2009-2010 CENTRAL SOUTH ISLAND REGION FISHING REGULATIONS
 
Contact:

Dunedin Office
Postal Address
Phone and Fax
Manager
Office Admin
Field Officers


Resource Officer
 

32 Richard Pearce Drive, Temuka
PO Box 150, Temuka
(03) 615-800; (03) 615-8401
Jay Greybill
Bernadette Dolan
Graeme Hughes, Mark Webb, Hamish Stevens
Bridget Pringle

Fish & Game New Zealand’s Central South Island region is bordered by the south bank of the Rakaia River in the north and to Moeraki in the south. With their headwaters in the Southern Alps, the Waitaki and the Rangitata are the region’s biggest rivers. These are noted Chinook salmon fisheries with best fishing success from January through April. The Rangitata Mouth is one of the more famous fishing locations in the South Islans as large numbers of salmon can be caught here. Salmon fishing in the Waitaki tends to be split amongst mouth and upriver anglers, with fishing from anchored jet boats being a popular option. Smaller rivers including the Opihi, Temuka, Ashburton and Kakanui—along with many high-country lakes--are habitat to substantial brown and rainbow trouth fisheries. Fontinalis, or brook trout, are also present in some of these waters. In fact the Central South Island Region probably offers the best Fontinalis populations in the country.  Lake Emily is probably the best place in New Zealand to catch a trophy. For sheer numbers of trout, the waters of the McKenzie country are hard to beat. The Tekapo River in particular contains very good numbers of trout which are not overly difficult to catch.

The invasive algae Didymo is present in the Waitaki catchment. Please help us stop the spread of Didymo by restricting use of fishing gear to exclusive use in a single waterway. If you move gear between waterways you must CHECK, CLEAN, DRY. For more information on Didymo visit www.biosecurity.gopvt.nz

REGULATIONS

Reference to Description : New Zealand Gazette, No. 83, 24 May 1990, page 1861, as amended by New Zealand Gazette, No. 129, 29 August 1991, page 2786.

1. INTERPRETATION
See First Schedule.

METHODS AND BAG LIMITS
2.1 The open season in all waters of the Region is from 1 October to 30 April except where otherwise specified in Section 2.4 or closed under Section 3 of this notice.
2.2 All legal methods as described in the First Schedule are permitted in all waters of the Region except where otherwise specified in Sections 2.4, 4 or 6 of this notice.
2.3 The daily limit bag in all waters of the Region is 2 trout and 2 salmon except where otherwise specified in Section 2.4 of this notice.
2.4 Open season, permitted methods and daily bag limits for Central South Island Rivers and Lakes:

 

River/Lake

Season

Permitted Methods

Trout Limit

Salmon Limit

Ahuriri River and its tributaries upstream of and including Longslip Creek

 

5 Dec—30 Apr

Spinner/fly

2

2

Ahuriri River and its tributaries downstream of Longslip Creek except Omarama Stream

 

7 Nov—30 Apr

Spinner/fly

4

2

Ahuriri River Lagoons

5 Dec—30 Apr

Fly fishing only

2

n/a

Alexandrina, Lake & tributaries

7 Nov—30 Apr

Spinner/fly

4

2

 

 

max 1 brown trout

Alexandrina, Lake Winter Season

1 Jun—31 July

Spinner/fly

2 sports fish

 

 

But no brown trout

Ashburton River North Branch

1 Oct—31 Mar

Spinner/fly

2

2

Ashburton River North Branch

1 Apr—30 Apr

Spinner/fly

2

Closed

Ashburton River South Branch and tributaries upstream of Taylor’s Stream junction

 

1 Oct—31 Mar

Spinner/fly

2

2

Ashburton River South Branch and tributaries downstream of Taylor’s Stream junction

 

1 Apr-30 Apr

Spinner/fly

2

Closed

Ashburton River downstream of State Highway No. 1

 

1 Jun—31 Aug

Spinner/fly

2 sports fish

Aviemore, Lake

All year

All legal

4

2

Aviemore, Lake tributaries except Deep Stream and Otematata River

 

