Method and species restrictions

Line fishing restrictions

• 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 handlines or rod and reel lines), no more than two lines (other than handlines or rod and reel lines) may be used, set from or possessed on board that vessel.

Quinnat salmon fishing restrictions

• No person fishing for Quinnat salmon shall be in possession or have control over more than one assembled rod and running line.
• No person shall use a rod and running line to take Quinnat salmon unless that person is within 15 metres of the rod and has the rod under visual observation.
• A person fishing for Quinnat salmon may use another rod and running line to jig for sprat or other baitfish, so long as any salmon taken on that rod and running line is returned to the water immediately.

General netting restrictions

Note: In the Southland Fisheries Management Area there are set netting prohibitions in place to protect Hectors Dolphins. (Refer Closed and Restricted Areas section).

In those areas where netting is permitted:

• No person may set or possess more than one drag net, set net, fyke net, or any other type of net at any one time.
• Nets must be hauled by hand.
• 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.
• No person may set or use a baited net (except fyke nets).
• Nets must not be staked (except fyke nets).
• No net may be used in a way that causes fish to be stranded by the falling tide.
• Each end of a set net must have a surface float that is marked legibly and permanently with the fisher’s initials and surname. A phone number is also useful. Only one float is required for fyke nets.

Drag net restrictions

• Drag nets must not exceed 40 metres in length.
• Total warp length must not exceed 200 metres.
• The minimum mesh size for drag nets is 100 mm.

Set net restrictions

Note: In the Southland Fisheries Management Area there are set netting prohibitions in place to protect Hectors Dolphins. (Refer Closed and Restricted Areas section).

In those areas where set netting is permitted:

• Only one set net is allowed to be used from, or be on board any vessel. (An additional net is allowed for baitfishing 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.
• It is unlawful to take any freshwater sports fish using a set net (including trout and salmon species)

Protection of Coral

• No person may take or possess any black coral or red coral.