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Region Index
Fishing

Nelson / Marlborough > 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 Nelson / Marlborough region, please ensure you are aware of and adhere to local regulations at all times.

2007/2008 regulations for the Nelson / Marlborough region

Reference to Description: New Zealand Gazette, No. 83, 24 May 1990, page 1861

1. DEFINITIONS

See First Schedule.

2. OPEN SEASON, METHOD RESTRICTIONS AND BAG LIMITS

2.1

Rivers / Lakes (excluding tributaries)

Season

Permitted Method

Bag Limit

All waters of the region NOT mentioned in Sections 2.2 & 2.3 below or specified in Section 3 (Closed Waters)

1 Oct – 30 Apr

Artificial fly or spinner only

2

2.2 The following regulations apply to the waters listed below (but DOES NOT include tributaries):

Rivers / Lakes (excluding tributaries)

Season

Permitted Method

Bag Limit

Aorere River downstream from the Salisbury Road Bridge

All year

All legal methods permitted

2

Argyle Pond and lower hydro canals downstream to its confluence with
the Wairau River

All year

All legal methods permitted

2

Awatere River

All year

All legal methods permitted

2

Buller River downstream from Gowan Bridge

All year

All legal methods permitted

2

Clarence River downstream from the Acheron confluence

All year

All legal methods permitted

2

Cobb Reservoir

All year

All legal methods permitted

4

Conway River

All year

All legal methods permitted

2

Lake Rotoiti, except for closed areas –
see 3.2

All year

All legal methods permitted

4

Lake Rotoroa, except for closed areas –
see 3.2

All year

All legal methods permitted

4

Lake Tennyson

1 Oct – 30 Apr

All legal methods permitted

4

Lyell Creek (Kaikoura) downstream from State Highway 1

All year

All legal methods permitted

2

Maitai River below the Lower Nile Street Bridge

All year

Artificial fly or spinner (child licence holders may use bait)

2

Maruia River downstream of Maruia Falls

All year

All legal methods permitted

2

Matakitaki River downstream from the State Highway 6 Bridge

All year

All legal methods permitted

2

Middle Creek (Kaikoura) downstream from State Highway 1

All year

All legal methods permitted

2

Motueka River downstream from the Peninsula Road Bridge at Ngatimoti

All year

All legal methods permitted

2

Oaro River

All year

All legal methods permitted

2

Opawa River downstream from State Highway 1 Bridge (including Roses Overflow)

All year

All legal methods permitted

2

Pelorus River downstream from its confluence with the Rai River

All year

All legal methods permitted

2

Takaka River downstream from its confluence with the Waingaro River

All year

All legal methods permitted

2

Taylor River downstream from the New Renwick Road Bridge

All year

All legal methods permitted

2

Waimea and Wairoa Rivers downstream of the confluence with the Lee River

All year

All legal methods permitted

2

Wairau River (including the Diversion) downstream from the Wash Bridge

All year

All legal methods permitted

2

2.3 No licence holder shall on any day take, kill or be in possession of more than 2 sports fish in the following waters (including tributaries), where only one of these fish may exceed 500mm in length (1+ BAG LIMIT):

Rivers / Lakes (including tributaries)

