After years of struggling, the Otago crayfish fishery is starting to produce again.
It is doing so well that Otago Rock Lobster Industry Association executive officer Simon Gilmour is predicting another quota increase for next season.
This year, the quota was set at 66 tonnes - up from 44 tonnes the year before.
It was hoped to increase it to 80 tonnes next year.
''It's been a very productive year,'' Mr Gilmour said.
The productivity was the result of five years of good recruitment as small lobsters grew to the size of lobster needed to meet markets, he said.
The fishery was an unpredictable one, with lobsters migrating south at unexpected times - 2009 was the last time it happened.
''For the past four to five years we've had good fishing but we don't know when the next walkout will be.''
There were 12 boats fishing in the CRA7 (Otago) area with some already having fished their quota, he said.
CRA8 executive manager Malcolm Lawson said the southern rock lobster fishery was also doing well with plenty of recruitment as a lot of young fish grew through to legal size.
''We've got very high numbers of large fish which are good breeding stock.''
The CRA8 covered from Haast to Stewart Island and there were 68 boats in the fleet fishing for the 962-tonne quota.
