Nathan Guy - it's time to front up and talk to fishers and maybe then you can say we're in the process of a public consultation, writes John Durrant.

Proposed cuts to recreational snapper quotas have hit a nerve with politicians on both sides of the House as electorate MPs in fishing hotspots come under pressure for meddling with fishers' bag limits.

Maori fishing quota holders will be exempt from legislation designed to protect migrant workers on foreign chartered vessels from exploitation.

Snapper fishing and diving have been producing some excellent bags in spite of the wintry conditions.

The best place to find snapper is close around the rocks, which is good news for shore-based fishermen as well as those in small boats.

The passions that fishing can arouse are hard to fathom for the unconverted. Many think the odds are stacked in favour of the fish and leave it to the experts.

A Whangarei man who has been a commercial fisher for 40 years is disputing reports that Northland snapper stocks are below sustainable levels.

Sensitivity over new management options for the country's biggest snapper fishery is prompting deep thought within the Ministry for Primary Industries.

Editorial: It's time recreational fishers thought about the sustainability of snapper stock, as the species' number around the North Island continues to dwindle.

Recreational fishers face big cuts to the number of snapper fish they can catch in one of New Zealand's most popular fishing areas.

After battling a huge swordfish to the surface on his trusty hand-line out off the coast of Northland, New Zealand, Matt Watson finds himself in a race with a gigantic Mako shark to secure his prize catch and get it aboard his little boat in one piece. courtesy TheFishingShow/ITM Fishing Show

Environmental columnist Sam Judd checks out the proposed controversial changes to areas for commercial harvesting for paua.

Sam Judd checks out freefishheads.co.nz - a website devoted to finding a grateful home for what is otherwise considered waste from the sea.

Fisherman Rolf Nylinder is from Sweden and bought a 30 dollar guitar during a trip visiting New Zealand, His friend Peter had a Mac with "Garageband". So obviously he felt compelled to rewrite a song (apologies to Leonard Cohen) to spread the word about true fly fishing! frontsidefly.com

Three separate rescues around the country have kept emergency services busy today and prompted a warning for people to be more prepared.