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Auckland / Waikato > Fishing Regulations
Angling regulations are updated annually. Each region has specific regulations for individual rivers and lakes within the framework of national angling regulations.
The Auckland/Waikato Region offers a wide diversity of fishing opportunities with many lake and river fisheries. Seven lakes within one hour of Auckland City are regularly stocked with trout, and wild trout are present in the Mangatawhiri and Mangatangi reservoirs. Moreover there is good trout fishing in the Coromandel Ranges with most rivers having easy access and high scenic values. Further south there are numerous spring-fed trout streams in the South Waikato, and many backcountry fisheries throughout the King Country including the headwaters of the Waipa, Whanganui, Whakapapa, and Awakino Rivers. The Waikato River has an abundant brown trout population, and the hydro-lakes provide excellent lake fishing. Coarse fisheries are present in most lakes north of Hamilton, including Lake Pupuke and Hamilton Lake. Good coarse fishing is also available in the lower Waikato and Whangamarino Rivers.
The following pamphlets are available from Auckland/Waikato Fish & Game:
- Trout fishing in the Auckland/Waikato Region
- Fishing in the lakes of the Auckland/Waikato Region
- Trout fishing in the southern waters of the Auckland/Waikato Region
- Trout fishing in the Coromandel Ranges
- Trout fishing in South Waikato spring creeks
- Coarse fishing in the Auckland/Waikato Region
- Getting started in freshwater fishing.
- Waitomo and Kawhia Trout Fishing
- Trout Fishing on the Mighty Waipa
- Trout Fishing on the Waikato River
When fishing in the Auckland / Waikato region, please ensure you are aware of and adhere to local regulations at all times.
Here are the2008 / 2009 regulations for the Auckland / Waikato region:
Reference to Description: New ZealandGazette, No. 83, 24 May 1990, page 1861, as amended by New ZealandGazette, No. 129, 29 August 1991, page 2786
1. DEFINITIONS
See First Schedule.
2. OPEN SEASON, PERMITTED METHODS AND TROUT BAG LIMITS
|
|
Season |
Permitted Methods |
Bag Limit (Trout) |
|
2.1 Lakes |
|
|
|
|
Arapuni |
All year |
All legal lures/baits |
5 |
|
Karapiro |
All year |
All legal lures/baits |
2 |
|
Mangatangi Reservoir |
All year |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
Mangatawhiri Reservoir |
All year |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
Moana-nui |
All year |
All legal lures/baits |
5 |
|
Otamatearoa (Muirs) |
All year |
All legal lures/baits |
5 |
|
Ototoa |
All year |
All legal lures/baits |
5 |
|
Parkinsons |
All year |
All legal lures/baits |
5 |
|
Pupuke |
All year |
No bait restrictions |
5 |
|
Tomarata |
All year |
All legal lures/baits |
5 |
|
Waipapa |
All year |
All legal lures/baits |
5 |
|
Whatihua (Thomsons) |
All year |
All legal lures/baits |
5 |
|
All other lakes/ponds |
All year |
No bait restrictions |
5 |
|
2.2 Hydro Lake Tributaries |
|
|
|
|
Little Waipa Stream
(Horahora Road Bridge
deemed to be the mouth) |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
Pokaiwhenua Stream |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
Mangawhio Stream |
|
|
|
|
· below lower falls |
All year |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
· above lower falls |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
Waipapa River |
|
|
|
|
· below lower falls |
All year |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
· above lower falls |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
All other streams flowing into Lake Waipapa, Lake Arapuni and Lake Karapiro are closed
(refer to Section 3)
|
2.3 Rivers and Streams |
|
|
|
|
Awakino |
|
|
|
|
· below Mahoenui Bridge |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
2 |
|
· above Mahoenui Bridge |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Fly fishing only |
2 |
|
Awaroa |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
Hikutaia |
|
|
|
|
· below Whangamata track |
All year |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
· above Whangamata track |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
Kakahu |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Fly fishing only |
5 |
|
Kaniwhaniwha |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Fly fishing only |
5 |
|
Kaimarama |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
Kapowai |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
Karapiro Stream |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
Kauaeranga |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
Komata |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
Mahakirau |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
Mangakahu |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
Mangaohae |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
Mangaokewa |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
Mangaorongo |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
Mangaotaki |
|
|
|
|
· below lower bridge on
Mangaotaki Road |
All year |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
· above lower bridge on
Mangaotaki Road |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
Mangatawhiri |
|
|
|
|
· below State Highway 2 Bridge |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
No bait restrictions |
5 |
|
· above State Highway 2 Bridge |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
Mangatepopo |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
Mangatutu |
|
|
|
|
· below Lethbridge Road |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
· above Lethbridge Road |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Fly fishing only |
5 |
|
Mangawhero |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
Maramataha |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
Maratoto |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
Marokopa |
|
|
|
|
· below Mangatuahaua Stream |
All year |
All legal lures/baits |
5 |
|
· above Mangatuahaua Stream |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
Moakurarua |
|
|
|
|
· below Honikiwi Road |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
All legal lures/baits |
5 |
|
