2009-2010
OTAGO
REGION FISHING REGULATIONS
Contact:
|
Dunedin
Office
Postal Address
Phone and fax
E-mail
Chief Executive
Field officers
|
Cnr
Hanover
and Harrow Streets, Dunedin.
PO Box 76, Dunedin 9054
03-477-9076; 03-477-0146
s.kyle@fish-game.org.nz
Niall Watson
Ian Hadland, Morgan Trotter,
Cliff Halford, Rasmus Gabrielsson, Steve Dixon
|
Fish and Game New Zealand’s Otago
region comprises some of the
most iconic and best fly fishing rivers in the country—and the world.
Bordered on the southwest by the legendary Mataura River,
world famous as one of the best dry fly fishing rivers for wild brown trout, to
the northeast by the Waitaki catchment, and the north by Mt Aspiring National
park, the area is as diverse as it is large.
To the east are Shag point on the South Island’s
east coast, the further south to the Catlins area.
Inland the region includes the massive Clutha catchment, which caries to
sea more water than any other in the country, and the
Taieri River.
Small coastal rivers include the Catlins, Tahakopa, Tomomairiro,
Waikouaiti and Shag. Fly fishing
the Otago region is a diverse experience of different landscapes, from pristine
snow-capped mountains to barren Cental Otago to lush bucolic pastor Al streams.
Access is good throughout to those who politely enquire private
landowners first and always leave gates as they find them.
Beyond the rivers are the large
southern lakes: Wanaka, Wakatipu, and Hawea.
They lend themselves to boat fishing river mouths and drop-offs, but you
can also patrol beaches on foot and sight cast to rainbow and brown trout.
Salmon are also present in the lakes.
Remote reaches of feeder rivers of these lakes offer wonderful
sight-fishing with the fly.
Angling Guides and Access Books
Otago region has an excellent guidebook to angling within the region—The Guide
to Trout Fishing in Otago. This 127 page book covers 140 waters throughout Otago
(including Waitaki
Valley and Eastern
Southland). It gives good information on access, the best angling methods to
use, and the best times of the year to go fishing. The guide retails for $25
plus $2 for postage and packing within New Zealand.
Access pamphlets including maps are available for the following waters: Poolburn
and Upper Manorburn Dams, Lakes Dunstan, Onslow, Wakatipu, Wanaka and Hawea,
Waters of the Maniototo, Lower Clutha, and
Dunedin’s Trout Fishing Spots.
Guide books and pamphlets are available at selected outlets or from the Dunedin and Cromwell
offices. Please feel free to contact us at the above address or by emailing
s.kyle@fish-game.org.nz.
Angling Conditions
There are weekly reports on current river and lake conditions in Otago from
mid-September throughout summer until end of April in the following year. These
reports are broadcast on regional radio stations and published in the Otago
Daily Times on Friday. Another source of information on angling conditions is
the Otago Regional Council’s 24 hour “flowphone”
(030479-6493
or their website www.orc.govt.nz
Pollution Complaints
For complaints about pollution or damage to rivers, contact the Otago Regional
Council’s 24 hour Pollution Hotline on 0800 800 033 in the first instance.
Editorial comment:
With the increasingly industrial approach to farming sweeping the South Island, conservation-minded anglers are encouraged
to photograph problems with livestock or effluent disposal.
Pristine rivers are also worthy subjects of photography and video.
Short-term economic pressures to dam rivers and build massive industrial windfarms are immense. Before the
landscape and its waters are further degraded by narrow interests, we need to
record what we have. In an ideal
world, the government would conduct benchmark studies of aquatic life and
compile photographic records of the aesthetic qualities that can be lost
irrevocably. But there simply isn’t
the will or money for this. Anglers
and hunters, like those who tramp, are key stakeholders.
We should take nothing for granted and all get involved.
If you care about fishing, consider the relationship of wild rivers,
water quality, mayflies and caddis, and the trout and birds and salmon that
depend on them. To paraphrase Ted
Leeson, all is one: there is no separating pristine headwater tributaries from
the finest veins of a mayfly’s wing.
