Auckland and Kermadec area fishing rules

In the Auckland/Kermadec area there is a combined daily bag limit of 20 finfish* per fisher (excluding specified baitfish and freshwater eels).

This means you can have a combination of up to 20 of any finfish in total. For example, you could have 19 kahawai and 1 red cod, or 10 kahawai and 10 red cod. As long as you have no more than 20 in total.

There are also species with individual daily limits within the combined daily bag limit of 20 (Table 1). You must not exceed individual species limits. For example, there is a daily limit of 5 bluenose. This means you could have 5 bluenose and 15 kahawai.

In addition to the combined daily bag limit of 20, you can take a maximum of 50 of any combination of baitfish species (Table 3) and a maximum of 6 freshwater eels (Table 4). For example, you could take 10 kahawai, 10 red cod and 50 baitfish.

Remember, there may be other specific rules in some areas. For example, a harbour might have different size limits for certain species. Check the "Closed areas and special restrictions" section on this web page for more information.

* Finfish includes all species of finfish of the classes Agnatha, Chondrichthyes, and Osteichthyes, at any stage of their life history, whether living or dead

Table 1: Individual species daily limits within the combined bag limit

Table 2 - Further size limits for finfish within the combined bag limit

Table 3: Additional to combined bag limit

Table 4: Additional to combined bag limit

1 August 2024: Recreational Daily Limit for kina in Auckland (East) Fisheries Management Area (FMA 1)

The recreational daily limit for kina (defined as Evechinus chloroticus and Centrostephanus rodgersii) has increased from 50 kina per fisher to 150 kina per fisher in Fisheries Management Area 1 (FMA 1). FMA 1 covers the inshore waters and harbours along the north-eastern coast of the North Island from North Cape to Cape Runaway. It includes the eastern coast of Northland, the Hauraki Gulf, the Coromandel, and the Bay of Plenty.

17 March 2023: Coromandel scallop fishery (SCA CS)

The 2 defined areas, one around Hauturu/Little Barrier Island and one near the Colville Channel, in the SCA CS fishery are now closed under sustainability measures. All of SCA CS is now closed to scallop fishing.

Shellfish are considered "taken" (collected or harvested) when they can't freely return to the water. For example, when you put them in a bag. When you're gathering or collecting, you can never possess more than your daily limit.

Remember, there may be other specific rules in some areas. For example, a harbour might have different size limits for certain species. Check the 'Closed areas and restrictions' section on this page for more information.

* Dredge oyster, pāua, and scallops must be landed in the shell. They can't be shucked or shelled seaward of the mean high water mark. However, you can shuck dredge oysters and scallops that you are going to eat while you're still at sea. These still count towards your daily catch/bag limit.

† Rock and Pacific oysters must not be opened while they're still attached to the object they're growing on (like if they're still stuck to a rock).

+ Limited provision allows a diver on a vessel to gather extra bag limits of oysters and scallops for up to 2 other people acting in a dive safety capacity from that vessel. The safety people must be onboard the vessel, and acting in that capacity, when the diving is done. If only 1 safety person is onboard the vessel, only 1 extra bag limit may be taken. A maximum of 2 extra bag limits may be taken per vessel, regardless of the number of people diving.

# Toheroa must not be taken, processed, or disturbed. This is always the case unless we declare an open season.

View the difference between toheroa and tuatua [PDF, 302 KB]

• This is a combined, mixed-species bag limit. It applies to all shellfish species [that are not listed in the table. This includes all crabs, limpets, starfish, periwinkles, whelks, barnacles, freshwater crayfish (koura), cats eyes (snails), and sea cucumbers.

1 April 2025: Closure to parts of the Hauraki Gulf for spiny rock lobster

From 1 April, recreational and commercial fishers cannot take spiny rock lobster in the Cape Rodney to Port Jackson area (see map below).

No person may take or possess spiny rock lobster from the Cape Rodney to Port Jackson area. If convicted, a penalty of up to $100,000 and forfeiture of any equipment used in the offending applies.

This closure applies to spiny/red rock lobster only. This closure does not affect authorised customary fishing.

