Southland area fishing rules

Choose your fishing area

Checking the rules

Map of Southland fishing area — A map of New Zealand showing the Southland fishing area in dark blue.

The Southland Fishery Management Area covers:

the waters south and west from Awarua Point (South Westland) to Slope Point (the Catlins south-east coast)
Foveaux Strait, Stewart Island, and all adjacent islands and waters out to 200 nautical miles.

Note that separate fishing rules apply to Paterson Inlet (Stewart Island) and the area does not include Fiordland, which also has different rules.

Te Whaka ā Te Wera/ Paterson Inlet Mātaitai Reserve Fishing Bylaws and recreational fishing rules brochure [PDF, 1.5 MB]

Fiordland area fishing rules

A more detailed map is on the NZ Fishing Rules app. We recommend using the app to check size limits, catch limits, closed areas, and other restrictions wherever you're fishing.

The app is free and available for both Apple and Android devices.

App Store for iPhone (Apple)

Google Play Store (Android)

You can also keep scrolling on this page to see the rules.

The Southland area fishing rules

In the Southland 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 5 bluenose. This means you could have 5 bluenose, 15 kahawai and 10 red cod.

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

Finfish species	Maximum daily limit per active fisher	Min fish length (cm)	Min set net mesh size (mm)
Blue cod Southern – Taiaroa Head to Sand Hill Point	10	33 Landed whole, gutted or headed** and gutted	—
Blue cod South West – Sandhill Point to South Bank of Haast River (excluding Fiordland (Te Moana o Atawhenua) Marine Area)	10	33 Landed whole and gutted	—
Blue cod –Te Whaka ā Te Wera/Paterson Inlet Mātaitai	10	33 Landed whole, gutted or headed** and gutted	—
Blue moki	15	40	114
Bluenose	5	—	160
Blue shark	1	—	100
Bronze shark	1	—	100
Butterfish (Greenbone)	15	35	108
Elephant fish	5	—	150
Flatfish (Te Whaka ā Te Wera/Paterson Inlet Mātaitai)	10	25	—
Hammerhead shark	1	—	100
Groper (Hapuku) / Bass	Daily limit of 5 with no more than 3 kingfish	—	160
Kingfish	Daily limit of 5 with no more than 3 kingfish	75	100
Kahawai	15	—	90
Mako shark	1	—	100
Marlin	1	—	100
Porbeagle shark	1	—	100
Quinnat salmon	1	—	—
Red cod	10	25	100
Red moki	15	40	115
Rig	5	-	150
School shark	5	-	150
Seven gilled shark	1	-	100
Skate/Ray	5	-	100
Spiny dogfish	15	-	100
Southern bluefin tuna	1	-	100
Tarakihi	15	25	100
Thresher shark	1	-	100
Trumpeter	15	35	100
Warehou	15	–	100
** Where permitted, blue cod headed state minimum length is 24cm and is measured from the base of the side pectoral fin to the middle ray of the tail fin.

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

Finfish species	Min fish length (cm)	Min set net mesh size (mm)
Flatfish (except Sand flounder)	25	100
Grey mullet	—	90
Red gurnard	25	100
Sand flounder	23	100
Snapper	25	125
Trevally	25	100
All other finfish	—	100

Table 3: Additional to combined bag limit

Baitfish species	Maximum daily limit per active fisher
Anchovy	Daily limit of 50 for any combination of these species
Jack/Horse/Chilean mackerel
Koheru/Scad
Pilchard
Piper/Garfish
Slender/Stout sprat
Yellow-eyed mullet

Table 4 – Additional to combined bag limit

Finfish species	Maximum daily limit per active fisher	Min mesh size (mm)
Eel	6	12

Shellfish are taken when they cannot freely return to the water – for example, when they are placed into a catch bag or similar. At no time while gathering may you be in possession of 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.

Shellfish daily bag and size limits

Shellfish Species	Max daily limit per fisher	Min size (mm)
Cockle	150	none
Kina (sea eggs)	50	none
Mussels*	25	none
Oysters – Dredge† (Season: 1 Mar to 31 Aug)	50	58
Paua – Ordinary – Yellow foot	10 10	125 80
Pipi	150	none
Scallops† (Season: 1 Oct to 15 Mar)	10	100
Toheroa#	Prohibited	Prohibited
Tuatua	150	none
All others (combined) •	50	none

* Excluding Stewart Island, where the mussel limit is 50.

† A diver or divers on a vessel may gather an additional bag limit of oysters or scallops for up to two people acting in a dive safety capacity on the vessel.

# Toheroa must not be taken, possessed or disturbed unless authorised by a Customary Authority.

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

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.

Daily bag limits

Spiny/red and packhorse rock lobster combined = 6 (maximum of 3 packhorse rock lobster).

Rock lobster minimum sizes

Lobster species	Tail width measurement
Red or spiny rock lobster (crayfish)	Male – 54 mm Female – 60 mm
Packhorse rock lobster	Male – 84 mm Female – 90 mm

Lobster species

Tail width measurement

Red or spiny rock lobster (crayfish)

Male – 54 mm

Female – 60 mm

Packhorse rock lobster

Male – 84 mm

Female – 90 mm

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 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

Shellfish food safety warnings

We issue warnings not to collect shellfish when testing shows that they contain unsafe levels of toxins.

Check for shellfish warnings

Report poaching

You can report poaching, suspicious, or illegal activity online.

Illegal fishing (such as poaching) online reporting form

You can also:

freephone 0800 4 POACHER (0800 47 62 24), or
email poacher@mpi.govt.nz

You can help us by providing:

the location
vehicle/trailer registration number
boat name
description of the person.

When reporting any suspected poaching, put your personal safety first. All calls and personal details are treated as confidential.

Remember, it is illegal to buy, sell, or swap recreationally caught seafood

These are offences against the Fisheries Act 1996 which can result in fines up to $250,000.

Fisheries offices

A list of Fisheries New Zealand offices

Follow us on Facebook

Our regional Facebook pages bring you information about the fishing rules and how we manage and protect local fisheries.

Fishing regulations

Fisheries (Amateur Fishing) Regulations 2013 – NZ Legislation

Who to contact

If you have questions about Southland area fishing rules, email info@mpi.govt.nz

Checking the rules

The Southland area fishing rules

Finfish bag and size limits

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 bag and size limits

Shellfish daily bag and size limits

Rock lobster (crayfish) rules and limits

Daily bag limits

Rock lobster minimum sizes

Other rules and protections

Protected types

Banned gathering methods

Blue cod restrictions

Pot construction

Accumulation limit

Measurable state

Eating blue cod on a boat

Within the South West blue cod management area (Sand Hill Point to South Bank of Haast River)

Set netting prohibitions

Closed areas (including temporary closures)

Pikomamaku (Womens Island) Mātaitai Reserve

Closed area

Mātaitai reserves

Pikomamaku (Womens Island) Mātaitai Reserve

Other mātaitai reserves

Mataura River – Southland

Waitutu – Southland

Te Whaka a Te Wera – Stewart Island

Horomamae – Titi Islands

Pikomamaku – Titi Islands

Kaihuka – Titi Islands

Rules brochures