Reference to Description: New Zealand Gazette, No. 83, 24 May 1990, page 1861
1 DEFINITIONS
See First Schedule
2. OPEN SEASON, METHODS AND BAG LIMITS
(SUBJECT TO SECTIONS 3, 6, 8 & 9)
|
2.1
|
|
Rivers/Lakes
|
Season
|
Permitted Method
|
Bag Limit
|
|
All lakes,
rivers and streams above the Clyde Dam not mentioned in 2.3
|
|
|
1 Nov--30 April
|
All legal
methods
|
1
|
|
2.2 All lakes, rivers and streams below the Clyde
Dam and any other catchments flowing to the sea not mentioned in 2.3
|
|
|
1 Oct—30 April
|
All legal
methods
|
3
|
|
2.3 Fishing
Regulations for the Otago Rivers and Lakes:
|
|
Akatore Estuary
|
All year
|
All legal
methods
|
6
|
|
Akatore River
|
1 Oct—30 Apr
|
All legal
methods
|
3
|
|
Albert Burn
|
1 Nov—31 May
|
Artificial
fly/spinner only
|
1
|
|
Arrow River
|
1 Nov—31 May
|
All legal
methods
|
1
|
|
Blakely’s Dam
|
1 Oct—30 Apr
|
All legal
methods
|
1
|
|
Butcher’s Dam
|
All year
|
All legal
methods
|
3
|
|
Cardrona River
|
1 Oct—30 Apr
|
All legal
methods
|
1
|
|
Caples River*
Refer to clause 11 of this part of the notice.
|
|
|
1 Nov—31 May*
|
Fly fishing
only
|
1
|
|
|
Refer to clause
11 below
|
|
|
Carey’s Creek
|
1 Oct—30 April
|
All legal
methods
|
3
|
|
Carey’s Creek
downstream of rail line Bridge
|
|
|
|
|
All year
|
All legal
methods
|
3
|
|
Catlins Estuary
downstream of State Highway No. 92 Bridge
|
|
|
|
All year
|
All legal
methods
|
6
|
|
Catlins River
|
1 Oct—30 Apr
|
All legal
methods
|
6
|
|
Clutha River
upstream from Luggate
Bridge (except Dean’s
Bank Section)
|
|
|
All year
|
Artificial
fly/spinner only
|
6
|
|
Clutha River Dean’s Bank Section (defined by
landmark posts 1 km below Lake Wanaka and 600 m above Albert Town
Bridge)
|
|
|
1 Oct—31 May
|
Flyfishing only
|
6
|
|
Clutha River
downstream of Luggate
Bridge
|
|
|
All year
|
All legal
methods
|
6
|
|
Coalpit Dam
|
All year
|
All legal
methods
|
1
|
|
Conroy’s Dam
|
All year
|
All legal
methods
|
1
|
|
Contour Channel
|
1 Oct—30 Apr
|
All legal
methods
|
3
|
|
Dart River
|
All year
|
Artificial
fly/spinner only
|
1
|
|
Deep Stream
|
1 Oct—30 Apr
|
All legal
methods
|
3
|
|
Diamond Creek
|
1 Oct—31 May
|
Artificial
fly/spinner only
|
1
|
|
Diamond Lake
|
All year
|
Artificial
fly/spinner only
|
3
|
|
Dingleburn River
|
1 Nov—31 May
(see cl. 11)
|
Artificial
fly/spinner only
|
1
|
|
Falls Dam
|
1 Oct—30 Apr
|
All legal
methods
|
6
|
|
Fraser Dam
|
1 Oct—30 Apr
|
All legal
methods
|
3
|
|
Fraser River
below dam
|
1 Oct—30 Apr
|
All legal
methods
|
3
|
|
Fraser River
Upper
|
1 Oct—30 Apr
|
All legal
methods
|
1
|
|
Glenorchy
Lagoons
|
1 Oct—30 Apr
|
Artificial
fly/spinner only
|
1
|
|
Greenstone River*
Refer to clause 11 of this part of the notice.
Above Slyburn confluence, see clause 11.
