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CONTACT
Office: 66-74 Champion Road,
Richmond
Postal Address: P.O Box
2173, Stoke, Nelson 7041
Phone and Fax: (03) 544-6382 Fax: (03) 544-4058
Email: admin@nmfgc.co.nz
Administration: Karen Crook
Manager: Neil Deans
Field Officers: Lawson Davey, Rhys Barrier (Nelson)
Vaughan Lynn (Blenheim)
Blenheim office: Grovetown
Park
Phone and Fax: (03) 578-8421
Fish & Game New
Zealand’s Nelson/Marlborough region
offers some of the best, most easily accessible brown trout fishing in the
country. In fact many of New
Zealand’s fishing guides who specialise
in sighted brown trout fishing, work in this region. There is wonderful
diversity reflected in the waters of Nelson-Marlborough. Rivers in the Golden Bay area are crystal clear in normal
flows and dark brown in freshes from tannic acid leaching out of the native
bush catchments. Waimea basin catchments rise in the steep beech clad Richmond and Arthur
ranges before flowing through intensely farmed lands growing pine trees,
applies, kiwi fruit and hops. The Murchison district offers everything from
small feeder streams to the impressive Buller River.
The Buller is New
Zealand’s fifth largest river,
originating from the alps in the Nelson
Lakes National
Park. The run off and snow melt from these
mountains flow into Lakes Rotoiti and Rotoroa. The two Lake
outlets form the upper Buller
River until it is
joined by the Matakitaki, Mangles, Matiri and Maruia at the ‘four rivers
plain’ near Murchison. Marlborough
rivers are a total contrast to the western Nelson rivers, often being blue
coloured from glacial silt and wide, braided and undergoing extremes of
flow. Molesworth Station is New
Zealand’s largest farm. This huge
trackless area features many small alpine tarns and lakes and its western
and southern boundary is the Clarence River-one of New Zealand’s
longest and more remote catchments that drain the Inland and Seaward
Kaikoura’s. The lower Clarence and the Awatere Rivers
flowing northeast from Molesworth are heavily silt laden for much of the
year. Completing the circle of the region we finish in the Marlborough
Sounds main catchment, the Pelorus
Valley. Beginning in
the Richmond ranges between Nelson and Marlborough, this river gouges its
way through steep native bush covered mountains to slow down to a gentle
pace in lush dairy farm land before entering the sea at Havelock.
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.
REGULATIONS
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
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
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WATER
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FISHING
SEASONS
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FISHING METHODS
|
SPECIES OPEN FOR FISHING
|
BAG LIMIT
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|
|
All Year Except Salmon
Refer Notes
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1 Oct – 30 Apr
|
All Legal Methods Incl
Baits
|
Artificial Fly or
Spinner
|
|
|
|
Acheron River downstream of its confluence
with the Severn River
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B #
|
2
|
|
Acheron River upstream of its confluence
with the Severn River
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B #
|
1+
|
|
Alma River
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B #
|
1+
|
|
Anatoki River
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B S
|
2
|
|
Aorere River downstream from the Salisbury Road Bridge
|
√
|
|
√
|
|
B S
|
2
|
|
Aorere River upstream from the Salisbury Road Bridge
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B S
|
2
|
|
Argyle Pond and lower hydro canals downstream to its confluence with
the Wairau River
|
√
|
|
√
|
|
B R
|
2
|
|
Awatere River
|
√
|
|
√
|
|
B
|
2
|
|
Bartletts Creek
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B
|
2
|
|
Baton River
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B
|
1+
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|
Bowscale Tarn
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B
|
2
|
|
Branch River
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B R
|
1+
|
|
Buller River downstream of the Gowan Bridge
|
√
|
|
√
|
|
B
|
2
|
|
Buller River upstream of the Gowan Bridge
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B
|
2
|
|
Clarence
River downstream
from the Acheron confluence
|
√
|
|
√
|
|
B S
|
2
|
|
Clarence
River upstream from
the Acheron confluence
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B #
|
2
|
|
Cobb Reservoir
|
√
|
|
√
|
|
B R
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4
|
|
Cobb River
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|
√
|
|
√
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B R
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2
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|
Conway River
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√
|
|
√
|
|
B
|
2
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|
D`Urville River
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|
√
|
|
√
|
B R
|
1+
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|
Daniells
Lake
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|
√
|
|
√
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B R
|
1+
|
|
Deepdale
River
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B
|
1+
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|
Dove River
|
|
√
|
|
√
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B
|
2
|
|
Fish Lake
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B
|
2
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|
Fyfe River
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B
|
1+
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|
Gibsons Creek
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B
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2
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|
Glenroy River
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|
√
|
|
√
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B
|
1+
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|
Goulter River
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|
√
|
|
√
|
B
|
1+
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|
Gowan River
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|
√
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|
√
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B R
|
2
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|
Graham River
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B
|
2
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|
Grovetown Lagoon
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|
√
|
|
√
|
B
|
2
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|
Hope River
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B
|
2
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|
Howard River
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|
√
|
|
√
|
B
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2
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|
Island Lake
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|
√
|
|
√
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B
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2
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Kahutara
River
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|
√
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|
√
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B
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2
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|
Kaituna River (Marlborough)
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|
√
|
|
√
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B
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2
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|
Leatham River
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|
√
|
|
√
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B R
|
1+
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|
Lee River
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|
√
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|
√
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B
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2
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|
Lyell Creek (Kaikoura) downstream from State Highway 1
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√
|
|
√
|
|
B
|
2
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|
Lyell Creek (Kaikoura) upstream from State Highway 1
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|
√
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|
√
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B
|
2
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|
Maitai River above Lower Nile
Street Bridge
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B
|
2
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|
Maitai River below Lower Nile
