Fish & Game Central South Island

Fishing Regulations

Fish & Game NZ provides regulations for fishing and game bird hunting throughout New Zealand (except Taupo, where fishing is administered by DOC). These regulations are amended each year to suit changing sporting and environmental conditions.

Local Regulations:

Each region has its own set of regulations which are enforced alongside the broader national regulations. Please study and abide by local regulations at all times – they are designed to ensure the sustainability of game bird hunting and fishing and safeguard New Zealand’s wonderful natural resources.

To view the freshwater fishing regulations for your local region, click on the map at the top right of this page to select your region, and then click on the 'Fishing Regulations' link under Fishing (in the left-hand column of the page).

‘Rules & Regs’- Anglers Notice in the NZ Gazette:

The purpose of the Anglers’ Notice is to set out the conditions under which a licence holder may fish for sports fish in each Fish & Game region. As soon as practicable after the notice for each season is approved by the Minister of Conservation, the NZ Council is required to publish the notice in the New Zealand Gazette.

Anglers Notice in the NZ Gazette

Fish & Game Fishing Regulations Booklets:

Fish & Game New Zealand reproduces the regulations contained in the Notice in the form of North and South Island booklets as free guides for anglers. Anglers should ensure they obtain a booklet when they purchase a fishing licence.

The regulations printed in the guide booklets are subject to the Minister of Conservation’s approval. A copy of the published notice in the New Zealand Gazette is available above.

North Island Fishing regulations for 2022-23 season

South Island Fishing regulations for 2022-23 season

Licences, Fees and Forms Notice:

The Licences, Fees and Forms Notice sets the different forms and classes of a fishing licence. It is issued under the authority of the Acts and Regulations Publication Act 1989. Each notice is signed by the Minister of Conservation and administered by the Department of Conservation.

Click here to view the current Sports Fishing Licences, Fees, and Forms Notice.

Maps

Central South Island Fishing Spots

Select your region

Select a region to discover the role of local Fish & Game Council, find freshwater fishing and game bird hunting information specific to that region.

Brag Your Catch
8lb Brown Trout, from a small fish fishery. Took 5 years of exploring the particular river to find a specimen of this size and quality.
I was fishing my local river in the north island over lockdown, I said to my self I'm going to catch a fish this cast and boom slayed this brown that cast on a veltic
3rd salmon for the season and probably my best all round condition and size fish......stoked as, caught at rakaia river mouth approx 7:45pm 10th Jan Photo cred Andrew Ablett (dad)
4.5 lb caught in rain on Motueka River. Mayflies hatching even in cold and wet.
I don’t go fishing much so to catch this beauty was a treat. Blind strike in a deep pool. Caught on a wiggly worm fly in North Canterbury. Beautiful old Jack, two Jacks are better than one.
This bow gave me an absolute run for my money, I just had to hold on until it let me land it
Sons first trout on his first day fishing. 3 1/2lb
Neeve is 12 years old and has been fly fishing for a couple of years now. This was a pretty nice brownie around 7lb she caught and released in the Te Urewera's in January this year
Me (pictured) and my Dad went fishing at Lake Mclaren but we never expected to land this beauty, a 1.7 Kg Rainbow.
Brag Your Catch