What you need to know
Map of South-East fishing areaThis area, includes the east coast of the South Island between Clarence Point near Kaikoura, down to Slope Point, Southland, and extending out 200 nautical miles to the Chatham Islands. However, it excludes a small area around Kaikoura , which has different rules.
All recreational fishing including potting, netting and all other fishing methods is covered by rules.
This page is a summary of daily bag and size limits and closed and restricted areas.
For more information about rules you can:
- download the rules brochure or a printer-friendly version
- get the free NZ Fishing Rules app – Apple or Android
- send a free text to 9889 with the name of a species – for example "blue cod" or "pāua". You'll be sent legal bag and size limits for that species by return text.
You can also:
- get a rules brochure from MPI offices
- email MPI to be posted the rules brochure
- read the full rules in the Fisheries (Amateur Fishing) Regulations 2013 – NZ Legislation website
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We have some regional pages to bring you information about the fishing rules and how we manage and protect local fisheries.
Scallop season closes 14 February
The scallop season closes on 14 February. This is the last day you can gather scallops in the South-East area until the season reopens again on 15 July 2016.