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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.

ACCESS PAMPHLETS
Access pamphlets providing detailed maps and instructions of access points and fishing information are available for Golden Bay and the Buller, Motueka, Pelorus and Wairau catchments. Pamphlets are available at no cost from most licence agents and information centres or the Nelson Fish & Game office. Access pamphlets are also available on www.fishandgame.org.nz.

COARSE FISH
Recently perch and tench, along with koi carp and gambusia, have been illegally released into the Nelson Marlborough region. It is Fish and Game policy that no anglers should benefit from illegal releases of sports fish. Therefore fishing for coarse fish in the region is still illegal and any angler found targeting coarse fish will be prosecuted.

DIDYMO
Didymo is now present in several Nelson/Marlborough Rivers and anglers are reminded that they need to clean, dry or disinfect their gear when moving between all rivers to minimise the risks of spreading didymo.

FIN-CLIPPED FISH & TROUT HEADS
Anglers are asked to keep an eye out for adipose fin-clipped trout in the Motueka & Wairau catchments - (Tags located either under the skin next to the dorsal fin or inserted in the abdominal cavity).
If an angler catches an adipose fin-clipped trout, they are asked to contact F&G with date, location caught and length & weight data, along with the tag (if kept). F&G would also like to receive the heads (and details), of any trout (not just tagged fish) kept in the region –for otolith anaylsis.

REGULATIONS
Reference to Description: New ZealandGazette, No. 83, 24 May 1990, page 1861

1 DEFINITIONS
See First Schedule.

2 OPEN SEASON, METHOD RESTRICTIONS AND BAG LIMITS
Note: Any water not mentioned in the chart, season length will be 1 October – 30 April, Artificial Fly or Spinner, Bag Limit 2
Open Season for Salmon: 1 October – 30 April in all waters, except Closed Salmon Waters indicated by #

B = Brown Trout
R = Rainbow Trout
S = Salmon
1+ means 2 sports fish where only one may exceed 500mm in length
* Child Licence Holder May Bait Fish

