Can someone tell me why the commercial size limit for kingfish is 65cm when the recreational size limit is 75cm? I've been waiting six months for this question to be answered on another section of this Forum through NZ Fishing News by MPI. More than a reasonable time for a reponse from the government ministry responsible for the management of OUR marine fisheries. Cheers

I don't know the answer, but if it's caught by a commercial, it's probably a dead fish anyway, so what difference does it make?

Ok , thanks Jason. It's a real bugger at the south end of the harbour where they are a by catch from trevally drag netting. The average flats fish here is between 65cm and 75cm and numbers of kings are going downhill. I know because I wade the flats fly fishing for kings nearly every day between the beginning of October until the end of May. Each year, my hours per king increases and I catch fewer as each season passes and I see fewer riding short tails. A lot more are being released by recreational anglers these days but their numbers are dropping. I would expect the flats fish to be constantly replenished from outside, but this doesn't seem to be making a difference. Thanks for your reply. Cheers

Equal size for all.

Tzer wrote: Mudfish marquand wrote: Ok , thanks Jason. It's a real bugger at the south end of the harbour where they are a by catch from trevally drag netting. The average flats fish here is between 65cm and 75cm and numbers of kings are going downhill. I know because I wade the flats fly fishing for kings nearly every day between the beginning of October until the end of May. Each year, my hours per king increases and I catch fewer as each season passes and I see fewer riding short tails. A lot more are being released by recreational anglers these days but their numbers are dropping. I would expect the flats fish to be constantly replenished from outside, but this doesn't seem to be making a difference. Thanks for your reply. Cheers Didnt think there was any one commercially dragging netting the harbour any more. Im of the understanding the last person sold up or dragging was not prohibited

Brian Kiddie?? is the last remaining person who drag,it was on country calendar earlier this year,might be able to watch on demand??

Thank you Bill, much appreciated.

I posted a couple of years ago on the Tauranga thread how sad it was to visit the Kauri Pt Wharf I'd heard so much about and see the treatment of kingfish and jack mackerel.

We used to have a problem at Sulphur Point with the mistreatment of kings by some of the topwater guys dragging the fish across the rocks and laying them on hot rocks and so on. Some of these antics were filmed and widely distributed. Peer pressure played a big role to change this and in most cases these days you see kings being treated more respectfully. I just wish there was more use of single hook lures. I've seen some shocking damage to kings caused by an extra swinging hook. We all need to be more respectful towards our resource. Cheers