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West Coast > 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 West Coast region, please ensure you are aware of and adhere to local regulations at all times.
2007/2008 regulations for the West Coast region
Reference to Description: New Zealand Gazette, No. 83, 24 May 1990, page 1861
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 the following waters and their estuaries (excluding tributaries) shall be all year:
Arahura River |
Downstream of Milltown (Landsburgh) Bridge |
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Arawhata River |
Downstream of Haast-Jackson Bay Road |
Arnold River |
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Big Ditch Creek |
Downstream of State Highway 67 |
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Big Totara River |
Downstream of State Highway 6 |
Big Wanganui River |
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Brunner Lake |
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Buller River |
Downstream of Lyell confluence |
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Cascade River |
Downstream of Martyr confluence |
Cook River |
Downstream of State Highway 6 |
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Deadmans Creek |
Downstream of State Highway 67 |
Ellery, Lake |
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Grey River |
Downstream of Clarke Confluence |
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Haast River |
Downstream of Pleasant Flat Bridge |
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Hapuka River |
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Haupiri, Lake |
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Hindleys Creek |
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Hokitika River |
Downstream of swing bridge at Lower Gorge |
Ianthe, Lake |
Excluding outlet |
Inangahua River (Lower) |
From Perseverance Bridge to Buller Confluence |
Jacobs River |
Downstream of State Highway 6 |
Kaniere, Lake |
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Kaniere River |
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Karamea River |
Downstream of cableway at mouth of Lower Gorge |
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Karangarua River |
Downstream of State Highway 6 |
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Kohaihai River |
Downstream of Heaphy Track Bridge |
Kokatahi River |
Downstream of Styx Confluence |
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Kumara/Kapitea Reservoir system |
Downstream of Old Christchurch Road |
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Little Totara River |
Downstream of State Highway 6 |
Little Wanganui River |
Downstream of the cableway |
Mahinapua, Lake and outlet creek |
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Mahitahi River |
Downstream of State Highway 6 |
Mapourika, Lake |
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Martins Creek |
Downstream of Martins Creek Bridge |
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Mikonui River |
Downstream of State Highway 6 |
Moeraki, Lake |
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Moeraki River |
Downstream of State Highway 6 |
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Mokihinui River |
Downstream of cableway at Welcome Creek |
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New River |
Downstream of State Highway 6 |
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Ngakawau River |
Downstream of State Highway 67 |
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Nile River |
Downstream of Awakere confluence |
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Ohinetamatea River |
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Okari River |
Downstream of State Highway 6 |
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Okarito River and lagoon |
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Okuru River |
Downstream of Haast-Jackson Bay Road |
Omoeroa River |
Downstream of State Highway 6 |
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Oparara River |
Downstream of Karamea Kohaihai Road |
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Orawaiti River |
Downstream of State Highway 67 |
Paringa, Lake |
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Paringa River |
Downstream of State Highway 6 |
Poerua River (South Westland) |
Downstream of State Highway 6 |
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Porarari River |
Downstream of State Highway 6 |
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Punakaiki River |
Downstream of State Highway 6 |
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Taramakau River |
Downstream of bridge at Jacksons |
Totara River |
Downstream of State Highway 6 |
Turnbull River |
Downstream of Haast - Jackson Bay Road |
Wahapo, Lake |
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Waiatoto River |
Downstream of Haast - Jackson Bay Road |
Waikukupa River |
Downstream of State Highway 6 |
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Waimangaroa River |
Downstream of State Highway 67 |
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Waita River |
Downstream of State Highway 6 |
Waitaha River |
Downstream of State Highway 6 |
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Whakapohi River |
Downstream of State Highway 6 |
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Whareatea River |
Downstream of State Highway 67 |
Whataroa River |
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The season duration for trout and perch in all other waters shall be 1 October – 30 April (incl.)
2.2 Open season for salmon:
The open season for salmon in Lakes Mapourika, Paringa
(including Windbag Stream) and Lake 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.
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. BOATS
There are no special conditions relating to the use of boats for angling.
9. DAILY BAG LIMITS
9.1 No licence holder shall on any day take, kill or be in possession of more than 2 sports fish from the following waters:
Big River
Bruce Stream
Crooked River
Deep Creek
Duck Creek
Harris Creek
Haupiri River
Karamea River and tributaries (above cableway at mouth of lower gorge)
Larrys Creek
Mokihinui River and tributaries (upstream of Welcome Creek)
Molloy Creek
Moonlight River
Murray Creek
Ohikanui River
Orangipuku River
Rough River
Stony Creek
Waitahu River
9.2 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:
4 brown trout
2 rainbow trout
2 salmon
10. FISH LENGTH
10.1 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.
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 | 
