Canterbury region sports fishing regulations

The following is our understanding of the regulations that apply to trout and salmon fishing in the North Canterbury region from 1 October 2017 to 30 September 2018. Where general rules do not apply, lakes and rivers are listed in alphabetical order for quick reference.

The information presented here is not meant to be taken as a complete statement of the law. Please refer to the South Island regulations booklet supplied with your fishing licence or view an online booklet at the Fish & Game New Zealand website.

Authorised tackle

Scented artificial lures may be used in all waters other than fly-fishing-only waters, when actively fished so as to imitate a moving bait fish.

Season and hours of fishing for salmon

No person may take salmon from any river between the hours of 11pm and 4am in December and January, and between 10pm and 5am for any other month of the year. All salmon fishing in all rivers will be closed from May 1 to September 30.

Bag limit

No person may take salmon or trout under the size of 300 mm from any river or lake. During the winter months, the bag limit for salmon and trout is zero (catch and release only is allowed)

Eastern and western zones

The North Canterbury region is divided into two zones:

Eastern zone: The area to the east of a line extending from a white post (on Double Hill Road visible from the river) on the south bank of the Rakaia River, to a white post on the north bank (near the Coleridge Power Station tailrace), to the confluence of the Staircase Stream and the Waimakariri River (above Woodstock), to the Oxford-Glentui Road Bridge on the Ashley River, to the junction of the Hurunui River with the South Branch, to the junction of the Waiau and Hope Rivers; and excluding Lake Rubicon.

Western zone: The area to the west of the eastern zone plus Lake Rubicon.

Season

Size limit

Bag limit

Methods allowed

General rules

Eastern and Western zones

Within 100m of the outfall of any licensed fish farm

Closed

300mm or larger

N/A

Eastern zone

All lakes, rivers and streams in the eastern zone not mentioned below

1 Oct-30 Apr

300mm or larger

Trout: 2
Salmon: 2

Artificial fly, spinner.
Bait fishing for trout only.
Fishing from boats, including both boats that are mechanically propelled (trolling) and those that are not, is permitted.

Note: All rivers and waterways downstream of State Highway 1 are closed from 1 May until 30 Sept.

Western zone

All lakes in the western zone not mentioned below

1 Nov -30 Apr

300mm or larger

Trout: 2
Salmon:N/A

Artificial fly, spinner.

Time restrictions apply in those western zone lakes that are open between 1 June and 31 August. Fishing is permitted between 5am and 12 midnight only.

All tributaries of lakes in the western zone not mentioned below

1 Dec-30 Apr
Closed to salmon fishing

300mm or larger

Trout: 2
Salmon: N/A

Artificial fly, spinner

All Western zone rivers not mentioned below

Trout: 1 Oct-30 Apr
Closed to salmon fishing

300mm or larger

Trout: 4

No bait fishing permitted.
Fishing from boats, including both boats that are mechanically propelled (trolling) and those that are not, is permitted.

Fishing waters

Acheron River (which flows from Lake Lyndon)

1 Oct-30 Apr

300mm or larger

Trout: 2
Salmon: 2

Artificial fly, spinner.
Bait fishing for trout only.

Ada River

1 Oct-30 Apr

Maximum
400mm

Trout: 2
Salmon: 0

Artificial fly, spinner

Ashley River above Ashley Gorge Bridge

1 Oct-30 Apr

Maximum
400mm

Trout: 1
Salmon: 0

Artificial fly, spinner

Ashley River below the western boundary limit

All year

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: 2

Zero limit from 1 May to Sept 30

All year: Artificial fly, spinner.
1 Oct-30 Apr: Bait fishing for trout only.

Avon River
above the Armagh Street bridge

1 Oct-30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: 2

Artificial fly, spinner, bait.
Bait fishing for trout only.

