“WHITEBAIT”

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Massive whitebait hauls at Hokitika

By VIV LOGIE - The Greymouth Star | Tuesday, 06 November 2007

HOW MUCH whitebait can you fit in a trailer? That question can be answered by one Hokitika whitebaiter who filled his trailer with the West Coast delicacy just over a week ago.

The 300kg haul off one tide — 661 pounds — was just one of the huge catches netted on October 30 from whitebait stands on the middle island of the Hokitika River. The second big catch in the same area was nearly 200kg — 440 pounds. At the going rate on the Coast, that is between $22,500 and $27,000 for the 300kg catch.

Both fishermen wish to remain anonymous but the wife of one of the lucky whitebaiters said today the bait caught on the day of the big run was “beautiful bait — lovely and clear and we didn’t even need to wash it”. “We have not had any problem getting rid of it either, especially as there is a lack of whitebait down south. We have eaten a fair bit and also given some away.”

Overall, the 2007 whitebait season has been fair to middling on the Coast, with a few sizeable catches in Greymouth, Arahura and Hokitika. South Westland rivers have not fared so well, although there are reports of some big hauls on the Waiatoto River, south of Haast. Whitebait sells for between $25 and $30 a pound on the Coast.

The season finishes on November 14.

www.greystar.co.nz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=848&Itemid=43

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Whitebait season ‘worst in 17 years’

By SANDRA COX in GREYMOUTH - The Press | Thursday, 15 November 2007


SEASON OVER FOR WEST COASTERS: Whitebaiters'
“worst season in 17 years” for some on the West
Coast is over. — SANDRA COX/The Press.

WHITEBAITERS' "worst season in 17 years" for some on the West Coast is over.

Five whitebaiters also died during the season.

The West Coast season ended yesterday, earlier than the rest of the country, to protect the local fishery.

Westland Whitebait director Colin McKinney, who was in Christchurch yesterday selling whitebait patties for $7 each at the Royal Show, said his Haast-based firm processed only 20 per cent of its average annual take.

"It was the worst season in 17 years, absolutely disastrous," he said. "The whitebait seem to have got lost about the Hokitika River this year, and just didn't turn up further south."

Cold and rough seas prevented the tiny fish making the dash upriver, but even when the sea was flat, the South Westland catch was only a "light sprinkling".

Westland Whitebait sends freshly caught whitebait to North Island markets, selling it for $80kg to $88kg.

However, this season, competition from Waikato River whitebaiters was stiff, McKinney said.

In Auckland, whitebait sold retail for $150kg and in Christchurch for $110kg.

West Coast Whitebaiters Association president Jim Bushby said mid to northern reaches of the Coast did better.

The best river was the Hokitika, where one person took home 300kg one day late last month. Many others got 100kg loads that day.

In Westport, locals had a better season thanks to better weather, better whitebait breeding and fewer floods, long-time Buller River whitebaiter Jack Williams said.

Whitebaiters on smaller Buller rivers did well, as river flows were not as strong as the Buller River.

The largest catch was believed to be 140kg from the Mokihinui River in one day.

However, Williams and fellow whitebaiters ended the season on a sad note, saying a special farewell to a friend of 10 years, Walter Kay, who died of a suspected heart attack on the banks of the Buller on September 28.

Kay was one of four men to die while fishing West Coast rivers this season.

A fifth man, from Christchurch, died when the van he was a passenger in left the road at Bruce Bay, in South Westland.

www.stuff.co.nz/thepress/4273132a24035.html

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Whitebaiters bemoan poor season for favourite treat

By SELINA SIMCOX - Taranaki Daily News | Friday, 23 November 2007


WAITING FOR A FEED: A patient whitebaiter uses
a scoop net on a slow day on the Waitara River.
— BRADLEY AMBROSE/Taranaki Daily News.

TARANKI's whitebaiting season is "blinkin' terrible", according to head of the Tainui Whitebaiters Association Betty Adams.

She reckons last season was excellent.

"Most people caught whitebait in the kilos — this season you're lucky to catch it in the tens."

The lacklustre season has seen many whitebaiters pull their nets in early.

Mrs Adams, who has whitebaited the Mokau and Awakino rivers for more than 20 years, says this year's catch has probably been the worst she has seen.

"You needed naming rights for them."

Early spawning meant by the time the season opened on August 15 the whitebait had nearly finished.

Department of Conservation programme manager biodiversity Bryan Williams says the season has not gone well for most.

Although the lower reaches of the tidal areas of the Waiwhakaiho and Mimi rivers had fished quite well.

"It all relates to the weather," said Mr Williams, who attributes a late winter and excess water to the poor catch.

Jean Keith, who had whitebaited for 40 years, went out only a couple of times this season. A catch of about 2kg was her best haul.

Whitebaiting season ends next Friday.

• SELINA SIMCOX is a Witt journalism student.

www.stuff.co.nz/dailynews/4284844a6554.html

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Whitebaiter's body found in Wairarapa river

NZPA | Monday, 26 November 2007

THE BODY of an elderly whitebaiter was found shortly after he went missing yesterday in a Wairarapa river.

