Changes to the Fish & Game Fishing Regulations for the 2009-2010 season

Changes to the Fish & Game sportsfishing regulations effective from 1 Oct 2009 are documented below.

All Fish & Game regions (FIRST SCHEDULE)
No changes were made to the First Scedule of the 2009 - 2010 regulations.
Northland regulations
No changes have been made for the 2009 -2010 season. Special offer: Northland Fish and Game are offering entry into a draw for a prize of a $500 flotation vest for any angler who buys a whole season licence for the Northland region.
Auckland/Waikato regulations
Muirs Lake (Lake Otamarearoa)	Muirs Lake is no longer mentioned in the regulations as the land-owner has stopped all access to the lake. As a consequence Fish & Game have stopped stocking the lake.
Ototoa, Lake	Lake Ototoa is also removed from the regulations as Fish & Game has not been stocked the lake with trout for several years due to the infestation of perch. It is still open to fishing but as there is no natural trout spawning habitat, is unlikely to hold trout any longer.
No other changes made to the 2009 - 2010 regulations.
Eastern/Rotorua regulations
No changes made to the 2009 - 2010 regulations.
Hawke's Bay regulations
No changes made to the 2009 - 2010 regulations.
Taranaki regulations
Lake Viriginia	Now closed to fishing.
Wellington regulations
Rangitikei River upper reaches above the Ohinewaione Stream Confluence about 9 river kilometres upstream from the Springvale Bridge	A backcountry licence is now required to fish the Rangitikei River in the upper reaches above the Ohinewaione Stream Confluence. The free backcountry licence can be obtained on-line from the Wellington office of Fish and Game (or phone 06 359 0409).
Rangitikei River upstream from the Matawhero Road Bridge (commonly called the Mangaohane Bridge) up to its confluence with the Ohinewaione Stream	A 550mm maximum size limit has been set for the middle section of the Rangitikei upstream from the Matawhero Road Bridge to its confluence with the Ohinewaione Stream. Contrary to some material this section is NOT open all year but is open between 1 Oct to 30 April. This section is now restricted to fly and spin fishing only
Hutt River	Now has a limit of 1 fish.
Mangatainoka River	Now has a limit of 2 fish.
Hokowhitu Lagoon (also known as Centennial Lagoon)	Now has a limit of 1 trout. There is no limit on the number of coarse fish.
Kouraurau Dam (Upper) Reservoir	Now has a bag limit of 1 trout. There is no limit on the number of coarse fish.
Nelson regulations
Wairau River	The section of the Wairau River downstream from the Wash Bridge has been clearly defined to include the diversion and the Southern Valley Irrigation Intake Pond. This section is open all year and to all legal fishing methods.
Anatoki River	Salmon can now be legally kept if caught as part of the 2 bag limit.
North Canterbury regulations
High country opening day	The opening day for the High Country waters is November 7 (the first Saturday in Nov) this season.
Waiau River above the Hope River confluence (western zone)	1 fish limit with a 400mm (or 40cm) maximum size on any fish taken.
Hope River and its tributaries the Boyle, Lewis and Nina Rivers	1 fish limit with a 400mm (or 40cm) maximum size on any fish taken.
Doubtful River (tributary of the Boyle River)	Now added to regulations and open to fly and spin fishing 1 Oct-30 April with a 1 trout limit and 400mm maximum size.
Cora Lynn Stream (a tributary of the Waimakariri River)	Now added to regulations and open to fly and spin fishing 1 Oct-30 April with a 2 trout limit
The Hurunui River above Lake Sumner	Opens on 1 Oct and not the beginning of December as in previous years
Lake Henrietta	Anglers can now fish from non-mechanically propelled boats
Upper Selwyn River upstream of the Glentunnel Bridge on State Highway 77	The bag limit has been reduced from 2 to 1 fish.
Lower Okana River downstream of SH 75 at Little River	Designated a coarse fishing water.
Lake Forsyth	Designated a coarse fishing water
Lower Old Halswell River downstream from Seabridge Rd	Designated a coarse fishing water
Lower Halswell Canal downstream from the Waihora Gun Club	Designated a coarse fishing water.
Lower Avon River downstream from Barbadoes St	Designated a coarse fishing water
West Lake near Halswell	Remains closed to coarse fishing.
West Coast regulations
Whitcombe River	Open all year
Ahaura River downstream from the Haupiri confluence	Now open all year.
Central South Island regulations
High country opening day	The opening day for the high country waters is November 7 (the first Saturday in Nov) this season.
Ahuriri River tributaries and Ahuriri River Lagoons	The opening day is Dec 5
Sockeye salmon season	The season for the catching of sockeye salmon in any spawning stream in the Waitaki Lakes area finishes at end of February.
Lake Hood	Now open from 1 Oct to 30 April and from 1 June to 31 Aug to fly and spin fishing with a limit of 2 sportsfish.
Island Stream and Waiareka Stream (tributaries of the Kakanui River)	Now designated as coarse fisheries for perch and tench
Foul hooking of fish	If any angler foul-hooks three fish in any one day it will be considered deliberate and they must stop fishing after the third fish. (Foul-hook means to hook a sports fish other than from within the mouth).
Otago regulations
Nevis River	A backcountry licence is now required to fish the Nevis River. There is also a maximum size limit of 400mm (40cms) with any fish larger than 400mm to be returned to the water unharmed.
Southland regulations
No changes made to the 2009 - 2010 regulations.

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