Avon River between the Armagh and Barbadoes Street bridges

Closed

N/A

Avon River below the Barbadoes Street bridge

All year

Trout and Salmon: None

Tench 150mm maximum

Total sportsfish: 4 with max of of 2 trout, 2 salmon and 1 tench

Artificial fly, spinner, bait.
1 Oct-30 Apr: Bait fishing for trout only.

Blackwater Lake

10 Dec -30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: n/a

Artificial fly, spinner
Boat fishing is not permitted

Boyle River

1 Oct-30 Apr

400mm maximum

Trout: 1
Salmon: 0

Artificial fly, spinner

Broken River and its tributaries (except Winding Creek which is closed)

7 Nov -30 Apr

Maximum
400mm

Trout: 1
Salmon: 0

Artificial fly, spinner

Cam River above the Smith St Bridge

1 Oct-30 April

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: Nil

Artificial fly, spinner, bait.
Trout fishing only. Salmon fishing is not permitted.

Cam River below the Smith St Bridge to the confluence with the Kaiapoi River

1 Oct-30 April

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: 1

Artificial fly, spinner, bait.
Trout fishing only.

Cass Hill Stream (Bullock Creek)

1 Oct-31 Mar

N/A

Trout 2

Artificial fly, spinner.

Catherine (Monck), Lake

1 Nov-30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: n/a

Flyfishing only.
Boat fishing is not permitted.

Christchurch Groynes Fishing Lakes

All year to licence holders under 18 years as at 1 Oct.
(Closed to licence holders aged over 18 years).

Closed to coarse fishing.

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: 2

Artificial fly, spinner, bait.
Bait fishing for both trout and salmon is permitted.
Fishing from boats not being mechanically propelled is permitted.

Clearwater Resort fishing lakes 3, 4 and 5.

1 Oct-30 Apr
Closed to coarse fishing

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: 2

Artificial fly, spinner.
Bait fishing for trout only.
Fishing from boats is permitted.

Clearwater Resort lakes except for 3, 4 and 5.

Closed

Coleridge, Lake

7 Nov -30 Apr
1 Jun-31 Aug

(Closed May and September each year)

None

Total sportsfish: 4 of which only 2 can be trout

Artificial fly, spinner

Fishing from boats not being mechanically propelled is permitted.

Fishing from boats being mechanically propelled (trolling) is also permitted.

Coleridge Tailrace

1 Oct - 31 Mar

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: 0

Artificial fly, spinner

Cora Lynn Stream

1 Oct - 30 April

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: 0

Artificial fly, spinner

Courtney Lake

All year to licence holders under 17 years as at 1 Oct.
(Closed to licence holders aged over 17 years).

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: 2

Artificial fly, spinner, bait
Fishing from boats not being mechanically propelled is permitted.

Cust River

1 Oct -30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: 0

Artificial fly, spinner.
Bait fishing for trout only

Double Hill Stream

1 Oct -28 Feb

N/A

Trout: 2

Artificial fly, spinner.

Double Hill Flat Streams

1 Oct -28 Feb

N/A

Trout: 2

Artificial fly, spinner.

Doubtful River

1 Oct -30 Apr

400mm maximum

Trout: 1
Salmon: 0

Artificial fly, spinner.

Ellesmere, Lake
(Te Waihora)

1 Oct-30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: 2

Artificial fly, spinner.
Bait fishing for trout only.
Fishing from boats being mechanically propelled is permitted (trolling).

Esk River

1 Oct-30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: 0

Artificial fly, spinner

Evelyn, Lake

7 Nov -30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: n/a

Artificial fly, spinner.
Fishing from boats not being mechanically propelled is permitted.

Ferrymead Park lakes

Closed

N/A

Forsyth, Lake

All year

Trout: None

Tench: 150mm maximum

Total sportsfish: 4 of which only 2 can be trout and 1 tench

All year: Artificial fly, spinner.
1 Oct-30 Apr: Bait fishing for trout only.
Fishing from boats being mechanically propelled (trolling) is permitted.

