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Otago > Fishing Regulations
Angling regulations are updated annually. Each region has specific regulations for individual rivers and lakes within the framework of national angling regulations.
When fishing in the Otago region, please ensure you are aware of and adhere to local regulations at all times.
Click HERE for more information on Backcountry licences and the Controlled Fishery.
Otago Greenstone Booking system is online
Click HERE for more details.
2007/2008 regulations for the Otago region
Reference to Description: New Zealand Gazette, 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)
|
2.1 |
Rivers / Lakes |
Season |
Permitted Method |
Bag Limit |
|
All lakes, rivers and streams above the Clyde Dam not mentioned in 2.3 |
1 Nov – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
1 |
|
2.2 |
Rivers / Lakes |
Season |
Permitted Method |
Bag Limit |
|
All lakes, rivers and streams below the Clyde Dam and any other catchments flowing to the sea not mentioned in 2.3 |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
3 |
2.3 Fishing Regulations for the Otago Rivers and Lakes:
|
Rivers / Lakes |
Season |
Permitted Method |
Bag Limit |
|
Akatore Estuary |
All year |
All legal methods |
6 |
|
Akatore River |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
3 |
|
Albert Burn |
1 Nov – 31 May |
Artificial fly or spinner only |
1 |
|
Arrow River |
1 Nov – 31 May |
All legal methods |
1 |
|
Blakelys Dam |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
1 |
|
Butchers Dam |
All year |
All legal methods |
3 |
|
Caples River* Refer to clause 11 of this part of the notice |
1 Nov – 31 May* Refer to clause 11 below |
Fly fishing only |
1 |
|
Cardrona River |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
1 |
|
Caples River * Refer to clause 11 of this part of the notice |
1 Nov – 31 May* Refer to clause 11 below |
Fly fishing only |
1 |
|
Careys Creek |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
3 |
|
Careys Creek downstream of rail line Bridge |
All year |
All legal methods |
3 |
|
Catlins Estuary downstream of State Highway 92 Bridge |
All year |
All legal methods |
6 |
|
Catlins River |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
6 |
|
Clutha River upstream from Luggate Bridge (except Deans Bank Section) |
All year |
Artificial fly or spinner only |
6 |
|
Clutha River Deans Bank Section, (defined by landmark posts 1km below Lake Wanaka and 600m above Albert Town Bridge) |
1 Oct – 31 May |
Fly fishing only |
6 |
|
Clutha River downstream of Luggate Bridge |
All year |
All legal methods |
6 |
|
Coalpit Dam |
All year |
All legal methods |
1 |
|
Conroys Dam |
All year |
All legal methods |
1 |
|
Contour Channel |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
3 |
|
Dart River |
All year |
Artificial fly or spinner only |
1 |
|
Deep Stream |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
3 |
|
Diamond Creek |
1 Oct – 31 May |
Artificial fly or spinner only |
1 |
|
Diamond Lake |
All year |
Artificial fly or spinner only |
3 |
|
Dingleburn River |
1 Nov – 31 May |
Artificial fly or spinner only |
1 |
|
Falls Dam |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
6 |
|
Fraser Dam |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
3 |
|
Fraser River below dam |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
3 |
|
Fraser River Upper |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
1 |
|
Glenorchy Lagoons |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
Artificial fly or spinner only |
1 |
|
Greenstone River* Refer to clause 11 of this part of the notice |
1 Nov – 31 May* Refer to clause 11 below |
Fly fishing only |
1 |
|
Hamiltons Dam |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
1 |
|
Hawea River |
All year |
Artificial fly or spinner only |
6 |
|
Hoffmans Dam |
All year |
All legal methods |
1 |
|
Hores Control Pond |
All year |
All legal methods |
6 |
|
Hunter River |
1 Nov – 31 May |
Artificial fly or spinner only |
1 |
|
Ida Burn Dam |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
3 |
|
Kaihiku Stream |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
3 |
|
Kaikorai Stream |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
3 |
|
Kaikorai Estuary downstream of Abbotts Creek confluence |
All year |
All legal methods |
3 |
|
Kawarau River |
All year |
All legal methods |
6 |
|
Knights Dam |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
3 |
|
Kuriwao Stream |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
3 |
|
Kye Burn |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
3 |
|
Lake Dispute |
1 Oct – 31 May |
Artificial fly or spinner only |
3 |
|
Lake Dunstan |
All year |
All legal methods |
6 |
|
Lake Hawea |
All year |
All legal methods |
6 |
|
Lake Hayes |
All year |
All legal methods |
3 |
|
Lake Johnson |
All year |
All legal methods |
1 |
|
Lake Kirkpatrick |
All year |
Artificial fly or spinner only |
3 |
|
Lake Mahinerangi |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
6 |
|
Lake Onslow |
All year |
All legal methods |
10 |
|
Lake Roxburgh |
All year |
All legal methods |
6 |
|
Lake Sylvan |
All year |
All legal methods |
6 |
|
Lake Waihola including the outlet and waterways interconnected with Lake Waipori |
All year |
All legal methods |
6 |
|
Lake Waipori |
All year |
All legal methods |
6 |
|
Lake Wakatipu |
All year |
All legal methods |
6 |
|
Lake Wanaka |
All year |
All legal methods |
6 |
|
Lee Stream |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
3 |
|
Lindis River |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
1 |
|
Lochy River downstream from Billy Creek confluence |
1 Nov – 31 May |
Fly fishing only |
1 |
|
Loganburn Dam |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
6 |
|
Maclennan River |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
6 |
|
Makarora River |
1 Nov – 31 May |
Artificial fly or spinner only |
1 |
|
Makarora River downstream of Wilkin River confluence |
All year |
Artificial fly or spinner only |
1 |
|
Manorburn Dam Lower |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
6 |
|
Manorburn Dam Upper |
1 Nov – 31 May |
All legal methods |
6 |
|
Manuherikia and tributaries |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
1 |
|
Mathias Dam |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
3 |
|
Matukituki River |