Senior Constable Tony Matheson said the South Wairarapa 87-year-old disappeared while whitebaiting with friends on the Ruamahanga River, near Tuhitarata south of Featherston, about 1.30pm.

Search and rescue teams found the man about 4pm, near to where he had last been seen.

His death has been referred to the coroner.

www.stuff.co.nz/4288436a11.html

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Wairarapa man who died whitebaiting named

NZPA | Tuesday, 27 November 2007

A GREYTOWN PENSIONER who died while whitebaiting on a Wairarapa river on Sunday was Leslie Thomas Pracy.

Mr Pracy, 87, who had a medical condition, was fishing with friends at the Ruamahanga River south of Featherston when he disappeared about 1.30pm.

Senior Constable Tony Matheson said he was found by rescue teams about 4pm near to where he had last been seen.

His death has been referred to the coroner.

www.stuff.co.nz/4289712a11.html

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Good keen man died doing what he loved

By JO MOIR - Wairarapa Times-Age | Tuesday, 27 November 2007

LES PRACY — at 87 — was a good, keen man who died doing what he loved at Tuhitarata on Sunday.

Speaking yesterday from Les' Greytown home where he had lived for the past 31 years, long-time deer-culling friends Barry Thomson, Dave Pratt and John McCann recalled some of his achievements and more light-hearted moments from his life.

Barry was with Les when he disappeared from the riverbank while whitebaiting and said, "he died with his boots still on, which is exactly how he would have wanted it".

Les had gone down and cast his net at the river near Tuhitarata around 6am and Barry met up with him later in the day and put his own net in the river about 25m away.

"He was perched on the side of the bank in his seat when I saw him and a bit later in the day I went back to check on him because there had been a ski boat going up and down the river causing waves."

Barry said only his hat was left and after searching the willows for a few minutes he called emergency services. He found his mate in the river around 4pm not far from the spot where he had last seen him.

"He was an original good keen man," he said.

Les was born on August 26, 1920, and lived to be one of New Zealand's oldest deer cullers, after starting his career in 1939 as a culler for the New Zealand Government, and he only departed to serve during World War II.

He left for the war in 1941 where he served as a tail gunner until his unit demobilised in 1946.

Les married his wife, Val, at the end of the war in 1945 and they went on to have two daughters, Lindy Lamb, who lives in Masterton, and Karen Pinfold, of Carterton. His two daughters, nine grandchildren and 3-week-old great-grandchild survive him.

After returning to deer culling, which took him throughout New Zealand, he was made a field officer in 1953.

Barry said he started the first national government possum control throughout New Zealand and set up search stations at Orongaoronga and Paraki valleys.

He conducted the first survey for a long-standing study area where he went out checking every watershed in New Zealand over the seven-month possum season.

"Every season he would go through 16 pairs of boots, that's how hard it was on his feet walking all over New Zealand. There were no helicopters in those days."

His daughter Karen said he knew New Zealand like the back of his hand and would see an advertisement on television and be able to name the exact place it was.

"His knowledge was second to none," Dave said.

Karen said Les and Val were a great team and he was left heartbroken when she passed away five years ago.

"His health went downhill when she died but he's kept everything of hers in the house just like it was.

"Val was just as much of a hunter as he was," she said.

They lived for several years in the bush and a fond story of Les' was the day Val shot two goats with one bullet.

"There's photos of her with goats on her back and he saved her from drowning a couple of times. He plucked her out of the water by her red hair and she still had possum skins in tow," Karen said.

Barry said Les' knees gave way, "probably after all the walking he had done", which lent him to become a keen fisherman.

"Les always had an interest in fishing and diving but deer culling was his big thing.

"He has always been asked for help whenever anyone from the deer-culling society got tripped up on a date or a figure. His knowledge and memory was outstanding."

Les had a favourite dog, Darkie, and there were plenty of stories that went with him, he said.

Twice Darkie got his nose into the possum bait and to save his life Les cut a tip of his ear off each time to make him bleed.

The bleeding made the heart pump faster and would stop the poison from killing him, Dave said.

"You can only do it twice though and then you're all out of ears. But that's how Darkie lost both of his tips."

Les was a bit of a perfectionist and kept his initials on everything, even the broomstick.

"Everything had its place and his gardens were so well looked after. Les grew most of his own vegetables and bottled and froze his own fruit.

"He would always have a freezer full of venison and crayfish and groper and every day he would cook himself three decent meals," Dave said.

The house and garden were both immaculate and only recently he painted the whole outside of the house on his own.

"You would think a professional did it, the way it's come up so well."

Barry said Les drove like he was an 18-year-old and everywhere he went was at 140km/h.

"He would take me down fishing and I'd be holding on to my seat the whole way there. He wasn't a bad driver, just a fast one."

Karen said he enjoyed his years in Greytown apart from more recently since it's "got a bit icky".

"He would complain if he couldn't get a park outside the library because there's so many more people here now."

Les was a big reader, she said. "He would go through a book like there was no tomorrow and he read a bit of everything."

There were plenty of years left in Les, according to his deer-culling mates though "he wouldn't have wanted to go any other way", Dave said.

