If you cut the limit on snapper, this could be coupled with an increase in the bag limits of other species. If the minister reads this website, he could lean toward doubling the limit on red cod and spiny backs, this would increase the recreational tonnage considerably.

The average surfcaster could count his snapper catch per year on one hand, two hands if he is really lucky, but red cod and spiny backs ... priceless.

From reading the musings on this site, I would say there would be many contributors who rarely, if ever catch a snapper, so a reduced bag limit would mean nothing. However, to those boaties in the Hauraki Gulf or anywhere at sea off Auckland, it would be really bad news.

I meet and speak with several of the torpedo anglers around the Napier coastline. One in particular speaks quite openly of his success, and he is possibly the best in the area. He fishes every day the sea will allow him and this season he has landed forty-four snapper. When you consider two sets a day, averaging three days a week, with twenty-five hooks per set then that is a dreadful return.

Will a reduction in the bag limit have any affect on local anglers, I greatly doubt it. How many of the anglers on this site would kill nine snapper, how many anglers ever catch nine snapper? Not many, most are very happy to return what they don't want anyway.

In truth this is not an argument that will mean much to Hawke's Bay anglers, more a case of politics, that as usual, have little meaning.