7 Nov—30 Apr

All legal

4

2

Benmore, Lake other than when fished from a boat or flotation device

 

All year

All legal

4

2

Benmore, Lake when fished from a boat or flotation device

 

All year

Spinner/fly

4

2

Benmore, Lake tributaries except Tekapo, Ahuriri and Otematapaio rivers

 

7 Nov—30 Apr

All legal

4

2

Cameron, Loch

7 Nov—30 Apr

Flyfishing only

2

n/a

Camp, Lake

7 Nov—31 May

Spinner/fly

2

n/a

Centennial Park Lake (Timaru)

All year

All legal

2

n/a

Clearwater, Lake and its tributaries

4 Nov—30 Apr

Spinner/fly

2

n/a

Deep Stream and tributaries East of the bridge where it enters Lake Aviemore

 

4 Nov—30 Apr

Spinner/fly

2

2

Deep Creek, a tributary to the upper Rangitata River

 

Closed

None

0

0

Deep Stream, a tributary to the upper Rangitata River

 

Closed

None

0

0

Denny, Lake and its tributaries

7 Nov—30 Apr

Flyfishing only

2

n/a

Donn, Lake and its tributaries

7 Nov—30 Apr

Flyfishing only

2

n/a

Emily, Lake and its tributaries

7 Nov—30 Apr

Flyfishing only

2

n/a

Emma, Lake and its tributaries

7 Nov—30 Apr

Spinner/fly

2

n/a

Gray’s River

7 Nov—30 Apr

Spinner/fly

2

n/a

Hakataramea River upstream from State Highway No. 82

 

7 Nov—31 Mar

Flyfishing only

2

2

 

1 Apr—30 Apr

Spinner/fly

2

Closed

Heron, Lake and its tributaries

7 Nov—30 Apr

All legal

6 sports fish

 

 no more than 4 to be trout or 6 to be salmon

High country tarns or lagoons

7 Nov—30 Apr

Flyfishing only

2

n/a

Hind’s River child or junior licence holders

 

1 Oct—30 Apr

All legal

2

2

Irishman’s Stream

7 Nov—30 Apr

Spinner/fly

2

n/a

Kakanui River and tributaries upstream of Five Forks Bridge

 

1 Oct—30 Apr

Spinner/fly

2

2

Kakanui River and tributaries downstream of Five Forks Bridge

 

1 Oct—30 Apr

All legal

4

2

Lake Stream

7 Nov—31 March

All legal

2

Closed

Larch Stream

7 Nov—31 Jan

All legal

2

2

Macgregor, Lake

7 Nov—30 Apr

Spinner/fly

2

2

Maerewhenua River upstream of State Highway No 83

 

7 Nov—30 Apr

Flyfishing only

2

2

Maori Lakes and their tributaries

7 Nov—30 Apr

Flyfishing only

2

n/a

Mary Burn

7 Nov—30 Apr

Spinner/fly

2

n/a

Merino, Lake

7 Nov—30 Apr

Flyfishing only

2

n/a

Middleton, Lake

All year

All legal

4

2

Middleton, Lake tributaries

7 Nov—30 Apr

All legal

4

2

Mystery, Lake and its tributaries

7 Nov—30 Apr

Flyfishing only

2

n/a

Ohapi Stream

1 Oct—31 Mar

Spinner/fly

2

2

Ohapi Stream

1 Apr—30 Apr

Spinner/fly

2

Closed

Ohau B and C hydro canals

All year

All legal

2

2

Ohau, Lake other than when fished from a boat or flotation device

 

All year

Spinner/fly

4

2

Ohau, Lake when fished from a boat or flotation device

 

All year

Spinner/fly

4

2

Ohau, Lake tributaries

7 Nov—30 Apr

All legal

4

2

Omarama Stream upstream of State Highway No. 8

 

7 Nov—30 Apr

Flyfishing only

2

2

Omarama Stream downstream of State Highway No. 8

 

7 Nov—30 Apr

Spinner/fly

2

2

Opihi River upstream of Opuha River junction

 

1 Oct—31 Mar

All legal

2

2

Opihi River upstream of Opuha River junction

 