"We've lost a real colourful bush character."

times-age.co.nz/localnews/storydisplay.cfm?storyid=3756591

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Fishing limits will do wonders for whitebait

The pressure on the South Island's whitebait stocks demands a
new approach to managing the fisheries, writes ROLAND STEAD.

The Press | Thursday, 29 November 2007

THE REASONS for the diminishing returns of whitebait are numerous — the draining of swamps, highway stopbanks on tidal areas and undoubtedly the run-off from farms being fertilised close to estuaries, etc.

Let us accept that these events have now occurred and move forward to our present position, and what might produce a positive result for the future.

The arch-enemy of the whitebait is the whitebaiter, with all their varied equipment, ranging from set nets with "go by" screens set outside those nets in heavy current, to jetties with pulleys and traps in South Westland, and sweep nets outside a barrage of blocking scrim.

All this to catch a tiny, migratory and intelligent fish which has sadly acquired a high commercial value.

A closure of the whitebait fishery for one day a week (say, a Monday) for the whole season would mean that on the day concerned, even those upstream set nets blocking entire creeks would be removed and allow that day's fish to pass on upstream and mature.

Imagine the shoals of whitebait that could be seen upstream. Although some of these would still be vulnerable, a huge dispersement would go in to drains and swamps by then.

I think of the West Coast, where before fishermen arrive on September 01, shoals of whitebait are frequently seen upstream. That strengthens the point I am trying to make.

Visualise the Karamea River on Labour Day, with 46 nets in place; or the Wairau Cut near Blenheim, with a car every 50m for more than 1.6km; and the Waimakariri, with set nets in the gravel areas around the two bridges. You can see what obstacles the whitebait that are left (if any) have to overcome.

The present regulations, such as the size of nets, not fishing near bridges and so on are of virtually no value towards the protection of whitebait themselves, but are of enormous assistance in protecting upstream fishermen from the greed of others fishing downstream of them.

The one day a week a closure would be a positive step forward. Do not consider a closed season, as is frequently suggested, as the fishing pressure the following season would negate any improvement achieved.

Closing the fishery for one day a week would not be unduly difficult to police. The big rivers would be self-policing and the smaller and more difficult areas could be ranged.

While Jim Anderton as Minister of Fisheries is courageously dealing with a reduction of the sea-fishing quota, I find it ironic that the lack of interest in the whitebait fishery is in the hands of the Department of Conservation.

• Roland Stead is a former member of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society and North Canterbury Catchment Board.

www.stuff.co.nz/thepress/4294767a12935.html

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Today is the last of '07 whitebait season

The Marlborough Express | Friday, 30 November 2007

ANYONE wanting to catch more whitebait will have to head to the Chatham Islands, where the season starts tomorrow and runs until the end of February.

Unfortunately, today is the last day to catch whitebait for most of the country.

One Marlborough whitebaiter said it had just been a normal season, with a "slow start and finish, long stretches without anything, but if you were patient you could get a reasonable sort of catch".

DOC Marlborough community relations manager Colin Davis said it had been an "up and down" season, with some significant catches of 10 kilograms or more reported.

However, the season was interrupted at its peak when the Wairau River rose after rain and changed its course.

Mr Davis said staff had seized some unattended equipment during the season and there had been some reports of people fishing overnight, but overall everyone was well behaved.

The season was reported to be the worst ever on the West Coast, where the season there ended earlier this month, and five whitebaiters also died. The retail price for the delicacy reached $150 a kilogram in Auckland.

www.stuff.co.nz/marlboroughexpress/4298879a6563.html

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PICTURE PERFECT: On Monday 22 October, Kevin Sue, of
Palmerston North, takes advantage of the last rays of Labour
Weekend at Tangimoana Beach. He says he caught about 1kg
of whitebait. — WARWICK SMITH/Manawatu Standard.


And that was the end of the 2007 Whitebait Season in New Zealand. Unless you are prepared to head off to the Chatham Islands where their season has just begun. Six whitebaiters died during the season, five on the West Coast and one in Wairarapa. A lot of whitebaiters moaned about it being a poor season, but a few whitebaiters got lucky and made a killing. Plus there would have been a few huge hauls that were kept quiet about because of fear of the Inland Revenue Department.

Next year it begins all over again!

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‘Worst’ whitebait season

The Press | Tuesday, 04 December 2007

ELUSIVE whitebait and restricted access to the Ashley River mouth have led to one of the quietest North Canterbury whitebait seasons for several years.

The season closed on Friday, with whitebaiters reporting small catches.

Noeline Sintes, who has been fishing for more than 50 years at the Ashley mouth, said yesterday it was the worst season she could remember. "I don't know why they were down. I don't know if it's the river levels or the destruction of breeding grounds," she said.

While the fishing was not great, Sintes, a spokeswoman for the Ashley Fishermen's Association, said a dedicated access track for fishermen from Waikuku Beach to the river mouth and a key system run by the Waimakariri District Council for a locked gate at the resort had worked well. "There was still the hoon factor, which was nothing to do with us, but whitebaiters did take car numbers and reported them if they did something wrong on the beach," she said.

