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Southland > 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 Southland region, please ensure you are aware of and adhere to local regulations at all times.
Click HERE for more information on Backcountry licences and the Controlled Fishery.
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2007/2008 regulations for the Southland region
Reference to Description: New Zealand Gazette, No. 83, 24 May 1990, page 1861
1. INTERPRETATIONS
See First Schedule.
2. OPEN SEASON, METHODS AND BAG LIMITS
Permitted Methods definition
F = Fly fishing only
FS = Fly or Spin fishing only
FSB = Fly, Spin or Bait fishing permitted
|
Rivers / Lakes |
Open Season |
Permitted Methods |
Bag Limit |
|
Acton Stream |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FSB |
2 |
|
All rivers and lakes draining to the Tasman Sea and Foveaux Strait west of the Waiau River |
All year |
FS |
4 |
|
All tributaries of the Aparima, Oreti and Mataura Rivers, not listed below |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FSB |
2 |
|
Aparima River and tributaries upstream of Hamilton Burn |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FS |
2 |
|
Aparima River, Hamilton Burn to Thornbury Bridge |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FSB |
4 |
|
Aparima River, Thornbury Bridge to sea |
All year |
FSB |
4 |
|
Borland Burn |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FS |
2 |
|
Cromel Stream |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FSB |
2 |
|
Eglinton River and tributaries |
1 Nov – 31 May |
F |
2 |
|
Hamilton Burn and tributaries upstream of Mossburn Otautau Road |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FS |
2 |
|
Hamilton Burn downstream of Mossburn Otautau Road |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FSB |
2 |
|
Irthing Stream |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FSB |
2 |
|
Tributaries of Te Anau, Manapouri, Monowai, Hauroko, Hankinson except Eglinton, Upukerora, Upper Waiau and Mararoa Rivers |
1 Nov – 30 Apr |
FS |
2 |
|
Lake Fergus |
1 Nov – 31 May |
FS |
4 |
|
Lake Gunn |
1 Nov – 31 May |
FS |
4 |
|
Lake Hankinson |
1 Nov – 31 May |
FS |
4 |
|
Lake Hauroko |
All year |
FS |
4 |
|
Lake Manapouri |
All year |
FS |
4 |
|
Lake Mavora (North and South) |
All year |
FS |
2 |
|
Lake Monowai |
All year |
FS |
4 |
|
Lake Poteriteri |
All year |
FS |
4 |
|
Lake Te Anau |
All year |
FS |
4 |
|
Lake Thomas |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FSB |
2 |
|
Lake Waituna and tributaries |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FSB |
2 |
|
Lilburn |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FSB |
2 |
|
Makarewa River upstream of Riverton – Invercargill Highway and all tributaries |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FSB |
2 |
|
Makarewa River downstream of Riverton – Invercargill Highway |
All year |
FSB |
4 |
|
Mararoa River upstream of The Key Bridge including upper Mararoa and tributaries |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FS |
2 |
|
Mararoa River downstream of The Key Bridge |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FSB |
4 |
|
Mataura River and tributaries upstream
of Humes’ Road Bridge, Garston
(all fish larger than 400mm must be returned) |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FS
Fish less than 400mm |
1 |
|
Mataura River – Garston Bridge to Gore Bridge |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FSB |
4 |
|
Mataura River – Gore Bridge to the Gorge Road Bridge |
1 Oct – 31 May,
excluding
3 and 4 May 2008 |
FSB |
4 |
|
Mataura River Gorge Road Bridge to sea |
All year |
FSB |
4 |
|
Mimihau River |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FSB |
4 |
|
Mokoreta River |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FSB |
4 |
|
Monowai River |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FS |
2 |
|
Orauea Stream and tributaries |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FSB |
2 |
|
Ourawera Stream |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FSB |
2 |
|
Oreti River upstream of Oreti Road D43 294185 (Walk Only Zone) (all fish larger than 400mm must be returned)
Subject to Clause 11 |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FS
Fish less than 400mm |
1 |
|
Oreti River and tributaries Oreti Road to Rocky Point Subject to Clause 11 |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FS |
2 |
|
Oreti River – Rocky Point to Riverton – Invercargill Highway |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FSB |
4 |
|
Oreti River Riverton – Invercargill Highway to sea |
All year |
