Jeremy Fairbairn was fishing with family on Christmas Day when he landed the fish. It was put back because it was undersize, he said.
Hunting and Fishing owner Scott Kunac said catching a kingfish in the harbour was ''pretty unusual'' as they were usually found no further south than Banks Peninsula.
Anglers needed to be aware only kingfish at least 75cm long could be kept and the bag limit was three.
University of Otago physical oceanographer Pete Russell said the presence of kingfish could be the result of a combination of increased numbers of kahawai and slightly warmer sea temperatures.
Latest figures showed Otago Harbour temperatures were a degree warmer than usual for January.
At Portobello, the temperature was 14.9degC yesterday, while the average was 13.4degC.
