Some fish are famous. The king tarakihi is not one of them, at least not by name. But among recreational fishers who know their catch, it holds a quiet reputation. It is the larger, less common relative of the tarakihi that turns up on fish-and-chip shop menus. Deeper in the body. A more pronounced hump behind the head. And a lifespan that stretches two or three decades, which is a long time to spend browsing on rocky reefs.\n\nYou find it in southern waters, from Cook Strait down to the Campbell Plateau, with strongholds off the east coast of the South Island and around the Chatham Islands. It likes mixed ground: rock and sand together, often near drop-offs, underwater pinnacles or channels where currents sweep through. At 50 to 70 centimetres long and up to six kilograms, it is a solid fish. The firm, white flesh is highly regarded. That is the problem.\n\nGood eating fish get caught. That is just how it works. King tarakihi ends up in commercial nets and on recreational lines alike, often as bycatch in fisheries targeting common tarakihi or snapper. It grows slowly and lives a long time, which means it does not bounce back quickly from heavy fishing pressure. New Zealand's quota management system includes it in the wider tarakihi fishery, with regular stock assessments and catch limits. But being less common than its cousin means it needs watching. For now, it is not threatened. Just popular. And popularity, for a fish, is always a double-edged hook.