|
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 | 
