South-East area fishing rules

In the South-East area, there is a combined daily bag limit of 30 finfish* per fisher (excluding specified baitfish and freshwater eels).

This means that you can have a combination of up to 30 of any finfish in total. For example, you could have 10 kahawai, 10 blue moki and 10 red cod. As long as you have no more than 30 in total.

There are also species with individual daily limits within the combined daily bag limit of 30 (Table 1). You must not exceed individual species limits. For example, there is a daily limit of 5 bluenose. This means you could have 5 bluenose, 15 kahawai and 10 red cod.

In addition to the combined daily bag limit of 30, you can take a maximum of 50 of any combination of baitfish species (Table 3) and a maximum of 6 freshwater eels (Table 4). For example, you could take 10 kahawai, 10 blue moki, 10 red cod and 50 baitfish.

Remember, there may be other specific rules in some areas. For example, a harbour might have different size limits for certain species. Check the "Closed areas and special restrictions" section on this page for more information.

* Finfish includes all species of finfish of the classes Agnatha, Chondrichthyes, and Osteichthyes, at any stage of their life history, whether living or dead.

Table 1: Individual species daily limits within the combined bag limit

Table 2 - Further size limits for finfish within the combined bag limit

Table 3: Additional to combined bag limit

Table 4: Additional to combined bag limit

Table 5: Blue cod restrictions

Shellfish are considered "taken" (collected or harvested) when they can't freely return to the water. For example, when you put them in a bag. When you're gathering/collection, you can never possess more than your daily limit.

Remember, there may be other specific rules in some areas. For example, a harbour might have different size limits for certain species. Check the 'Closed areas and restrictions' section on this page for more information.

^ During the open season dredge oysters can be harvested by dredge and the use of underwater breathing apparatus. Both the daily limit and minimum size of 58mm applies. Hand gathering dredge oysters: there is no restriction on either size or season for dredge oysters that are hand-gathered (includes shore picking and free diving, does not include diving using underwater breathing apparatus).

* View a map of the Moeraki Mātaitai Reserve including closed areas [PDF, 203 KB]

** View the East Otago Taiapure rules including closed and restricted areas [PDF, 1.5 MB]

*** Map of the Canterbury pāua restrictions [PDF, 1.3 MB]

Get a brochure [PDF, 2.2 MB]

****  Map of the Marfells Beach to Conway River Area [PDF, 58 KB] 

+ Limited provision allows a diver on a vessel to gather extra bag limits of oysters and scallops for up to 2 other people acting in a dive safety capacity. Note: This only applies to taking scallops and oysters.

• This is a combined, mixed-species bag limit. It applies to all shellfish species not specifically named above and includes all crabs, limpets, starfish, periwinkles, whelks, barnacles and freshwater crayfish (koura).

This section has the rules for both:

• spiny rock lobster
• packhorse lobster.

Remember, there may be other specific rules in some areas. Check the 'Closed areas and special restrictions' section on this page for more information.

Rules changing in CRA5 area from 1 July 2020

Daily bag limits

Maximum of 6 rock lobster (both species combined) per day.

Rock lobster minimum sizes

If you are unsure of the sex, use the female (larger) measurement.

Learn how to measure rock lobster and identify the sex:

Rock lobster (crayfish): rules and guidelines

Other rules and protections

There are rules for gathering rock lobster/crayfish that cover:

• protected types
• banned gathering methods
• pot construction and use.

Protected types

Some types of rock lobster are protected. You must return them to the water straight away. Protected rock lobsters are:

• undersized rock lobster
• any female rock lobster carrying external eggs ("in berry") – these are carried on the underside of the tail
• any rock lobster in the soft shell stage
• any rock lobster that cannot be measured (for example, because of damage to the tail preventing accurate measurement). Specific exemptions for very large rock lobster with damaged tails mean you can keep:
  • Spiny rock lobsters that weigh 600g or more, or have a carapace (body) length of 110mm or more.
  • Packhorse rock lobsters that weigh 2kg or more, or have a tail length of 216mm or more.

Banned gathering methods

• You can't possess rock lobster in an unmeasurable state seaward of the high water mark.
• No spring-loaded loops or lassos – hand operated only.
• No spears or puncturing devices – it is an offence to possess a speared rock lobster.
• Do not remove external eggs from any rock lobster.
• No baited nets.
• Maximum of 3 rock lobster pots per fisher.
• Maximum of 6 rock lobster pots from a vessel for 2 or more fishers.

Visit this page for information on pot construction and use:

Rock lobster

From Clarence Point to the Waitaki River

Telson clipping is required for all recreationally harvested spiny rock lobsters. The last third of the telson (central part of the tail fan) must be cut off so that it is noticeably shorter than the other sections of the tail fan. Do not telson clip any packhorse rock lobsters.

Labelled diagram of a telson-clipped lobster [PDF, 551 KB]

When daily limits are accumulated over a multi-day trip, the maximum number of spiny rock lobster that one person can have in their possession at any one time is:

• 18 spiny rock lobsters (3 daily bag limits of 6)

This possession limit applies everywhere, including in the home.

‘Bag and tag’ conditions apply – you must hold spiny rock lobster in a container or bag that contains only a single day’s catch, and is clearly labelled with:

• the individual fisher’s name,
• the date the lobsters were taken, and
• the number of lobsters held.

For more details check the:

• rules brochure,
• the free NZ Fishing Rules app – Apple or android
• rock lobster/crayfish methods page.

