Central Fishing Regulations
Contents
Finfish
Daily limits per person
In the Central Fishery Management Area there is a combined daily bag limit of 20 finfish, consisting of any combination of:
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There is no limit on species not named above.
- **A new recreational daily bag limit for blue cod in the Central (Egmont) Fishery Management Area (from North Taranaki to Titahi Bay) of 10 blue cod, within the existing 20 mixed finfish bag limit.
- * A new recreational daily bag limit for bluenose of 5 bluenose, within the existing mixed finfish bag limit applicable in each area.
Additionally, individual limits, over and above the combined bag, apply to:
Snapper: a daily bag limit of 10.
Groper/Hapuku/bass and kingfish: a combined daily bag limit of 5 with no more than 3 kingfish.
Freshwater eels: a daily bag limit of 6.
Length measurement
Finfish length is measured from the tip of the nose to the “V” in the tail (as shown in diagram).
Line fishing
- All surface floats attached to any line must be marked permanently and legibly with the fisher’s initials and surname.
- No person may use or be in possession of more than one line (other than handlines or rod and reel lines).
- No person may use or possess a line with more than 25 hooks.
- Where more than one person is using a line from a vessel (other than rod and reel lines), no more than two lines (other than rod and reel lines) may be used, set from or possessed on board that vessel.
Eels
No person shall take any eels from Lake Horowhenua or the Hokio Stream unless that person does so in exercise of fishing rights pursuant to Section 18 of The Reserves and Other Lands Disposal Act 1956.
General netting restrictions
- No person may set or possess more than one drag net, set net, fyke net, or any other type of net at any one time.
- Nets must be hauled by hand.
- Any net or nets used either individually or jointly must not extend across more than one-quarter of the width of any river, stream, channel, bay or sound.
- No person may set or use a baited net (except fyke nets).
Set net
- Only one set net is allowed to be used from, or be on board any vessel. (An additional baitfish net is allowed so long as it is less than 10 metres long and has a mesh size of 50 mm or less).
- Must not exceed 60 metres in length.
- Must not be set within 60 metres of another net.
- Must not be secured by stakes (except fyke nets).
- Each end of a set net must have a surface float marked permanently and legibly with the fisher’s initials and surname.
- Must not be used in a way that causes fish to be stranded by the falling tide.
Drag net
- Drag nets must not exceed 40 metres in length.
- Total warp length must not exceed 200 metres.
Size and method restrictions
- The minimum mesh size for drag nets is 100 mm.
- The minimum mesh size for eel fyke nets or traps is 12 mm.
| Finfish species |
Minimum fish length (cm)
|
Minimum set net mesh size (mm)
|
| Blue Cod |
33
|
100
|
| Blue Moki |
40
|
114
|
| Bluenose |
-
|
160
|
| Butterfish |
35
|
108
|
| Elephant fish |
-
|
150
|
| Flatfish (except Sand flounder) |
25
|
100
|
| Garfish (piper) |
-
|
25
|
| Groper/Hapuku/Bass |
-
|
160
|
| Herrings |
-
|
25
|
| Kahawai |
-
|
100
|
| Kingfish |
75
|
100
|
| Grey Mullet |
-
|
100
|
| Parore |
-
|
100
|
| Pilchard |
-
|
25
|
| Porae |
-
|
100
|
| Red cod |
25
|
100
|
| Red gurnard |
25
|
100
|
| Red moki |
40
|
115
|
| Red snapper |
-
|
100
|
| Rig |
-
|
150
|
| Sand flounder |
23
|
100
|
| School shark |
-
|
150
|
| Snapper |
27
|
100
|
| Tarakihi |
25
|
100
|
| Trevally |
25
|
100
|
| Trumpeter |
35
|
100
|
| Yellow-eyed mullet |
-
|
25
|
| All Others |
-
|
100
|
Closed areas
- Set netting prohibited in Pauatahanui inlet.
- There are set netting restrictions around Cape Runaway. Contact your local Fisheries office.
- There are also some closed areas not specified in this publication. Contact the Ministry of Fisheries for the exact locations.
- Pukerua Bay, handlines only to be used.
Mātaitai Reserves
Mātaitai reserves are areas where tangatawhenua manage non-commercial fishing through bylaws. Bylaws apply equally to all individuals. Reserves can only be applied for over traditional fishing grounds which are of special significance to tangatawhenua. Generally, there is no commercial fishing within these reserves.
There are a number of Mātaitai Reserves in the Central Area.
Closed Area – Marine Reserve
Closed Area
Closed Area – Nets
Closed Area – North Island West Coast – Nets
Parininihi Marine Reserve
Tapuae Marine Reserve / Sugar Loaf Island Marine Protected Area
Closed Area
Pukerua Bay
The taking of shellfish, aquatic life, seaweed and the taking of fish except by hand-held lines is PROHIBITED.