|
|
|
1 Nov—31 May
|
Fly fishing
only
|
1
|
|
Hamilton’s Dam
|
1 Oct—30 Apr
|
All legal
methods
|
1
|
|
Hawea River
|
All year
|
Artificial
fly/spinner only
|
6
|
|
Hoffman’s Dam
|
All year
|
All legal
methods
|
1
|
|
Hore’s Control
Pond
|
All year
|
All legal
methods
|
6
|
|
Hunter River
|
1 Nov—31 May
|
Artificial
fly/spinner only
|
1
|
|
Ida Burn Dam
|
1 Oct—30 Apr
|
All legal
methods
|
3
|
|
Kaihiku Stream
|
1 Oct—30 Apr
|
All legal
methods
|
3
|
|
Kaikorai
Estuary downstream of Abbotts Creek confluence
|
|
|
All year
|
All legal
methods
|
3
|
|
Kawarau River
|
All year
|
All legal
methods
|
6
|
|
Knight’s Dam
|
1 Oct—30 Apr
|
All legal
methods
|
3
|
|
Kuriwao Stream
|
1 Oct—30 Apr
|
All legal
methods
|
3
|
|
Kye Burn
|
1 Oct—30 Apr
|
All legal
methods
|
3
|
|
Lake Dispute
|
1 Oct—31 May
|
Artificial
fly/spinner only
|
3
|
|
Lake Dunstan
|
All year
|
All legal
methods
|
6
|
|
Lake Hawea
|
All year
|
All legal
methods
|
6
|
|
Lake Hayes
|
All year
|
All legal
methods
|
3
|
|
Lake Johnson
|
All year
|
All legal
methods
|
1
|
|
Lake Kirkpatrick
|
All year
|
Artificial
fly/spinner only
|
3
|
|
Lake Mahinerangi
|
1 Oct—30 Apr
|
All legal
methods
|
6
|
|
Lake Onslow
|
All year
|
All legal
methods
|
10
|
|
Lake Roxburgh
|
All year
|
All legal
methods
|
6
|
|
Lake Sylvan
|
All year
|
All legal
methods
|
6
|
|
Lake Waihola
including the outlet and waterways interconnected with Lake Waipori
|
|
|
All year
|
All legal
methods
|
6
|
|
Lake Waipori
|
All year
|
All legal
methods
|
6
|
|
Lake Wakatipu
|
All year
|
All legal
methods
|
6
|
|
Lake Wanaka
|
All year
|
All legal
methods
|
6
|
|
Lee Stream
|
1 Oct—30 Apr
|
All legal
methods
|
3
|
|
Lindis River
|
1 Oct—30 Apr
|
All legal
methods
|
1
|
|
Lochy River
downstream from Disputed Creek confluence
|
|
|
1 Nov—31 May
|
Fly fishing
only
|
1
|
|
Lochy River
upstream from Disputed Creek confluence
Loganburn Dam
|
1 Nov—31 May
1 Oct—30 Apr
|
Fly fishing
only
All legal
methods
|
0
6
|
|
Maclennan River
|
1 Oct—30 Apr
|
All legal
methods
|
6
|
|
Makarora River
|
1 Nov—31 May
|
Artificial
fly/spinner only
|
1
|
|
Makarora River
downstream of Wilkin
River confluence
|
|
|
All year
|
Artificial
fly/spinner only
|
1
|
|
Manorburn Dam
Lower
|
1 Nov—31 May
|
All legal
methods
|
6
|
|
Manorburn Dam
Upper
|
1 Nov—31 May
|
All legal
methods
|
6
|
|
Manuherikia and
tributaries
|
1 Oct—30 Apr
|
All legal
methods
|
1
|
|
Mathias Dam
|
1 Oct—30 Apr
|
All legal
methods
|
3
|
|
Matukituki River
|
1 Nov—31 May
|
Artificial
fly/spinner only
|
1
|
|
Matukituki River
downstream from Mototapu confluence
|
|
|
All year
|
Artificial
fly/spinner only
|
1
|
|
McAtamney’s
Head Pond
|
All year
|
All legal
methods
|
6
|
|
Meggat Burn
|
1 Oct--30 Apr
|
All legal
methods
|
3
|
|
Moke Lake
|
All year
|
Artificial
fly/spinner only
|
3
|
|
Molyneux Pond
|
All year
|
All legal
methods
|
1
|
|
Motatapu River
|
1 Nov—31 May
|
Artificial
fly/spinner only
|
1
|
|
Nenthorn Stream
|
1 Oct—30 Apr
|
All legal
methods
|
3
|
|
Nevis River
|
1 Oct—30 Apr
|
Fly fishing
only
|
1
|
|
Owaka River
|
1 Oct—30 Apr
|
All legal
methods
|
6
|
|
Owaka River
downstream State Highway No. 92
|
|
|
All year
|
All legal
methods
|
6
|
|
Pleasant River
|
1 Oct—30 Apr
|
All legal
methods
|
3
|
|
Pomohaka River
|
1 Oct—30 Apr
|
All legal
methods
|
6
