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Local Fishing Regulations

Angling regulations are updated annually. Each region has specific regulations for individual rivers and lakes within the framework of national angling regulations.

For more information on sports fishing in North Canterbury consult the fishing access guides/maps: Rakaia River, Waimakariri River, Hurunui and Waiau Rivers, The High Country lakes and Close to Christchurch. These are available from the North Canterbury office, from this website (or from major sports shops in the region.

Didymo is now present in a number of our rivers. Please help us stop the spread of Didymo, whenever possible restrict use of fishing gear, boat, clothing, and other items for exclusive use in a single waterway. Please observe and respect our “Closed Waters” areas, to prevent Didymo infestation of critically important salmon spawning habitats. If you move gear between waterways you must CHECK, CLEAN, DRY. For more information on Didymo visit www.biosecurity.govt.nz.

REGULATIONS:

Reference to Description: New ZealandGazette, No. 83, 24 May 1990, page 1861

1 DEFINITIONS

The North Canterbury Fish and Game Region is divided into two zones:
“Eastern Zone”: The area to the east of a line extending from a white post (on Double Hill Road visible from the river) on the south bank of the Rakaia River, to a white post on the north bank (near the Coleridge Power Station tailrace), to the confluence of the Staircase Stream and the Waimakariri River (above Woodstock), to the Ashley Gorge Road Bridge on the Ashley River, to the junction of the Hurunui River with the South Branch, to the junction of the Waiau and Hope Rivers; and excluding Lake Rubicon.

“Western Zone”: The area to the west of the eastern zone plus Lake Rubicon.

