Fiordland area fishing rules
Recreational fishing rules for the Fiordland area, including closures, restrictions, and other important notices.
What you need to know
This area (Te Moana o Atawhenua), covers the Fiordland coastal marine area out to 12 nautical miles from Awarua Point to Sandhill Point, excluding the area around the Solander Islands.
All recreational fishing – including potting, netting and all other fishing methods – is covered by rules.
Remember, if you're a recreational fisher, selling any fish or shellfish you catch is illegal.
Ways to check the rules
This page has a summary of:
You can also check rules in our brochures, use the free NZ Fishing Rules app, or text us. You'll also see signs about rules at many fishing spots.
Get a brochure
- Download the rules brochure [PDF, 2.2 MB]
- Email MPI to get a brochure posted to you
- Visit an MPI fisheries office
Other languages
- 中国话的 (Chinese) [PDF, 1.5 MB]
- 한국어 (Korean) [PDF, 1.3 MB]
- Tagalog (Filipino) [PDF, 1.4 MB]
- Samoan [PDF, 1.6 MB]
- Tongan [PDF, 1.3 MB]
Download the free NZ Fishing Rules app
Or free text "app" to 9889 to be sent the links to your phone. Once installed, the app will work without an internet connection.
Use our free text service
Send a free text to 9889 with the name of a species.
For example, text "blue cod" or "pāua" to 9889. You'll be sent legal bag and size limits for that species by return text.
Limits and closures
Finfish bag and size limits
A summary of the finfish daily bag and size limits.
In the Fiordland area there is a combined daily bag limit of 30 finfish, consisting of any combination of the species listed on the following table. Individual species limits must not be exceeded.
Accumulation of finfish beyond the daily limit is prohibited. Possession of fish above species limit or combined maximum daily bag limit is unlawful.
There is no limit on finfish species not listed below.
| Finfish Species | Min fish length (cm) | Max daily limit per fisher |
| Barracouta | - | 30 |
| Blue Cod - internal waters (excluding Doubtful, Thompson and Bradshaw Sounds) | 33 | 3 |
| Blue Cod - Doubtful, Thompson, Bradshaw Sounds internal waters | 33 | 1 |
| Blue Cod - Outside internal waters of Fiordland | 33 | 20 |
| Blue Moki | 40 | 15 |
| Bluenose | - | 5 |
| Blue Shark | - | 1 |
| Bronze Shark | - | 1 |
| Butterfish/Greenbone | 35 | 15 |
| Eels | - | 6 |
| Elephant Fish | - | 5 |
| Flatfish | 25 (except sand flounder which is 23) | 30 |
| Grey Mullet | - | 30 |
| Groper/Hapuku/Bass - internal waters sub limit | - | 3 |
| Groper/Hapuku/Bass - other areas (inlcudes the limit of 3 from internal waters) | - | 5 |
| Hammerhead Shark | - | 1 |
| Kahawai | - | 15 |
| Kingfish | 75 | 3 |
| Lamprey | - | 30 |
| Ling | - | 30 |
| Mako Shark | - | 1 |
| Marblefish | - | 30 |
| Marlin | - | 1 |
| Porbeagle Shark | - | 1 |
| Quinnat Salmon | - | 2 |
| Red Cod | 25 | 10 |
| Red gurnard | 25 | 30 |
| Red Moki | 40 | 15 |
| Rig | - | 5 |
| School Shark | - | 5 |
| Sea perch/Jock Stewart | - | 10 |
| Seven gilled shark | - | 1 |
| Skate Ray | - | 5 |
| Snapper | 25 | 30 |
| Spiny Dogfish | - | 15 |
| Stargazer | - | 30 |
| Tarakihi | 25 | 15 |
| Thresher Shark | - | 1 |
| Trevally | 25 | 30 |
| Trumpeter | 35 | 15 |
| Warehou | - | 15 |
| Wrasse | - | 30 |
Shellfish bag and size limits
A summary of the shellfish daily bag and size limits.
