Finfish
Daily limits per person
In the Challenger Fishery Management Area there is a combined daily bag limit of 20 finfish, consisting of any combination of the species listed below, as long as the individual species limits are not exceeded:
- Blue cod*
- Butterfish
- Grey mullet
- Red cod
- Rig
- Trevally
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- Blue moki
- Elephant fish
- John Dory
- Red gurnard
- School shark
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- Bluenose
- Flatfish
- Kahawai
- Red moki
- Tarakihi
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In addition to the combined limit, you may also take the following finfish on a daily basis:
- Snapper - a total bag limit of 10 (Golden Bay, Tasman Bay, West D’Urville Island, Port Underwood)
- Within this bag limit there is sub-limit of 3 for the Marlborough Sounds
- Blue Cod - a bag limit of 3 ( Golden Bay, Tasman Bay, D’Urville Island, Port Underwood),
- Groper/Hapuku/Bass and Kingfish - a combined bag limit of 5, (with no more than 3 kingfish)
- Eel - a bag limit of 6
There is no limit on species not named above.
Accumulated Bag limits
Where fishing occurs over a number of days and/or travel crosses into areas that have sub limits or size differences, it is permissible to possess more fish than the bag limit allows for the area or fish less than the size for that particular area where you are found, provided you can prove the fish in question were taken lawfully, in the appropriate area and if necessary on the appropriate day or days.
*BLUE COD CLOSED AREA
It is an offence to take Blue Cod from within the enclosed waters of the Marlborough Sounds including the inner and Outer Queen Charlotte and Pelorus Sounds, as well as Tory channel. (See attached map and coordinates)
You may still fish for other species within this area but any blue cod caught must be returned immediately to the water.
All blue cod landed within the Marlborough Sounds Area must be landed in a whole or gutted state, except for blue cod to be used for immediate personal consumption on board the vessel during the trip in which that blue cod was taken.
Note: Blue Cod caught outside the area may be transported back in a whole or gutted state through the ‘no-take’ area, however the onus is upon the fisher to provide evidence of the location of where the blue cod have been caught. Useful information to assist Fishery Officers includes GPS tracks or chart plotters and digital photographs of blue cod caught with coastal landmarks in view.