Street Bridge*
|
√
|
|
|
√
|
B
|
2
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|
Mangles River
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B
|
1+
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|
Marahau River
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B
|
2
|
|
Maruia River upstream of Maruia Falls
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B R
|
2
|
|
Maruia River downstream of Maruia Falls
|
√
|
|
√
|
|
B R
|
2
|
|
Matakitaki
River downstream
from State Highway 6 Bridge
|
√
|
|
√
|
|
B
|
2
|
|
Matakitaki
River downstream
from the Glenroy
River to the State
Highway 6 Bridge
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B
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2
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|
Matakitaki
River upsteam of
its confluence with the Glenroy
River
|
|
√
|
|
√
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B
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1+
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|
Matiri River
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|
√
|
|
√
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B
|
2
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|
Middle Creek Kaikoura downstream from State Highway 1
|
√
|
|
√
|
|
B
|
2
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|
Middle Creek Kaikoura upstream from SH1
|
|
√
|
|
√
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B
|
2
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|
Motueka River downstream from the Peninsula Road Bridge
at Ngatimoti
|
√
|
|
√
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|
B
|
2
|
|
Motueka River downstream of its confluence
with the Wangapeka
River to the Peninsula Road Bridge
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B
|
2
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|
Motueka River upstream of its confluence
with the Wangapeka
River
|
|
√
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|
√
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B
|
1+
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|
Motupiko
River
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B
|
1+
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|
Moutere River
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B
|
2
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|
Oaro River
|
√
|
|
√
|
|
B
|
2
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|
Omaka River
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|
√
|
|
√
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B
|
2
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|
Opawa River upstream from State Highway
1 Bridge
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|
√
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|
√
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B
|
2
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|
Opawa River downstream from State
Highway 1 Bridge (including Roses Overflow)
|
√
|
|
√
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|
B
|
2
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|
Opouri River
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|
√
|
|
√
|
B R
|
1+
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|
Orinoco River
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B
|
2
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|
Owen River
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|
√
|
|
√
|
B
|
1+
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|
Paturau River
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|
√
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|
√
|
B
|
2
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|
Pearse River
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|
√
|
|
√
|
B
|
1+
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|
Pelorus River downstream from its
confluence with the Rai
River
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√
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|
√
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|
B R S
|
2
|
|
Pelorus River upstream of its confluence
with the Rai
River
|
|
√
|
|
√
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B R
|
1+
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|
Rahu River
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B
|
1+
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|
Rai River
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B R S
|
2
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|
Rainbow River
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B #
|
1+
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|
Rainy River
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B
|
1+
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|
Riwaka River including North and South
Branches
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B
|
1+
|
|
Roding River
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B
|
2
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|
Rolling River
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B
|
1+
|
|
Ronga River
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B R
|
1+
|
|
Rotoiti Lake except for closed areas – see
below
|
√
|
|
√
|
|
B
|
4
|
|
Rotoroa Lake except for closed areas – see
below
|
√
|
|
√
|
|
B R
|
4
|
|
Sabine River
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B R
|
1+
|
|
Sedgemere
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B
|
2
|
|
Severn River
|
|
√
|
|
|
B #
|
1+
|
|
Speargrass Creek
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B
|
2
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|
Spey Stream
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B
|
2
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|
Spring Creek
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B R
|
1+
|
|
Station Creek
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B
|
2
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|
Tadmor River
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B
|
2
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|
Takaka River downstream from its
confluence with the Waingaro
River
|
√
|
|
√
|
|
B S
|
2
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|
Takaka River upstream with its confluence
with the Waingaro
River
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B
|
2
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|
Taylor River downstream from the New Renwick Road
Bridge
|
√
|
|
√
|
|
B
|
2
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|
Taylor River upstream from the New Renwick Road
Bridge
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B
|
2
|
|
Tennyson
Lake
|
|
√
|
√
|
|
B
|
4
|
|
The Brook Stream
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B
|
2
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|
Timms Stream
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B
|
2
|
|
Tinline River
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B R
|
1+
|
|
Top Valley Stream
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B
|
2
|
|
Travers River
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B
|
1+
|
|
Tuamarina
River
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B
|
2
|
|
Tunakino
River
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B R
|
1+
|
|
Tutaki River
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B
|
2
|
|
Waihopai
River
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B
|
2
|
|
Wai-iti River
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B
|
2
|
|
Waikakaho
River
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B
|
2
|
|
Waikoropupu
River
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B S
|
1+
|
|
Waingaro
River
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B
|
2
|
|
Wairau River downstream from the Wash Bridge including the Diversion and
the Southern Valley Irrigation Intake Pond
|
√
|
|
√
|
|
B R S
|
2
|
|
Wairau River upstream of the Wash Bridge
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B #
|
2
|
|
Wairoa River upstream of the confluence
with the Lee
River
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B
|
2
|
|
Wairoa River/ Waimea River
downstream of the confluence with the Lee River
|
√
|
|
√
|
|
B
|
2
|
|
Wakamarina
River
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B R
|
2
|
|
Wakapuaka
River
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B
|
1+
|
|
Wangapeka
River
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B
|
1+
|
|
Warwick River
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B
|
1+
|
|
Woolley River
|
|
√
|
|
√
|
B
|
1+
|
3. CLOSED WATERS
No licence holder shall take:
3.1 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 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 those rivers and streams listed below:
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 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.
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