Message #134894

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

Whitebait in short supply — again

Whitebaiters want early start to season

By JESSICA SUTTON - Manawatu Standard | Thursday, 16 August 2012


SHOULD BE ENOUGH: Ian Reichenbach holds enough whitebait to make his reccomended
whitebait toasted sandwich. — WARWICK SMITH/Fairfax NZ.

FOXTON's long-time whitebaiters are calling for the season to start earlier after a "slow" and uneventful first day — catching only enough for a few fritters.

But Manawatu/Rangitikei Conservation Department ranger Clint Purches says the season starts when it does to give whitebait the chance to get upstream and breed before they are gobbled up.

The three-month whitebaiting season began yesterday, and despite the number of nets dotted through the Foxton Beach's Whitebait Creek, whitebaiters weren't having much luck.

For 42 years Ray Shailea has been whitebaiting at Foxton and Hokio Beach. Yesterday he set up his net at 5am hoping to catch enough whitebait for dinner, but by midday he was becoming disheartened after snatching up only quarter of a pound.

"That's not enough for fritters," he said.

"It's not good so far [the season]. It's pretty slow. I think they should open it earlier."

Every year, Mr Shailea takes a holiday at the start of the whitebaiting season to ensure he doesn't miss out.

"It's a chance to get away from the wife. I also really enjoy it. We all have a few laughs. You have a good catch-up hearing what's happening in Coronation Street."






The three-month whitebaiting season began on Wednesday, and despite the number of nets
dotted through the Foxton Beach's Whitebait Creek, whitebaiters weren't having much luck.
 — WARWICK SMITH/Fairfax NZ.

Ian Reichenbach, who has been whitebaiting for 55 years, managed to catch a bit more than everyone else, but said the season was still a lot slower than in other years.

"I've been coming here since I was a wee lad with my father," he said. "I think everyone will get a little bit, but it's definitely not like it used to be. It [the season] may need to start earlier."

The creek in Foxton Beach has been earmarked for the habitat restoration programme as part of the Manawatu River Leaders' Accord. Work has begun in the area to help rejuvenate fish stocks in the river which would in turn help to build up whitebait supplies in the next three to five years.






The three-month whitebaiting season began on Wednesday, and despite the number of nets
dotted through the Foxton Beach's Whitebait Creek, whitebaiters weren't having much luck.
 — WARWICK SMITH/Fairfax NZ.

DOC's Mr Purches said every season varied, so it was difficult to predict what whitebait stocks would be like.

"We know that the stocks have been declining over the years but we will start to see the benefits of the work we're doing [at Foxton] in a few years' time. It will take a couple of seasons to build up the stock."

He said starting the season earlier would not be a good idea.

"We're trying to give them a little bit of a chance. That's why fishing is banned at night. So they can get upstream and breed. If we started it earlier then those fish wouldn't make it up the river."

Last year, no whitebaiters in the wider Manawatu region were prosecuted for breaking the rules, but Mr Purches said "a lot" of people were spoken to.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/7488874/Whitebait-in-short-supply-again


Whitebait opening haul increase

The Nelson Mail | Thursday, 16 August 2012


PLENTY FOR ALL: Opening day has brought with it a vast
amount of whitebait. — MARION VAN DIJK/Fairfax NZ.

ENOUGH transparent little fish for "a few patties" on opening day will keep Hope whitebaiter Rowan Holdem heading back to Rabbit Island as the season progresses.

Mr Holdem was at his spot early yesterday morning and was satisfied with the catch he left with at midday.

He said yesterday's haul was a good sign, better than he'd had at the season's beginning in other years.

"The kids will be happy."

Marley Neho, who has moved to Nelson from Timaru, was also at Rabbit Island but left empty-handed. He said he had just wanted to get out on opening day and hadn't checked the tide, but would be more particular with future visits.

"The guy that was there just before us caught some."

Yesterday he was fishing with his friend Josh Nash, from Tahunanui, and said they intended to try again today.

"This rain will help — once the mud's cleared out."

The whitebait season runs until November 30.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/7490361/Whitebait-opening-haul-increase