“WHITEBAIT”

Whitebaiters urged to play fair

By DON FARMER - Wairarapa Times-Age | Wednesday, 03 September 2012

NET WORK: The whitebaiters were out in force to find a feed at the mouth of
Lake Onoke last week. — GORDON WYETH/Wairarapa Times-Age.

WHITEBAITERS are generally behaving themselves and most are netting a feed in the process, the Department of Conservation says.

Ranger Tony Silbery said some had landed close to 1kg a day and "most have at least got enough for a couple of fritters".

Compliance with the rules had generally been good and no prosecutions were pending: "A few people have got a long view of what being no further than 10m from their net means, though."

Mr Silbery said whitebaiters should remember they must play fair and let some bait through or the fishery would eventually collapse.

A "few ratbags" who tried to block off culverts or fish out of hours were around and would "get to see us sooner or later".

Hours set by the rules meant the whitebait had at least some time to make it from the sea to their destination, giving them a chance to mature and ultimately ensure the species' survival.

http://www.times-age.co.nz/news/whitebaiters-urged-to-play-fair/1567930

Lean catches in season’s first month

By REBEKAH FRASER - The Greymouth Star | Wednesday, 03 September 2012

TRYING THEIR LUCK: Whitebaiting in Westland.

THE fishing fortunes of whitebaiters have not changed, as bad weather continues to hamper the first month of the season.

One stand on the Hokitika River is rumoured to have netted 44kg on Sunday, but otherwise, decent catches are few and far between.

Department of Conservation Hokitika community relations ranger Inger Perkins said the rivers had been relatively quiet since the season began on September 01.

“The weather hasn’t been helping, with rough seas and heavy rain events. We haven’t heard of any big catches.”

Rangers had been dealing with some whitebaiters who had breached regulations for the fishery.

“There has been some general non-compliance with the West Coast regulations, for example not using screens from the water’s edge, walking away from nets, that sort of thing. We are urging whitebaiters to comply with the regulations and to come and ask us if they are not sure.”

DOC Franz Josef-Waiau area community relations ranger Cornelia Vervoorn said she was unaware of any big catches so far in South Westland.

“One or two kilograms is the most that has been reported in a day, but otherwise people have been happy to get just enough for a pattie.”

The poor catches were partly due to the poor weather, she said.

“Generally, compared to other seasons, it’s been comparatively quiet on the rivers.”

Rangers were pleased to see that whitebaiters had been “playing by the rules, by and large”. “Though we’d remind visitors to the Coast to ensure they are familiar with the West Coast (Whitebait Fishing) Regulations so they don’t get caught out,” Ms Vervoorn said.

http://www.greystar.co.nz/content/lean-catches-season%E2%80%99s-f%E2%80%8Airst-month