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.

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.

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.

A new study suggests the number of dolphins being captured and killed in commercial trawling nets could dive if vessels changed their fishing methods.

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.

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

Although snapper fishing may be patchy, this summer has been all about marlin fishing, with the Sky Tower in the background.

This is a good time to catch kingfish. These magnificent sport fish are found everywhere from North Cape to the Marlborough Sounds, and even further south, with some spotted by paua divers at the Chatham Islands.

Proposed changes around "foolish" rules that regulate spot prizes at community and recreational events have been welcomed by the Problem Gambling Foundation as well as event organisers.

Anglers are catching a range of fish species rarely seen along the Western Bay coastline, while others are disappearing.

Oyster lovers from Bluff to Auckland have been waiting for this day, the frenzy has started. Salty, succulent and totally addictive - all Kiwi oyster-lovers look forward to the start of March when "Bluffies", the creme de la creme of the shellfish world, come into season.

There could be some fish hooks in the way prizes are allocated in future but the organisers of the southern hemisphere's biggest snapper contest say it will definitely be held again next year.