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Kaikōura fishing rules: size and bag limits

In the Kaikōura area, every finfish you keep counts towards a combined limit of 30 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 Kaikōura area

Minimum size
25 cm
Daily limit
10 a day
Combined finfish limit
30 a day

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

Combined daily limit

Combined 30 per fisher per day. Catch from Kaikōura is included in the South-East area combined daily limit.

Size and daily limits in the Kaikōura area

SpeciesMin. sizeDaily limitLocal exceptions
AlbacoreNo min.VariesLocal exceptions
BarracoutaNo min.Combined
Black OreoNo min.Combined
Blue Cod33 cmVariesLocal exceptions
Blue Moki40 cm10 a day
BluenoseNo min.VariesLocal exceptions
Butterfish35 cm10 a day
CocklesNo min.50 a dayLocal exceptions
Crayfish6 cm6 a dayLocal exceptions
GemfishNo min.Combined
Golden SnapperNo min.Combined
Grey MulletNo min.Combined
HakeNo min.Combined
HāpukuNo min.VariesLocal exceptions
HokiNo min.Combined
Jack MackerelNo min.50 a dayLocal exceptions
John DoryNo min.Combined
KahawaiNo min.10 a day
KinaNo min.20 a dayLocal exceptions
Kingfish75 cmVariesLocal exceptions
LeatherjacketNo min.Combined
LingNo min.VariesLocal exceptions
MusselsNo min.50 a dayLocal exceptions
Orange RoughyNo min.Combined
OystersNo min.CombinedLocal exceptions
Pacific Bluefin TunaNo min.Combined
Pāua13 cm3 a dayLocal exceptions
PipiNo min.150 a dayLocal exceptions
PōraeNo min.Combined
Red Gurnard25 cmCombined
RigNo min.3 a day
Sand Flounder23 cmCombinedLocal exceptions
ScallopsNo min.CombinedLocal exceptions
School SharkNo min.3 a day
Snapper25 cm10 a day
Sole25 cmCombinedLocal exceptions
StargazerNo min.Combined
Tarakihi25 cm10 a day
Trevally25 cmCombined
Trumpeter35 cm15 a day
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

Local exceptions and extra rules by species in the Kaikōura area
SpeciesWhat's different here
Albacore
  • Albacore tuna, bluenose, groper (hāpuku)/bass, kingfish and ling share a combined daily limit of 5 per person, with a maximum of 3 of any one species.
Blue Cod
  • Kaikōura Marine Area (Te Whata Kai o Rakihouia i Te Tai o Marokura): 6 per day.
  • Te Taumanu o Te Waka a Maui Taiāpure and Oaro-Haumuri Taiāpure: 2 per day.
  • Everywhere else within Kaikōura: 10 per day.
  • Min 33 cm, landed whole or gutted only.
Bluenose
  • Albacore tuna, bluenose, groper (hāpuku)/bass, kingfish and ling share a combined daily limit of 5 per person, with a maximum of 3 of any one species.
Cockles
  • No minimum size.
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).
  • Spiny and packhorse combined 6 per day (max 3 packhorse).
  • The page reports a temporary closure of the rock lobster fishery in the Kaikōura Marine Area (Clarence Point to 300 m north of the Conway River mouth, out to 12 nm) from 1 Jul 2026 to 30 Sep 2026, and its restricted-areas table still lists 'No taking of rock lobster' for the Kaikōura Marine Area.
  • Check the app before taking any.
  • South-East page: telson clipping required Clarence Point to Waitaki River.
  • 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
  • Albacore tuna, bluenose, groper (hāpuku)/bass, kingfish and ling share a combined daily limit of 5 per person, with a maximum of 3 of any one species.
Jack Mackerel
  • Baitfish limit: 50 a day of any mix of baitfish, on top of the combined finfish limit.
Kina
  • No minimum size.
  • Oaro-Haumuri Taiāpure is closed to shellfish except scampi, rock lobster, octopus and kina.
Kingfish
  • Albacore tuna, bluenose, groper (hāpuku)/bass, kingfish and ling share a combined daily limit of 5 per person, with a maximum of 3 of any one species.
Ling
  • Albacore tuna, bluenose, groper (hāpuku)/bass, kingfish and ling share a combined daily limit of 5 per person, with a maximum of 3 of any one species.
Mussels
  • No minimum size.
Oysters
  • Not named on the MPI page for this area; it falls under the 'All others (combined)' shellfish limit of 30 per day.
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.
  • Season: open 1 May to 31 Aug, closed 1 Sep to 30 Apr.
  • Marfells Beach to Conway River: 3 per day, min 130 mm.
  • Oaro-Haumuri Taiāpure: 2 per day, min 135 mm.
  • Always closed to pāua: Te Taumanu o Te Waka a Māui Taiāpure (Kaikōura Peninsula), Oaro, Mangamaunu and Te Waha o te Marangai mātaitai.
  • Hikurangi Marine Reserve and Waiopuka (Wakatu Quay) reef closed to all fishing.
Pipi
  • No minimum size.
Sand Flounder
  • MPI groups flounder and sole as 'flatfish'.
  • Flatfish (except sand flounder) min 25 cm; sand flounder min 23 cm.
Scallops
  • Not named on the MPI page for this area; it falls under the 'All others (combined)' shellfish limit of 30 per day.
Sole
  • MPI groups flounder and sole as 'flatfish'.
  • Flatfish (except sand flounder) min 25 cm; sand flounder min 23 cm.
Tuatua
  • No minimum size.
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 Kaikōura area fishing rules page (last reviewed by MPI on 15.07.26), 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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