Challenger area fishing rules

In the Challenger fishing 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

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 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.

* A diver on a boat can gather extra bag limits of oysters and scallops for up to 2 other people who are ensuring dive safety on the boat.

*** Map for the Tasman, Nelson and Marlborough pāua restriction [PDF, 204 KB]

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

† Since 15 July 2018, the Marlborough Sounds, Tasman Bay, Golden Bay, and Port Underwood are closed to scallop fishing until further notice.

• 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).

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 changing in CRA5 area from 1 July 2020

Daily bag limits

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

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 cannot possess rock lobster seaward of the high-water mark in an unmeasurable state.
• 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 our rock lobster page for information on pot construction and use

From Bush End Point, Farewell Spit to Clarence Point

Telson clipping is required for all spiny rock lobsters that you take.

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.

When daily limits are accumulated over a multi-day trip, the maximum number of spiny rock lobster that one person can have in their possession at any one time is 18 spiny rock lobsters (3 daily bag limits of 6).

This possession limit applies everywhere, including in the home.

"Bag and tag" conditions apply – you must hold spiny rock lobster in a container or bag that contains only a single day’s catch and is clearly labelled with:

• the individual fisher’s name
• the date the lobsters were taken
• the number of lobsters held.

Video: Telson Clipping Your Crayfish(2.25)

The lists below show areas where:

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

Closed areas

You can't fish in these areas. This includes marine reserves.

• Double Cove
• Hautai Marine Reserve
• Horoirangi Marine Reserve
• Kahurangi Marine Reserve
• Long Island Marine Reserve
• Maud Island area
• Punakaiki Marine Reserve
• Tauparikākā Marine Reserve
• Tonga Island Marine Reserve
• Waiau Glacier Coast
• Westhaven Inlet Marine Reserve

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

A to Z of marine reserves – DOC

Southern Scallop Fishery and Port Underwood

• Since 15 July 2018, the Marlborough Sounds, Tasman Bay, Golden Bay, and Port Underwood are closed to scallop fishing until further notice.
• The closure applies to both recreational and commercial fishers to give the scallop beds time to rest and recover.
• No person may take or possess scallops from the areas marked in red on the map.
• If convicted, a penalty of up to $100,000 and forfeiture of any equipment used in the offending applies.

Find out more about the Southern Scallop Fishery and Port Underwood closure

Set netting restrictions

Set netting is banned from Farewell Spit to Cape Soucis, then from Cape Jackson to the Clarence River out to 4 nautical miles. This includes:

• the entire Queen Charlotte Sound
• Tory Channel
• Port Underwood
• Cloudy Bay
• Clifford Bay
• Cape Campbell.

Find out about the new restrictions

Set netting is banned on the West Coast, from Farewell Spit to Awarua Point. The ban area extends from the shore out to 2 nautical miles.

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.

The Kaikōura pāua fishery (Marfells Beach to Conway River) is closed between 1 September and 30 April. If you take any pāua from this area during this time you may face prosecution.

In support of the extended season, the Minimum Legal Size has been increased for Ordinary (Blackfoot) pāua from 125 mm to 130 mm to protect a greater proportion of spawning pāua. Please ensure you are using the correct measuring tool and see our guidelines on harvesting pāua to ensure any undersized pāua are safely returned to the water.    

Recreational fishers will be able to take other shellfish and seaweed (except Bull kelp) in this area from 22 April 2024 onwards according to the limits set in the Fisheries (Recreational Management Controls) Notice.

There are some areas that remain closed to all pāua 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 scampi, rock lobster, octopus and kinda) gathering.

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 undersize fish and shellfish immediately and with minimum harm
• checking local rules for updates every time you go fishing – download the NZ Fishing Rules app
• reporting suspicious or illegal activity – call 0800 4 POACHER (0800 476 224).

Marlborough Sounds area closed for blue cod fishing

• The Marlborough Sounds is closed for blue cod fishing from 1 September to 10 January (inclusive) annually. This was extended in August 2025 from 19 December to address overfishing concerns.
• This is to support the reproduction of blue cod by reducing disruption to spawning behaviour and reducing catch numbers.
• No person may take blue cod from areas marked red on the map below.
• During this closed season, you may transport blue cod from the Challenger East area into the Marlborough Sounds area as long as you can prove where the fish were taken from.

Southern Scallop Fishery and Port Underwood

• Since 15 July 2018, the Marlborough Sounds, Tasman Bay, Golden Bay, and Port Underwood are closed to scallop fishing until further notice.
• The closure applies to both recreational and commercial fishers to give the scallop beds time to rest and recover.
• No person may take or possess scallops from the areas marked in red on the map.
• If convicted, a penalty of up to $100,000 and forfeiture of any equipment used in the offending applies.

Find out more about the Southern Scallop Fishery and Port Underwood closure

Restricted areas

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

• Marlborough Sounds area only. Closed 1 September to 10 January inclusive every year.
• Challenger East area (includes Marlborough Sounds area) – blue cod size and catch limits.
• Pelorus Sound – set netting and long line restrictions.
• Kenepuru Sound – set netting and long line restrictions.
• Ōkahu – no taking of pāua.
• Popotai Taumaka – no taking of pāua.
• Tennyson Inlet and Hallam Cove – set netting restriction.
• Croisilles Harbour – set netting restriction.

Blue cod restrictions

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