Georgina, Lake

7 Nov -30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: n/a

Artificial fly, spinner
Fishing from boats not being mechanically propelled is permitted.

Glenariffe Stream

1 Oct -28 Feb

N/A

Trout: 2

Artificial fly, spinner.

Goat Hill Stream

1 Oct-31 Mar

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: 0

Artificial fly, spinner

Grasmere, Lake

7 Nov -30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: n/a

Artificial fly, spinner.
Fishing from boats is not permitted

Groynes Fishing Lakes, Christchurch

All year to licence holders under 18 years.
Closed to licence holders aged 17 years and over.

Closed to coarse fishing.

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: 2

Artificial fly, spinner, bait.
Fishing from boats not being mechanically propelled is permitted.

Guyon, Lake

7 Nov -30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: n/a

Artificial fly, spinner.
Fishing from boats is not permitted

Hackett's Creek

Trout: 1 Oct-30 Apr

Salmon: 1 Oct-28 Feb (closed 1 March-30 April)

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: n/a
(no salmon present before end of Feb)

Artificial fly, spinner

Halswell Canal above the Duck Pond Road Bridge

1 Oct-30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: n/a

Artificial fly, spinner Bait fishing.

Halswell Canal below the Duck Pond Road Bridge

All year

Trout: None

Tench:150mm maximum

Total sportsfish: 4 of which only 2 can be trout and 1 tench

All year: Artificial fly, spinner.
1 Oct-30 Apr: Bait fishing permitted

Halswell River above the Seabridge Rd Bridge

1 Oct-30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: n/a

Artificial fly, spinner.
1 Oct-30 Apr: Bait fishing permitted

Halswell Canal below the Seabridge Rd Bridge

All year

Trout: None

Tench:150mm maximum

Total sportsfish: 4 of which only 2 can be trout and 1 tench

All year: Artificial fly, spinner.
1 Oct-30 Apr: Bait fishing permitted

Harper River including diversion and tributaries

1 Dec-30 Apr

None

Trout: 1
Salmon: 0

Artificial fly, spinner

Harts Creek

1 Oct-30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: n/a

Artificial fly, spinner.
Bait fishing for trout only.

Hawdon, Lake

7 Nov -30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: n/a

Artificial fly, spinner.
Boat fishing is not permitted

Hawkins River

1 Oct-30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: n/a

Artificial fly, spinner.
Bait fishing for trout only.

Heathcote River

1 Oct-30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: n/a

All year: Artificial fly, spinner.
Bait fishing for trout only.

Henrietta, Lake

7 Nov -30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: n/a

Artificial fly, spinner.
Fishing from boats not being mechanically propelled is permitted.

Henry River

1 Oct-30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: 0

Artificial fly, spinner

Highbank Power Station tailrace

Closed

N/A

Hope River and its tributaries the Boyle, Lewis and Nina Rivers.

1 Oct-30 Apr

400mm maximum

Trout: 1
Salmon: 0

Artificial fly, spinner

Hororata River

1 Oct-30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: n/a

Artificial fly, spinner.
Bait fishing for trout only.

Hurunui River above Lake Sumner

1 Oct-30 Apr

Maximum
400mm

Trout: 1
Salmon: 0

Artificial fly, spinner

Hurunui River between Lake Sumner and South Branch confluence

1 Oct -30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: 0

Artificial fly, spinner

Hurunui River below the South Branch confluence

All year

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: 2

All year: Artificial fly, spinner.
1 Oct-30 Apr: Bait fishing for trout only.

Hurunui River, South Branch

1 Oct-30 Apr

Maximum
400mm

Trout: 1
Salmon: 0

Artificial fly, spinner

Hurunui River below SH1

1 May - 30 Sept

Closed

Hydra Waters: Access is limited to roughly 3km of the stream. The upper reaches of the stream system are on private land and Mt Algidus Station have closed it to all anglers.

1 Oct-28 Feb

N/A

Trout: 2

Artificial fly, spinner.

