West Coast Fishing Regulations 2016-2017
CONTACT:
Office: Airport Drive, Hokitika
Postal Address: PO Box 179 Hokitika 7842
Phone: (03) 755 8546 Fax: (03) 755 6540
Email: [email protected]
Administration: Kim McPherson Manager: Dean Kelly Field Officer: Lee Crosswell
Office: Airport Drive, Hokitika
Postal Address: PO Box 179 Hokitika 7842
Phone: (03) 755 8546 Fax: (03) 755 6540
Email: [email protected]
Administration: Kim McPherson Manager: Dean Kelly Field Officer: Lee Crosswell
Fish & Game New Zealand’s West Coast region extends from Kahurangi Point, north of Karamea, to Awarua Point south of Haast. In between lies some 2 million hectares, much of it wilderness and with more rivers and lakes than many people would fish in a lifetime. Increasing numbers of anglers rate isolation, peace and solitude almost as highly as the opportunity to fish for wild trout. On the ‘Coast these attributes exist in abundance along with a surprising range of angling opportunity. Brown trout occupy a diverse range of habitats between the mountains and the sea including lakes and spring fed river tributaries. The more popular sea-run salmon fisheries are centred on South Westland lakes-which also contain resident lake stocks-and from January until April salmon can be expected around most major river mouths south of and including the Grey River. Barriers to access for anglers are, for the most part, dictated only by climate and terrain. All that we ask is that you respect West Coast waters, leave no litter and return fish that you cannot use.
ARAHURA RIVER ACCESS
Unlike most other West Coast rivers the bed and banks of the Arahura River are not public land. In 1976 the Crown vested the title to the bed and banks of the Arahura River in the Mawhera Incorporation, a Māori landowners Trust, as Māori freehold land. The Mawhera Incorporation has a permit system in place to allow for public access. To obtain a permit from Mawhera Incorporation contact; Natalie Win (Chair) (03) 7555 400 Proprietors of Mawhera Incorporation 6 Lancaster Street, Waltham, PO Box 13042, Christchurch 8141 T: (03) 964 7203 F: (03) 365 4098 E: [email protected]
HAUPIRI RIVER ACCESS
A public access agreement is in place for Heaphy Road which provides access to the upper Haupiri River. Vehicle access to the carpark up the valley is ensured for recreational and commercial recreation purposes Anglers must check in at the Christian Community Trust office as the access road is through private property. Access over the Land is restricted to the marked Route and is only permitted during day light hours (except in the case of an emergency). Access from the Carpark onwards is restricted to access by foot along the marked walking Routes. No filming or recording of the Trust’s members or property is permitted on the Route without the Trust’s permission. The New Zealand Outdoors Access Code is to be complied with on the Route. No camping, lighting of fires, hunting or discharging of firearms is permitted on the Route or the Land.
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 all waters shall be 1 October – 30 April (incl.) except in the following waters the season duration for trout and perch (excluding tributaries) shall be all year:
Ahaura River Downstream of Granite Creek
Arahura River Downstream of Milltown (Landsburgh) Bridge
Arawhata River Downstream of Haast-Jackson Bay Road
Arnold River
Big Ditch Creek Downstream of State Highway 67
Big Totara River Downstream of State Highway 6
Brunner Lake
Buller River Downstream of Lyell confluence
Cascade River Downstream of Martyr confluence
Cook River Downstream of State Highway
6 Deadmans Creek Downstream of State Highway 67
Ellery, Lake Grey River Downstream of Clarke confluence
Haast River Downstream of Pleasant Flat Bridge
Hapuka River
Haupiri, Lake
Hindleys Creek
Hokitika River Ianthe, Lake Excluding outlet
Inangahua River (Lower) From Perseverance Bridge to Buller confluence
Jacobs River Downstream of State Highway 6
Kaniere, Lake
Kaniere River
Karamea River Downstream of cableway at mouth of Lower Gorge
Karangarua River Downstream of State Highway 6
Kohaihai River Downstream of Heaphy Track Bridge
Kokatahi River Downstream of Styx Confluence
Kumara/Kapitea Reservoir system Downstream of Old Christchurch Road
Little Totara River Downstream of State Highway 6
Little Wanganui River Downstream of State Highway 67
Mahinapua, Lake and outlet creek
Mahitahi River Downstream of State Highway 6
Mapourika, Lake Martins Creek Downstream of Martins Creek Bridge
Mikonui River Downstream of State Highway 6
Moeraki, Lake Moeraki R. Downstream of State Highway 6
Mokihinui River Downstream of cableway at Welcome Creek
Mokihinui River Downstream of cableway at Welcome Creek
New River Downstream of State Highway 6
Ngakawau River Downstream of State Highway 67
Nile River Downstream of Awakere confluence
Ohinetamatea River
Okari River Downstream of State Highway
Okarito River and lagoon
Okuru River Downstream of Haast-Jackson Bay Road
Omoeroa River Downstream of State Highway 6
Oparara River Downstream of Karamea-Kohaihai Road
Orowaiti River Downstream of State Highway 67
Paringa, Lake Paringa R. Downstream of State Highway 6
Poerua River (South Westland) Downstream of State Highway 6
Porarari River Downstream of State Highway 6
Punakaiki River Downstream of State Highway 6
Taramakau River Downstream of bridge at Jacksons
Totara River Downstream of State Highway 6
Turnbull River Downstream of Haast-Jackson Bay Road
Wahapo, Lake Waiatoto R. Downstream of Haast-Jackson Bay Road
Waikukupa River Downstream of State Highway 6
Waimangaroa River Downstream of State Highway 67
Waita River Downstream of State Highway 6
Waitaha River Downstream of State Highway 6
Wanganui River Downstream of State Highway 6
Whakapohi River Downstream of State Highway 6
Whareatea River Downstream of State Highway 67
Whataroa River
Whitcombe River
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. USE OF BOATS
There are no special conditions relating to the use of boats for angling
2.2 Open season for salmon: The open season for salmon in the Okarito River, Windbag Stream and Lakes Mapourika, Paringa and Moeraki shall be 1 October – 31 March (incl.) All other waters 1 October – 30 April (incl.)
3. CLOSED WATERS
McDonalds Creek at Lake Mapourika is closed to fishing at all times.
9. DAILY BAG LIMITS
9.1 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: • 2 brown trout. • 2 rainbow trout. • 2 salmon.
10. FISH LENGTH
The minimum length for trout and salmon in the following waters shall be 250mm: • Lake Ellery. • Lake Mapourika. • Lake Moeraki. • Lake Paringa. In all other waters there shall be no minimum length.
11. WESTCOAST BACKCOUNTRY FISHERY
11.1 Definition: • Backcountry fishery in this region means:
• The Karamea backcountry fishery which means the Karamea catchment upstream of the confluence with the Kakapo River.
• The Mokihinui River which means the Mokihinui catchment upstream of the confluence with Rough and Tumble Creek
• All anglers who fish in the backcountry fishery (as defined by the Sports Fish Licences, Fees, and Forms Notice 2016) must obtain a backcountry licence (as defined by the Sports Fish Licences, Fees, and Forms Notice 2016) and the provisions of that notice apply to this Notice.