Season

Permitted Method

Bag Limit

Acheron River upstream of its confluence with the Severn River

1 Oct – 30 Apr

Artificial fly or spinner only

1+

Baton River

1 Oct – 30 Apr

Artificial fly or spinner only

1+

Branch River

1 Oct – 30 Apr

Artificial fly or spinner only

1+

D’Urville River

1 Oct – 30 Apr

Artificial fly or spinner only

1+

Deepdale River

1 Oct – 30 Apr

Artificial fly or spinner only

1+

Glenroy River

1 Oct – 30 Apr

Artificial fly or spinner only

1+

Goulter River

1 Oct – 30 Apr

Artificial fly or spinner only

1+

Lake Daniells

1 Oct – 30 Apr

Artificial fly or spinner only

1+

Matakitaki River upstream of its confluence with the Glenroy River

1 Oct – 30 Apr

Artificial fly or spinner only

1+

Motueka River upstream of its confluence with the Wangapeka River

1 Oct – 30 Apr

Artificial fly or spinner only

1+

Motupiko River

1 Oct – 30 Apr

Artificial fly or spinner only

1+

Opouri River

1 Oct – 30 Apr

Artificial fly or spinner only

1+

Owen River

1 Oct – 30 Apr

Artificial fly or spinner only

1+

Pearse River

1 Oct – 30 Apr

Artificial fly or spinner only

1+

Pelorus River upstream of its confluence with the Rai River

1 Oct – 30 Apr

Artificial fly or spinner only

1+

Rahu River

1 Oct – 30 Apr

Artificial fly or spinner only

1+

Rainbow River

1 Oct – 30 Apr

Artificial fly or spinner only

1+

Riwaka River

1 Oct – 30 Apr

Artificial fly or spinner only

1+

Ronga River

1 Oct – 30 Apr

Artificial fly or spinner only

1+

Sabine River

1 Oct – 30 Apr

Artificial fly or spinner only

1+

Spring Creek

1 Oct – 30 Apr

Artificial fly or spinner only

1+

Severn River

1 Oct – 30 Apr

Artificial fly or spinner only

1+

Travers River

1 Oct – 30 Apr

Artificial fly or spinner only

1+

Waikoropupu River

1 Oct – 30 Apr

Artificial fly or spinner only

1+

Wangapeka River

1 Oct – 30 Apr

Artificial fly or spinner only

1+

Warwick River

1 Oct – 30 Apr

Artificial fly or spinner only

1+

Whakapuaka River

1 Oct – 30 Apr

Artificial fly or spinner only

1+

Woolley River

1 Oct – 30 Apr

Artificial fly or spinner only

1+

3. CLOSED WATERS

No licence holder shall take:

3.1 Salmon in the Wairau River and its tributaries lying upstream of the Wash Bridge or in the Acheron River and its tributaries lying upstream of the Severn confluence or in the Clarence River and its tributaries lying upstream of the Styx confluence.

3.2 Sports fish from Lake Rotoiti or Lake Rotoroa, between 1 May and 30 September, within 100m from the centre of the meeting line with the lakes, of the following rivers and streams:

Lake Rotoiti:

(a) Travers River

(b) Coldwater Stream

(c) Black Valley Stream

(d) Buller River

Lake Rotoroa:

(a) Sabine River

(b) D’Urville River

(c) Gowan River


4. AUTHORISED TACKLE

4.1 Refer to Section 2.

4.2 Down riggers are permitted when lake fishing.

5. FLY FISHING ONLY WATERS

There are no “fly fishing only” waters in the Nelson/Marlborough Region.

6. BAIT FISHING WATERS

Refer to 2.2.

7. COARSE FISHING WATERS

Fishing for coarse fish in all waters in the Nelson/Marlborough Region is prohibited.

8. USE OF BOATS

No licence holder shall fish for sports fish from any boat in those parts of Lake Rotoiti and Lake Rotoroa within a radius of 100m from the centre of the meeting lines of those rivers and streams listed:

Lake Rotoiti:

(a) Travers River

(b) Coldwater Stream

(c) Black Valley Stream

(d) Buller River

Lake Rotoroa:

(a) Sabine River

(b) D’Urville River

(c) Gowan River

9. DAILY LIMIT BAGS

9.1 No licence holder shall on any day take, kill or be in possession of more than the bag limits specified in Sections 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 and 9.2.

9.2 No licence holder shall on any day take, kill or be in possession of more than two salmon.

10. FISH LENGTH

There is no minimum size limit for trout or salmon taken in the Nelson/Marlborough Fish and Game Region.

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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