· above Honikiwi Road |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
Mokau |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
Ngakoaohia |
|
|
|
|
· below Pirongia/Kawhia Bridge |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
· above Pirongia/Kawhia Bridge |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Fly fishing only |
5 |
|
Ngutunui |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
Ohinemuri |
|
|
|
|
· below Victoria Street Bridge |
All year |
All legal lures/baits |
2 |
|
· above Victoria Street Bridge |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
2 |
|
Okauaka |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
Okupata |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
Omahine |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
Ongarue |
|
|
|
|
· below Waimiha Stream |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
All legal lures/baits |
5 |
|
· above Waimiha Stream |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
Oparau |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
Oraka |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
Owairaka |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
Piopiotea |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
Pungapunga |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
Puniu |
|
|
|
|
· below Seafund Road Bridge |
All year |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
· above Seafund Road Bridge |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
Purere (upper Waihou) |
All year |
Spinner/artificial fly |
No limit* |
|
Rapurapu |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
Tapu |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
Tairua |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
Taringamotu |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
Tawarau |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
Waihou |
|
|
|
|
· below Okoroire Falls |
All year |
All legal lures/baits |
5 |
|
· above Okoroire Falls |
All year |
Spinner/artificial fly |
No limit* |
|
Waikato |
All year |
All legal lures/baits |
5 |
|
Waimakariri |
All year |
Spinner/artificial fly |
No limit* |
|
Waimiha |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
Waiomou |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
Waione |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
Waipa |
|
|
|
|
· below State Highway 3 Bridge at Otorohanga |
All year |
All legal lures/baits |
5 |
|
· between State Highway 3
Bridge and
Toa Bridge |
All year |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
· above Toa Bridge |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
Waipare (upper Waihou) |
All year |
Spinner/artificial fly |
No limit* |
|
Waipari |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
Wairoa |
All year |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
Waitawheta |
|
|
|
|
· below end of Franklin Road |
All year |
Spinner/artificial fly |
2 |
|
· above end of Franklin Road |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
2 |
|
Waitekauri |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
2 |
|
Waiwawa |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
Whanganui |
|
|
|
|
· below Whakapapa River |
All year |
All legal lures/baits |
5 |
|
· above Whakapapa River |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
Whakapapa |
|
|
|
|
· below Piopiotea Stream |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
|
· above Piopiotea Stream |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
2 brown
0 rainbow |
|
Whakapapa-iti |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
2 brown
0 rainbow |
|
Whakapapa-nui |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
2 brown
0 rainbow |
|
Whangamarino |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
No bait restrictions |
5 |
|
All other rivers/streams not mentioned in Sections 2 and 3 |
Oct 1 – Jun 30 |
Spinner/artificial fly |
5 |
* Where there is no bag limit, only 2 of these trout may be greater than 30cm in length (refer to
Section 10).
3. CLOSED WATERS
3.1 No licence holder shall take (or attempt to take) sports fish from all rivers, streams and their tributaries which flow into but not including Lake Arapuni, Lake Waipapa and Lake Karapiro, and that part of the Waikato River downstream from the Maraetai Dam to above the Karapiro Dam.
3.2 The closed waters restrictions in Section 3.1 do not apply to the waters specified in Section 2.2 of this Schedule.
4. AUTHORISED TACKLE
Refer to Section 2.
5. FLY FISHING ONLY WATERS
Refer to Section 2.
6. BAIT FISHING WATERS
No licence holder when fishing in bait fishing waters shall use as bait any fish taken from any water other than where the fishing is occurring.
7. COARSE FISHING WATERS
7.1 The following waters are designated as coarse fishing waters:
Mangatawhiri River from the bridge on State Highway 2 to its confluence with the Waikato River
Whangamarino River
All lakes and ponds, excluding the Mangatangi Reservoir, Mangatawhiri Reservoir and any lake specified in Section 2 of this part of the Schedule
7.2 There are no restrictions on the numbers of rods and running lines that a licence holder fishing for perch, tench or rudd may have provided only one of which shall be used for fishing at any one time.
7.3 A roach pole may be used to fish for perch, tench and rudd.
7.4 It is an offence to kill on any day more than five tench. There is no limit for perch or rudd.
8. USE OF BOATS
No licence holder shall fish for sports fish from any vessel in the upper reaches of Lake Karapiro (upstream from the white marker post, situated 200m below the Huihuitaha Stream mouth) unless the vessel is securely anchored.
9. HOURS OF FISHING
There are no restrictions on the hours of fishing in the Auckland/Waikato Region.
10. FISH LENGTH
10.1 There are no length restrictions in the Waimakariri Stream and Waihou River upstream from Okoroire and their tributaries, except that no licence holder shall take more than 2 trout exceeding 30cm in length.
10.2 In all other waters the minimum length is 30cm.
To see the latest regulations for all of the North Island (excluding Taupo where fishing is administered by DOC) and South Island, please download the PDFs below.
North Island / South Island | 
