2009-2010 WEST COAST REGION Fishing Regulations  
Contact:

Office
Postal Address
Phone
Fax
Manager
Field Officer
 

Airport Drive, Hokitika
PO Box 179 Hokitika
(03) 755-8546
(03) 755-6540
Chris Tonkin
Dean Kelly
 

The West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island offers some of the most remote and least pressured fisheries.  The area stretches from Karamea to Awarua Point south of Haast.  Between these areas are 2 million hectares of landscape, most of it wilderness or close to it.  This area alone offers more rivers and lakes and spring creeks than you could explore in a lifetime.  Brown trout dominate, with a sprinkling of rainbow trout, but salmon fishing opportunities are also available in the South Westland lakes.  Only weather and rugged landscape act as barriers to angling access.  A simple polite request to a private landowner will more often than not result in access to wonderful water.

 

REGULATIONS

Reference to Description: New Zealand Gazette, No. 83, 24 May 1990, page 1861

1. DEFINITIONS
For interpretation of terms refer to the first schedule of this notice or the Freshwater Fisheries Regulations 1983.

2. OPEN SEASON
2.1 Open season for trout and perch
The season duration for trout and perch in the following waters and their estuaries (excluding tributaries) shall be all year:
 

Rivers/Lakes

 

Arahura River

Downstream of Milltown (Landsburgh) Bridge

Arawhata River

Downstream of Haast/Jackson Bay Road

Arnold River

 

Big Ditch Creek

Downstream of State Highway No. 67

Big Totara River

Downstream of State Highway No. 6

Big Wanganui River

 

Brunner Lake

 

Buller River

Downstream of Lyell confluence

Cascade River

Downstream of Martyr confluence

Cook River

Downstream of State Highway No. 6

Deadmans Creek

Downstream of State Highway No. 67

Ellery, Lake

 

Grey River

Downstream of Clarke Confluence

Haast River

Downstream of Pleasant Flat Bridge

Hapuka River

 

Haupiri, Lake

 

Hindley’s Creek

 

Hokitika River

Downstream of swing bridge at Lower Gorge

Ianthe, Lake

Excluding outlet

Inangahua River (lower)

from Perseverance Bridge to Buller Confluence

Jacobs River

Downstream of State Highway No. 6

Kaniere, Lake

 

Kaniere River

 

Karamea River

Downstream of cableway at mouth of Lower Gorge

Karangarua River

Downstream of State Highway No. 6

Kohaihai River

Downstream of Heaphy Track Bridge

Kakatahi River

Downstream of Styx Confluence

Kumara/Kapitea Reservoir syst.

Downstream of Old Christchurch Road

Little Totara River

Downstream of State Highway No. 6

Little Wanganui River

Downstream of the cableway

Mahinapua, Lake

and outlet creek

Mahitahi River

Downstream of State Highway No. 6

Mapouika, Lake

 

Martins Creek

Downstream of Martins Creek Bridge

Mikonui River

Downstream of State Highway No. 6

Moeraki, Lake

 

Moeraki River

Downstream of State Highway No. 6

Mokihinui River

Downstream of cableway at Welcome Creek

New River

Downstream of State Highway No.6

Ngakawau River

Downstream of State Highway No. 67

Nile River

Downstream of Awakere confluence

Okari River

Downstream of State Highway No. 6

Okarito River

and lagoon

Okuru River

Downstream of Haast/ Jackson Bay Road

Omoeroa River

Downstream of State Highway No. 6

Oparara River

Downstream of Karamea Kohaihai Road

Orwaiti River

Downstream of State Highway No. 67

Paringa, Lake

 

Paringa River

Downstream of State Highway No. 6

Poerua River (South Westland)

Downstream of State Highway No. 6

Porari River

Downstream of State Highway No. 6

Punakaiki River

Downstream of State Highway No. 6

Taramakau River

Downstream of bridge at Jackson’s

Totara River

Downstream of State Highway No. 6

Turnbull River

Downstream of Haast/ Jackson Bay Road

Wahapo, Lake

 

Waiatoto River

Downstream of Haast/ Jackson Bay Road

Waikukupa River

Downstream of State Highway No. 6

Waimangaroa River

Downstream of State Highway No. 67

Waita River

Downstream of State Highway No. 6

Waitaha River

Downstream of State Highway No. 6

Whakapohi River

Downstreeam of State Highway No.6

Wharatea River

Downstream of State Highiway No. 67

Whataroa River

 

 The season duration for trout and perch in all other waters shall be 1 October—30 April (incl.)
2.2 Open season for salmon:
The open season for salmon in Lakes Mapourika, Paringa (including Wingbag Stream) and Lake Moeraki shall be
1 October—31 March (incl).
All other waters 1 October 30 April (incl.)

3. CLOSED WATERS
McDonald’s Creek at Lake Mapourika is closed to fish at all times


4. AUTHORISED TACKLE

All legal methods as described in the First Schedule to this notice are permitted in all waters.

5. FLY FISHING ONLY WATERS
There are no fly fishing only waters in the West Coast Region.

6. BAIT FISHING
Permitted in all waters.

7. COARSE FISHING WATERS
There are no special conditions relating to coarse fishing other than those provided for in the First Schedule to this notice.

8. BOATS
There are no special conditions relating to the use of boats for angling.

9. DAILY BAG LIMITS
9.1 No licence holder shall on any day take, kill or be in possession of more than 2 sports fish from the following waters:
Big River
Bruce Stream
Crooked River
Deep Creek
Duck Creek
Harris Creek
Haupiri River
Karamea River and tributaries (above cableway at mouth of lower gorge)
Larry’s Creek
Mokihinui River and tributaries (upstream of Welcome Creek)
Molloy Creek
Moonlight River
Murray Creek
Ohikanui Creek
Orangipuku River
Rough River
Stony Creek
Waitahu River

9.2 In all other waters, except in the case of perch for which there is no daily limit, no licence holder shall on any day take, kill or be in possession of more than:

4 brown trout
2 rainbow trout
2 salmon

10. FISH LENGTH
10.1 The minimum length for trout and salmon in the following waters shall be 250 mm:
Lake Ellery
Lake Mapourika
Lake Moeraki
Lake Paringa

In all other water there shall be no minimum length.