Recreational fishing regulation changes from 1 October

Recreational fishers need to brush up on new regulations coming into effect tomorrow (1 October).

Regulations covering all New Zealand have been created for the numbers of rock lobster pots which can be used, set or possessed by amateur fishers. This extends the current provisions applying to Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay and Wairarapa waters over the entire country. Individuals may use, set or possess up to three pots. Two or more individuals fishing from a vessel may use, set or possess up to six pots.

In the North Island, parore, porae and red snapper have been added to the combined daily bag limit of 20 finfish for the Auckland & Kermadec Islands, and Central fishing regions.

At the top of the South Island, the Challenger Area Amateur regulations have been amended so that only three blue cod per day may be taken from the combined Marlborough Sounds and Challenger (East) areas.

In addition, a number of technical amendments have been made:

* The coordinates for Pauatahanui Inlet in 4A of the Central Amateur Regulations have changed; and

* Regulation 7A of the South-East Amateur Regulations, relating to taking cockle from Port Levy (Canterbury), has been revoked.

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