UPDATE – 5 May 2022
Changes to finfish bag limits
On 5 May 2022, daily bag limit rules for recreationally caught finfish changed.
- All finfish, including those with individual species limits, are now part of the combined daily bag limit (except specified baitfish species and freshwater eels).
- Specified baitfish species are part of a new daily limit of 50 combined per person, per day (additional to the combined daily bag limit for finfish).
- New infringement offences and penalties have been set for southern bluefin tuna in line with what exists for other finfish species.
Previous updates
Kaikōura pāua fishery reopen for 3 months from 1 December 2021
The Kaikōura pāua fishery, between Marfells Beach/Cape Campbell and the Conway River will reopen for 3 months from 1 December 2021 to 28 February 2022.
New rules for recreational pāua fishing in the area are:
- Daily limit: 5 blackfoot pāua only.
- Minimum length: 125mm.
- Maximum accumulation limit: when gathering over 2 or more days, the maximum amount of pāua you can possess is 2 daily limits, including at home.
- No taking of yellowfoot pāua.
The 4 customary management areas (3 mātaitai reserves and the Te Taumanu o Te Waka a Māui taiāpure) along the Kaikōura coastline will remain closed to both commercial and recreational pāua fishing for this time. The Waiopuka (Wakatu Quay) Rahui will continue to be closed to all fishing.
Kaikōura pāua season brochure and map [PDF, 398 KB]
Question and answers about the reopening the Kaikōura Marine Area to pāua fishing [PDF, 291 KB]