FSB |
4 |
|
Otamita Stream |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FSB |
2 |
|
Pourakino River and tributaries upstream of Waipango Bridge |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FSB |
2 |
|
Pourakino River downstream of Waipango Bridge |
All year |
FSB |
2 |
|
Taunamau Stream |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FSB |
2 |
|
Titiroa Stream and tributaries upstream of The Locks |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FSB |
2 |
|
Titiroa Stream downstream of The Locks |
All year |
FSB |
2 |
|
Tokonui Stream |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FSB |
2 |
|
Upukerora River |
1 Nov – 31 May |
FS |
2 |
|
Waiau River between Lakes Manapouri and Te Anau |
1 Oct – 31 May |
FS |
2 |
|
Waiau River – Manapouri Lake Control structure to Tuatapere |
1 Oct – 31 May |
FSB |
4 |
|
Waiau River – Tuatapere to sea |
All year |
FSB |
4 |
|
Waihopai River upstream of Queens Drive |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FSB |
2 |
|
Waihopai River downstream of Queens Drive |
All year |
FSB |
2 |
|
Waikaia River |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FSB |
4 |
|
Waikaia River tributaries |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FSB |
2 |
|
Waikaka River and tributaries |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FSB |
2 |
|
Waikawa River and tributaries Niagara Bridge upstream |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FSB |
2 |
|
Waikawa River Niagara Bridge downstream |
All year |
FSB |
2 |
|
Waikiwi Stream upstream of North Road Bridge |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FSB |
2 |
|
Waikiwi Stream downstream of North Road Bridge |
All year |
FSB |
2 |
|
Waimatuku Stream and tributaries |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FSB |
2 |
|
Wairaki River and tributaries upstream of the transmission lines |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FS |
2 |
|
Wairaki River between the transmission lines and Waiau |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FSB |
2 |
|
Whitestone River upstream of Prospect Bridge |
1 Nov – 31 May |
FS |
2 |
|
Whitestone River between the Prospect Bridge and Mararoa River |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FS |
2 |
3. CLOSED WATERS
3.1 No person shall take (includes attempt to take) sports fish from the following waters:
That portion of Lake Manapouri which lies within 100m of any part of the Real Journeys Company’s Tourist Centre, Pearl Harbour, Manapouri
That portion of Lake Te Anau that lies within 100m of any part of the wharf of the Real Journeys Company’s office in the township of Te Anau
Those portions of the Waiau River, Mararoa River and the Waiau Arm of Lake Manapouri that are within 100m of the control gates on the Manapouri Lake Control structure, also known as the Mararoa Weir.
3.2 No person shall take (or attempt to take) salmon from any river during the months of April and May.
3.3 No person shall take (or attempt to take) salmon from the Waiau River upstream of the Monowai Power Station or from the Mararoa River.
4. AUTHORISED TACKLE
Refer First Schedule.
5. FLY FISHING ONLY WATERS
Refer Clause 2.
6. BAIT FISHING NOT PERMITTED
Refer Clause 2.
7. COARSE FISHING WATERS
None.
8. USE OF BOATS
8.1 No person shall fish from any motorised boat in Lake Thomas.
8.2 No person shall fish from any boat or any form of flotation device in:
The Eglinton River
The Mataura River upstream from the Mataura Island Bridge
The Oreti River upstream of the State Highway No94 bridge just north of Lumsden
The Waikaia River
9. DAILY LIMIT BAGS
9.1 Subject to Clauses 3.2 and 3.3, no person shall in any one day take, kill or be in possession of more than 1 salmon from any waters of the region.
9.2 With the exception of perch for which there is no limit, no person shall on any one day take, kill or be in possession of more than 4 sports fish.
10. FISH LENGTH
No restriction on all waters except for Trophy Trout Zones as described in Clause 2 of this notice.
11. UPPER ORETI BACKCOUNTRY FISHERY
The Upper Oreti River is part of the Upper Oreti Backcountry Fishery (which means the Oreti River catchment upstream of Rocky Point at NZMS 260 E44 373 947) as defined in the Sports Fishing Licence, Fees and Forms Notice 2007, and the provisions of that notice apply to this notice.
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
Click here for information on BACKCOUNTRY LICENCES (BCL)
Otago Greenstone Booking system is online
Click HERE for more details.
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Fiordland Controlled Fishery Licence | 