Shellfish are take when they cannot freely return to the water e.g. placed into a catch bag or similar. At no time while gathering may you be in possession of more than your daily limit.
| Shellfish Species | Max daily limit per fisher | Min size (mm) |
| Cockle | 150 | none |
| Kina (sea eggs) | 50 | none |
| Mussels | 25 | none |
| Oysters – Dredge† (Season: 1 Mar to 31 Aug) |
50 |
58 |
| Paua – Ordinary black foot* – Yellow foot* |
10 10 |
125 80 |
| Pipi | 150 | none |
| Scallops *† (Season: 1 Oct to 15 Mar) |
10 | 100 |
| Tuatua | 150 | none |
| All others (combined) • | 50 | none |
* No accumulation of paua or scallop daily limits within the Fiordland Marine Area.
† A diver or divers on a vessel may gather an additional bag limit of oysters or scallops for up to two people acting in a dive safety capacity on the vessel.
• This is a combined, mixed-species bag limit. It applies to all shellfish species not specifically named above and includes all crabs, catseyes, cook’s turban, limpets, starfish, periwinkles and freshwater crayfish (koura).
Rock lobster/Crayfish
A summary of the rock lobster/crayfish daily bag and size limits.
Daily bag limits
Maximum of 6 rock lobster (both species combined) on any one day.
Maximum of 3 taken from within the Milford Sound internal waters of Fiordland.
Spiny rock lobster minimum size
Measure the tail width in a straight line between the tips of the two large (primary) spines on the second segment of the tail. If you are unsure of the sex, use the 60mm measurement.
Packhorse lobster minimum size
Measure the tail length 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. Must have a tail length of at least 216mm (male and female).
Accumulation Limit
Accumulation means having in your possession fish/shellfish caught/gathered over more than one day. In Fiordland there is a 3-day accumulation limit of 15 rock lobster, no more than 3 may be taken from the Milford Sound internal waters of Fiordland.
Additional rules and protections
There are rules and protections for gathering rock lobster/crayfish that cover: protected types, gathering methods, pot construction and use. For more details check the:
- rules brochure [PDF, 2.2 MB],
- the free NZ Fishing Rules app – Apple or android
- rock lobster/crayfish methods page.
Closures and restrictions
A summary of areas where catch limits and sizes may be different. More information is in the rules brochure.
Closed areas
No fishing is allowed, this includes Marine Reserves.
- Milford Sound internal waters - closed to blue cod fishing
- Piopiotahi (Milford Sound) Marine Reserve
- Te Hapua (Sutherland Sound) Marine Reserve
- Hawea (Clio Rocks) Marine Reserve (Bligh Sound)
- Kahukura (Gold Arm) Marine Reserve (Charles Sound)
- Katu Parera (Gaer Arm) Marine Reserve (Bradshaw Sound)
- Te Awaatu Channel (The Gut) Marine Reserve (Doubtful Sound)
- Taipari Roa (Elizabeth Island) Marine Reserve (Doubtful Sound)
- Moana Uta (Wet Jacket Arm) Marine Reserve (Acheron Passage)
- Taumoana (Five Fingers Peninsula) Marine Reserve (Dusky Sound)
- Te Tapuwae o Hua (Long Sound) Marine Reserve (Preservation Inlet)
Marine reserves are managed by the Department of Conservation (DOC).
Restricted areas
Particular fishing methods are banned or catch/bag limits for particular species are different.
- Pendulo Reach (Doubtful Sound) - use of rock lobster pots and holding pots prohibited
- Doubtful, Thompson and Bradshaw Sounds internal waters - daily limit of 1 blue cod per fisher (with no accumulation).
Food safety warnings
Warnings are issued when shellfish are unsafe to eat because of contamination with biotoxin.
Report poaching
Report poaching, suspicious, or illegal activity – call 0800 4 POACHER (0800 47 62 24) or email poacher@mpi.govt.nz
You can help us by providing:
- the location
- vehicle/trailer registration number
- boat name
- description of the person
When reporting any suspected poaching put your personal safety first. All calls and personal details are treated as confidential.
It is illegal to buy, sell or swap recreationally caught seafood
These are offences against the Fisheries Act which can result in fines up to $250,000.Follow us on Facebook
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Find out more
Fisheries (Amateur Fishing) Regulations 2013 – NZ Legislation website