Message #17192

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

On your marks, get set ...

By SARAH BEDFORD - The Southland Times | Thursday, 16 August 2007



WAITING GAME: Long-time whitebaiter Brian Todd, of Fortrose,
and Rup the dog wait to see what they net on the first day of
the season at the Titaroa Locks yesterday.
— BARRY HARCOURT/The Southland Times

It might have been the start of whitebait season yesterday but the little fish were proving elusive for keen fishermen.

Popular opening-day spots were inhabited with the usual enthusiasm but the fish were hard to find with rivers running high and dirty after weekend rain.

Southland Whitebaiters Association president Graham Gough took the day off work to head out near the Fortrose Estuary with hopes of a good catch.

The weather was perfect, he said.

"Flat calm, not a cloud in the sky and beautiful sunshine, but there's a dirty river and there's just really no whitebait around yet."

He caught only a couple of dozen whitebait but he planned to try again during the weekend when the water had hopefully cleaned up.

The story was similar in Canterbury, where fishermen braved the cold, but went largely unrewarded.

Some whitebaiting veterans said the water was too cold and they did not expect big runs until mid-September or early October.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/southlandtimes/4166115a6568.html


Cold comfort for first-day whitebaiters

By RYAN EVANS - The Timaru Herald | Thursday, 16 August 2007

South Canterbury whitebaiters had cold water poured over their hopes for a successful opening day when the season got under way yesterday.

By midday, Timaru whitebait enthusiast Andrew McKenzie was one of about eight people who had braved the cool water temperatures at the popular Smithfield spot in search of the elusive delicacy.

"I was once told if there's snow on the first lot of hills you can see you won't catch whitebait," he said.

And so it proved — Mr McKenzie had been out since 7am and had managed to land a grand total of 12 whitebait.

Two other hardy souls still had their nets in the water, but had fared little better.

Mr McKenzie said while few people had made it out to Smithfield yesterday, when the whitebait were running there could be anywhere from 50 to 100 people trying to land a feed.

He said there was a good spirit among those who fished at the spot.

"Everyone knows everyone else. It's like being part of a family.

"It doesn't matter what you do for a living, down here everyone's equal."

Despite the poor start Mr McKenzie said he was still looking forward to a good season.

"I usually get down about twice a week.

"When they're here they're here, when they're not they're not."

The Department of Conservation is reminding whitebaiters that officers will be patrolling fishing areas to ensure regulations are being followed.

DOC freshwater fish specialist Jane Goodman said the regulations are in place to protect whitebait species so they can be enjoyed by future generations.

"The regulations are designed to ensure that enough young fish get upstream to mature and subsequently create new whitebait for the future."

DOC is also asking whitebaiters to properly clean nets and other gear when fishing different spots to help prevent the further spread of didymo.

The South Canterbury season finishes on November 30. Fishing is permitted between 5am and 8pm or 6am and 9pm when daylight saving comes into effect in October.

Pamphlets outlining regulations can be obtained from DOC offices and sports shops.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/timaruherald/4165982a6010.html


Fritters on menu but few whitebait

By ROBYN BRISTOW - The Press | Thursday, 16 August 2007



CATCH IF YOU CAN: Dawn breaks as a whitebaiter prepares for
the new season on the Ashley River in North Canterbury. Hardy
souls undeterred by a crisp morning and few whitebait turned
out in force at the Waimakariri River mouth for the season's
opening yesterday. — JOHN KIRK-ANDERSON/The Press

Hardy souls undeterred by a crisp morning and few whitebait turned out in force at the Waimakariri River mouth for the season's opening yesterday.

Further north, at dawn on the Ashley River, there was a lone fisherwoman on the north bank.

By mid-morning, a smattering of fishermen had arrived at the mouth, where controversy has raged in recent years over estuary access.

However, no matter where they set their nets, the story was the same.

There was just a tiny amount of whitebait running, with one fisherman at the Waimakariri mouth catching only four by 10am, despite dipping his net into the river at 5am.

Some had a cupful of the delicacy, while others were silent on their catches.

Some who have fished in the rivers for decades said the water was too cold for the bait and they did not expect big runs until mid-September or early October.

Daryl Jones said it did not matter that there were few whitebait — it was a beautiful day to have breakfast on the beach.

"It's a lifestyle thing and I am enjoying the sun," he said at the Waimakariri mouth.

Jones, who lives at Kairaki Beach and chose a night-shift job so he could fish during the day, said he turned up at the beach at all hours to get a spot and set up in time for the legal 5am start time.

He said the season could start a few weeks later because of the scarcity of bait and be extended into December, instead of finishing on November 30.

A couple arrived at the Waimakariri mouth at 4.30am to follow a tradition of "wetting their nets" on the first day.

At the Ashley mouth, there was little action, apart from Environment Canterbury staff putting up signs outlining the rules around access to the mouth and directing traffic along a dedicated route.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/thepress/4166074a19753.html


Region's whitebait season opens with whimper

By YVETTE BATTEN - Taranaki Daily News | Thursday, 16 August 2007



OPENING DAY: Jean Keith of Waitara chose to open the
whitebaiting season rather than spend the day bowling.
— BRADLEY AMBROSE/Taranaki Daily News

Taranaki's Jean Keith had no trouble choosing between bowls and whitebaiting yesterday.

She wasn't going to miss the start to her 40th year fishing from the banks of the Waitara River for anything.

"It was a matter of going to bowls or coming to opening day," she said.

And she fishes the "hard way" — scooping a large net through the water in time to the music wafting from her trusty little radio.

"I find it easier putting this net in the car rather than one with poles and screens," she said.

But bending and pulling the net through water can be hard on her muscles. "Tomorrow I will know all about it," she said.

While the effort was first class, the catch wasn't with barely enough for a fritter.

"Like any fisherman, we all hope it (this season) is going to be a good one," she said.

But the season wouldn't be opened properly unless the traditions were adhered to.

"The first few you catch, you put back in the water. It gives you a clean conscience," she said.

Mrs Keith can spend up to five days a week, during the season, at her sunny riverbank spot on the Karaka flats.

"Sometimes you've got to get up fairly early to get a posie. Once it gets out that they're running the river bank, it's like race day."

And at the end of the day she gives most of her catch away. She recommends turning the whitebait into a big fritter by cooking with four or five eggs in butter, seasoned with salt and pepper.

Department of Conservation programme manager biodiversity Bryan Williams said yesterday's catch was average.

"Some people caught up to three kilograms, while others just got a cupful."

Mokau whitebaiters got the best catch, while Waitara and other smaller rivers weren't too good.

DOC had a couple of complaints about people fishing illegally, which were followed up, but the people had moved on. Copies of the regulations are available from the DOC offices.

"There's really no excuse," Mr Williams said.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dailynews/4166174a6554.html