The Central South Island Fish and Game Council wants the salmon-fishing season to finish on March 31 again in the 2009-10 season on the Waitaki, Opihi, Orari, Rangitata and Ashburton rivers.
However, the final decision rests with Minister of Conservation Tim Groser.
The council introduced the shortened season in 2006-07 for three seasons and it has now come up for review for next season.
The aim was to ensure the salmon fishery was sustainable by shortening the season so more fish would have a chance to spawn.
Chief executive Jay Graybill said the council would, from now on, review the shortened season each year, based on the number of salmon caught.
It had set a regional harvest of more than 3650 fish caught in three consecutive years before considering whether to extend the season.
In the three-year trial, the salmon catch was estimated at 1901 in the 2006-07 season and 2992 in 2007-08.
The figure for last season is not yet available.
While the Waimate Rod and Gun Club supported keeping the March 31 salmon-season closure, some, including a petition signed by 17 anglers, had suggested changes.
The trout season still continues to April 30.
One angler, Linn Koevoet, of Glenavy, proposed the salmon-season closure return to April 30, but that salmon angling be restricted on the Waitaki River to below the State Highway 1 bridge and the limit bag be one salmon, instead of two, a day.
The council said that, in the past eight seasons, 67% of salmon fishing had been below the SH1 bridge and 70% of salmon caught there.
Restricting salmon fishing to below the bridge would come at a cost to those who fished above it and they would move downstream, which was unlikely to reduce the number of salmon caught.
Another change proposed by the council would mean anglers who foul-hooked three salmon would have to stop fishing for the day.
Foul-hooked salmon have to be returned to the river and there is no limit on the number that can be foul-hooked.
The council has moved to protect sockeye salmon in Lakes Benmore and Ohau when they spawn in 17 rivers, streams and tributaries in the upper Waitaki catchment.
The sockeye salmon were thought to be extinct, but have now reappeared in their thousands.
The new regulation bans fishing for sockeye salmon between March 1 and April 30 in any river or stream.
The council has also agreed to a request by the Department of Conservation to continue a total angling ban on the Kauru River to protect the endangered longjaw galaxias from the threat of didymo in the Kakanui River.
The Kauru River ban was introduced in the 2006-07 season.