The map is available in a larger dimension (2953 x 3937) [PNG, 641KB] [PNG, 641 KB]

14 April 2023: Changes to the Northland catch limit for spiny rock lobster

From 15 April, the catch limit for recreationally caught spiny red rock lobster in the Northland region is now 3 per fisher, per day.

The limits for packhorse lobster and the combined daily bag limit for spiny red rock lobster and packhorse lobster will remain at 6 per fisher, per day.

This section has the rules for both:

• red or spiny rock lobster
• packhorse rock lobster.

Remember, there may be other specific rules in some areas. Check the 'Closed areas and special restrictions' section on this page for more information.

Daily catch limits

Maximum of 6 rock lobster (both species combined) per day.

Kaipara Harbour (Northland) to Cape Runaway

From the Kaipara Harbour on the west coast of the North Island, around North Cape and then south east to Cape Runaway, the catch limit for spiny rock lobster is different. Within the combined limit of 6 rock lobster, you can take a maximum of 3 spiny rock lobster and the remainder can be packhorse lobster. If you do not take any spiny rock lobster, then you can take a total of 6 packhorse lobster.

Rock lobster minimum sizes

If you are unsure of the sex, use the female (larger) measurement.

Learn how to measure rock lobster and identify the sex:

Rock lobster (crayfish): rules and guidelines

Other rules and protections

There are rules for gathering rock lobster/crayfish that cover:

• protected types
• banned gathering methods
• pot construction and use.

Protected types

Some types of rock lobster are protected. You must return them to the water straight away. Protected rock lobsters are:

• undersized rock lobster
• any female rock lobster carrying external eggs ("in berry") – these are carried on the underside of the tail
• any rock lobster in the soft shell stage
• any rock lobster that cannot be measured (for example, because of damage to the tail preventing accurate measurement). Specific exemptions for very large rock lobster with damaged tails mean you can keep:
  • Spiny rock lobsters that weigh 600g or more, or have a carapace (body) length of 110mm or more.
  • Packhorse rock lobsters that weigh 2kg or more, or have a tail length of 216mm or more.

  Banned gathering methods

  • You can't possess rock lobster in an unmeasurable state seaward of the high watermark.
  • No spring-loaded loops or lassos – hand operated only.
  • No spears or puncturing devices – it is an offence to possess a speared rock lobster.
  • Do not remove external eggs from any rock lobster.
  • No baited nets.
  • Maximum of 3 rock lobster pots per fisher.
  • Maximum of 6 rock lobster pots from a vessel for 2 or more fishers.

  Rock lobsters: information on pot construction and use

  Telson (tail fan) clipping for rock lobsters between Te Arai Point and Cape Runaway

  From Te Arai Point (Auckland) to Cape Runaway, telson clipping is required for all spiny rock lobsters that you take. This involves cutting off the central part of the tail fan (the telson). This must be done to all legal spiny rock lobsters as soon as you take them.

  The last third of the telson (central part of the tail fan) must be cut off so that it is noticeably shorter than the other sections of the tail fan.

  Labelled diagram of a telson-clipped lobster [PDF, 551 KB]

  Do not telson clip any packhorse rock lobsters.

  For more details, check the:

  • the free NZ Fishing Rules app – Apple or Android
  • rock lobster/crayfish methods page

  Video: Telson clipping your crayfish (2.25)

  Transcript - show/hide

  Gary: Hi team, my name is Gary McAneny, I'm a senior compliance officer based in Mount Maunganui. You should be able to see it over my shoulder. You've probably guessed what we're all about here judging by this little character here. This is all about telson clipping for rock lobster. Come the first of July 2020 we're now obliged in cray 2 and cray 5, Hauraki Gulf, Bay of Plenty, Marlborough and Canterbury to clip the tails on recreationally caught rock lobsters so I'm going to talk about that today. The reason that we're doing that is to make the recreationally caught rock lobsters different from the commercial rock lobsters and that's going to deter poaching. It's probably a part of our toolbox of measures that help us to go some way to limit the amount of poaching that goes on and it's hopefully the general public can assist us by doing this small thing. And essentially it is clipping one third of the length of the telson which is the centre fin on a rock lobster tail as you can see here. We've got them all spread out there i'm going to go about doing it for you now. It's a simple matter, you take your dive knife, pair of scissors, either way you've got to take that last third of the telson off no more and no less.

