Northland fisheries officers say they have seen little illegal fishing over the holiday period.

Two Auckland holidaymakers suspected of illegally fishing inside a Northland marine reserve could face charges.

Before Michelle Goodhew started catching babies, she was catching fish.

A unique fishing contest next week is an opportunity for families to go fishing and win a prize.

The gannets set their sharp wings like those on a jet plane.

At just 119 nautical miles, next weekend's Coastal Classic Yacht Race is far from being New Zealand's longest coastal race.

When fishing in places like the Rangitoto Channel, Tauranga Harbour or any harbour with strong currents, the bigger snapper hang back from the boat.

The changes to the recreational snapper fishery on the east coast of the North Island will result in more fish being killed, and will not solve the perceived problem of diminishing fish stocks.

Kiwis love to fish. We do it for recreation, to put some sanity back into our busy lives and to take home a modest, healthy feed for our family.

The willingness of fishing folk to talk up their difficulties arguably outstrips their enthusiasm for whoppers about the ones that get away.

Recreational fishers say they are the losers - despite winning the "rights" to all of a 500 tonne increase in the total allowable snapper catch.

Snapper bag limits in the country's most popular fishery will be reduced from nine to seven, and the minimum legal size increased from 27cms to 30cms from April 1.

Tauranga angler Kevin Baker can tell you - and it doesn't involve filleting or scoffing the whopper tuna he scooped at the weekend.

As any manufacturer knows, it is a risky business messing with success. Popular products got that way for a reason and changing them, however slightly, can be fraught.

A multi-language campaign to get West Auckland rock fishers to wear lifejackets is struggling to make headway against an undercurrent of risky behaviour.