I know they are the most crisp live bait ever!!! but when they are running, as i get good runs quite often, im keen for a feed as well and have heard they are good eating.

There is no limit for size or quantity but there is a minimum mesh size for netting them. As BtF says make them into a donut shape and fry. Seasoning and a little flour goes well on them. You really need good sized ones to make eating them worthwhile. These ones are on a full sized dinner plate, they do get bigger but these ones were good.

Where is the best place in AKL to fish for them with a small hook sabiki setup? ( not using net )

Calm days are good. There used to be a lot around below the harbour bridge. Use burley on the surface to get them feeding.

BA not really drown if you use a hook to the size of the bait. and hook them behind the bum,

http://www.fishing.net.nz/asp_forums/how-to-piper-pole-fishing_topic77554.html?KW=Piper

Built_to_fish wrote: BA not really drown if you use a hook to the size of the bait. and hook them behind the bum, you will have your piper swimming till they get chomped.i use piper as live bait on a sliding rig. 300lb main line down to a big snap swivel and then a 150lb sliding trace to the big swivel with a 5 bar hook hooked behind the bum and they go good in the current..if you wanted to you can hook them forward in the beak if fishing in a strong current..and they stay happy as..

catchelot naa just wharf fishing. when you have big king's show up you need to make sure your line don't break, as the pylons are no more than 3 feet away. piper swim freely when they do not have a big hook in there eye ball's but is good in the beak. or just behind there bum, they waggle there tails quite happy.. down the wharf we throw out 10 or 20 meters of 300lb line with a 20oz sinker, then clip on a 150lb trace with a live piper or jack mack, and let it slide down to the swivel and it swims happy in the current..but i must admit piper are tastey lil sod's, essp the big big piper. we have found that most strikes occur on med to small piper, do not know why.. herrings and the bigger ones are good smoked like mullet so are jack mac's bigger the better. spottys  can only but try..

Cheers Ahab for the relinking, saves me the bother but pipers having courage? They're the  most scaredy, timid, fragile little buggers in the ocean!

As for places for piper, you just need calm conditions and a high tide I've found.
Other easy to access spots are Cornwallis Wharf, Coyle Park (Pt Chev), Black Rock (Milford), Fishermans Ledge (Whangaparoa)

Also, the oilier the fish, the better the smoke