Pollock, who has been fishing those grounds for more than 20 years, believes that a voluntary size limit of one metre imposed by charter operators in the mid-90s is now showing signs of taking effect. In the past couple of seasons, the average size of kingies hooked on Pursuit has nudged up from 15-17kg to 18-20kg. And, like the Ward party, many anglers now tag and release all bar one fish each.
MFish rules for kingfish remain out of touch with recreational fishing practice and out of step with safe stock management practices. Most fish are managed so they grow to a size where they breed at least once. Not kingfish - MFish's own stock assessment literature lists the size at maturity as 83cm for males and 97cm for females yet the size limit is 75cm. The ministry seems to have satisfied itself that its action in raising the limit from 65cm is sufficient.
Also, the daily bag limit is three. No amateur needs three kingfish a day, one fish of 1m is more than sufficient.
Pollock's trips to the Ranfurly Bank have been producing good bottom fish, hapuku and bass averaging 20kg. Bluenose have turned up finally. "You have to fish them really early, they're done by 9am, or late. We're in 300-350m and it's hard to believe the light affects them but it definitely does."
The kingfish fishing there and around White had been "very good to excellent". Pollock said they were also taking jigs and large soft baits.
Water off Whakatane has finally started to warm and is now 14-15C and 16C at White. The East Australian Current that brings the big ocean pelagics has been pushed off the east coast and beyond the range of amateur boats by prevailing norwesterly winds but the commercial tuna fleet is apparently enjoying good catches of yellowfin tuna at around 80km offshore.
Fishing around Auckland and to the Far North in the past week has been slow, with parties at Doubtless Bay, Great Barrier Island and Coromandel all reporting a hard day last Saturday, worse on Sunday and nothing on Monday.
At Rotorua, Steve Smith, of Fish and Game, reports continuing good catches of brown trout to 8kg from the Ohau Channel and Ngongotaha Stream.
Trolling is producing fish on Lake Rotorua and Rotoiti, where there is some smelt activity. Jigging is erratic, with the water temperature still constant through the lake. It will improve as the weather warms.
At Turangi, Jared Goedhart, of Sporting Life, said trap catches indicated about 60 per cent of fish had spawned. A small flood last Monday encouraged new runs of fresh fish and all anglers were reporting plenty of hook-ups. Natural fly fishing remains the flavour of the month and wet-liners nymphing and glo-bugging are also working.
The didymo scare has prompted a review of prevention methods around the pristine central North Island fishery with sports shops and motels offering wash-off services free. Goedhart offers a tip for gear that won't dry quickly, such as boots. "Freeze it, that completely kills it."