1 OPEN SEASON
Except as closed under 3 or restricted elsewhere in the notice.

Rivers / LakeSeasonPermitted MethodTrout LimitSalmon Limit
Ada River1 Oct-30 AprSpinner/fly10
Ashley River, above Ashley Gorge Road Bridge1 Oct-30 AprSpinner/fly10
Ashley River, below Ashley Gorge Road BridgeAll yearAll legal methods*22
Avon RiverAll yearAll legal methods*22
Boyle River1 Oct-30 AprSpinner/fly10
Broken River5 Nov-30 AprSpinner/fly10
Cam River, above the State Highway 1 Bridge1 Oct-30 AprAll legal methods*22
Cam River, below the State Highway 1 BridgeAll yearAll legal methods*22
Cass Hill Stream (Bullock Creek)Spinner/fly20
Christchurch Groynes Fishing LakesAll yearAll legal methods*22
Coleridge TailraceSpinner/fly20
Coleridge, LakeSpinner/fly2**4**
Cora Lynn Stream1 Oct-30 AprSpinner/fly20
Courtenay, LakeAll yearAll legal methods22
Cust River1 Oct-30 AprAll legal methods*20
Double Hill Stream and Double Hill Flat Stream 1 Oct – 29 FebSpinner/fly20
Doubtful River1 Oct-30 AprSpinner/fly10
Ellesmere, Lake1 Oct-30 AprAll legal methods*22
Esk River1 Oct-30 AprSpinner/fly20
Evelyn, Lake5 Nov-30 AprSpinner/fly2n/a
Forsyth, LakeAll yearAll legal methods*2n/a
Georgina, Lake5 Nov-30 AprSpinner/fly2n/a
Glenariffe Stream1 Oct – 29 FebSpinner/fly20
Goat Hill Stream1 Oct – 31 MarSpinner/fly20
Grasmere, Lake5 Nov-30 AprSpinner/fly2n/a
Guyon, Lake5 Nov-30 AprSpinner/fly2n/a
Halswell Canal, above the Duck Pond Road Bridge1 Oct-30 AprAll legal methods*2n/a
Halswell Canal, below the Duck Pond Road BridgeAll yearAll legal methods*2n/a
Halswell River, above the Seabridge Road Bridge1 Oct-30 AprAll legal methods*2n/a
Halswell River, below the Seabridge Road BridgeAll yearAll legal methods*2n/a
Harper River and tributaries including Avoca River1 Dec -30 AprSpinner/fly10
Harts Creek1 Oct-30 AprAll legal methods*2n/a
Hawdon, Lake5 Nov-30 AprSpinner/fly2n/a
Hawkins River1 Oct-30 AprAll legal methods*2n/a
Heathcote RiverAll yearAll legal methods*2n/a
Henrietta, Lake5 Nov-30 AprSpinner/fly2n/a
Henry River1 Oct-30 AprSpinner/fly10
Hope River1 Oct-30 AprSpinner/fly10
Hororata River1 Oct-30 AprAll legal methods*2n/a
Hurunui River, above Lake Sumner1 Oct-30 AprSpinner/fly10
Hurunui River, between Lake Sumner and South Branch confluence1 Oct-30 AprSpinner/fly20
Hurunui River, below the South Branch confluence (Eastern Zone)All yearAll legal methods*22
Hurunui River, South Branch1 Oct-30 AprSpinner/fly10
Hydra Waters1 Oct – 29 FebSpinner/fly20
Ida, Lake and Little Ida Lake5 Nov-30 AprFly fishing only2n/a
Irwell River1 Oct-30 AprAll legal methods*2n/a
Kaiapoi LakesAll yearAll legal methods*2n/a
Kaiapoi River, above the Cust Main Drain confluence1 Oct – 31 MarAll legal methods*22***
Kaiapoi River, below the Cust Main Drain confluenceAll yearAll legal methods*22***
Kaituna River1 Oct-30 AprAll legal methods*2n/a
Katrine, LochAll yearSpinner/fly22
Lake, Stream1 Oct – 31 MarSpinner/fly20
Leader River1 Oct-30 AprAll legal methods*22
Lee Stream1 Oct-30 AprAll legal methods*22
Letitia, Lake5 Nov-30 AprSpinner/fly2n/a
Lewis River1 Oct-30 AprSpinner/fly10
LII (L2) River1 Oct-30 AprAll legal methods*2n/a
Lilian, Lake5 Nov-30 AprSpinner/fly2n/a
Lyndon, Lake5 Nov – 30 Apr and 1 Jun – 31 AugAll legal methods*2n/a
Mandamus River1 Oct-30 AprAll legal methods*20
Manuka Point Stream1 Oct – 29 FebSpinner/fly20
Marymere, Lake5 Nov-30 AprFly fishing only2n/a
Mason, Lake5 Nov-30 AprSpinner/fly2n/a
Minchin, Lake5 Nov-30 AprSpinner/fly2n/a
Monck (Catherine), Lake5 Nov-30 AprFly fishing only2n/a
Monopolies PondAll yearAll legal methods2n/a
Nina River1 Oct-30 AprSpinner/fly10
Okuku River1 Oct-30 AprAll legal methods*2n/a
Okuti River, above the Te Oka Bay Road Bridge1 Oct-30 AprAll legal methods*2n/a
Okuti River, below the Te Oka Bay Road BridgeAll yearAll legal methods*2n/a
Pahau River1 Oct-30 AprAll legal methods*20
Otukaikino Creek (South Branch of Waimakariri) above Dickeys Road Bridge1 Oct-30 AprAll legal methods*20
Otukaikino Creek (South Branch of Waimakariri) below Dickeys Road BridgeAll yearAll legal methods*22
Pearson, Lake5 Nov – 30 Apr and 1 Jun – 30 SepSpinner/fly22
Porter River5 Nov-30 AprSpinner/fly10
Poulter River1 Oct-30 AprSpinner/fly20
Rakaia River, above the Coleridge Tailrace confluence (in Western Zone)1 Oct – 31 MarSpinner/fly20
Rakaia River, below the Coleridge Tailrace confluence (in Eastern Zone)All yearAll legal methods*22
Rotokohatu, LakeAll yearAll legal methods2n/a
Rubicon, Lake5 Nov-30 AprSpinner/fly2n/a
Ryton River1 Dec -30 AprSpinner/fly20
Saltwater Creek1 Oct-30 AprAll legal methods*22
Sarah, Lake5 Nov-30 AprFly fishing only2n/a
Selfe, Lake5 Nov-30 Apr and 1 Jun -30 SepSpinner/fly2n/a
Selwyn River, above the State Highway 77 Bridge (at Glentunnel)1 Oct-30 AprSpinner/fly1n/a
Selwyn River between the Upper Selwyn Huts and the State Highway 77 Bridge1 Oct-30 AprAll legal methods*2n/a
Selwyn River, below the Upper Selwyn HutsAll yearAll legal methods*2n/a
Sheppard, Lake5 Nov-30 AprFly fishing only2n/a
Slovens Creek5 Nov-30 AprSpinner/fly10
St. Annes Lagoon, CheviotClosedNone00
Styx River, above the Marshlands Road Bridge1 Oct-30 AprAll legal methods*22
Styx River, below the Marshlands Road BridgeAll yearAll legal methods*22
Sumner, LakeAll yearSpinner/fly22****
Taylor, Lake5 Nov-30 Apr and 1 Jun -30 SepSpinner/fly2n/a
Tentburn Stream1 Oct-30 AprAll legal methods*22
Waiau River, above the Hope River confluence (Western Zone)1 Oct-30 AprSpinner/fly10
Waiau River, below the Hope River confluence (Eastern Zone)All yearAll legal methods*22
Waikari River1 Oct-30 AprAll legal methods*2n/a
Waimakariri River, above Staircase Stream confluence (Western Zone)1 Oct-30 AprSpinner/fly20
Waimakariri River, below the Staircase Stream confluence (Eastern Zone)All yearAll legal methods*22
Waipara River1 Oct-30 AprAll legal methods*2n/a
Wairewa River, above the Te Oka Bay Road Bridge1 Oct-30 AprAll legal methods*2n/a
Wairewa River, below the Te Oka Bay Road BridgeAll yearAll legal methods*2n/a
Wilberforce Diversion1 Dec -30 AprSpinner/fly20
Wilberforce River1 Oct-30 AprSpinner/fly20
Winding Creek1 Oct – 31 MarSpinner/fly20
Waitohi River1 Oct-30 AprSpinner/fly20