  [Image showing clipped rock lobster, with one-third of middle part of tail cut.]

  Let's get that done right there. That's done now, that's a legal recreationally caught rock lobster. When you come ashore, now that has to be done immediately as soon as you take this rock lobster you need to do this. You can't do it under the water, we're accepting that, but obviously when you get back to the boat you take your tank off, the first thing you do is open your catch bag, pull the rock lobster out, inspect it for size, condition, berry, and the crays that you're going to keep, you cut the telson back by one third. You don't do that for pack horse rock lobster, you only do that for spiny red rock lobster. That helps us to recognise the fish that should or shouldn't be in the commercial industry. The crays that are in the commercial side will all be complete; the crayfish that are recreationally taken will need to have the telson clipped.

  [End of transcript]

  ---

1 April 2025: Cape Rodney to Port Jackson spiny rock lobster (CRA) Closure

The Cape Rodney to Port Jackson area within the Hauraki Gulf/ Bay of Plenty spiny rock lobster fishery (CRA 2) is now closed under sustainability measures. Within this area you cannot take spiny rock lobster.

This closure applies to both commercial and recreational fishers.

No person may take or possess spiny rock lobster from the area marked red on the map.

If convicted, a penalty of up to $100,000 and forfeiture of any equipment used in the offending applies.

This closure applies to spiny/red rock lobster only. This closure does not affect authorised customary fishing.

The map is available in a larger dimension (2953 x 3937) [PNG, 641KB] [PNG, 641 KB]

17 March 2023: Coromandel scallop fishery (SCA CS)

The 2 defined areas, one around Hauturu/Little Barrier Island and one near the Colville Channel, in the SCA CS fishery are now closed under sustainability measures. All of SCA CS is now closed to scallop fishing.

The lists below show areas where:

• fishing is not allowed (closed areas)
• size limits and catch limits might be different (special restrictions).

There's more information in the rules brochure and NZ Fishing Rules app.

Closed areas

You can't fish in these areas.

• Cape Rodney-Otakari Point (Goat Island) Marine Reserve
• Long Bay – Okura Marine Reserve
• Motu Manawa - Pollen Island Marine Reserve
• Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve
• Tawharanui Marine Reserve
• Te Matuku Marine Reserve
• Te Parpar o Aotea (Volkner Rocks) Marine Reserve
• Tuhua (Mayor Island) Marine Reserve
• Whanganui A Hei (Cathedral Cove) Marine Reserve
• Whangarei Harbour Marine Reserve

Marine reserves are managed by the Department of Conservation (DOC).

A to Z list of marine reserves – DOC

New legal controls at Aotea Great Barrier Island

An updated Controlled Area Notice is in place over parts of Aotea Great Barrier Island with changed restrictions on anchoring and fishing.

The new controlled area extends from Cape Barrier in the south, up the entire western coastline to the southern edge of Port Abercrombie and out to 40 metres deep and including up to the high-tide mark (refer to the map below).

Throughout this area, there are restrictions on some fishing activities that make contact with the seafloor (and could therefore spread exotic caulerpa) – for example using flounder nets, dredging, or bottom trawling.

Anchoring without a specific permit from Biosecurity New Zealand is also prohibited in the entire area, with the exception of Port Fitzroy (in yellow on map). A special permit-free area is in place there and anchoring is allowed. However, fishing restrictions do apply in Port Fitzroy.

Within the whole controlled area (including Port Fitzroy), you can:

• line fish using a rod and line and handline from the shore or a wharf/jetty
• drift fish from a vessel – for example, kayak, boat
• spear fish and hand gather
• do shore-based longlining – for example with a kontiki or drone
• dive.

Within this area, you cannot:

• fish for any seafood (fish, crayfish, shellfish) using any method that comes into contact with the seabed – for example, you must not use flounder nets, dredging or bottom trawling
• anchor a vessel except in an emergency (for example to seek shelter in a storm) or with a permit from Biosecurity New Zealand. (Port Fitzroy is an exception. In Port Fitzroy, anchoring is allowed without a permit).