Lakes/RiversOpen Season Permitted MethodsSpecies Open for FishingBag Limit
Acheron River downstream of its confluence with the Severn River1 Oct-30 AprFSB#2
Acheron River upstream of its confluence with the Severn River1 Oct-30 AprFSB 1+
Alma River1 Oct-30 AprFSB 1+
Anatoki River1 Oct-30 AprFSB 2
Aorere River downstream from the Salisbury Road BridgeAll yearAll methodsB S2
Aorere River upstream from the Salisbury Road Bridge1 Oct-30 AprFSB S2
Argyle Pond and lower hydro canals downstream to its confluence with the Wairau RiverAll yearAll methodsB R2
Awatere RiverAll yearAll methodsB 2
Bartletts Creek1 Oct-30 AprFSB 2
Baton River1 Oct-30 AprFSB 1+
Bowscale Tarn1 Oct-30 AprFSB 2
Branch River1 Oct-30 AprFSB R1+
Buller River downstream of the Gowan BridgeAll yearAll methodsB 2
Buller River upstream of the Gowan Bridge1 Oct-30 AprFSB 2
Clarence River downstream from the Acheron confluenceAll yearAll methodsB S2
Clarence River upstream from the Acheron confluence1 Oct-30 AprFSB # 2
Cobb ReservoirAll yearAll methodsB R 4
Cobb River1 Oct-30 AprFSB R1+
Conway RiverAll yearAll methodsB2
D’Urville River1 Oct-30 AprFSB R1+
Daniells Lake1 Oct-30 AprFSB R2
Deepdale River1 Oct-30 AprFSB 1+
Dove River1 Oct-30 AprFSB 2
Fish Lake1 Oct-30 AprFSB 2
Fyfe River1 Oct-30 AprFSB 1+
Gibsons Creek1 Oct-30 AprFSB 2
Glenroy River1 Oct-30 AprFSB 1+
Goulter River1 Oct-30 AprFSB 1+
Gowan River1 Oct-30 AprFSB R 2
Graham River1 Oct-30 AprFSB 2
Grovetown Lagoon1 Oct-30 AprFSB 2
Hope River1 Oct-30 AprFSB 2
Howard River1 Oct-30 AprFSB 2
Island Lake1 Oct-30 AprFSB 2
Kahutara River1 Oct-30 AprFSB 2
Kaituna River (Marlborough)1 Oct-30 AprFSB 2
Leatham River1 Oct-30 AprFSB R1+
Lee River1 Oct-30 AprFSB 2
Lyell Creek (Kaikoura) downstream from State Highway 1All yearAll methodsB 2
Lyell Creek (Kaikoura) upstream from State Highway 11 Oct-30 AprFSB 2
Maitai River above the Lower Nile Street Bridge1 Oct-30 AprFSB 2
Maitai River below the Lower Nile Street Bridge*All yearFS*B 2
Mangles River1 Oct-30 AprFSB 1+
Marahau River1 Oct-30 AprFSB 2
Maruia River upstream of Maruia Falls1 Oct-30 AprFSB R2
Maruia River downstream of Maruia FallsAll yearAll methodsB R2
Matakitaki River downstream from the State Highway 6 BridgeAll yearAll methodsB 2
Matakitaki River downstream from the Glenroy River to the State Highway 6 Bridge1 Oct-30 AprFSB 2
Matakitaki River upsteam of its confluence with the Glenroy River1 Oct-30 AprFSB 1+
Matiri River1 Oct-30 AprFSB 2
Middle Creek Kaikoura downstream from State Highway 1All yearAll methodsB 2
Middle Creek Kaikoura upstream from State Highway 11 Oct-30 AprFSB 2
Motueka River downstream from the Peninsula Road Bridge at NgatimotiAll yearAll methodsB 2
Motueka River upstream of its confluence with the Wangapeka River1 Oct-30 AprFSB 1+
Motupiko River1 Oct-30 AprFSB 1+
Moutere River1 Oct-30 AprFSB 2
Oaro RiverAll yearAll methodsB 2
Omaka River1 Oct-30 AprFSB 2
Opawa River upstream from State Highway 1 Bridge1 Oct-30 AprFSB 2
Opawa River downstream from the State Highway 1 Bridge (including Roses Overflow)All yearAll methodsB 2
Opouri River1 Oct-30 AprFSB R1+
Orinoco River1 Oct-30 AprFSB 2
Owen River1 Oct-30 AprFSB 1+
Paturau River1 Oct-30 AprFSB 1+
Pearse River1 Oct-30 AprFSB 2
Pelorus River downstream from its confluence with the Rai RiverAll yearAll methodsB R S2
Pelorus River upstream of its confluence with the Rai River1 Oct-30 AprFSB R# 1+
Rahu River1 Oct-30 AprFSB 1+
Rai River1 Oct-30 AprFSB R #2
Rainbow River1 Oct-30 AprFSBB # 1+
Rainy River1 Oct-30 AprFSB 1+
Riwaka River including North and South Branches1 Oct-30 AprFSB 1+
Roding River1 Oct-30 AprFSB 2
Rolling River1 Oct-30 AprFSB 1+
Ronga River1 Oct-30 AprFSB R1+
Rotoiti Lake except for closed areas – see belowAll yearAll methodsB 4
Rotoroa Lake except for closed areas – see belowAll yearAll methodsB R4
Sabine River1 Oct-30 AprFSB R1+
Sedgemere1 Oct-30 AprFSB 2
Severn River1 Oct-30 AprFSB #1+
Speargrass Creek1 Oct-30 AprFSB 2
Spey Stream1 Oct-30 AprFSB 2
Spring Creek1 Oct-30 AprFSB R1+
Station Creek1 Oct-30 AprFSB 2
Tadmor River1 Oct-30 AprFSB 2
Takaka River downstream from its confluence with the Waingaro RiverAll yearAll methodsB S 2
Takaka River upstream with its confluence with the Waingaro River1 Oct-30 AprFSB# 2
Taylor River downstream from the New Renwick Road BridgeAll yearAll methodsB R 2
Taylor River upstream from the New Renwick Road Bridge1 Oct-30 AprFSB R 2
Taylor DamAll yearFS*B R2
Tennyson Lake1 Oct-30 AprAll methodsB 4
The Brook1 Oct-30 AprFSB 2
Timms Stream1 Oct-30 AprFSB 2
Tinline River1 Oct-30 AprFSB R1+
Top Valley Stream1 Oct-30 AprFSB 2
Travers River1 Oct-30 AprFSB 1+
Tuamarina River1 Oct-30 AprFSB 2
Tunakino River1 Oct-30 AprFSB R1+
Tutaki River1 Oct-30 AprFSB 2
Waihopai River1 Oct-30 AprFSB 2
Wai-iti River1 Oct-30 AprFSB 2
Waikakaho River1 Oct-30 AprFSB 2
Waikoropupu River1 Oct-30 AprFSB S1+
Waingaro River1 Oct-30 AprFSB 2
Wairau River downstream from the Wash Bridge including the Diversion and the Southern Valley Irrigation Intake PondAll yearAll methods B R S 2
Wairau River upstream of the Wash Bridge1 Oct-30 AprFSB R #2
Wairoa River upstream of the confluence with the Lee River1 Oct-30 AprFSB 2
Wairoa River / Waimea River downstream of the confluence with the Lee RiverAll yearAll methodsB 2
Wakamarina River1 Oct-30 AprFSB R 2
Wakapuaka River1 Oct-30 AprFSB 1+
Wangapeka River1 Oct-30 AprFSB 1+
Warwick River1 Oct-30 AprFSB 1+
Woolley River1 Oct-30 AprFSB 1+

3 CLOSED WATERS
3.1 No licence holder shall take 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:

  • Travers River
  • Coldwater Stream
  • Black Valley Stream
  • Buller River

Lake Rotoroa:

  • Sabine River
  • D’Urville River
  • Gowan River

3.2 Waimea River Park Fishing Ponds
Closed Season except by Special Permit (while under construction and establishment).

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 Section 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 the rivers and streams listed below:

Lake Rotoiti:

  • Travers River
  • Coldwater Stream
  • Black Valley Stream
  • Buller River

Lake Rotoroa:

  • Sabine River
  • D’Urville River
  • 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 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.