Kaikōura area fishing rules

In the Kaikōura Marine Area, there is a combined daily bag limit of 30 finfish* per fisher (excluding specified baitfish and freshwater eels).

This means that you can have a combination of up to 30 of any finfish in total. For example, you could have 10 kahawai, 10 blue moki and 10 red cod. As long as you have no more than 30 in total.

There are also species with individual daily limits within the combined daily bag limit of 30 (Table 1). You must not exceed individual species limits. For example, there is a daily limit of 3 bluenose. This means you could have 3 bluenose, 7 kahawai, 10 blue moki and 10 red cod.

Any catch taken from the area is included in the combined daily bag limit for the South-east fishing area

In addition to the combined daily bag limit of 30, 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 blue moki, 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 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

Shellfish are considered "taken" (collected or harvested) when they cannot freely return to the water. For example, when you put them in a bag. When you're gathering/collection, 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.

• This is a combined, mixed-species bag limit. It applies to all shellfish species not specifically named above, and includes all crabs, limpets, starfish, periwinkles, whelks, barnacles and freshwater crayfish (koura).

+Shellfish collection is currently banned in the Kaikoura and Cape Campbell regions. This is due to the earthquake closure. See the map under "closed areas and special restrictions" for more information. This ban does not apply to rock lobster, scampi, or octopus.

 ****  Map of the Marfells Beach to Conway River Area [PDF, 58 KB] 

This section has the rules for both:

• spiny rock lobster
• packhorse 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.

Rules changed in CRA5 area from 1 July 2020

Daily bag limits

Maximum of 6 rock lobster (both species combined) on any one day.

Spiny rock lobster minimum size

Measure the tail width in a straight line, between the tips of the two large (primary) spines on the second segment of the tail.

• The minimum measurement for males is 54mm.
• The minimum measurement for females is 60mm.
• If you're not sure what sex the lobster is, use the 60mm measurement.

Packhorse lobster minimum size

Measure the tail length along the underside in a straight line from the rear of the calcified bar on the first segment to the tip of the middle fan of the tail. Must have a tail length of at least 216mm (male and female).

Telson (tail fan) clipping

The telson is the central part of the tail fan on a rock lobster. Telson clipping is a way of marking spiny rock lobster to make it clear that they have been recreationally caught. One-third of the telson is cut off so that it is noticeably shorter than the other sections of the tail fan.

In the Kaikōura area, fishers must check that a lobster is legal size, condition and not subject to any other protections (i.e. carrying eggs) then, must immediately cut one-third off the telson.

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

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

You can't take:

• female rock lobster “in berry” carrying external eggs
• soft shell stage rock lobster (rock lobster that has shed its skin)
• unmeasurable rock lobster (like if its tail is damaged)
• undersized rock lobster.

Banned gathering methods

• You can't possess rock lobster in an unmeasurable state seaward of the high water mark.
• 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.

Visit this page for information on pot construction and use:

• Rock lobster

Closed areas

No fishing is allowed, this includes.

• Hikurangi Marine Reserve
• Waiopuka (Wakatu Quay) Rahui

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

• A to Z of marine reserves – DOC website

Kaikōura earthquake-related closure

For the area between Marfells Beach (west of Cape Campbell) and the Conway River (which sits south of the Kaikōura township), extending 4 nautical miles from shore, the following will apply.

From 15 April to 15 June 2023 only, recreational fishers will be able to take Blackfoot (Ordinary) and Yellowfoot pāua in this area.

Recreational fishers will be able to take other shellfish and seaweed (except Bull kelp) in this area from 15 April 2023 onwards according to the limits set in the Fisheries (Recreational Management Controls) Notice (April 2023).

There are some areas that remain closed to all seaweed and shellfish (except kina) gathering during and after the pāua season.

• Te Taumanu o Te Waka a Māui Taiāpure (Kaikōura Peninsula)
• Oaro Mātaitai
• Mangamaunu Mātaitai
• Te Waha o te Marangai Mātaitai.

The Oaro-Haumuri Taiāpure will be open to pāua gathering during the open season according to the limits in the table above, but will be closed to seaweed and shellfish (except kina) gathering outside the pāua season.

The Hikurangi Marine Reserve and Waiopuka (Wakatu Quay) reef area are closed to all fishing at all times.

Marlborough and North Canterbury fishing areas

The marine environment in the shellfish and seaweed closure area is damaged after the earthquakes, and it’s going to take several years to recover. The loss of fishing grounds between North Canterbury (Conway River) and Marlborough (Marfells Beach) has caused an increase in fishing pressure on the neighbouring areas.

If you are gathering kaimoana in Marlborough and Canterbury, do your part to help keep these fisheries sustainable by:

• Limiting your catch by taking less than your bag limit and just enough for a feed.
• Changing your fishing method or area if you are only catching small fish or shellfish.
• Taking special care to return an underside fish and shellfish immediately and with minimum harm.
• Check local rules for updates every time you go fishing – download the NZ Fishing Rules app.
• Report suspicious or illegal activity – call 0800 4 POACHER (0800 47 62 24).

Restricted areas

Particular fishing methods are banned or catch/bag limits for particular species are different.

• Ōhau New Zealand Fur Seal Sanctuary
• Te Rohe o Te Whānau Puha Whale Sanctuary

Kaikoura marine area set net closures

The Kaikoura Marine area is closed to all set netting.

Food safety warnings

Warnings are issued when shellfish are unsafe to eat because of contamination with biotoxin.

Check for warnings in the Kaikōura area