Local Fishing Regulations

Angling regulations are updated annually. Each region has specific regulations for individual rivers and lakes within the framework of national angling regulations. Fishing regulation information for the Otago region is below.

Please respect our angling waters by obeying the angling restrictions applying to them, by not leaving rubbish and by obtaining the landowners permission when crossing private property.

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 the 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 $25.00 plus $2 for postage and packing within NZ.

Access pamphlets including maps are available for many of the popular waters (see below).

Books and access pamphlets are also available at selected outlets or from the Dunedin Fish & Game office. Please also feel free to contact us.

REGULATIONS

Reference to Description: New ZealandGazette, 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, 10 & 11)
Permitted Methods definition

F = Fly fishing only

FS = Fly or Spin fishing only

FSB = Fly, Spin or Bait fishing permitted

2.3 Fishing Regulations for the Otago Rivers and Lakes:

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 150m 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).

Mill Creek (which flows into Lake Hayes), from the Speargrass Flat Road Bridge to Waterfall Park.

Mill Creek above Waterfall Park: No person other than a child or junior licence holder under the age of 18 years as of 1 October 2011 shall fish in Mill Creek above Waterfall Park.

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
6.1 Refer to 2.3.

6.2 No person shall fish with a 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
8.1 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.

8.2 No anglers shall fish from a boat on Lake Kirkpatrick.

8.3 Subject to subclause (4) of this clause, anglers fishing from boats, which are being mechanically propelled, must stay at least 100m from any anglers fishing from the shore.

8.4 No anglers 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 the Henley Ferry Bridge, the Waipori River downstream from the Contour Channel and the Clutha River downstream from Balclutha.

8.5 No anglers shall fish for trout from any boat, canoe, pontoon or any flotation device on any river or stream except:

Clutha River from the Albertown Bridge to the sea.

Matukituki River from Glenfinnan Stream confluence to Lake Wanaka.

Kawarau River from its source at Lake Wakatipu to Lake Dunstan.

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
9.1 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.

9.2 No more than 2 salmon:

All waters except the Clutha River catchment above the Roxburgh Dam.

9.3 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).

9.4 A licence holder may continue to fish for a particular species of sports fish on any day on which he or she has already killed the limit bag for that species as long as any fish taken are immediately returned with as little injury as possible into the water from which it was taken.

10. FISH LENGTH
10.1 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.

10.2 No person shall take or be in possession of any fish greater than 400mm taken from the Nevis River.

10.3 In all other waters there shall be no minimum length.

11. OTAGO BACKCOUNTRY FISHERIES
Backcountry fishery

11.1 Definition: backcountry fishery in this Region is defined as—

(a) the Greenstone River backcountry fishery which means the Greenstone River catchment, namely—

(i) the Greenstone River upstream of the swing bridge at the river’s mouth where the river enters Lake Wakatipu; and

(ii) all tributary streams flowing into the Greenstone River, including the Caples River.

(b) the Dingle Burn backcountry fishery which means the Dingle Burn upstream of the bridge on the Dingle Burn Station access road.

(c) the Lochy River backcountry fishery which means the Lochy River catchment above the confluence with Disputed Creek.

(d) the Nevis River backcountry fishery which means the Nevis River catchment upstream from the confluence with the Kawarau River.

(e) the Hunter River backcountry fishery which means the Hunter River catchment upstream from the river’s mouth where the river enters Lake Hawea.

(f) the Young River backcountry fishery which means the Young River catchment upstream from the confluence with the Makarora River.

(g) the Wilkin River backcountry fishery which means the Wilkin River catchment upstream from the confluence with the Makarora River.

11.2 All anglers who fish in the backcountry fishery (as defined by the Sports Fish Licences, Fees, and Forms Notice 2011) must first obtain a backcountry licence (as defined in the Sports Fish Licences, Fees, and Forms Notice 2011) and the provisions of that Notice apply to this Notice:

Controlled Area

11.3 Definitions:

Controlled area means the Greenstone River (and its tributary streams) between the river’s source and its confluence with the Sly Burn.

Controlled period means the period beginning on 1 February 2012 and ending on 31 March 2012.

Controlled-period licence means a licence that entitles the following persons to fish for sports fish in the controlled area during the controlled period, but only during the day, and on the reach, specified in the licence:

(a) the holder of the controlled-period licence; and

(b) if the holder also holds a backcountry licence that is endorsed on a family licence, the holder’s spouse or partner and, if accompanied by the holder or the holder’s spouse or partner, any member of the holder’s family; and

(c) any 1 or more companion anglers named in the controlled-period licence who hold backcountry licences.

11.4 In the controlled area, a controlled period applies. All anglers who fish in the controlled area must first obtain a controlled-period licence.

All North Island Fishing Regulations /  All South Island Fishing Regulations