To apply for an anchoring exemption permit (for all areas of the CAN apart from Port Fitzroy), complete the application form and email it to Caulerpa@mpi.govt.nz

Find out more about caulerpa

New legal controls at Ahuahu Great Mercury Island

An updated Controlled Area Notice is in place over parts of Ahuahu Great Mercury Island with changed restrictions on anchoring and fishing.

The controlled area at Great Mercury Island remains unchanged from the former CAN. It takes in the western bays area of the island between Maunganui Point and Ahikopua Point, including Huruhi Harbour, and including the high-tide mark.

Within this area:

• you can:
  • line fish using a rod and line and handline from the shore or a wharf/jetty
  • drift fish from a vessel – for example, kayak, boat
  • spear fish and hand gather
  • do shore-based longlining – for example with a kontiki or drone
  • dive.
• You cannot fish for any seafood (fish, crayfish, shellfish) using any method that comes into contact with the seabed – for example, you must not use flounder nets, dredging or bottom trawling
• anchoring is allowed in the controlled area, however, vessel operators are required to check the anchor, anchor chain and any gear used in the water for attached seaweed.
• Remove any seaweed, store it safely in a bag or container and dispose of it safely on land.

If it cannot be stored and disposed of securely it must be placed back into the waters it came from (not moved to other areas of the sea).

Find out more about caulerpa

Northland Scallops (SCA 1)

• From 1 April 2022, the entire Quota Management Area SCA 1 – Northland scallop fishery – is closed to scallop harvesting until further notice.
• This closure applies to both commercial and recreational fishers. It does not restrict the taking of scallops for customary purposes.
• No person may take or possess scallops from the area marked in blue on the map.
• If convicted, a penalty of up to $100,000 and forfeiture of any equipment used in the offending applies.

Coromandel scallops (SCA CS)

Sustainability closure measures

• In April 2022, as part of the sustainability review round, the minister closed most of SCA CS to recreational and commercial scallop harvesting under the sustainability provisions within section 11 of the Fisheries Act 1996. Two areas were left open to fishing – the Hauturu/Little Barrier Island scallop area and Colville Channel scallop area. In March 2023, the minister closed the Hauturu/Little Barrier Island scallop area and Colville Channel scallop area under the sustainability provisions within section 11 of the Fisheries Act 1996.
• This closure applies to commercial and recreational fishers. The section 11 closure area does not restrict the taking of scallops for customary purposes.
• No person may take or possess scallops from the area labelled ‘S11 Scallop Fishery Closure’ shown in the map below.
• If convicted, a penalty of up to $100,000 and forfeiture of any equipment used in the offending applies.

Set netting restrictions

These areas are closed to set netting:

• Three Kings Islands
• Cape Reinga to Scott Point
• Reef Point to Whangape Harbour
• Bay of Islands (Cape Wiwiki, Whale Rock, The Twins – Cape Brett)
• northern side of the Hen and Chickens
• Mokohinau Islands
• Simpson Rock
• Little Barrier (Needles Point, eastern side of Arid Island, Cape Barrier)
• Channel Island
• Cape Colville
• most of the Mercury Islands
• Pauanui
• Tamaki River
• Panmure Basin
• Muriwai Beach
• Karekare Beach
• Pariokariwa Point to Maunganui Bluff
• Manukau Heads
• Cape Runaway.

Manukau Harbour entrance

Set netting is prohibited [not allowed/restricted/banned] at the entrance of the Manukau Harbour. The ban is from Taumatarea Point (in the north) to Matakawau Point (in the south).

Find out about the new restrictions

Restricted areas

In the following areas, there are specific rules or restrictions. These might be for size limits, catch/bag limits, or fishing methods (like no set netting). Check the location and the rule.

