Eastern Fishing Regulations 2016-2017
Contact
Office: Unit A5, 7-11 Nell Place
Whangarei 0110
Postal Address: PO Box 25003
Whangarei 0148
Phone & Fax: (09) 438-4135
Email: northland@fishandgame.org.nz
Office Administrator: Fay Stodart; Manager: Rudi Hoetjes; Field Officer: Andrew Kirk.
Office: Unit A5, 7-11 Nell Place
Whangarei 0110
Postal Address: PO Box 25003
Whangarei 0148
Phone & Fax: (09) 438-4135
Email: northland@fishandgame.org.nz
Office Administrator: Fay Stodart; Manager: Rudi Hoetjes; Field Officer: Andrew Kirk.
No licence holder shall fish for sports fish at any time from the following waters: 3.1 All streams flowing into Lake Tarawera and that portion of the Tarawera River enclosed by landmarks at the Lake Tarawera Outlet and extending approximately 150m downstream to landmarks in the river, otherwise known as the Tarawera Outlet Spawning Sanctuary. 3.2 The Utuhina Stream upstream of the Pukehangi Road Bridge and all tributaries of this stream. 3.3 The following streams and their tributaries which flow into Lake Rotorua: (a) The Awahou, Waiowhiro, Waiohewa, Waingaehe, Waimataa and Waikuta Streams. (b) The Hamurana Stream upstream of the Hamurana Road Bridge. 3.4 All springs, streams and their tributaries which flow into Lake Waikareiti, and into or from Lakes Rotoma, Rotoehu, Rotomahana, Rerewhakaaitu, Rotokakahi, Okareka, Okataina and Rotoiti except the Ohau Channel and the Kaituna River. 3.5 The section of the Ruahihi Canal between the landmarks at the southern end of the canal which enclose the artificial spawning bed.
Fish and Game New Zealand’s Eastern Region offers a large range of fishing opportunities for both lake and river fishing. Access to much of the fishable water in the Eastern Region has been described in a series of comprehensive informational pamphlets. These can be obtained free of charge from most licence sellers and sports shops, as well as our Rotorua office or on the Eastern Region fishing pages on the www. fishandgame.org.nz website. These pamphlets have detailed maps of their respective catchments along with labelled access points and fishing information, and outline the best fishing areas and methods to use. An active access programme is also being implemented throughout the region with extensive signage and tracks to guide anglers to many fishing opportunities. The bush clad Lakes Waikaremoana and Waikareiti in the east provide spectacular boat and shoreline fishing for both brown and rainbow trout in the scenic Te Urewera National Park. The rivers within the park also provide opportunities to target headwater and spawning run fish. The Ruakituri River gives anglers a chance to catch world renowned strong trout while the Waiau River offers very high catch rates. The Bay of Plenty has a large number of spectacular river fisheries from the Waioeka River in the east through the Rangitaiki, Tarawera and Kaituna catchments to the Ngamuwahine River in the west. Lakes like Aniwhenua and Flaxy also add to the diversity of fishing opportunities. The Rotorua lakes are the central feature of the region. Shoreline fly fishing and spin fishing can result in very good catch rates while boat fishing over the summer months provides action and fun for the whole family. Most of the Rotorua lakes lack suitable spawning rivers to sustain trout populations so supplementary stocking maintains high numbers for anglers. Lake Rotorua is not stocked but has one of the highest catch rates in the district while Lake Okareka also keeps anglers happy with high numbers of good quality fish. Lakes Tarawera, Okataina and Rotoiti can produce trophy fish. Lakes Rotoma and Rotoehu provide experiences for those wanting to get away from the crowds, and at Rotoma, the opportunity to chase tiger trout. Lakes Rotomahana and Tikitapu also have their own special charm and local devotees, while Lake Rerewhakaaitu attracts shore based anglers targeting deep bodied fish. Smaller lakes with secluded bays and rising trout are there for the more adventurous anglers who want to “get off the beaten track.” The Eastern Region offers diverse angler experiences, high catch rates and big fish. There is something for everyone. PAMPHLET LIST Comprehensive pamphlets are available for the following waters: • The Rotorua lakes • Lake Rotorua and tributaries • The Waikaremoana lakes • The Ruakituri River • The Waioeka River • The Rangitaiki River System, Horomanga and Whirinaki • The Waikato River and Waikato lakes • Boat fishing information • Tauranga area trout fishing Regulations 1. DEFINITIONS “Fly line” means any floating or sinking line used to facilitate casting that is greater than 3m in length. “Set rod” means any assembled rod that is not in physical contact with a licence holder when being used to fish for sports fish. “Wild rainbow trout” means any rainbow trout not having a fin-clip mark or tag. 2. OPEN SEASON, PERMITTED METHODS, DAILY BAG LIMITS Lakes & Open Permitted DailyBag Rivers Season Method Limits All other waters not listed and excepting closed waters (clause 3 for this region) 1 Oct – 30 Jun Artificial fly/spinner 2 Aniwaniwa Stream downstream of Aniwaniwa Falls. All year Artificial fly/spinner 8* Aniwhenua Lake and canal All year Artificial fly/spinner 2 Aratiatia Lake All year Artificial fly/ spinner/bait No limit Atiamuri Lake All year Artificial fly/ spinner/bait No limit Flaxy Lake and Canal All year Artificial fly/spinner 2 Hamurana Stream downstream of Hamurana Road All year Artificial fly/spinner 8* Hopuruahine Stream and tributaries upstream of the landmark pole. 1 Dec – 30 Jun Fly fishing only 8* Kaitawa Lake 1 Oct – 30 Jun Artificial fly/spinner 8* Kaituna River downstream of control gates. All year Artificial fly/spinner 2 Kaituna River downstream of Highway 2 Bridge. All year Artificial fly/ spinner/bait No limit McLaren Lake All year Artificial fly/spinner 2 Maraetai Lake All year Artificial fly/ spinner/bait No limit Matahina Lake All year Artificial fly/spinner 2 Mokau Stream upstream of the landmark pole 1 Dec – 30 Jun Fly fishing only 8* Motu River upstream of Highway 35. 1 Oct – 30 Jun Artificial fly/spinner 2 Motu River downstream of Highway 35. 1 Oct – 30 Jun Artificial fly/ spinner/bait No limit Ngahewa Lake All year Artificial fly/spinner 8 Ngapouri Lake All year Artificial fly/spinner 8 Ngongotaha Stream downstream of Highway 5 Bridge. All year Artificial fly/spinner 8* Ngongotaha Stream and tributaries (excluding Waimataa) upstream of Highway 5 Bridge. 1 Dec – 30 Jun Fly fishing only 8* Ohau Channel within landmarks at either end. 1 Oct – 30 Jun Fly fishing only 8* Ohakuri Lake All year Artificial fly/ spinner/bait No limit Okareka Lake All year Artificial fly/spinner 8 Okaro Lake All year Artificial fly/spinner 8 Okataina Lake excepting areas below: 1 Oct – 30 Jun Artificial fly/spinner 8 • Winter shoreline area from Te Koutu Point landmark to west of Okataina Lodge landmark extending 200m offshore. All year Artificial fly/spinner 8 • Within 200m of Log pool, Rayners 1 and 2 stream mouths 1 Oct – 30 Jun Fly fishing only from 1 April to 30 June 8 Putere Lakes All year Artificial fly/spinner 2 Rangitaiki River downstream of Otamatea Stream confluence. All year Artificial fly/spinner 2 Rangitaiki River downstream of Highway 2 Bridge. All year Artificial fly/ spinner/bait No limit Rangitaiki Canal (Wheao) All year Artificial fly/spinner 2 Rerewhakaaitu Lake All year Artificial fly/spinner 8 Rotoehu Lake All year Artificial fly/spinner 8 Rotoiti Lake excepting areas below: 1 Oct – 30 Jun Artificial fly/spinner 8 • Winter shoreline area from Tapuaekura Bay landmark to Hinehopu Landmark extending 200m offshore, excepting areas below in italics: All year Artificial fly/spinner 8 • Within 200m of Tapuaekura Bay Stream mouth, Hauparu Bay Stream mouth, Ruato Bay Stream mouth, Waiiti Stream mouth and the Pipe. All year Fly fishing only from 1 April to 30 September 8 • Within 300m of the Ohau Channel delta landmark 1 Oct – 30 Jun Fly fishing only 8 Rotoma Lake excepting areas below. All year Artificial fly/spinner 8 • Winter shoreline areas between landmarks at Anaputa Point and Matahi Bay, and between landmarks in Manawahe Bay both extending 200m offshore. 1 Oct – 30 Jun Artificial fly/spinner 8 Rotomahana Lake All year Artificial fly/spinner 8 Rotorua Lake excepting areas below. All year Artificial fly/spinner 8* • Within 200m of Awahou Stream mouth. All year Fly fishing only 8* • Within 200m of Ohau Channel entrance. All year Fly fishing only 8* Ruahihi Canal All year Artificial fly/spinner 2 Ruakituri River and tributaries (excluding Hangaroa) upstream of Te Reinga Falls 1 Oct – 30 Jun Fly fishing only 2 Tarawera Lake excepting areas below 1 Oct – 30 Jun Artificial fly/spinner 8 • Within 200m of Te Wairoa Stream mouth. 1 Oct – 30 Jun Fly fishing only from 1 April to 30 June 8 female trout only • Within 200m of the mouths of Wairua Stream, Twin Creeks and the Tarawera Outlet. 1 Oct – 30 Jun Fly fishing only from 1 April to 30 June 8 • Winter shoreline area from Tarawera Outlet landmark to Te Tapahoro Bay landmark and 200m offshore. All year Artificial fly/spinner 8 • Winter shoreline area from Te Wairoa Landing landmark to Otumutu Lagoon landmark and 200m offshore, excluding landmarked stream mouths as below in italics: All year Artificial fly/spinner 8 • Within 200m of the Landing, the Orchard and Waitangi Stream mouths. All year Fly fishing only from 1 April to 30 September 8 Tarawera River from the outlet to the Tarawera falls, excluding the spawning sanctuary. 