2024 Angler Regulation Survey

Every three years Auckland/Waikato Fish & Game Council review their fishing regulations and invite anglers to make suggestions on rule changes. Staff will consider the suggested changes and produce a report to council on the potential impacts of the suggested changes and then give a recommendation to council on adopting amended regulations.

Auckland/Waikato Fish & Game Council has over 100 regulations with multiple combinations of gear restrictions, limits, notes and seasons that could confuse even the most experienced angler. There is a move nationally towards simplification of the fishing rules to make it easier for anglers to enjoy the sport and we want your feedback on scraping our complex system for a single limit for all waterways and no tackle restriction.

In summary, the idea is to liberalise restrictions, such as letting people use spinners and bait while maintaining a sustainable harvest through consistent and lower bag limits. The hope is that angler opportunities will be enhanced, and the sport will be more accessible for beginners.

Below, we have provided a brief overview of the rationale behind the current restriction with some opportunities for feedback.

More detail can be found here: Link to newsletter.