Environment Canterbury senior resource care manager Rob Gerard said it was one of the quietest whitebait seasons at Waikuku Beach, which had had problems for a long time. There were complaints about pedestrian access being blocked on either side of the locked gate by large concrete blocks and a wire rope, he said.

Gerard said the blocks would be removed in the next few days and access through the dunes for whitebaiters would cease, with the key system for the gate ending.

The issue of access would come up for discussion when the Northern Pegasus Bay Coastal Management Plan was released for public consultation next month.

www.stuff.co.nz/thepress/4310765a24035.html

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South may only dream of a whitebait Christmas

BY PHIL McCARTHY - The Southland Times | Thursday, 06 December 2007

A POOR whitebait season in Southland means the delicacy is likely to disappear from shop shelves before Christmas, suppliers said. Southern whitebaiters have been left disappointed by one of the worst seasons for netting the delicacy in years after a bumper season last year.

The trend in the south contrasts with that of the West Coast, where massive hauls were netted in some spots. King's Fish Market owner Greg King said the season had been pretty dead, apart from the good runs on the West Coast.

"We all saw the sensational headlines about of 200kg hauls."

King's sourced most of its whitebait from the West Coast and a little bit from Southland in an effort to keep prices stable. This season there had been very little coming in locally, he said.

The whitebait the market had in stock was likely to run out before Christmas, whereas it would normally last through to about the start of the next season, Mr King said.

www.stuff.co.nz/southlandtimes/4313512a6568.html

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Coast delicacy in the raw at rival event

The Press | Saturday, 15 March 2008


BRAVE SWALLOW: Wild Foods in the City festival organiser Jason Telfer downs raw whitebait.
— DAVID ALEXANDER/The Press.

Pigs trotters, crocodile, snails and kina roe were on offer in Christchurch on Friday, but raw whitebait was nearly too much for the organiser of the controversial Monteith's Wild Food in the City festival.

Organiser Jason Telfer said the central Christchurch event in Poplar Street was "more sophisticated" than the rival Hokitika Wildfoods Festival held last weekend, before offering to down raw whitebait for a photograph."That better be worth it," he gasped after eating the West Coast delicacy.

Telfer, who owns the Redjacks bar in Poplar Street, has been involved in a row with West Coast Brewing chief executive Paddy Sweeney, the new sponsor of the Hokitika festival. Sweeney said the Christchurch festival was designed to "ambush" the Hokitika rival after Monteith's missed out on the sponsorship rights.

www.stuff.co.nz/thepress/4440147a6047.html

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Getting to grips with the whitebait fever

By PETER SHUTT - The Timaru Herald | Saturday, 05 July 2008


WHITEBAIT: One of nature's delicious delicacies.

IT'S not long now before whitebait fever will strike.

There's the need to repair old nets and prepare for some long days at the water.

This means repairing or purchasing waders, and ensuring everything about the net and go-by's is legally correct.

The whitebaiting season for most of New Zealand (not the West Coast) begins August 15 and runs to November 30.

Whitebaiting season sometimes sees a proliferation of off-road vehicles accessing some quite unusual areas, and often it's without much forethought.

We have all seen gates left open or sand dunes scarred by irresponsible drivers.

It's not necessarily the whitebaiters who are at fault. Often its visitors seeking to observe the whitebait action and use it as an excuse to go overland.

I note that Ecan councillors recently voted to endorse an interim vehicle access route for whitebaiters to North Canterbury's Ashley River mouth this coming season.

"A longer-term solution which meets the needs of most groups as well as protecting the coastal environment is being investigated with the Northern Pegasus Bay community," said Ecan chief executive Bryan Jenkins.

The Ashley River mouth dunes were grossly abused some years ago and for a time access was restricted or refused.

Letters to the editor of The Press at that time signalled damage to the ecosystem of the dune area was much greater than many realised.

The same could be said for some areas in this region, so sticking to the track is essential, otherwise I foresee the access being much more restrictive and probably regulated.

Whitebaiting is open to all, but it should not be an encouragement for off-road vehicles to cross and recross streams or divert from recognised tracks.

If you know about the access issues recently identified at Lake Emma, where gates were illegally removed, it's clear that some people don't have your continued access in mind, or any appreciation of why some areas are only open on a seasonal basis.

Such behaviour does nothing for legitimate sportspeople seeking access into areas of whitebaiting or fishing importance, and larrikins outside the control of 4WD clubs might well be the biggest problem you face in access issues of the future.

Get the vehicle number and use your cell phone to call Ecan. It's your future access you will be protecting.

www.stuff.co.nz/timaruherald/4608119a6434.html

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Lifejackets not for pansies, whitebaiters told

NZPA | Tuesday, 29 July 2008

ALL West Coast whitebaiters should swallow their pride and invest in slim line life jackets, chief coroner Judge Neil MacLean says.

His recommendation was made in his findings yesterday from the inquest of Hokitika whitebaiter Kevin Stephen (Ned) Kelly, who drowned after being swept into the mouth of the Hokitika River on October 21 last year.

Kelly, 61, was a vastly experienced and cautious fisherman but he was knocked over when a rogue wave caught him from behind and swept him from a sandy spit on the north side of the river.

Constable Neil Gillespie was summoned to Sunset Point just after 1pm but saw no sign of Mr Kelly until a swell swept his body back on to the spit 20 minutes later.

Conditions were rough at the time, with 5m swells, some washing over the spit.

Witnesses initially saw Kelly, who was wearing chest-high waders, trying to swim in the current but he was soon lost from sight.

One witness, fellow whitebaiter and old friend Kevin Lyes, said the tragedy had prompted him to buy a life jacket.

His family had "been on at him" for years to wear a life jacket but he thought it would be "a bit pansy-like" and would hinder his fishing.

He had worn a jacket ever since and it was no hindrance.

Kelly's widow had told Lyes: "The best thing that can come out of this is that you get a life jacket."

Judge MacLean said it was not known whether a life jacket would have saved Kelly but for $200 it was a small investment that had big life-saving potential, especially for whitebaiters fishing near river mouths.

"You are not being a pansy, particularly if you are wearing waders, to be equipped with a floatation aid. As part of my official finding I recommend all whitebaiters give serious consideration to wearing life jackets," the judge said.

www.stuff.co.nz/thepress/4635214a24035.html

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Boost for whitebait

By FINBARR BUNTING - Waikato Times | Thursday, 07 August 2008

WHEN you tuck into your next whitebait fritter, you may have a Waikato University team to thank for it.

The popular spring-time fish, also called inanga, has faced declining population numbers due to loss of coastal habitat, Associate Professor Brendan Hicks says.

As juveniles, whitebait typically live in lowland coastal areas before heading out to sea, but agriculture, towns and flood-protection schemes have limited their territory and prevent the little fish from making it to their natural habitat.

Faced with declining whitebait numbers, a team led by Hicks' student Peter Ellery, and including Maketu Taiapure Trust and DOC staff, devised a plan to entice whitebait into a comfortable environment by excavating ponds in the Kaituna riverbed floodplain. The Kaituna River drains from Lake Rotoiti.

Hicks says Ellery's team had been organising the excavation for a year. He devised a robust study plan with Hicks' help to monitor the changes in the whitebait runs compared to adjacent river beds.

After a four month trap-and-release study, Ellery noticed a huge swell in numbers in the whitebait run in areas where he had dug holes, and no increase in the other riverbed areas. The team made sure to keep the structural integrity of the flood-protection measures, Hicks said.

Ellery, who has since graduated with a Diploma in Applied Science from Waikato University, is inviting the public at 9am on August 30 to his ponds on the Kaituna River.

• Finbarr Bunting is an AUT journalism student.

www.stuff.co.nz/waikatotimes/4647017a6579.html

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Whitebaiters ready for new season to start

By AMY MILNE - The Southland Times | Wednesday, 13 August 2008


MAINTENANCE TIME: Brendon McLean, 13, and his
grandfather Duncan McLean repairing their whitebait
net at their Waituna stand on the Mataura River.
— JILL McKEE/The Southland Times.

With only two sleeps to go, the countdown is on.

Canny 'baiters throughout Southland and Otago have spent the past week sizing up their possies, cleaning out their huts and fixing nets in the leadup to the whitebait season, which opens on Friday.

It cannot come quick enough for Invercargill couple Duncan and Joy McLean, who are eager to begin their first official season on the Mataura River by the Waituna Lagoon.

The McLeans bought their Waituna hut at Easter weekend and had spent almost every weekend at their "house away from home", Mrs McLean said.

"We just love it," she said.

"This is heaven," Mr McLean added.

Mr McLean would spend the days fishing and tending to their recently dug vegetable patch. Grandson Brendon, 13, and Mrs McLean would join him on weekends and at the school holidays.

Fellow baiter Andrew Chalmers' setup is slightly more humble.

From tomorrow night for the following six weeks, home is a 1957 Bedford bus — originally from Bluff Motors. Mr Chalmers shared the bus with a mate and said it had been parked up at Waituna "for years".

Meanwhile, the Department of Conservation is reminding whitebaiters to clean nets and other gear when moving between waterways to prevent spreading didymo.

The department's coastal Otago freshwater team leader Pete Ravenscroft said all waterways should be treated as if they were infected with didymo.

www.stuff.co.nz/southlandtimes/4653488a6568.html

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Whitebait Season 2008

Media Release - Department of Conservation | Thursday, 14 August 2008


A giant kokopu. — Photo: Jane Goodman.

FRIDAY 15th August marks the start of another whitebait fishing season for areas other than the West Coast of the South Island. The West Coast whitebait season starts on 1st September. Whitebaiters are reminded that Department of Conservation (DOC) staff will be patrolling fishing sites to check that people are abiding by the whitebaiting regulations. DOC freshwater fish specialist, Jane Goodman said today that the regulations are in place to protect whitebait species and therefore the fishery so it can be enjoyed by future generations.