Ida, Lake and Little Lake Ida

7 Nov -30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: n/a

Flyfishing only.
The use of boats or any floatation device is prohibited

Irwell River

1 Oct-30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: n/a

Artificial fly, spinner.
Bait fishing for trout only.

Kaiapoi Lakes

All year

Trout: None

Tench:150mm

Sportfish: 4

Trout: 2

Tench: 1

Salmon: n/a

All year: Artificial fly, spinner.
All year: Bait fishing for species other than trout

1 Oct-30 Apr: Bait fishing for trout permitted.

Kaiapoi River upstream of Cust Main Drain confluence

1 Oct-30 April

250mm

Trout: 2
Salmon: 0

Artificial fly, spinner
Bait fishing for trout is permitted

Kaiapoi River and tributaries upstream of Williams Street Bridge and below Cost Main Drain

1 Oct-30 April

250mm

Trout: 2
Salmon:1

Artificial fly, spinner, bait

Kaiapoi River downstream of Williams Street Bridge

All year

250mm

Trout: 2
Salmon: 1

All year: Artificial fly, spinner.
All year: Bait fishing for trout is permitted
1 Oct-31 March and 1 April-30 Sept: Bait fishing for salmon is permitted

Kaituna River

1 Oct-30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: n/a

Artificial fly, spinner.
Bait fishing for trout only

Katrine, Loch

All year

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: 2

Artificial fly, spinner.
Fishing from boats being mechanically propelled is permitted.

Kowai River and its tributaries

Trout: 1 Oct-30 Apr

Salmon: 1 Oct-28 Feb (closed 1 March-30 April)

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: N/A (no salmon present before end of Feb)

Artificial fly, spinner.

Lake Stream

1 Oct-31 Mar

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: 0

Artificial fly, spinner

Leader River

1 Oct-30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: 2

Artificial fly, spinner, bait.
Bait fishing for trout only.

Lee Stream

1 Oct-30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: 2

Artificial fly, spinner.
Bait fishing for trout only.

Letitia, Lake

7 Nov -30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: n/a

Artificial fly, spinner

Lewis River

1 Oct-30 Apr

400mm maximum

Trout: 1
Salmon: 0

Artificial fly, spinner

LII (L2) River

1 Oct-30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: n/a

Artificial fly, spinner.
Bait fishing for trout only.

Lilian, Lake

7 Nov -30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: n/a

Artificial fly, spinner.
Boat fishing is not permitted

Loch Katrine

7 Nov -30 Apr
1 Jun - 30 Sep

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: 2

Artificial fly, spinner.
Fishing from boats not being mechanically propelled is permitted.

Lyndon, Lake

7 Nov -30 Apr
1 Jun - 31 Aug

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: n/a

Artificial fly, spinner, bait
Fishing from boats not being mechanically propelled is permitted.

Mandamas River

1 Oct-30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: 0

Artificial fly, spinner.
Bait fishing for trout only.

Manuka Pt Stream

1 Oct-28 Feb

N/A

Trout: 2

Artificial fly, spinner

Marion, Lake

Closed

N/A

None

Marymere, Lake

7 Nov -30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: n/a

Flyfishing only

Mason, Lake

7 Nov -30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: n/a

Artificial fly, spinner

Minchin, Lake

7 Nov -30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: n/a

Artificial fly, spinner

Monck (Catherine) Lake

7 Nov -30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: n/a

Flyfishing only.
Boat fishing is not permitted

Monopolies Pond

All year

Trout: None

Tench:150mm maximum

Total sportfish: 4

Trout: 2

Tench: 1

Salmon: n/a

All year: Artificial fly, spinner.
All year: Bait fishing for species other than trout

1 Oct-30 Apr: Bait fishing for trout permitted.

Nina River

1 Oct-30 Apr

400mm maximum

Trout: 1
Salmon: 0

Artificial fly, spinner

Okana River

1 Oct-30 Apr

Tench: 150mm maximum

Total sportsfish: 4 of which only 2 can be trout and 1 tench

Artificial fly, spinner and bait fishing

Okuku River

1 Oct-30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: n/a

Artificial fly, spinner.
Bait fishing for trout only.

Okuti River

A1 Oct-30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: n/a

Artificial fly, spinner.
Bait fishing for trout only.

Otukaikino Creek (South Branch of Waimakariri) above Dickies Road Bridge

1 Oct-30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: 0

Artificial fly, spinner.
Bait fishing for trout only.

Otukaikino Creek (South Branch of Waimakariri) between Dickies Road Bridge and SH1

All year

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: 0

All year: Artificial fly, spinner.
1 Oct-30 Apr: Bait fishing for trout only.

Otukaikino Creek (South Branch of Waimakariri) below SH1

1 Oct-30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: 0

Artificial fly, spinner.
Bait fishing for trout only.

Pahau River

1 Oct-30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: 0

Artificial fly, spinner.
Bait fishing for trout only.

Pearson, Lake

7 Nov -30 Apr
1 Jun - 30 Sep

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: 2

Artificial fly, spinner.

Fishing from boats not being mechanically propelled is permitted.

Porter River

7 Nov -30 Apr

Maximum
400mm

Trout: 1
Salmon: 0

Artificial fly, spinner

Poulter River (including the Poulter River East Branch)

1 Oct-30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: 0

Artificial fly, spinner

Rakaia River above the Coleridge Tailrace confluence (in western zone)

Rakaia River below the western zone boundary

All year

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: 2 from 1 Oct - 30 April

Zero limit from 1 May and Sept 30

All year: Artificial fly, spinner.
1 Oct-30 Apr: Bait fishing for trout only.

Rakaia River below SH1

1 Oct - 30 April

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: 2

Artificial fly, spinner.
1 Oct-30 Apr: Bait fishing for trout only.

Rotokahatu, Lake

All year

Trout: None

Tench:150mm

Total sportfish: 4

Trout: 2

Tench: 1

Salmon: n/a

All year: Artificial fly, spinner.
All year: Bait fishing for species other than trout

1 Oct-30 Apr: Bait fishing for trout permitted.

Fishing from boats not being mechanically propelled is permitted.

Rubicon, Lake

7 Nov -30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: n/a

Artificial fly, spinner.
Boat fishing is not permitted.

Ryton River

1 Dec-30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: 0

Artificial fly, spinner

Saltwater Creek

1 Oct-30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: 2

Artificial fly, spinner.
Bait fishing for trout only.

Saint Annes' Lagoon
(near Cheviot)

Closed

N/A

Sarah, Lake

7 Nov -30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: n/a

Flyfishing only.
Fishing from boats not being mechanically propelled is permitted.

Selfe, Lake

7 Nov -30 Apr
1 Jun - 30 Sep

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: n/a

Artificial fly, spinner.

Fishing from boats not being mechanically propelled is permitted.

Selwyn River above the SH77 bridge (Glentunnel)

1 Oct-30 Apr

None

Trout: 1
Salmon: n/a

Artificial fly, spinner

Selwyn River between the Upper Huts and the SH77 bridge (Glentunnel)

1 Oct-30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: n/a

Artificial fly, spinner.
Bait fishing for trout only.

Selwyn River below the Upper Huts to SH1

All year

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: n/a

All year: Artificial fly, spinner.
1 Oct-30 Apr: Bait fishing for trout only.

Selwyn River below SH1

1 Oct - 30 April

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: n/a

Artificial fly, spinner.
Bait fishing for trout only.

Sheppard, Lake

7 Nov -30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: n/a

Flyfishing only.
Boat fishing is not permitted.

Slovens Creek

7 Nov -30 Apr

Maximum
400mm

Trout: 1
Salmon: 0

Artificial fly, spinner

South Branch of Waimakariri (Otukaikino Creek) above Dickies Road Bridge

1 Oct-30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: 2

Artificial fly, spinner.
Bait fishing for trout only.