1 Oct – 31 May Fly fishing only 8 Tarawera River from the falls to Highway 2. All year Artificial fly/spinner 2 Tarawera River downstream of Highway 2. All year Artificial fly/ spinner/bait No limit Tikitapu Lake All year Artificial fly/spinner 8 Tiniroto Lakes All year Artificial fly/spinner 2 Utuhina Stream downstream of Devon Road Bridge. All year Artificial fly/spinner 8* Utuhina Stream upstream of Devon Road Bridge but downstream of Pukehangi Road Bridge. 1 Dec – 30 Jun Artificial fly/spinner 8* Waikareiti Lake All year Artificial fly/spinner 8 Waikaremoana Lake excepting area below. All year Artificial fly/spinner 8* • Within 200m downstream of Hopuruahine and Mokau landmark poles. All year Fly fishing only 8* Waikaretaheke River downstream of Piripaua Powerhouse. All year Artificial fly/spinner 2 Waiau River downstream of the Waikaretaheke River confluence. All year Artificial fly/spinner 2 Waikato River from Huka Falls to Maraetai. All year Artificial fly/ spinner/bait No limit Waimana River downstream of Matahi Bridge. All year Artificial fly/spinner 2 Waioeka River downstream of Tauranga Stream confluence. All year Artificial fly/spinner 2 Waioeka River downstream of Highway 2 Bridge. All year Artificial fly/ spinner/bait No limit Wairoa River downstream of Te Reinga Falls to Highway 2. All year Artificial fly/spinner 2 Wairoa River downstream of Highway 2 Bridge. All year Artificial fly/ spinner/bait No limit Wairoa River (Tauranga) downstream of Lake McLaren. All year Artificial fly/spinner 2 Wairoa River (Tauranga) downstream of Highway 2 Bridge. All year Artificial fly/ spinner/bait No limit Waiteti Stream downstream of Hamurana Road. All year Artificial fly/spinner 8* Waiteti Stream upstream of Hamurana Road. 1 Dec – 30 Jun Artificial fly/spinner 8* Whakamarino Lake (Tuai Lake) 1 Oct – 30 Jun Fly fishing only 8* Whakamaru Lake All year Artificial fly/ spinner/bait No limit Whakatane River down -stream of Owaka Stream confluence. All year Artificial fly/spinner 2 Whakatane River downstream of the Highway 2 Bridge. All year Artificial fly/ spinner/bait No limit Wheao River All year Artificial fly/spinner 2 Bag limits denoted by 8* mean no licence holder shall kill more than 2 brown trout in a daily bag limit of 8 trout. 3. CLOSED WATERS No licence holder shall fish for sports fish at any time from the following waters: 3.1 All streams flowing into Lake Tarawera and that portion of the Tarawera River enclosed by landmarks at the Lake Tarawera Outlet and extending approximately 150m downstream to landmarks in the river, otherwise known as the Tarawera Outlet Spawning Sanctuary. 3.2 The Utuhina Stream upstream of the Pukehangi Road Bridge and all tributaries of this stream. 3.3 The following streams and their tributaries which flow into Lake Rotorua: (a) The Awahou, Waiowhiro, Waiohewa, Waingaehe, Waimataa and Waikuta Streams. (b) The Hamurana Stream upstream of the Hamurana Road Bridge. 3.4 All springs, streams and their tributaries which flow into Lake Waikareiti, and into or from Lakes Rotoma, Rotoehu, Rotomahana, Rerewhakaaitu, Rotokakahi, Okareka, Okataina and Rotoiti except the Ohau Channel and the Kaituna River. 3.5 The section of the Ruahihi Canal between the landmarks at the southern end of the canal which enclose the artificial spawning bed. 4. AUTHORISED TACKLE 4.1 No licence holder shall fish for sports fish with a set rod unless he or she is fishing from a boat. 4.2 Downriggers, paravanes and metal cored or wire lines are prohibited in Lakes Waikaremoana and Waikareiti. 5. BAIT FISHING WATERS No licence holder when fishing in bait fishing waters shall use any whole fish sourced from any water other than that where the fishing is occurring. 6. COARSE FISHING WATERS There are no defined coarse fishing waters in the Eastern Region. 7. USE OF BOATS 7.1 No licence holder shall fish for trout from a boat in the following waters: (a) That section of the Tarawera Outlet enclosed by landmarks. (b) The designated winter shoreline-fishing areas on Lakes Tarawera, Rotoiti and Okataina (clause 2 for this region) from 1 July to 30 September. Note 1)No boats are allowed to pass through the Tarawera Outlet Spawning Sanctuary at any time. Note 2)No boats are permitted under the Bay of Plenty Regional Navigation Safety Bylaws 2004 to anchor in the Ohau Channel. 7.2 No licence holder shall fish for trout from any unanchored boat: (a) in waters that, at any time of the year, are reserved for fly fishing only except in Lake Whakamarino (Tuai). (b) in waters that are within a 200m radius around the centre of the Utuhina, Waiteti, Ngongotaha and Hamurana Stream mouths in Lake Rotorua. (c) in waters that are within the section of Rangiuru Bay |