“We recently held a meeting of freshwater fish specialists to discuss threats to whitebait and their adult forms. Whitebait are the young of native fish such as giant kokopu, shortjaw kokopu, banded kokopu, koaro and inanga, collectively known as galaxiids. Our greatest concern was that we have all been checking streams and rivers with historical records of having adult galaxiids and not been able to find them,” Miss Goodman said.

The group aims to document the decline of galaxiid populations that has already resulted in giant kokopu and shortjaw kokopu being listed as threatened species by DOC. Giant kokopu have a similar threat ranking to brown kiwi.

Water removal for out-of-stream use, pollution, wetland drainage, introduced pests and destruction of stream-side vegetation are some of the issues that threaten the long-term survival of whitebait species. The whitebaiting season is another threat to the viability of freshwater fish populations. Concern for the future of both the fish and one of New Zealand’s best loved recreational traditions prompted creation of whitebaiting regulations.

“We’re aware that instant communities spring up on the banks of streams and rivers during the whitebaiting season as people experience the pleasures of both tending their nets in beautiful surroundings and consuming their catches. This traditional kiwi pastime is dependent on having sustainable native fish populations. If future generations are also to have the opportunity of enjoying this healthy recreation, it is essential that all whitebaiters observe the regulations,” Miss Goodman said.

Whitebaiters are being reminded to clean nets and other gear between waterways to prevent spreading didymo (Didymosphenia geminata) and other aquatic pests during this year’s whitebait season. Didymo has not yet been found in North Island rivers. However all rivers should be treated as if they are infected with didymo as it is difficult to detect when not in bloom.

Other pest species (such as pest fish and aquatic weeds) are present in some North Island waterways and can also have negative impacts on whitebait. It is therefore crucial that all freshwater users clean their gear between waterways to protect freshwater biodiversity.

The whitebaiting season lasts until 30th November everywhere except the West Coast of the South Island, where the season ends on the 14th November. Fishing is permitted only between 5 a.m. and 8 p.m. or between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. when daylight saving comes into effect.

“Generally speaking, whitebaiters observe the regulations and help us keep this fishery sustainable. The regulations provide for fines of up to $5,000, so fishers should be aware of what is permitted. Pamphlets outlining information on the regulations can be obtained from DOC offices and sports shops,” Miss Goodman said.

www.doc.govt.nz/templates/news.aspx?id=63795

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Whitebait veteran is playing waiting game

By JOE DAWSON - Hawke's Bay Today | Friday, 15 August 2008

IT'S hard to believe, but the time of year when ordinary folk go to extraordinary measures to pull in a few tiny fish is upon us again.

The whitebait season officially opens today and the banks on the lower reaches of the Clive River are becoming busier as fishermen and women stake out their spots for the season, which runs until November.

Among those enthusiasts for the tiny and tasty morsels is veteran fisherman Clarry Cornes, of Whakatu, who has fished at the same spot near the mouth of the Clive for 55 years.

Any amateurs who had planned on getting out there first thing today should take a leaf out of Clarry's book and wait a few days.

"The tides will be wrong," he said.

"Any time from Monday onwards should be good. It all depends on the moon."

The recent downpours should have freshened up the rivers and he hoped it would lead to better fishing than last year.

"Last season was the worst season I'd ever had, the bait just wasn't there, and when they did come it was towards the end of the season and the Clive River was covered in weed and you just couldn't fish.

"The rain should have cleaned the rivers out of all the rubbish, weeds and what have you."

Why has Clarry been fishing the same spot for more than half-a-century?

Is there a secret that keeps him coming back?

"I can drive right to it, there's no walking," he said.

"And I usually catch a few fish, enough to give some to my friends and relatives."

www.hbtoday.co.nz/localnews/storydisplay.cfm?storyid=3781777

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Whitebaiters asked to be extra careful

By DON FARMER - Wairarapa Times-Age | Friday, 15 August 2008

WAIRARAPA whitebaiters are being asked to be especially careful on how they fish this season, to prevent the arrival of the ghastly pest plant didymo into North Island waterways.

Tony Silbery, of the Department of Conservation in Masterton, said whitebaiters should start from day one — today — to ensure this season does not go down in history as the one in which didymo, also known as rock snot, arrived to ruin their fishery.

Didymo is already invading South Island waterways, having first been reported there in 2004.

It is thought the pest was introduced to New Zealand by a visiting American fisherman probably on damp footwear used while fishing.

Mr Silbery said it is essential for anyone who has been whitebaiting in the South Island to make sure their gear, especially nets, are checked, cleaned and thoroughly dried before fishing.

Freezing suspected gear, including fishing shoes or waders, for 24 hours is also said to be effective in killing off didymo spores.

Didymo can be harboured in a single drop of water and once it invades a creek, river or lake it can form massive blooms on the streambed.

It is native to northern Europe and North America and its swift spread is evidenced by the fact that since its detection in the South Island four years ago it has invaded Lake Dunstan, and the Clutha, Hawea, Von, Fraser, Makarora, Wilkin, Motatapu and Matukituki rivers in Otago alone. Several other waterways in the South Island are suspected of having been affected.

