Fishing the Wanganui coastline and river is as good as it has been for a long time, the city's fishing guru, Grant Clark, says.
Mr Clark's been trying his luck in the water for 45 years.
"A few weeks ago, the kahawai were unbelievable off the river mole. I can't remember that abundance of kahawai being caught in two weeks. It was just unreal," he said.
Snapper, gurnard and kahawai are being caught off the beaches by surfcasting. A john dory was caught near the sailing club in the river estuary, which Mr Clark said was most unusual. Kingfish were caught fairly regularly offshore and there were a few reports of blue cod weighing three to four kilograms being pulled in off Waverley and Patea.
He didn't know why the fishing was so good, and guessed that a clean river and fewer trawlers working offshore could be helping.