South Branch of Waimakariri (Otukaikino Creek) between Dickies Road Bridge and SH1

All year

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: 2

All year: Artificial fly, spinner.
1 Oct-30 Apr: Bait fishing for trout only.

Otukaikino Creek (South Branch of Waimakariri) below SH1

1 Oct-30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: 0

Artificial fly, spinner.
Bait fishing for trout only.

St Annes' Lagoon
(near Cheviot)

Closed

None

Styx River above the Marshlands Road Bridge

1 Oct-30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: 2

Artificial fly, spinner.
Bait fishing for trout only.

Styx River below Marshlands Road Bridge

All year

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: 2

All year: Artificial fly, spinner.
1 Oct-30 Apr: Bait fishing for trout only.

Sumner, Lake

All year

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: 2

Artificial fly, spinner
Fishing from boats is permitted, including mechanically propelled boats (trolling).

Taylor, Lake

17 Nov -30 Apr
1 Jun - 30 Sep

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: n/a

Artificial fly, spinner.
Fishing from boats not being mechanically propelled is permitted.

Te Waihora
(Lake Ellesmere)

1 Oct-30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: 2

Artificial fly, spinner.
Bait fishing for trout only.
Fishing from boats is permitted, including mechanically propelled boats (trolling).

Tentburn Stream

1 Oct-30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: 2

Artificial fly, spinner.
Bait fishing for trout only.

Tentburn Outfall (no angling is permitted from on top of the culvert)

1 Oct-30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: 2

Artificial fly, spinner.

Waiau River above the Hope River confluence (western zone)

1 Oct-30 Apr

300mm maximum

Trout: 1
Salmon: 0

Artificial fly, spinner

Waiau River below the western zone boundary

1 Oct - 30 April

300mm maximum

Trout: 2
Salmon: 2 from 1 Oct - 30 April

Zero limit from 1 May and Sept 30

Artificial fly, spinner.
Bait fishing for trout only.

Waikari River

1 Oct-30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: n/a

Artificial fly, spinner.
Bait fishing for trout only.

Waimakariri River above Staircase Stream confluence (western zone)

1 Oct-30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: 0

Artificial fly, spinner

Waimakariri, South Branch above Dickies Road Bridge

1 Oct-30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: 2

Artificial fly, spinner.
Bait fishing for trout only.

Waimakariri, South Branch between Dickies Road Bridge and SH1

All year

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: 2

All year: Artificial fly, spinner.
1 Oct-30 Apr: Bait fishing for trout only.

Waimakariri River below the western boundary

All year

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: 2 from 1 Oct - 30 April

Zero limit from 1 May and Sept 30

Artificial fly, spinner.
Bait fishing for trout only.

Waipara River

1 Oct-30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: n/a

Artificial fly, spinner.
Bait fishing for trout only.

Wairewa River above the Te Oka Bay Road Bridge

1 Oct-30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: n/a

Artificial fly, spinner.
Bait fishing for trout only.

Wairewa River below the Te Oka Bay Road Bridge

All year

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: n/a

All year: Artificial fly, spinner.
1 Oct-30 Apr: Bait fishing for trout only.

West Lake (near Halswell)

Closed

N/A

Wilberforce Diversion

1 Dec-30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: 0

Artificial fly, spinner

Wilberforce River

1 Oct-30 Apr

None

Trout: 2
Salmon: 0

Artificial fly, spinner

Winding Creek

10 Dec – 31 Mar

N/A

Trout: 2

Artificial fly, spinner

North Canterbury Fishing Regulations, 2017-2018

The following is our understanding of the regulations that apply to trout and salmon fishing in the North Canterbury region from 1 October 2017 to 30 September 2018. Where general rules do not apply, lakes and rivers are listed in alphabetical order for quick reference.