Closed Area – Marine Reserve
Shellfish
| Shellfish species |
Maximum daily limit per person
|
Minimum size (mm)
|
| Cockles |
150
|
none
|
| Crab |
50
|
none
|
| Kina (sea eggs) |
50
|
none
|
| Mussels |
50
|
none
|
| Oysters - Dredge* + - Rock & Pacific† |
50
250 |
58
none |
| Paua - Ordinary* - Yellow foot* - Taranaki |
10
10 10 |
125
80 85 |
| Pipi |
150
|
none
|
| Scallops – Central* + |
20
|
100
|
| Toheroa # |
Prohibited
|
Prohibited
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| Tuatua |
150
|
none
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| All Others • (combined) |
50
|
none
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* Dredge oyster, paua and scallop must be landed in the shell and cannot be shucked or shelled seaward of the mean high water mark. This does not include dredge oysters and scallops shucked onboard for consumption at sea within daily bag limits.
† Rock oysters and Pacific oysters must not be opened while they adhere to the object on which they grow.
# Toheroa must not be taken, possessed, or disturbed unless an open season is declared by the Chief Executive of the Ministry of Fisheries.
+ Divers may take an additional quotas for up to a maximum of 2 safety people per vessel.
• This is a combined, mixed-species bag limit. It applies to all shellfish species not specifically named above and includes paddle crabs.
Amateur Taranaki Paua Fishery Area
- Recreational fishers may take or possesss any Paua that is 85mm or greater in length within the Amateur Taranaki Paua Fishery Area.
- Paua taken or possessed outside of the Amateur Taranaki Paua Fishery Area must be 125mm or greater in length.
Measuring shellfish
Paua: measure the greatest length of the shell in a straight line. Do not measure over the curve of the shell.
Scallop: measure the greatest diameter of the shell.
Dredge Oysters: must not pass through a rigid circular metal ring with an inside diameter of 58mm.
Paua Accumulation Limits
The maximum number or amount of paua that one person can have in their possession at any one time is:
- twenty paua being two (2) times the maximum daily bag limit of paua
- OR shucked weight(shell removed) of 2.5kgs of paua
Underwater Breathing Apparatus (UBA)
(Does not include snorkels)
- No person may take paua using UBA.
- No person may be in possession of paua while in possession of UBA. This includes possession in or on any vessel or vehicle.
Open season for scallops
- 15 July to 14 February inclusive.
Rock Lobster
Daily limit
No person may take or possess more than 6 rock lobsters (both species combined) taken on any one day.
Possession
Rock lobster may not be possessed seaward of the high water mark in an unmeasurable state.
Protected rock lobster
The following types of rock lobster are protected by law and must be returned immediately to the water:
- Undersized rock lobsters.
- Any female rock lobster carrying external eggs (these are carried between the pleopods on the underside of the tail).
- Any rock lobster in the soft shell stage.
- Any rock lobster that cannot be measured (e.g. because of damage to the tail preventing accurate measurement).
General restrictions
It is an offence to:
- Remove external eggs or the egg-bearing appendages from any rock lobster.
- Use a spear or device which could puncture the shell when taking rock lobster, or possess any rock lobster which has been speared.
Lassoes
Only hand operated loops or lassoes may be used to take rock lobster.
It is prohibited to use a spring loaded loop or lasso.
Rock lobster pots
Limits
- All pots and surface float must be clearly and permanently marked with the fishers surname and initials.
- Individuals may use, set, or possess up to three pots in any one day.
- Two or more individuals fishing from a vessel may use, set, or possess up to six pots in any one day.
- Bobs and ring pots can be used to catch rock lobster. They are exempted from escape gap requirements but all other requirement (size, pot limits) remain.
Use of Pots
All rock lobster pots must have an escape gap as detailed in the “ESCAPE GAPS FOR ROCK LOBSTER POTS” section.
Escape gap restrictions
- Round or Beehive pots must have at least 3 escape gaps/or apertures (other than the mouth). Each aperture must have an inside dimension of not less than 54 mm x 200 mm.
- Square or rectangular pots must have at least 2 escape gaps/or apertures (other than the mouth) in opposite faces of the pot. Each aperture shall not be less than 80% of the height or length of the face of the pot in which the apertures are contained. Each aperture shall have an inside dimension of not less than 54 mm x 200 mm.
No escape gap or aperture shall be incorporated in either the top or the bottom of any pot.
- Any rock lobster pot constructed entirely of unaltered spot welded mesh with inside dimensions of 54 mm x 140 mm does not require escape gaps or apertures. Pots must be used without covers or liners or have covers or liners that leave unencumbered at least 80% of the surface area of each of 2 opposite sides.
- Escape gaps or apertures are designed to allow undersized rock lobster to escape.
Minimum sizes
No person may take or possess
- Male red rock lobster with a tail width less than 54 mm.
- Female red rock lobster with a tail width less than 60 mm.
- Packhorse rock lobster (either sex) with a tail length shorter than 216 mm.
How to measure a red rock lobster
The tail width is measured in a straight line between the tips of the two large (primary) spines on the second segment of the tail, as shown in the diagram which follows:
The sex is easily determined:
- Females have small pincers on the rear pair of legs.
- Pleopods are in paired form on each side of the underside of female tails, and are in single form in male tails.
- If you are unsure of the sex, use the 60 mm measurement and you will be safe.
How to measure packhorse rock lobster
The tail length is measured 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.
