Highway 83 |
3 Nov – 30 Apr |
Spinner/fly |
2 |
2 |
|
Maori Lakes and their tributaries |
3 Nov – 30 Apr |
Fly fishing only |
2 |
n/a |
|
Mary Burn |
3 Nov – 30 Apr |
Spinner/fly |
2 |
n/a |
|
Merino, Lake |
3 Nov – 30 Apr |
Fly fishing only |
2 |
n/a |
|
Middleton, Lake |
All year |
All legal methods |
4 |
2 |
|
Middleton, Lake tributaries |
3 Nov – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
4 |
2 |
|
Mystery, Lake and its tributaries |
3 Nov – 30 Apr |
Fly fishing only |
2 |
n/a |
|
Ohapi Stream |
1 Oct – 31 Mar |
Spinner/fly |
2 |
2 |
|
Ohapi Stream |
1 Apr – 30 Apr |
Spinner/fly |
2 |
Closed |
|
Ohau B and C hydro canals |
All year |
All legal methods |
2 |
2 |
|
Ohau, Lake other than when fished from
a boat or flotation device |
All year |
All legal methods |
4 |
2 |
|
Ohau, Lake when fished from a boat or flotation device |
All year |
Spinner/fly |
4 |
2 |
|
Ohau, Lake tributaries |
3 Nov – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
4 |
2 |
|
Omarama Stream upstream of State Highway 8 |
3 Nov – 30 Apr |
Fly fishing only |
2 |
2 |
|
Omarama Stream downstream of State Highway 8 |
3 Nov – 30 Apr |
Spinner/fly |
2 |
2 |
|
Opihi River upstream of Opuha River junction |
1 Oct – 31 Mar |
All legal methods |
2 |
2 |
|
Opihi River upstream of Opuha River junction |
1 Apr – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
2 |
Closed |
|
Opihi River downstream of Opuha River junction |
1 Oct – 31 Mar |
All legal methods |
4 |
2 |
|
Opihi River downstream of Opuha River junction |
1 Apr – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
4 |
Closed |
|
Opihi River downstream of State Highway 1 |
1 Jun – 31 Aug |
Spinner/fly |
2 sports fish |
|
Opuha, Lake and its tributaries |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
6 sports fish total
and no more than
4 to be trout
or 6 to be salmon |
|
Opuha River |
1 Oct – 31 Mar |
All legal methods |
4 |
2 |
|
1 Apr – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
4 |
Closed |
|
Orari River and tributaries upstream of Slip Panel Stream |
1 Oct – 31 Mar |
All legal methods |
2 |
2 |
|
Orari River and tributaries upstream of Slip Panel Stream |
1 Apr – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
2 |
Closed |
|
Orari River and tributaries downstream of Slip Panel Stream |
1 Oct – 31 Mar |
All legal methods |
4 |
2 |
|
Orari River and tributaries downstream of Slip Panel Stream |
1 Apr – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
4 |
Closed |
|
Otematapaio River |
3 Nov – 30 Apr |
Spinner/fly |
2 |
|
|
Otematata River and its tributaries upstream of Clear Stream |
3 Nov – 30 Apr |
Spinner/fly |
2 |
2 |
|
Otematata River and its tributaries downstream of Clear Stream |
3 Nov – 30 Apr |
Spinner/fly |
4 |
2 |
|
Poaka, Lake |
3 Nov – 30 Apr |
Fly fishing only |
2 |
n/a |
|
Pukaki, Lake |
All year |
All legal methods |
4 |
2 |
|
Pukaki, Lake tributaries |
3 Nov – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
4 |
2 |
|
Rangitata Diversion Race from the intake downstream to Rakaia River Road |
All year |
All legal methods |
4 |
2 |
|
Rangitata River and tributaries upstream of Turn Again Point about 12km above the gorge except Deep Stream and Deep Creek |
1 Oct – 29 Feb |
Spinner/fly |
2 |
2 |
|
Rangitata River and tributaries upstream of Turn Again Point except Deep Stream and Deep Creek |
1 Mar – 31 Mar |
Spinner/fly |
2 |
Closed |
|
Rangitata River and tributaries downstream of Turn Again Point |
1 Oct – 31 Mar |
All legal methods |
4 |
2 |
|
Rangitata River and tributaries downstream of Turn Again Point |
1 Apr – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
4 |
0 |
|
Rangitata River downstream of State Highway 1 |
1 Jun – 31 Aug |
Spinner/fly |
2 sports fish |
|
Roundabout, Lake and its tributaries |
3 Nov – 30 Apr |
Fly fishing only |
2 |
n/a |
|
Ruataniwha, Lake including Wairepo Arm and Kellands Pond |
All year |
All legal methods |
2 |
2 |
|
Ruataniwha, Lake, Wairepo Arm and Kellands Pond tributaries |
3 Nov – 30 Apr |
Spinner/fly |
2 |
2 |
|
Saltwater Creek |
All year |
All legal methods |
2 |
n/a |
|
Spider, Lake and its tributaries |
3 Nov – 30 Apr |
Fly fishing only |
2 |
n/a |
|
Tekapo, Lake |
All year |
All legal methods |
4 |
2 |
|
Tekapo, Lake tributaries |
3 Nov – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
4 |
2 |
|
Tekapo – Pukaki hydro canal |
All year |
All legal methods |
2 |
2 |
|
Tekapo River upstream of lower powerlines across the river about 1km upstream from Lake Benmore |
3 Nov – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
4 |
2 |
|
Tekapo River downstream of lower powerlines across the river about 1km upstream from Lake Benmore |