1 Apr—30 Apr

All legal

2

Closed

Opihi River downstream of Opuha River junction

 

1 Oct—31 Mar

All legal

4

2

Opihi River downstream of Opuha River junction

 

1 Apr—30 Apr

All legal

4

Closed

Opihi River downstream of State Highway No. 1

 

1 Jun—31 Aug

Spinner/fly

2 sports fish

Opuha, Lake and its tributaries

1 Oct—30 Apr

All legal

6 sports fish

 

no more than 4 to be trout or 6 to be salmon

Opuha River

1 Oct—31 Mar

All legal

4

2

 

1 Apr—30 Apr

All legal

4

Closed

Orari River and tributaries upstream of Slip Panel Stream

 

1 Oct—31 Mar

All legal

2

2

Orari River and tributaries upstream of Slip Panel Stream

 

1 Apr—30 Apr

All legal

2

Closed

Orari River and tributaries downstream of Slip Panel Stream

 

1 Oct—31 Mar

All legal

4

2

Orari River and tributaries downstream of Slip Panel Stream

 

1 Apr—30 Apr

All legal

4

Closed

 

Otematapaio River

7 Nov—30 Apr

Spinner/fly

2

 

Otematata River and its tributaries upstream of Clear Stream

 

7 Nov—30 Apr

Spinner/fly

2

2

Otematata River and its tributaries downstream of Clear Stream

 

7 Nov—30 Apr

Spinner/fly

4

2

Poaka, Lake

7 Nov—30 Apr

Flyfishing only

2

n/a

Pukaki, Lake

All year

All legal

4

2

Pukaki, Lake tributaries

7 Nov—30 Apr

All legal

4

2

Rangitata Diversion Race from the intake downstream to Rakaia River Road

 

All year

All legal

4

2

Rangitata River and tributaries upstream of Turn Again Point about 12 km above the gorge except Deep Stream and Deep Creek

 

1 Oct—28 Feb

Spinner/fly

2

2

Rangitata River and tributaries upstream of Turn Again Point except Deep Stream and Deep Creek

 

1 Mar—31 Mar

Spinner/fly

2

Closed

Rangitata River and tributaries downstream of Turn Again Point

 

1 Oct—31 Mar

All legal

4

2

Rangitata River and tributaries downstream of Turn Again Point

 

1 Apr—30 Apr

All legal

4

0

Rangitata River downstream of State Highway No. 1

 

1 Jun—31 Aug

Spinner/fly

2 sports fish

Roundabout, Lake and its tributaries

7 Nov—30 Apr

All legal

2

n/a

Ruataniwha, Lake including Wairepo Arm and Kellands Pond

 

All year

All legal

2

2

Ruataniwha, Lake, Wairepo Arm and Kellands Pond tributaries

 

7 Nov—30 Apr

 Spinner/fly

2

2

Saltwater Creek

All year

All legal

2

n/a

Spider, Lake and its tributaries

7 Nov—30 Apr

Flyfishing only

2

n/a

Tekapo, Lake

All year

All legal

4

2

Tekapo, Lake tributaries

7 Nov—30 Apr

All legal

4

2

Tekapo-Pukaki hydro canal

All year

All legal

2

2

Tekapo River upstream of lower powerlines across the river about 1 km upstream from Lake Benmore

 

7 Nov—30 Apr

All legal

4

2

Temuka River and tributaries

1 Oct—31 Mar

All legal

4

2

Temuka River and tributaries

1 Apr—30 Apr

All legal

4

Closed

Tengawai River

1 Oct—31 Mar

Flyfishing only

2

2

Tengawai River

1 Apr—30 Apr

Flyfishing only

2

Closed

Tinwald Domain pond, child licence holders only

 

All year

All legal

2

n/a

Twizel River and its tributaries

7 Nov—30 Apr

Spinner/fly

2

2

Waihao River upstream of Forks Bridges

 

1 Oct—30 Apr

Spinner/fly

2

n/a

Waihao River downstream of Forks Bridges

 

