Method and Species Restrictions
Line Fishing Restrictions
Line fishing / Long Lines / Dahn Lines
In all areas where line fishing is permitted:
- No person may use or be in possession of more than one line (other than handlines, or rod and reel lines).
- All surface floats attached to any line must be marked clearly, legibly and permanently with the fisher's initials and surname. A phone number is also useful.
- No person may use or possess a line with more than 25 hooks.
- Where more than one person is using a line from a vessel (other than rod and reel lines), no more than two lines (other than rod and reel lines), may be used, set from or possessed on board that vessel.
- Line fishing includes the use of Long lines and Dahn (drop) lines but does not include rod and reel, or hand lines.
General netting restrictions
The following general restrictions apply in all areas:
- No person may set or possess more than one drag net, set net, fyke net, or any other type of net at any time.
- Nets must be hauled by hand only.
- Any net or nets used either individually or jointly must not extend across more than one-quarter of the width of any river, stream, channel, bay or sound at any time of the tide.
- No person may set or use a baited net (except fyke nets).
- Nets must not be staked (except fyke nets).
Drag net restrictions
- Drag nets must not exceed 40 metres in length.
- Total warp length must not exceed 200 metres.
Set Net Requirements
- Only one set net is allowed to be used from, or be on board any vessel. (An additional net is allowed for bait fishing if it is less than 10 metres long and has a mesh size of 50 mm or less).
- Set nets must not exceed 60 metres in length.
- A set net must not be set within 60 metres of another net.
- Each end of a set net must have a surface float that is clearly, legibly and permanently marked with the fisher’s initials and surname. A phone number is also useful. Only one float is required for fyke nets.
- No net may be used in a way that causes fish to be stranded by the falling tide.