All year |
All legal methods |
4 |
2 |
|
Temuka River and tributaries |
1 Oct – 31 Mar |
All legal methods |
4 |
2 |
|
Temuka River and tributaries |
1 Apr – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
4 |
Closed |
|
Tengawai River |
1 Oct – 31 Mar |
Fly fishing only |
2 |
2 |
|
Tengawai River |
1 Apr – 30 Apr |
Fly fishing only |
2 |
Closed |
|
Tinwald Domain pond, child licence holders only |
All year |
All legal methods |
2 |
n/a |
|
Twizel River and its tributaries |
3 Nov – 30 Apr |
Spinner/fly |
2 |
2 |
|
Waihao River upstream of Forks Bridges |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
Spinner/fly |
2 |
n/a |
|
Waihao River downstream of Forks Bridges |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
4 |
2 |
|
Waihi River and tributaries |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
4 |
2 |
|
Waitaki, Lake |
All year |
All legal methods |
4 |
2 |
|
Waitaki Lake tributaries |
3 Nov – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
4 |
2 |
|
Waitaki River and tributaries |
1 Oct – 31 Mar |
All legal methods |
4 |
2 |
|
Waitaki River and tributaries |
1 Apr – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
4 |
Closed |
|
Waitaki River downstream of State
Highway 1 |
1 Jun – 31 Aug |
Spinner/fly |
2 sports fish |
3. CLOSED SEASON
3.1 No licence holder shall fish for sports fish in the following waters:
Aviemore spawning race
Awakino River
Deep Creek, a tributary to the upper Rangitata River on Mt Potts Station
Deep Stream, a tributary to the upper Rangitata River on Forest Creek, Tui and
Mesopotamia stations
Kauru River
Tinwald Domain Pond if the holder of other than a child’s licence
3.2 No licence holder shall fish for sea run salmon in the following waters:
Lake Stream
Ashburton River and its tributaries between 1 April and 30 April
Opihi River and its tributaries between 1 April and 30 April
Opuha River and its tributaries between 1 April and 30 April
Orari River and its tributaries between 1 April and 30 April
Rangitata River and its tributaries between 1 April and 30 April
Rangitata River and tributaries upstream of Turn Again Point and shown by the white posts on the riverbank between 1 March and 31 March
Waitaki River and its tributaries between 1 April and 30 April
3.3 No licence holder shall fish for trout in the following waters:
Rangitata River and tributaries upstream of Turn Again Point and shown by the white posts on the riverbank between 1 April and 30 April
Lake Stream between 1 April and 30 April
4. AUTHORISED TACKLE
4.1 No licence holder when fishing for sports fish shall use any unsportsmanlike device or method.
4.2 A licence holder when fishing for sports fish in the Rangitata River or its tributaries:
4.2.1 May use, seaward of a line drawn between the 2 poles situated near the upstream limit of the estuarine area, an artificial fly only if the total weight of everything attached to the cast does not exceed 28g.
4.2.2 May cast other than from the reel or retrieve other than by winding the reel only when using bait or fly fishing, or when fishing with an artificial fly seaward of a line drawn between the 2 poles situated near the upstream limit of the estuarine area.
4.3 Down riggers, paravanes, metal cored or wire lines and weights to assist sinking of trolled lures are prohibited in Lake Alexandrina.
5. COARSE FISHING WATERS
Saltwater Creek
Centennial Park Lake (Timaru)
6. USE OF BOATS
6.1 Fishing from boats is prohibited in:
Lake Camp
Lake Denny
Lake Donn
Lake Emily
Kellands Pond
Lake Roundabout
Lake Spider
Wairepo Arm of Lake Ruataniwha
That part of the region seaward of the Rangitata River mouth, except from an anchored boat between the hours of 7.00am and 9.00pm on any day at a seaward distance greater than 200m from the nearest shore at low tide. The seaward boundary of the Central South Island Region around the Rangitata River mouth is a line drawn at a distance of 500m from any place where at low tide the waters of the river meet the waters of the sea.
6.2 Fishing from any unmoored boat is prohibited in:
Lake Emma
Lake MacGregor
Lake Middleton
Maori Lakes
7. MINIMUM LENGTH
The minimum length for salmon killed in waters of the region shall be 300mm except in Lake Heron where the minimum length shall be 250mm and for the period 1 March to 30 April the maximum length shall be 450mm.
To see the latest regulations for all of the North Island (excluding Taupo where fishing is administered by DOC) and South Island, please download the PDFs below.
North Island / South Island
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