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Local Fishing Regulations

Angling regulations are updated annually. Each region has specific regulations for individual rivers and lakes within the framework of national angling regulations.

Didymo, the invasive alga that smothers river beds, now occurs in several Southland rivers, affecting the Upper Oreti, Mararoa and the Waiau the worst. Anglers need to carefully clean their gear between rivers because there are rivers where it hasn’t got to yet. The rivers of Fiordland are pristine and it is important that Didymo does not get introduced to these. Anglers fishing in these rivers must get a Clean Gear Certificate before fishing there.

Lake Manapouri has a small but developing chinook population. Special regulations apply to river salmon fishing and these are detailed below.

The Council has made two regulation changes this year. Lakes Thomas and Henry, in the Te Anau area, are now open for fishing all year but the methods and bag limits remain the same.

REGULATIONS:

Reference to Description: New ZealandGazette, 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 covered below

1 Oct – 30 Apr

FSB

2

Aparima River and tributaries upstream of Hamilton Burn

1 Oct – 30 Apr

FSB

2

Aparima River, Hamilton Burn to Thornbury Bridge

1 Oct – 30 Apr

FSB

4

Aparima River, the 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

1

Ettrick Burn (refer to clause 11 of this part of the notice)

1 Nov – 31 May

FS

1

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 Ettrick Burn and Eglinton, Upukerora, Upper Waiau and Mararoa Rivers)

1 Nov – 31 May

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 Henry “junior fishery” (refer to clause 12 of this part of the notice)

All year

FSB

2

Lake Manapouri (including Waiau Arm)

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

All year

FSB

2

Lake Waituna and tributaries

1 Oct – 30 Apr

FSB

2

Lilburn

1 Oct – 30 Apr

FSB

2

McGregor Pond (Whitstone River Berm)

All year

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

1

Mararoa River downstream of The Key Bridge

1 Oct – 30 Apr

FSB

4

Mataura River and tributaries upstream
of Hume’s Road Bridge, Garston

1 Oct – 30 Apr

FS

1

Mataura River – Garston Bridge to the Gore Bridge

1 Oct – 30 Apr

FSB

4

Mataura River – the Gore Bridge to the Gorge Road Bridge

1 Oct – 31 May,

excluding

5 and 6 May 2012

FSB

4

Mataura River – the 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 and tributaries upstream of Rocky Point

1 Oct – 30 Apr

FS

1

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 the Waipango Bridge

1 Oct – 30 Apr

FSB

2

Pourakino River downstream of the 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

1

Waiau River between Lakes Manapouri and Te Anau

1 Oct – 31 May

FS

2

Waiau River – Mararoa Weir (subject to clause 3.1) to Tuatapere

1 Oct – 31 May

FSB

4

Waiau River from Tuatapere to the sea, including the Waiau Lagoon

All year

FSB

4

Waiau River tributaries from the Mararoa Weir to the sea (except Monowai, Borland and Wairaki Rivers)

1 Oct – 30 Apr

FSB

2

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 the North Road Bridge

1 Oct – 30 Apr

FSB

2

Waikiwi Stream downstream of the North Road Bridge

All year

FSB

2

Waimatuku Stream and tributaries

1 Oct – 30 Apr

FSB

2

Waimea Stream

1 Oct – 30 Apr

FSB

2

Wairaki River and tributaries upstream of the transmission lines

1 Oct – 30 Apr

FS

1

Wairaki River downstream of the transmission lines

1 Oct – 30 Apr

FSB

2

Whitestone River upstream of the Prospect Bridge

1 Nov – 31 May

FS

1

Whitestone River between the Prospect Bridge and the Mararoa confluence

1 Oct – 30 Apr

FS

1

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 Mararoa River.

4. AUTHORISED TACKLE

Refer First Schedule.

5. FLY FISHING ONLY WATERS

Refer Clause 2 of this part of the notice.

6. BAIT FISHING NOT PERMITTED

Refer Clause 2 of this part of the notice.

7. COARSE FISHING WATERS

None.

8. USE OF BOATS

8.1 No person shall fish from any motorised boat (including electric motors) in Lake Thomas and South Lake Mavora.

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 94 Bridge just north of Lumsden.

The Waikaia River.

9. DAILY LIMIT BAGS

9.1 Subject to clause 3.2, 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.

11. SOUTHLAND BACKCOUNTRY FISHERY

11.1 Definition:

Backcountry fishery in this region means:

The Ettrick Burn backcountry fishery.

11.2 All anglers who fish in the backcountry fishery (as defined by the Sports Fish Licences, Fees and Forms Notice 2011) must obtain a backcountry licence (as defined by the Sports Fish Licences, Fees and Forms Notice 2011) and the provisions of that notice apply to this notice.

Controlled area:

11.3 Definitions:

Controlled area means the Ettrick Burn from its confluence with Lake Te Anau to the upstream limit of Log Cabin Slip at NZTOPO 50-CC07 796753.

Controlled period means the period beginning on 1 November 2011 and ending on 31 May 2012.

Controlled period licence means a licence that entitles the following persons to fish for sports fish in the controlled area during the controlled period, but only during the day specified in the licence:

(a) the holder of the controlled period licence; and

(b) if the holder also holds a backcountry licence that is endorsed on a family licence, the spouse or partner, and if accompanied by the holder or the holder’s spouse or partner and any member of the holder’s family; and

(c) up to 3 companion anglers named in the controlled period licence who hold backcountry licences, provided that the maximum size of any group for any one permit is 4.

11.4 In the controlled area a controlled period applies. All anglers who fish in the controlled area must first obtain a controlled period licence.

12. WATERS RESTRICTED TO PERSONS UNDER THE AGE OF 18 YEARS

12.1 No person shall fish in waters designated as a “junior fishery” in clause 2 of this notice unless they are a child or junior licence holder under the age of 18 years on 1 October 2011.

12.2 Waters this clause applies to is:

Lake Henry

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Fiordland Controlled Fishery Licence