|
|
Pomohaka River
downstream of Swan’s Bridge
|
|
|
All year
|
All legal
methods
|
6
|
|
Pomohaka River
upstream from Park
Hill Bridge
|
|
|
1 Oct—30 Apr
|
All legal
methods
|
3
|
|
Poolburn Dam
|
1 Oct—30 Apr
|
All legal
methods
|
3
|
|
Puerua Estuary
downstream of State Highway No. 92 Bridge
|
|
|
All year
|
All legal
methods
|
6
|
|
Rees River
|
1 Nov—31 May
|
Fly fishing
only
|
1
|
|
Rees River
downstream from Muddy Creek
|
|
|
All year
|
Artificial
fly/spinner only
|
1
|
|
Reid Lake
|
All year
|
Artificial
fly/spinner only
|
3
|
|
Routeburn River
|
1 Nov—31 May
|
Fly fishing
only
|
0
|
|
Rutherford’s Dam
|
1 Oct—30 Apr
|
All legal
methods
|
1
|
|
Shag River
|
1 Oct—30 Apr
|
All legal
methods
|
3
|
|
Shag River
downstream of State Highway No. 1 Bridge
|
|
|
All year
|
All legal
methods
|
3
|
|
Shotover River
|
All year
|
All legal
methods
|
6
|
|
Silverstream
|
1 Oct—30 Apr
|
All legal
methods
|
3
|
|
Southern
Reservoir
|
All year
|
Artificial
fly/spinner only
|
1
|
|
Styx
Weir Pond
|
All year
|
All legal
methods
|
6
|
|
Sullivan’s Dam
|
All year
|
Artificial
fly/spinner only
|
1
|
|
Sutton Stream
|
1 Oct—30 April
|
All legal
methods
|
3
|
|
Tahakopa River
|
1 Oct—30 April
|
All legal
methods
|
6
|
|
Tahakopa River
downstream Maclennan
River confluence
|
|
|
All year
|
All legal
methods
|
6
|
|
Taieri River
|
1 Oct—30 Apr
|
All legal
methods
|
6
|
|
Taieri River
downstream of Silverstream confluence
|
|
|
All year
|
All legal
methods
|
6
|
|
Teviot River
|
1 Oct—30 Apr
|
All legal
methods
|
6
|
|
Three O’Clock Stream
|
1 Oct—30 Apr
|
All legal
methods
|
3
|
|
Timaru River
|
1 Nov—31 May
|
Artificial
fly/spinner only
|
1
|
|
Timaru River
downstream from Timaru
Road Bridge
|
|
|
All year
|
Artificial
fly/spinner only
|
1
|
|
Tokomairiro River
|
1 Oct—30 Apr
|
All legal
methods
|
3
|
|
Tokomairiro River
downstream from Coal
Gully Road
Bridge
|
|
|
All year
|
All legal
methods
|
6
|
|
Tomahawk Lagoon
|
All year
|
All legal
methods
|
1
|
|
Tuapeka River
|
1 Oct—30 Apr
|
All legal
methods
|
3
|
|
Victoria Dam
|
1 Oct—30 Apr
|
All legal
methods
|
3
|
|
Von Lake
|
1 Nov—31 May
|
Flyfishing only
|
1
|
|
Von River
|
1 Nov—31 May
|
Flyfishing only
|
1
|
|
Waipahi River
|
1 Oct—30 Apr
|
All legal
methods
|
6
|
|
Waipori River
upstream of Lake
Waipori
|
|
|
1 Oct—30 Apr
|
All legal
methods
|
3
|
|
Waipori River
downstream of Lake
Waipori
|
|
|
All year
|
All legal
methods
|
6
|
|
Waitahuna River
|
1 Oct—30 Apr
|
All legal
methods
|
3
|
|
Waitati River
|
1 Oct—30 Apr
|
All legal
methods
|
3
|
|
Waitati River
downstream of Orokonui Stream confluence
|
|
|
All year
|
All legal
methods
|
3
|
|
Waiwera River
|
1 Oct—30 Apr
|
All legal
methods
|
6
|
|
Wakouaiti River
|
1 Oct—30 Apr
|
All legal
methods
|
3
|
|
Wakouaiti River
downstream of State Highway No. 1 Road Bridge
|
|
|
All year
|
All legal
methods
|
6
|
|
Waters of Leith
|
1 Oct—30 Apr
|
All legal
methods
|
3
|
|
Waters of Leith
downstream from Leith
Street
footbridge
|
|
|
All year
|
All legal
methods
|
3
|
|
Wilkin River
|
1 Nov—31 May
|
Artificial
fly/spinner only
|
1
|
|
Young River
|
1 Nov—31 May
|
Artificial
fly/spinner only
|
1
|
3. CLOSED SEASON
Fishing for sports fish is not permitted at any time in the following specified
waters:
Bullock Creek, from Lake
Wanaka to source.