• Auckland and Coromandel area – reduced shellfish daily bag
• Bay of Islands (Eastern) – no set netting or set lines from 1 October to 30 April
• Bay of Islands (Cape Wiwiki, Whale Rock, The Twins to Cape Brett) north of the Hen and Chickens – no set netting
• Cape Colville – no set netting
• Cape Reinga to Scott Point – no set netting
• Cape Runaway – no set netting
• Channel Island – no set netting
• Cheltenham Beach – no shellfish gathering
• Cockle Bay – no taking of shellfish
• East Coromandel – no taking of scallops
• Eastern Beach – no shellfish gathering
• Great Barrier (Needles Point, eastern side of Arid Island, Cape Barrier) – no set netting
• Kaipara Harbour – no taking scallops
• Kaipara Harbour (entrance) – no set netting
• Karekare Beach – no shellfish gathering and no set netting
• Little Barrier – no set netting
• Mair Bank – no taking of shellfish
• Manukau Heads – no set netting
• Manukau Harbour (entrance) – no set netting
• Marsden Bank – no taking of shellfish
• Maunganui Bay (Deep Water Cove) – no taking of any species, except kina
• Mercury Islands (most of) – no set netting
• Mimiwhangata – no set netting or set lines
• Mokohinau Islands – no set netting
• Muriwai Beach – no set netting
• Ngunguru Estuary – no pipi and/or cockle gathering
• Okatoa Rock, near Motu River mouth – no set netting or set lines 1 December to 31 March
• Panmure Basin – no set netting
• Pariokariwa Point to Maunganui Bluff – no set netting
• Pauanui – no set netting
• Poor Knights Islands – no set netting or set lines
• Raglan Harbour (entrance) – no set netting
• Reef Point to Whangape Harbour – no set netting
• Simpson Rock – no set netting
• Tamaki River – no set netting
• Te Mata and Waipatukahu – no taking of pipi, cockles, mussels, or oysters
• Te Puna Mātaitai – no taking of green lipped, blue, or black mussels
• Three Kings Islands – no set netting
• Tuhua (Mayor Island) – no set netting or set lines
• Tutukaka Harbour, Ngunguru Bay, Ngunguru River, Horahora River and surrounding areas (Rehuotane Ki Tai) – no taking of cockle, crab, garfish, mussel, octopus, pāua, pipi, rock lobster, rock oyster, sea cucumber, sea horse, sea snail, starfish, tuatua
• Tutukaka Harbour, Ngunguru River and Horahora River (including Ngunguru and Horahora estuaries) – fishing with nets is prohibited
• Umupuia Beach – no taking of cockles
• Waiheke Island – no taking of scallops, mussels, rock lobster, and pāua.
• Waikato Harbour (entrance) – no set netting
• Whangateau Harbour – no taking of cockles or pipis

Taiapure

Taiapure are areas of special significance to an iwi or hapu where other rules or restrictions are in place. Find out more on the New Zealand Legislation website.

Fisheries (Maketu Taiapure) Order 1996

Mātaitai reserves

These are areas where tangata whenua manage non-commercial fishing through bylaws. Information is in the NZ Gazette.

Mt Maunganui and part of Tauranga Harbour – Bay of Plenty:

• View the map [PDF, 3.1 MB]
• Fisheries (Declaration of Mt Maunganui and Part Tauranga Harbour Mataitai Reserve Bylaw) Notice 2009 [PDF, 103 KB]

Te Puna Mātaitai – Bay of Islands:

• View the map [PDF, 1.2 MB]
• Fisheries (Declaration of Te Puna Mātaitai Reserve Bylaw) Notice 2020 [PDF, 37 KB]

Temporary closures

These are areas that are temporarily closed to fishing or certain fishing methods.

Tutukaka Harbour, Ngunguru Bay, Ngunguru River, Horahora River and surrounding areas (Rehuotane Ki Tai) – Northland:

• View the map [PDF, 1.7 MB]
• Fisheries (Rehuotane Ki Tai Temporary Closure and Method Prohibition) Notice 2024 [PDF, 55 KB]

Ōhiwa Harbour (Te rāhui kuku ki tua o Kanawa) – Bay of Plenty:

• View the map [PDF, 958 KB]
• Fisheries (Te Rāhui Kuku ki Tua o Kanawa Temporary Closure) Notice 2024 [PDF, 36 KB]

Marsden Bank and Mair Bank – Northland:

• View the map [PDF, 542 KB]
• Fisheries (Marsden Bank and Mair Bank Temporary Closure) Notice 2024 [PDF, 40 KB]
  Pipi and scallop fisheries are closed under section 11 of the Fisheries Act 1996.

Blue cod restrictions

Restrictions relating to blue cod are shown in the table below: