Have only just started targeting kingies and had a few sessions stick-baiting from Auckland, mainly around the buoys. Have caught quite a few, but all undersized (45-60cm I guess). Have learned a few things (flatten the barbs: my thumb agrees with this after an unhooking incident ) and remove hooks in the water (less thrashing around).

In the gulf my best fish are by far with a livebait. A big livebait at that!. The 15-20kg models have no issue eating a 3kg kahawai. Jigs and topwater tend to attract the 10-12kg fish as a rule with the odd big one making through the schooling rats.

Derek, I've seen a couple of big models just out the back of your Island... and I mean Three Kings big...... I think this year has seen a few bigger kingi's in the Gulf... great for jiggers and topwater... I need to get that little Van Diemen built for you...

I agree there are some good kings this year, the numbers are up for sure. I think catch and release education may have had an impact which is a fantastic sign for the fishery. Jigging and topwater makes releasing the fish easy and in good condition with most hookups being in the jaw. One of the many benefits of lure fishing.

Pete it could be the water temp, bait schools Or a number of other things but as you say if everyone takes a good eating fish per boat per trip i believe we are on the right track. We often take one around 12kg and have a quick snapper fish on the way home. Always plenty of fish to share round the hood.
More than one fish is an obscene amount of meat for one person and it doesnt freeze well. I could never understand the three fish limit on kings. They should have dropped the limit on kings not snapper imo.

for sure 20kg ones are too much meat