Blue cod restrictions

Closed areas

You can't fish in these areas. This includes Marine Reserves. Follow the links to view maps of the reserves on the Department of Conservation (DOC) website:

• Akaroa Marine Reserve
• Flea Bay (Pōhatu) Marine Reserve
• Hikurangi Marine Reserve

Marine reserves are managed by DOC.

A to Z of marine reserves – Department of Conservation

Kaikōura earthquake-related closure

For the area between Marfells Beach (west of Cape Campbell) and the Conway River (which sits south of the Kaikōura township), extending 4 nautical miles from shore, the following will apply.

The Kaikōura pāua fishery (Marfells Beach to Conway River) is closed between 1 September and 30 April. If you take any pāua from this area during this time you may face prosecution.

In support of the extended season, the Minimum Legal Size has been increased for Ordinary (Blackfoot) pāua from 125 mm to 130 mm to protect a greater proportion of spawning pāua. Please ensure you are using the correct measuring tool and see our guidelines on harvesting pāua to ensure any undersized pāua are safely returned to the water.

Pāua: rules and guidelines

Recreational fishers will be able to take other shellfish and seaweed (except Bull kelp) in this area from 22 April 2024 onwards according to the limits set in the Fisheries (Recreational Management Controls) Notice.

There are some areas that remain closed to pāua gathering during and after the pāua season.

• Te Taumanu o Te Waka a Māui Taiāpure (Kaikōura Peninsula)
• Oaro Mātaitai
• Mangamaunu Mātaitai
• Te Waha o te Marangai Mātaitai.

The Oaro-Haumuri Taiāpure will be open to pāua gathering during the season according to the limits in the table above, but will be closed to seaweed and shellfish (except scampi, rock lobster, octopus and kina) gathering.

The Hikurangi Marine Reserve and Waiopuka (Wakatu Quay) reef area are closed to all fishing at all times.

Marlborough and North Canterbury fishing areas

The marine environment in the shellfish and seaweed closure area is damaged after the earthquakes and is going to take several years to recover. The loss of fishing grounds between North Canterbury (Conway River) and Marlborough (Marfells Beach) has caused an increase in fishing pressure on the neighbouring areas.

If you're gathering kaimoana in Marlborough and Canterbury, do your part to help keep these fisheries sustainable:

• Limit your catch by taking less than your bag limit and just enough for a feed.
• Change your fishing method or area if you are only catching small fish or shellfish.
• Take special care to return an underside fish and shellfish immediately and with minimum harm.
• Check local rules for updates every time you go fishing – download the NZ Fishing Rules app.
• Report suspicious or illegal activity – call 0800 4 POACHER (0800 47 62 24).

Set netting restrictions

Set netting is prohibited offshore to 4 nautical miles along the east coast of the South Island from Clarence to South Point. However, exemptions apply. You can use set nets:

• in estuaries, rivers, lagoons and inlets except for the Avon-Heathcote estuary
• for flounder between 1 April and 30 September in the Pigeon Bay, Akaroa Harbour, Lyttelton Harbour and Port Levy areas around Banks Peninsula.

Flat fish (flounder) set nets must be:

• 9 meshes or less deep.
• Have a monofilament diameter equal to or less than 0.35mm.
• Have a minimum mesh size of 100mm.
• Be anchored at each end.
• Not exceed a total length of 60m.

Other areas where set or drag netting is restricted or banned

• Kaiapoi and Waimakariri rivers – set netting restrictions
• Lake Ellesmere – set netting restrictions
• Catlins Lake – no set netting or drag netting
• Otago Harbour – set netting restrictions.

Taiāpure

An area of special significance to an iwi or hapū, where additional rules and restrictions are in place.

Download the rules brochures:

• Akaroa Taiapure [PDF, 1.9 MB]
• East Otago Taiapure [PDF, 1.5 MB]

Find out more on the NZ Legislation website:

• Akaroa - Canterbury
• East Otago - Otago

Mātaitai reserves

Areas where tangata whenua manage non-commercial fishing through bylaws:

Rapaki Bay - Banks Peninsula

• View the map [PDF, 2.8 MB]
• Fisheries (Rāpaki Bay Mātaitai Reserve Bylaws) Notice 2020 [PDF, 51 KB]

Koukourarata - Banks Peninsula

• View the map [PDF, 2.4 MB]
• Fisheries (Koukourārata Mataitai Reserve Bylaws) Notice 2006 [PDF, 154 KB]

Timaru (Tuhawaiki, Te Ahi Tarakihi and Waitarakao mātaitai)

• View the map [PDF, 500 KB]
• Fisheries (Tuhawaiki, Te Ahi Tarakihi, Waitarakao Mātaitai Bylaws) 2019 [PDF, 51 KB]

Lyttleton Harbour/Whakaraupō Mātaitai Reserve

• View the map [PDF, 2.6 MB]
• Fisheries (Lyttleton Harbour/Whakaraupō Mātaitai Reserve Bylaws) Notice 2020 [PDF, 47 KB]

Moeraki – Tikoraki/Tawhiroko and Turaka Waka areas are closed to the gathering of pāua

• View the map [PDF, 203 KB]
• Fisheries (Declaration of Moeraki Mātaitai Reserve Bylaws) 2018 [PDF, 44 KB]
• Find out about the bylaw consultation

Shellfish food safety warnings

Warnings are issued when shellfish are unsafe to eat because of contamination with biotoxin.

Check for warnings in the South-East area