Horne Creek, from Lake
Wakatipu to source.
Lake Wakatipu, within the waters of Queenstown Bay bounded by a straight line
drawn from the outermost point of Queenstown Gardens to the point where the
south bank of One Mile Creek meets Lake Wakatipu.
Lake Wanaka, within 150 m of any part of the launch wharf at the township of
Wanaka, within 150m of any part of the public jetty at the Wanaka Marina, and
anywhere within 150m of the shoreline between the wharf and the jetty.
Lake Wakatipu, within 100m of any part of the
wharf in Black Bay (commonly known as the Walter Peak
Jetty).
Lochy River catchment upstream from the Billy
Creek
confluence.
Mill Creek (which flows in to Lake
Hayes), from the Speargrass Flat Road
bridge to the source.
All waters in which sports fish are held in captivity for display, hatching or
other purposes, or within a distance of 100m from any part of the outer
boundaries of such waters.
4. AUTHORISED TACKLE
Refer to 2.3.
5. FLY FISHING ONLY WATERS
Refer to 2.3.
6. BAIT FISHING WATERS
Refer to 2.3.
No person shall fish with float or floating device on the line in that section
of the Clutha River from below the Roxburgh Dam to the
Roxburgh Township Bridge.
7. COARSE FISHING WATERS
There are no designated coarse fishing waters in Otago.
8. USE OF BOATS
No anglers shall fish from, or tow any lure from, any boat which is being
mechanically propelled on Lake Dispute, Lake Hayes, Lake Johnson, Moke Lake or
Reid Lake.
No anglers shall fish from a boat on
Lake
Kirkpatrick.
Subject to subclause (4) of this clause, anglers fishing from boats, which are
being mechanically propelled, must stay at least 100 m from any anglers fishing
from he shore.
No anglers in fishing for sports fish shall troll from any boat, which is being
mechanically propelled on any river or stream except the Taieri River
downstream from Henley Ferry ridge, the Waipori River
downstream from the Contour Channel and the Clutha River
downstream from Balclutha.
No anglers shall fish for trout from any boat, canoe, pontoon or any flotation
device on any river or stream except:
Clutha River from Albertown Bridge to the sea
Matukituki River from Glenfinnan Stream confluence to Lake Wanaka
The Taieri River from Outram to the sea
Waipori River from Contour Channel confluence to the Taieri River confluence
All tidal reaches of rivers.
9. DAILY LIMIT BAG
Except in the case of perch for which there is no daily limit, no person shall
on any one day take and kill or be in possession of more than the prescribed
daily limit from the waters specified in 2.3.
No more than 2 salmon: All waters below the Roxburgh Dam and all waters running
into the sea.
No more than 6 sports fish per day:
Subject to the restrictions set out in 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 9.1 and 9.2 above, no
person shall on any 1 day take or kill or be in possession of more than 6 sports
fish per day from any waters except Lake Onslow
(refer to 2.3).
10. FISH LENGTH
No person shall take or be in possession of any salmon less than 450mm taken
from the Clutha River or its tributaries below Roxburgh
Dam and all other waters running into the sea. In all other waters, there shall
be no minimum length.
11. GREENSTONE BACKCOUNTRY FISHERY
The Greenstone River and Caples River are part of the Greenstone backcountry
fishery (which means the Greenstone River catchment) as defined in the Sports
Fish Licences, Fees and Forms Notice 2009 and the provisions of that notice
apply to this notice (see below)
BACKCOUNTRY LICENCE
This season a backcountry licence will be required to fish the following rivers
in Otago: the Greenstone and Caples Rivers; the Lochy above the confluence with
Disputed Creek; the Nevis catchment above the confluence with the Kawarau, and
the Dingleburn above the bridge at Dingleburn Station.
The purpose of this backcountry licence is to simplify monitoring and
where necessary, manage the issue of high angler use in backcountry waters.
The backcountry licence, which is available to all whole season and family
licence holders at no extra cost, can be obtained at some Southland and Otago
licence agencies at the time of purchase, or by contacting either Fish & Game
office directly.
A backcountry licence will also be required to apply for a controlled period
licence to fish the Greenstone
River during the two month
controlled period. It is hoped that limiting angler numbers within the
controlled fishery will increase angler satisfaction and preserve the wilderness
experience.
Further information on backcountry licences or applications for controlled
period licences for the Greenstone
River is provided under
Section 11 of the regional pages. For more detailed information, please visit
https://www.southlandfishgame.co.nz/backcountry/index.php or contact
Southland or Otago Fish & Game.