Mr Silbery said trout fishermen seemed to be well aware of the need to contain the spread of didymo and to try to stop it from appearing in the North Island.

He said DOC officers will be playing their part in the prevention measures.

"Because we will be jumping between rivers in the course of our work during the whitebait season we will be taking special care to dry off our gear and could even end up having to freeze our boots overnight, so that will be fun when we put them on in the morning."

Other than didymo alerts Wairarapa whitebaiters are also being reminded of the rules for the season, that extends until the end of November.

They are to stay within 10m of their nets at all times, not to fish inside 20m of a drain mouth or confluence and not to fish with gear beyond a maximum width of 6m or one-third of a waterway's width, whichever applies.

Whitebaiting is allowed from 5am until 8pm, and once daylight saving starts the hours are 6am until 9pm.

Mr Silbery said it is in everyone's interests to obey the rules — otherwise in a couple of years there won't be any whitebait to catch."

www.times-age.co.nz/localnews/storydisplay.cfm?storyid=3781764

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Whitebait season opens, but with little in stock

By KAY BLUNDELL - The Dominion Post | Friday, 15 August 2008

AS THE season opens, a $1.1 million study has been launched by Canterbury University scientists to help put the bait back into whitebait fritters.

Funded by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology, researchers are working on a four-year project they hope will lead to better stocks of the tiny fish in streams and rivers.

Though there were few records detailing whitebait catches, there was widespread belief that numbers were falling, researcher Mike Hickford said.

Whitebait favour specific spawning sites, with dense riverbank vegetation and high humidity, conditions that are increasingly difficult to find along the banks of many West Coast and Canterbury waterways because of flood-control measures and urban development.

Researchers are experimenting with trial areas to see if they can speed up spawning conditions. One of the trial areas is on the Waikanae River bank, and that has been welcomed by fisherman Alasdair MacMillan.

"I am relieved to hear numbers are dwindling and I am not just losing my touch," he said.

"I have spent hours on the river only to return two solitary whitebait to where they came from, and other spasmodic occasions I have had enough for a fritter. There needs to be a balance between flood control and protecting spawning grounds."

www.stuff.co.nz/dominionpost/4656065a6479.html

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Nets set for start of season

By FELICITY ROOKES - Taranaki Daily News | Friday, 15 August 2008

WHITEBAITERS will hit the rivers and streams today as the season officially opens in Taranaki — though some have made an early start.

"We've already had a couple of reports of early fishing on some rivers in Taranaki," Department of Conservation biodiversity ranger Bryan Williams said.

"The rules are there to protect the species and most whitebaiters appreciate this."

The regulations are set to allow a percentage of whitebait to migrate up streams to their breeding area.

But despite all the rules trying to preserve the tiny fish, it does not appear to be a promising season.

Mr Williams says due to the recent bouts of heavy rain the whitebait could be struggling.

"I don't know how the season will shape up as we had some very dry weather in February and March and now we are getting lots of rain, probably too much rain," he says.

"With all this rain, fishing in the large rivers should be better downstream than upstream. Whitebait will struggle to get up through flooded rivers."

Fishing gear should not exceed more than a third of the width of the river or stream, or be larger than six metres long.

There should also be only one net per person.

Illegal equipment or gear illegally set up will be seized and people breaking the regulations could be fined up to $5000, Mr Williams says.

The Taranaki whitebaiting season runs from today until November 30.

A full list of rules and regulations is available from your local DOC office or online at www.doc.govt.nz.

www.stuff.co.nz/dailynews/4656303a6002.html

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Whitebaiters not put off by flooding

By MAIKE VAN DER HEIDE - The Marlborough Express | Friday, 15 August 2008


GONE FISHIN': Errol Tombs of Blenheim gets ready to welcome in
the new whitebait season at the Wairau Diversion at dawn today.
— DEREK FLYNN/The Marlborough Express.

WITH overnight rain adding to Marlborough's already swollen rivers, conditions are less than ideal for the first day of the whitebaiting season, but staunch fishermen won't let a bit of flooding put them off.

"You've got to be out on the first day, it's tradition," Blenheim man Errol Tombs said as he prepared his net outside his caravan at the Wairau Diversion this morning.

Mr Tombs, who has been coming to the same spot for eight years, was one of the first whitebaiters to welcome the new season, with most opting for a bit of a lie-in rather than fish the swollen river in the dark. Several were camped at the side of the river and at daylight, cars started streaming into the area.

Department of Conservation South Marlborough community relations manager Colin Davis predicted yesterday that the Wairau River and Roses Overflow were probably still too high for whitebaiting and overnight rain did nothing to help.

Mr Tombs didn't expect a great catch today but would stay at least until Monday and hope to get at least enough for a few whitebait fritters "with just enough egg to hold it together".

He said the best time to fish was mid-September onwards and he hoped to be at the river every day from then on.

Whitebaiting is permitted between 5am and 8pm during winter hours and 6am to 9pm when daylight savings starts. The season finishes on November 30.

Mr Davis asked whitebaiters to clean their gear to prevent the spread of didymo when moving between different rivers.