1 Oct—30 Apr

All legal

4

2

Waihi River and tributaries

1 Oct—30 Apr

All legal

4

2

Waitaki, Lake

All year

All legal

4

2

Waitaki Lake tributaries

7 Nov—30 Apr

All legal

4

2

Waitaki River and tributaries

1 Oct—31 Mar

All legal

4

2

 

1 Apr—30 Apr

All legal

4

Closed

Waitaki River downstream of State Highway No. 1

 

1 Jun—31 Aug

Spinner/fly

2 sports fish

3. CLOSED SEASON
3.1 No licence holder shall fish for sports fish in the following waters:
Aviemore spawning race
Awakino River
Deep Creek, a tributary to the upper Rangitata River on Mt. Pott’s Station
Deep Stream, a tributary to the upper Rangitata River on Forest Creek, Tui and Mesopotamia stations
Kauru River
Tinwald Domain Pond if the holder of other than a child’s licence

3.2 No licence holder shall fish for sea run salmon in the following waters:
Lake Stream
Ashburton River and its tributaries between 1 April and 30 April
Opihi River and its tributaries between 1 April and 30 April
Opuha River and its tributaries between 1 April and 30 April
Orari River and its tributaries between 1 April and 30 April
Rangitata River and its tributaries between 1 April and 30 April
Rangitata River and tributaries upstream of Turn Again Point and shown by the white posts on the riverbank between 1 March and 31 March
Waitaki River and its tributaries between 1 April and 30 April

3.3 No licence holder shall fish for trout in the following waters:
Rangitata River and tributaries upstream of Turn Again Point and shown by the white posts on the riverbank between 1 April and 30 April
Lake Stream between 1 April and 30 April
3.4 No license holder shall fish for sockeye salmon in any river or stream between 1 March and 30 April.
4. AUTHORISED TACKLE
4.1 No licence holder when fishing for sports fish shall use any unsportsmanlike device or method.
4.2 A licence holder when fishing for sports fish in the Rangitata River or its tributaries:
4.2.1 May use, seaward of a line drawn between the 2 poles situated near the upstream limit of the estuarine area, an artificial fly only if the total weight of everything attached to the cast does not exceed 28g.
4.2.2 May cast other than from the reel or retrieve other than by winding the reel only when using bait or fly fishing, or when fishing with an artificial fly seaward of a line drawn between the 2 poles situated near the upstream limit of the estuarine area.
4.3  A license holder while fishing for sports fish in the Ragiatata River and its tributaries  

4.3.1 may use, seaward of a line drawn between the two poles situated near the upstream limit of the estuarine area, an artificial fly only if the totatl weight of everything attached to the cast des not exceed 28 g.

4.3.2 may cast other than from a reel or retrieve other then by windeing the reel only when using bait of fly fishing or when fishing with an artificial fly seaward of a line drawne between the two poles situated near the upstream limit of the estuarine area.

4.4  Down riggers, paravanes, metal cored or wire lines and weights to assist sinking of trolled lures are prohibited in Lake Alexandrina.

5. COARSE FISHING WATERS
Saltwater Creek
Centennial Park Lake (Timaru)
Island Stream

Waiareka Stream


6. USE OF BOATS
6.1 Fishing from boats is prohibited in:
Lake Camp
Lake Denny
Lake Donn
Lake Emily
Kellands Pond
Lake Roundabout
Lake Spider
Wairepo Arm of Lake Ruataniwha

That part of the region seaward of the Rangitata River mouth, except from an anchored boat between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. on any day at a seaward distance greater than 200 m from the nearest shore at low tide. The seaward boundary of the Central South Island Region around the Rangitata River mouth is a line drawn at a distance of 500 m from any place where at low tide the waters of the river meet the waters of the sea.

6.2 Fishing from any unmoored boat is prohibited in:
Lake Emma
Lake MacGregor
Lake Middleton
Maori Lakes

7. MINIMUM LENGTH
The minimum length for salmon killed in waters of the region shall be 300mm except in Lake Heron where the minimum length shall be 250 mm and for the period 1 March to 30 April the maximum length shall be 450mm.