Marlborough Sounds blue cod

Blue cod is one of the most popular species for recreational fishers in the top of the South Island. Because of this blue cod stocks are under great stress. The problem is made worse because many of the under-sized fish caught while trying to catch 'the big one' die, even when they are returned to the water.

Recent scientific surveys have showed a clear decline in the number of blue cod in the enclosed areas of the Marlborough Sounds. Juvenile blue cod in the Sounds have declined by an average of 57% with the inner Queen Charlotte Sound reporting no juvenile blue cod at all.

The Minister of Fisheries has decided that from 1 October 2008 the enclosed waters of Marlborough Sounds will be temporarily closed to all recreational fishing for blue cod. This closure is to prevent further drops in blue cod numbers and will expire on 1 October 2012 unless removed earlier.

This temporary closure will allow time for a management plan to be developed that balances our desire to go fishing today with the responsibility to ensure there will be blue cod to catch in the future.

Fishers must ensure they follow the new rules to help blue cod numbers recover for future generations.

Know the rules

It is illegal for recreational fishers to take blue cod within the enclosed Sounds area from 1 October 2008 until 1 October 2012. This includes all the ‘enclosed waters’ of Pelorus, Kenepuru and Queen Charlotte Sounds and Tory Channel (see map).

Fishing for other fish species inside the Sounds is still allowed but any blue cod caught must be returned to the water immediately.

From 1 October 2008 all blue cod landed within the Marlborough Sounds Area (but taken outside of the closed area) must be landed in a whole or gutted state.

The only exception is for blue cod caught legally that will be used for immediate personal consumption on board the vessel during the trip in which that blue cod was taken. This is provided the fish has been taken outside the closed area and is within the daily bag limit of three blue cod per person per day.

Other fishing rules

There are additional fishing rules that apply in the Marlborough Sounds and surrounding areas that you need to be aware of, including set net prohibitions, marine reserves and reduced bag limits. Please visit this link for a comprehensive guide to the fishing rules for the Challenger area.

Landing blue cod caught outside the closed area

It is not illegal to land fish caught outside the closed area at a port or boat ramp inside the Sounds. To do this you need to be able to prove to a fishery officer that you caught the fish outside the closed area.

Useful information to assist fishery officers includes GPS tracks or chart plotters and digital photographs of blue cod caught with coastal landmarks in view.

Avoid catching blue cod

The Ministry of Fisheries recognises that fishers will catch blue cod while fishing for other species. It is important that these fish are returned as quickly and safely as possible. Please see the list of Dos and Don’ts for returning fish.

It is possible to minimise the catch of blue cod by moving to a new spot if you start catching them and avoiding blue cod habitat, such as rocky reef areas or areas you know hold blue cod.

Choose the right hook

You can help make sure that fish you accidentally catch, like blue cod in the closed area or other fish that are undersize, are in good condition and likely to survive by making sure you choose the right hook.

Barbless hooks help prevent hook damage. You can easily crimp the barbs on ordinary hooks with pliers or file the hook off. Barbed hooks can tear the flesh when being removed, which can lead to infection and possibly death. Barbless hooks also add to the sport of fishing, but make sure you keep tension on the line!

Wide gap or circle hooks help to make sure that fish you catch are hooked in the lip rather than through the roof of the fish’s mouth. This helps to make sure that hook damage is minimised and the fish is more likely to survive being released.

Large hooks (generally size 6 or larger) are very effective at reducing the number of small fish you catch. Smaller fish cannot take a larger hook and cannot get caught. Larger hooks catch larger fish and are less likely to gut hook any blue cod you accidentally catch.

Download the 2009 What hook should I use? poster for fishing in the Marlborough Sounds below.

 Download What hook should I use? poster (PDF 211KB)

If you catch a blue cod in the closed area,

Do:

• Only take the fish out of the water if you have to
• Wear cotton or rubber gloves or at least wet your hands
• Lie fish on a soft wet surface if you need to handle them out of the water
• Minimise the time fish are out of the water
• Remove the hook carefully from lip hooked fish
• Cut the line for gut hooked fish
• Return fish gently to the sea

Don’t

• Hold fish by putting your fingers inside the gill covers
• Poke or touch the eyes and never hold a fish by the eye sockets
• Use a ‘gob stick’
• Squeeze the gill covers or gut area
• Lift fish by the tail as this can dislocate the spine
• Drop or place fish on a hot, dry boat deck or on rocks

Marlborough Sounds Blue Cod Management Group

The Blue Cod Management Group (BCMG) was formed in late 2008 to work with the Ministry of Fisheries to develop a management plan for the Marlborough Sounds blue cod fishery. The main tools it is using to achieve this are voluntary controls (including the code of practice and hook information), regulatory controls and communication, underpinned by effective compliance activity. The BCMG is made up of representatives from various recreational sectors of the Marlborough community who use and value the blue cod fishery, including recreational fishers and charter boat operators.

 Download the Blue Cod Management Group’s Code of Practice When Fishing for Blue Cod in the Marlborough Sounds (PDF 202KB)

Earlier Downloads

 Download Blue Cod Brochure (PDF 285KB)

 Download Blue Cod Poster (PDF 246KB)

 Download Commercial and Recreational Potting for Species other than Rock Lobster - Fact Sheet (PDF 666KB)

Links

Marlborough Sounds closed to blue cod fishing from 01 October 2008

Blue cod in the Marlborough Sounds - 3 July 2008

Challenger Fishery Management Area