“WHITEBAIT”

Whitebait proving to be shy little critters

By SUSAN SANDYS - Ashburton Guardian | Wednesday, 05 September 2012

Hakatere whitebaiter Peter Kiddey wishes it was one pound of the delicious
delicacy, instead of just one fish. — Photo: Kirsty Graham.

WHITEBAIT was measured by individual fish caught, not by the pounds, at the mouth of the Ashburton River yesterday.

Whitebaiters say it could take another month or so for the season, which started on August 15, to begin its peak.

In the meantime it is a case of Murphy's Law for some trying their luck.

Hakatere Huts resident Peter Kiddey, 69, was out for his first day of the season yesterday, on the south side of the river mouth.

It looked like those on the opposite side were netting more of the small fish, but he was staying put instead of driving all the way to the State Highway One bridge to get to the other side.

By mid afternoon he had caught about one dozen fish, nowhere near his peak for last season of five pounds on one day.

"They usually get them when you are not here," he joked.

"You come down and they say you should have been here yesterday."

Whitebaiters on the south side of the mouth of the Ashburton River seemed
to be having more luck than those on the north side yesterday.
— Photo: Kirsty Graham.

Friend and fellow hut resident Brent Proffitt said he went out on his first day for the season on Monday.

At first he had thought he had caught about 20 of the fish, but a count up showed it was actually 50.

His best catch last year was about six pounds on one morning in late October.

He wasn't going to bother going out again until about September 28, "two days before the full moon".

Whitebait came in with the rising tide, and a full moon caused stronger tides.

Mr Kiddey and Mr Proffitt agreed that when the whitebait did run, they would not be telling many people.

Last year, towards the end of October when there were some good catches, all of a sudden cars flooded the Hakatere carpark as people flocked to try their luck.

"They all seem to get wind of it."

http://www.ashburtonguardian.co.nz/news/todays-news/8439-whitebait-proving-to-be-shy-little-critters.html