1 Nov – 31 May |
Artificial fly or spinner only |
1 |
|
Matukituki River downstream from Mototapu confluence |
All year |
Artificial fly or spinner only |
1 |
|
McAtamney’s Head Pond |
All year |
All legal methods |
6 |
|
Meggat Burn |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
3 |
|
Moke Lake |
All year |
Artificial fly or spinner only |
3 |
|
Molyneux Pond |
All year |
All legal methods |
1 |
|
Motatapu River |
1 Nov – 31 May |
Artificial fly or spinner only |
1 |
|
Nenthorn Stream |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
3 |
|
Nevis River |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
Fly fishing only |
1 |
|
Owaka River |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
6 |
|
Owaka River downstream of State Highway 92 |
All year |
All legal methods |
6 |
|
Pleasant River |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
3 |
|
Pomahaka River |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
6 |
|
Pomahaka River downstream of Swans Bridge (Clydevale Road) |
All year |
All legal methods |
6 |
|
Pomahaka River upstream from Park Hill Bridge (Switzers Road) |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
3 |
|
Poolburn Dam |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
3 |
|
Puerua Estuary downstream of State Highway 92 Bridge |
All year |
All legal methods |
6 |
|
Puerua Stream |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
3 |
|
Rees River |
1 Nov – 31 May |
Fly fishing only |
1 |
|
Rees River downstream from Muddy Creek |
All year |
Artificial fly or spinner only |
1 |
|
Reid Lake |
All year |
Artificial fly or spinner only |
3 |
|
Routeburn River |
1 Nov – 31 May |
Fly fishing only |
0 |
|
Rutherfords Dam |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
1 |
|
Shag River |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
3 |
|
Shag River downstream of State Highway 1 Bridge |
All year |
All legal methods |
3 |
|
Shotover River |
All year |
All legal methods |
6 |
|
Silverstream |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
3 |
|
Southern Reservoir |
All year |
Artificial fly or spinner only |
1 |
|
Styx Weir pond |
All year |
All legal methods |
6 |
|
Sullivans Dam |
All year |
Artificial fly or spinner only |
1 |
|
Sutton Stream |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
3 |
|
Tahakopa River |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
6 |
|
Tahakopa River downstream Maclennan River confluence |
All year |
All legal methods |
6 |
|
Taieri River |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
6 |
|
Taieri River downstream of Silverstream confluence |
All year |
All legal methods |
6 |
|
Teviot River |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
6 |
|
Three O’Clock Stream |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
3 |
|
Timaru River |
1 Nov – 31 May |
Artificial fly or spinner only |
1 |
|
Timaru River downstream from Timaru Road Bridge |
All year |
Artificial fly or spinner only |
1 |
|
Tokomairiro River |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
3 |
|
Tokomairiro River downstream from Coal Gully Road Bridge |
All year |
All legal methods |
6 |
|
Tomahawk Lagoon |
All year |
All legal methods |
1 |
|
Tuapeka River |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
3 |
|
Victoria Dam |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
3 |
|
Von Lake |
1 Nov – 31 May |
Fly fishing only |
1 |
|
Von River |
1 Nov – 31 May |
Fly fishing only |
1 |
|
Waipahi River |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
6 |
|
Waipori River upstream of Lake Waipori |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
3 |
|
Waipori River downstream of Lake Waipori |
All year |
All legal methods |
6 |
|
Waitahuna River |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
3 |
|
Waitati River |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
3 |
|
Waitati River downstream of Orokonui Stream confluence |
All year |
All legal methods |
3 |
|
Waiwera River |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
6 |
|
Waikouaiti River |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
3 |
|
Waikouaiti River downstream of State Highway 1 Road Bridge |
All year |
All legal methods |
6 |
|
Waters of Leith |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
All legal methods |
3 |
|
Waters of Leith downstream from Leith Street Foot Bridge |
All year |
All legal methods |
3 |
|
Wilkin River |
1 Nov – 31 May |
Artificial fly or spinner only |
1 |
|
Young River |
1 Nov – 31 May |
Artificial fly or spinner only |
1 |
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)
Lochy River catchment upstream from the Billy Creek confluence
Mill Creek (which flows into Lake Hayes), from the Speargrass Flat Road Bridge to the source
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 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 in 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 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 Albertown Bridge to the sea
Matukituki River from Glenfinnan Stream confluence to Lake Wanaka
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 below the Roxburgh Dam and all waters running into the sea.
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).
10. FISH LENGTH
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. In all other waters there shall be no minimum length.
11. GREENSTONE BACKCOUNTRY FISHERY
The Greenstone River and Caples River are part of the Greenstone backcountry fishery (which means the Greenstone River catchment) as defined in the Sports Fish Licences, Fees and Forms Notice 2007 and the provisions of that notice apply to this notice.
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
In addition to the standard annual review process, every three years angling regulations go through a general review . This year Otago Regions' regulations are due for the 3-year review. Submissions have been accepted from angling clubs and members of the public and collated by Fish & Game staff for council to debate. To view a preliminary report outlining suggested changes to the currentangling regulations in Otago Click Here (PDF 944kb)
Click HERE for more information on Backcountry licences and the Controlled Fishery.
Otago Greenstone Booking system is online
Click HERE for more details.
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