3 CLOSED WATERS
3.1 No licence holder shall fish for sports fish in the following waters:

  • Avon River between the Armagh Street Bridge at Hagley Park and the Barbadoes Street Bridge.
  • St Annes Lagoon near Cheviot.
  • The tailrace of the Highbank Power Station.
  • Within 100m of the outfall of any licensed fish farm.
  • Within 100m of any inflowing tributary of Lake Coleridge in the Winter Season.

3.2No licence holder shall fish for coarse fish in the following waters:

  • Clearwater Resort fishing lakes.
  • Ferrymead Park lakes.
  • Christchurch Groynes lakes.
  • Westlake near Halswell.

3.3 No licence holder shall fish for salmon in the following waters:

  • Hacketts Creek from 1 March to 30 April.
  • The Kowai River and its tributaries from 1 March to 30 April.
  • The Kaiapoi River and Tributaries upstream of the Williams Street Bridge after 31 March.
  • Mandamus River.
  • Pahau River.
  • Waitohi River.
  • Otukaikino/South Branch upstream from Dickeys Road Bridge.
  • Western Zone rivers.

3.4 No person other than a child or junior licence holder under the age of 18 years as of 1 October 2011 shall fish in the Christchurch Groynes Fishing Lakes or Courtenay Lake at Kaiapoi.

4 AUTHORISED TACKLE
See First Schedule.

5 COARSE FISHING WATERS

  • Avon River downstream of the Barbadoes Street Bridge.
  • Monopolies Pond.
  • Forsyth Lake.
  • Okana River downstream of State Highway 75.
  • Halswell Canal downstream of Duck Pond Road.
  • Old Halswell River downstream of Seabridge Road.
  • Kaiapoi Lakes.
  • Rotokohatu Lake.

