Southland > Fishing Regulations

Angling regulations are updated annually. Each region has specific regulations for individual rivers and lakes within the framework of national angling regulations.

Fish & Game New Zealand’s Southland region is one of the strongholds of brown trout in New Zealand. Regular summer rain means that the rivers and streams of the region flow strongly all through the fishing season. However this also means that rainfall can at times limit angling activities and anglers should have a good knowledge of the region so that lakes and spring creeks which are not affected by flooding can be fished. The Southland plains and hills offer a large number of easily accessible rivers and streams which cater for all types of angling. Most waters have easy access points, many of which are marked with Fish & Game signage. The Mataura which flows through the town of Gore whose inhabitants claim is “The Brown Trout Capital of the World” is the best known of Southland’s rivers. This reputation brings an ever increasing number of anglers into our province to fish this and other rivers like the Aparima and Oreti. While the headwaters of these rivers have reputations for producing big fish they are often very hard to catch and less numerous. The lowland rivers are much are productive and while their trout are smaller on average they can provide excellent angling, especially for family groups and those starting out on a fishing career.

Rainbow trout are largely restricted to the western lakes and their tributaries, and the Mararoa and Waiau River system.

Didymo, the invasive alga that smothers river beds, now occurs in several Southland rivers, affecting the Upper Oreti, Mararoa and the Waiau the worst. Anglers need to carefully clean their gear between rivers because there are rivers where it hasn’t got to yet. The rivers of Fiordland are pristine and it is important that Didymo does not get introduced to these. Anglers fishing in these rivers must get a Clean Gear Certificate before fishing there. Details on the Web site www.fishandgame.org.nz and at the F&G office.

The upsurge in boat ownership has increased the popularity of the large lakes Te Anau and Manapouri and the smaller lakes Monowai and Mavora. These offer good trolling opportunities plus some shore angling. Many anglers are introduced to fishing here and catch their first ever fish. Salmon (chinook) angling in Southland is worth a try too. Each year a few dozen are caught in the main rivers, although it is a bit of a lottery since they are not as abundant as they are in Canterbury. Lake Manapouri has a small but developing chinook population. Special regulations apply to river salmon fishing and these are detailed in the following pages. The Council has made few changes this year – main ones are a change to the bag limit in the upper Oreti, Mataura and several other headwater streams, to a one fish limit. Anglers can also take salmon in the Lower Waiau up to the Mararoa Weir but the Mararoa is still closed to salmon fishing.

When fishing in the Southland 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.

2008/2009 regulations for the Southland region

Reference to Description: New ZealandGazette, No. 83, 24 May 1990, page 1861

1. INTERPRETATIONS

See First Schedule.

2. OPEN SEASON, METHODS AND BAG LIMITS

Permitted Methods definition

F = Fly fishing only

FS = Fly or Spin fishing only

FSB = Fly, Spin or Bait fishing permitted

3. CLOSED WATERS

3.1 No person shall take (includes attempt to take) sports fish from the following waters:

That portion of Lake Manapouri which lies within 100m of any part of the Real Journeys Company’s Tourist Centre, Pearl Harbour, Manapouri

That portion of Lake Te Anau that lies within 100m of any part of the wharf of the Real Journeys Company’s office in the township of Te Anau

Those portions of the Waiau River, Mararoa River and the Waiau Arm of Lake Manapouri that are within 100m of the control gates on the Manapouri Lake Control structure, also known as the Mararoa Weir

3.2 No person shall take (or attempt to take) salmon from any river during the months of April and May.

3.3 No person shall take (or attempt to take) salmon from the Mararoa River.

4. AUTHORISED TACKLE

Refer First Schedule.

5. FLY FISHING ONLY WATERS

Refer Clause 2.

6. BAIT FISHING NOT PERMITTED

Refer Clause 2.

7. COARSE FISHING WATERS

None.

8.1 No person shall fish from any motorised boat in Lake Thomas.

8.2 No person shall fish from any boat or any form of flotation device in:

The Eglinton River
The Mataura River upstream from the Mataura Island Bridge
The Oreti River upstream of the State Highway No 94 bridge just north of Lumsden
The Waikaia River

9.1 Subject to Clauses 3.2, no person shall in any one day take, kill or be in possession of more than 1 salmon from any waters of the region.

9.2 With the exception of perch for which there is no limit, no person shall on any one day take, kill or be in possession of more than 4 sports fish.

No restriction on all waters.