Central fishing rules: size and bag limits

In the Central area, every finfish you keep counts towards a combined limit of 20 a day, plus any limit for that species. The table below gives the minimum size and daily limit for each species, with the local exceptions. Checked against MPI on 22 October 2026.

Can I keep it?

Pick the fish and where you're fishing. Add its length to check it against the minimum size.

Snapper in the Central area

Minimum size
27 cm
Daily limit
10 a day
Combined finfish limit
20 a day

Checked 22 October 2026 · Source: MPI. This is a guide; the official MPI rules apply.

Combined daily limit

Combined 20 finfish per fisher per day, excluding baitfish (50) and eels (6).

Size and daily limits in the Central area

SpeciesMin. sizeDaily limit
AlbacoreNo min.Combined
BarracoutaNo min.Combined
Black OreoNo min.Combined
Blue Cod33 cmVariesLocal exceptions
Blue Moki40 cmCombined
BluenoseNo min.5 a day
Butterfish35 cmCombined
CocklesNo min.150 a dayLocal exceptions
Crayfish6 cm3 a dayLocal exceptions
GemfishNo min.Combined
Golden SnapperNo min.Combined
Grey MulletNo min.Combined
HakeNo min.Combined
HāpukuNo min.2 a dayLocal exceptions
HokiNo min.Combined
Jack MackerelNo min.50 a dayLocal exceptions
John DoryNo min.Combined
KahawaiNo min.Combined
KinaNo min.50 a dayLocal exceptions
Kingfish75 cm3 a day
LeatherjacketNo min.Combined
LingNo min.Combined
MusselsNo min.50 a dayLocal exceptions
Orange RoughyNo min.Combined
OystersNo min.250 a dayLocal exceptions
Pacific Bluefin TunaNo min.Combined
Pāua12.5 cm5 a dayLocal exceptions
PipiNo min.150 a dayLocal exceptions
PōraeNo min.Combined
Red Gurnard25 cmCombined
RigNo min.Combined
Sand Flounder23 cmCombinedLocal exceptions
Scallops10 cm20 a dayLocal exceptions
School SharkNo min.Combined
Snapper27 cm10 a day
Sole25 cmCombinedLocal exceptions
StargazerNo min.Combined
Tarakihi25 cm10 a dayLocal exceptions
Trevally25 cmCombined
Trumpeter35 cmCombined
TuatuaNo min.150 a dayLocal exceptions
Yellow-eyed MulletNo min.50 a dayLocal exceptions
Yellowbelly Flounder25 cmCombinedLocal exceptions
Yellowfin TunaNo min.Combined

"Combined" means no species limit; the fish counts towards the area's combined finfish limit. "Varies" means the limit depends on a sub-area or is shared with other species; see the species page.

Local exceptions

SpeciesWhat's different here
Blue Cod
  • By area: Taranaki to Titahi Bay (FMA 8): 2 per day.
  • Titahi Bay to Cape Runaway (FMA 2): 20 per day.
  • Min 33 cm, landed whole or gutted only.
  • Multi-day trips: may hold 2 daily limits with proof.
Cockles
  • No minimum size.
  • Western Taranaki temporary closure: no shellfish (rock lobster excepted).
Crayfish
  • Size is tail width between the tips of the two large spines on the second tail segment: male 54 mm, female 60 mm (use 60 mm if unsure of sex).
  • Cape Runaway to Wairoa River: 3 spiny per day (separate packhorse limit of 3).
  • South of Wairoa River: spiny and packhorse combined 6 (max 3 packhorse).
  • Telson clipping required Cape Runaway to East Cape Lighthouse.
  • Tangoiro/Waihirere and Motuoroi temporary closures include rock lobster.
  • Return berried females, soft-shell and unmeasurable rock lobster.
  • No spears, spring-loaded loops or baited nets.
  • Max 3 pots per fisher, 6 per vessel for 2 or more fishers.
Hāpuku
  • Accumulation limit of no more than 3 per fisher over more than one day.
Jack Mackerel
  • Baitfish limit: 50 a day of any mix of baitfish, on top of the combined finfish limit.
Kina
  • No minimum size.
Mussels
  • No minimum size.
  • Ōhiwa Harbour: no taking of mussels (Te Rāhui Kuku ki Tua o Kanawa temporary closure).
  • Western Taranaki temporary closure: no shellfish (rock lobster excepted).
Oysters
  • Rock and Pacific oysters share one limit.
  • No minimum size.
  • Do not open while attached.
Pāua
  • Size is shell length: the longest straight line across the underside of the shell (not over the curve).
  • Land in the shell; no shucking seaward of the mean high-water mark.
  • No underwater breathing apparatus (UBA) while taking or holding pāua.
  • Taranaki pāua fishery area: min 85 mm.
  • Waimārama (incl. Te Motu o Kura/Bare Island): no taking of blackfoot pāua; ban ends 22 Dec 2026.
  • Western Taranaki temporary closure: no shellfish (rock lobster excepted).
  • Tangoiro/Waihirere and Motuoroi: no shellfish or finfish.
Pipi
  • No minimum size.
  • Western Taranaki temporary closure: no shellfish (rock lobster excepted).
Sand Flounder
  • MPI groups flounder and sole as 'flatfish'.
  • Flatfish (except sand flounder) min 25 cm; sand flounder min 23 cm.
Scallops
  • Season 15 Jul to 14 Feb.
  • Size is the greatest diameter of the shell.
  • Land in the shell (scallops you eat at sea may be shucked and still count).
  • A diver on a vessel may take extra limits for up to 2 safety people on board (max 2 extra limits per vessel).
  • The Central page lists no scallop closures.
Sole
  • MPI groups flounder and sole as 'flatfish'.
  • Flatfish (except sand flounder) min 25 cm; sand flounder min 23 cm.
Tarakihi
  • 10 per day from 1 Nov 2026 (no tarakihi-specific limit before, only the combined finfish limit).
Tuatua
  • No minimum size.
  • Learn to tell tuatua from toheroa, which must not be taken.
Yellow-eyed Mullet
  • Baitfish limit: 50 a day of any mix of baitfish, on top of the combined finfish limit.
Yellowbelly Flounder
  • MPI groups flounder and sole as 'flatfish'.
  • Flatfish (except sand flounder) min 25 cm; sand flounder min 23 cm.

Official source

These limits come from MPI's Central area fishing rules page (last reviewed by MPI on 16.10.26), checked by us on 22 October 2026. Before you keep a fish, check the NZ Fishing Rules app, because closures can be added at short notice.

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