6 BAIT FISHING WATERS
6.1 A person may bait fish for trout in the Eastern Zone between 1 October and 30 April only, except at:

  • Christchurch Groynes Fishing Lakes and Courtenay Lake where bait fishing is permitted all year.
  • Selwyn River upstream of the State Highway 77 Bridge at Glentunnel where bait fishing is prohibited all year.

6.2 Bait fishing for trout is prohibited in the Western Zone except at Lake Lyndon where Junior Anglers only may bait fish in the summer and winter seasons.
Bait fishing for salmon is prohibited except in the:

  • Kaiapoi River between 1 October and 31 March, and then from 31 March, downstream from Williams Street Bridge only.
  • The Christchurch Groynes Fishing Lakes all year.
  • Courtenay Lake all year.

7 USE OF BOATS
7.1 Fishing from boats which are being propelled by a motor (trolling) is permitted in:

  • All rivers.
  • Lake Coleridge.
  • Lake Ellesmere (Te Waihora).
  • Lake Forsyth (Te Wairewa).
  • Loch Katrine.
  • Lake Lyndon.
  • Lake Sumner.
  • Lake Taylor.

7.2 Fishing from boats which are not being propelled by a motor is permitted in:

  • All rivers.
  • Loch Katrine.
  • All eastern zone lakes.
  • Lake Lilian.
  • Lake Coleridge.
  • Lake Lyndon.
  • Lake Evelyn.
  • Lake Monck (Catherine).
  • Lake Georgina.
  • Lake Pearson.
  • Lake Grasmere.   
  • Lake Selfe.
  • Lake Hawdon.
  • Lake Sumner.
  • Lake Henrietta.
  • Lake Taylor.
  • Lake Ida.
  • Lake Sheppard.

8 DAILY LIMIT BAGS
8.1No licence holder shall take or kill more than 1 Tench from the coarse fishing waters named in Section 5.

8.2 In addition to the daily limit bags described in Sections 2 and 8.1, no licence holder shall take, kill or be in possession of more than four sports fish.

9 FISH LENGTH
9.1 No licence holder shall be in possession of a sports fish which exceeds the stated maximum length, from the following waters:

  • Ashley River above the Ashley Gorge Road Bridge 400mm
  • Broken River and its tributaries (including Porter River and Slovens Creek) 400mm
  • Hurunui River above Lake Sumner 400mm
  • South Branch of the Hurunui River 400mm
  • Waiau River and all of its tributaries upstream of the Hope River Confluence 400mm
  • Hope River and all of its tributaries including the Boyle, Doubtful, Lewis and Nina Rivers 400mm
  • Harper River and tributaries including the Avoca River 400mm
  • Lake Sumner Chinook salmon 450mm
  • Tench in Coarse Fishing Waters 150mm
  • No licence holder shall take or kill Perch exceeding 250mm in length from the Kaiapoi Lakes.
  • Other waters No restriction

9.2 Minimum length No restriction

10 HOURS OF FISHING
Western Zone lakes which have a winter fishing season of 1 June – 31 August: 5.00am to 12.00 midnight only.

All other waters. No restriction

Notes to below table:
*See section 6 for further restrictions on bait fishing for sports fish.
**See section 8 for further restrictions of daily bag limits.
***See section 3.3 re Salmon season closure in Kaiapoi River above Williams Street Bridge.
****See section 9.1(h) re 450mm maximum Salmon length for Lake Sumner.

All lakes, rivers and streams in the Eastern Zone not mentioned in Section 2:
1 October to 30 April All legal methods 2 trout, 2 salmon

All lakes in the Western Zone not mentioned in Section 2:
5 November to 30 April Spinner, fly 2 trout

All tributaries of Western Zone lakes not mentioned in Section 2:
1 December to 30 April Spinner, fly 2 trout

All North Island Regulations / All South Island Regulations

 

NOTICE TO ANGLERS RE MISTAKES IN 2011 BOOKLET

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