Southland fishing rules: size and bag limits

In the Southland 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 Southland area

Minimum size
25 cm
Daily limit
No species limit
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. No fishing in Ulva Island – Te Wharawhara Marine Reserve.

Size and daily limits in the Southland area

SpeciesMin. sizeDaily limit
AlbacoreNo min.Combined
BarracoutaNo min.Combined
Black OreoNo min.Combined
Blue Cod33 cm10 a dayLocal exceptions
Blue Moki40 cm15 a day
BluenoseNo min.5 a day
Butterfish35 cm15 a day
CocklesNo min.150 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.15 a day
KinaNo min.50 a dayLocal exceptions
Kingfish75 cmVariesLocal exceptions
LeatherjacketNo min.Combined
LingNo min.Combined
MusselsNo min.25 a dayLocal exceptions
Orange RoughyNo min.Combined
OystersNo min.CombinedLocal exceptions
Pacific Bluefin TunaNo min.Combined
Pāua12.5 cm10 a dayLocal exceptions
PipiNo min.150 a dayLocal exceptions
PōraeNo min.Combined
Red Gurnard25 cmCombined
RigNo min.5 a day
Sand Flounder23 cmCombinedLocal exceptions
Scallops10 cm10 a dayLocal exceptions
School SharkNo min.5 a day
Snapper25 cmCombined
Sole25 cmCombinedLocal exceptions
StargazerNo min.Combined
Tarakihi25 cm15 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

SpeciesWhat's different here
Blue Cod
  • Southern (Taiaroa Head to Sand Hill Point): 10, landed whole, gutted or headed and gutted.
  • South West (Sandhill Point to south bank of Haast River, excl.
  • Fiordland Marine Area): 10, landed whole and gutted.
  • Te Whaka ā Te Wera/Paterson Inlet Mātaitai: 10.
  • Headed state min 24 cm where permitted (base of side pectoral fin to middle ray of tail).
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).
  • 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
  • Combined daily limit of 5 groper (hāpuku)/bass and kingfish, with no more than 3 kingfish.
Jack Mackerel
  • Baitfish limit: 50 a day of any mix of baitfish, on top of the combined finfish limit.
Kina
  • No minimum size.
Kingfish
  • Combined daily limit of 5 groper (hāpuku)/bass and kingfish, with no more than 3 kingfish.
Mussels
  • No minimum size.
  • Stewart Island: 50 per day.
Oysters
  • Not named on the MPI page for this area; it falls under the 'All others (combined)' shellfish limit of 50 per day.
  • Only dredge oysters are named.
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.
  • Pikomamaku (Womens Island)
  • Mātaitai closed to all fishing.
  • Te Whaka ā Te Wera/Paterson Inlet and other mātaitai bylaws not captured here.
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.
  • Te Whaka ā Te Wera/Paterson Inlet Mātaitai: 10 per day.
Scallops
  • Season 1 Oct to 15 Mar.
  • 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).
Sole
  • MPI groups flounder and sole as 'flatfish'.
  • Flatfish (except sand flounder) min 25 cm; sand flounder min 23 cm.
  • Te Whaka ā Te Wera/Paterson Inlet Mātaitai: 10 per day.
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.
  • Te Whaka ā Te Wera/Paterson Inlet Mātaitai: 10 per day.

Official source

These limits come from MPI's Southland 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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