This included nets, waders, buckets and anything that came into contact with the river water.

www.stuff.co.nz/marlboroughexpress/4657131a6563.html

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Whitebait season raises didymo problems

By PETER SHUTT - The Timaru Herald | Friday, 15 August 2008

THE START of the whitebaiting season on the east coast today will be met with much enthusiasm by people who make this an annual pilgrimage. Some 'bait simply to renew old friendships on the river, while others 'bait for a feed. Some will endure whatever the weather determines just to get a tantalizing taste of the small fish that many consider "white gold." And for some, it's a currency that's easily converted.

The most certain factor in the 'baiting equation is that this small fish holds all the cards in the pack. No one can predict their arrival at the rivermouth with certainty, and no one can be sure whether the run will be early or late — short or long.

In some ways, this is a significant part of the attraction of 'baiters who fish rivers near and far. It's why some 'baiters spread their effort across two or perhaps even three rivers in a week.

That's a problem in the making.

With didymo in some rivers and not in others, the importance of ensuring all nets and gear are clean before travelling to another river can't be over stated.

I know the Biosecurity NZ request is for people to check, clean, and dry everything before going to another river, but there's more to the problem than that. Before contemplating a move to another river it's essential that every piece of gear, boots and clothing is inspected to ensure there are no scraps of didymo attached. But with the diatoms of didymo being invisible to the human eye, one can never be sure they are not present, and to assume any river is free from didymo is also a danger.

The cleaning process for nets is simple. Just spray the complete net and handle etc with Didymo Killer. As far as I am aware, it's still the only spray proven to kill didymo on contact, and if you plan to use the same seat or stool again, give the feet a spray too. In the estuarine area of rivers the rise and fall of the tide will likely mean your chair or stool has been seated on previously saturated ground, and didymo could possibly have been underfoot. So don't forget to check and clean your boots too. Leave felt-soled boots at home because they resist any cleaning process yet devised.

I know it seems a chore and I realise there is a cost, but taking didymo from one river to another will surely destroy your 'baiting pleasure into the future.

River conditions seem perfect, and all that's needed is time and patience. Nothing results unless you have your net in the water, and you are stealthy enough to avoid scaring the white gold into deep water instead of your net. That means you must choose the location with care, and not be too hasty to check a set net.

If you are dipping a net in the surf, be very careful with your footing and avoid having your back to incoming waves. Occasionally a wave will be much stronger or higher than the previous few, and that's the one that can catch you.

Take care. Be safe, and good white 'baiting!

www.stuff.co.nz/timaruherald/4656323a6434.html

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Treasured fish few, far between

By RYAN EVANS - Taranaki Daily News | Saturday, 16 August 2008


CHASING THE 'BAIT: New Plymouth man Ryan Jones
braved an early start and stormy conditions at the
Waiwhakaiho River mouth yesterday morning as he
hunted for an early season feed of whitebait.
— MIKE SCOTT/Taranaki Daily News.

THE PANS were sizzling in anticipation but the whitebait failed to front yesterday morning, with fishermen reporting a slow start to the season.

Heavy rains in the build-up to the season saw nets around the region coming up empty — the elusive, translucent delicacy were few and far between.

Department of Conservation officer Bryan Williams said a combination of bad weather, flooded rivers and rough seas meant there were less whitebait and fewer people trying to nab them than usual.

"I didn't see any whitebait, but one of my colleagues saw a (single) whitebait," Mr Williams said.

He said he didn't expect the season to pick up until the weather improved.

At the Waiwhakaiho River mouth in New Plymouth a handful of hardy fishermen battled a stiff and chilly breeze and heavy passing showers in their attempt to scoop up a lunchtime feed.

After three scoops, Ryan Jones had two whitebait safely in the bucket.

He wasn't holding out hope for a great day's fishing but was giving it a crack anyway, he said.

Brothers Dion and Bryce Marr were having a bit of a competition to catch the most whitebait. By about 10.30am the slightly dejected-looking pair were pulling the pin.

Bryce won the competition, with four dozen whitebait giving him about enough for one fritter, he said.

"I'm going to go home, cook them up, have a bit of a feed," he said.

But Dion said he would save his dozen up, in the hopes of catching a few more to add to his haul today.

He said he was off home to have a few drinks. They said it was one of the poorer starts to a season they had encountered in many years.

Mokau was off to a slow start too.

Jenny Marsden, owner of the Whitebait Inn, said she had only heard of people catching "little dribs and drabs" with about a cupful the biggest catch she had seen.

Shraneel Chandra, owner of the Mokau River Run Cafe, said local fishermen had told him yesterday was slow going but it would be a good season once the rain was gone.

The whitebait season in Taranaki runs until November 30.

www.stuff.co.nz/dailynews/4657690a6002.html

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Little-fish frenzy kickstarts

By MERVYN DYKES - Manawatu Standard | Saturday, 16 August 2008


DIE-HARD 'BAITER: “I'm half-way to a fritter,”
said fanatical whitebaiter “Scruff” from Feilding
yesterday. He set up his net at Tangimoana and his
only concession to the awful weather was to start
out at 8am instead of 6am when the season opened.
— JONATHAN CAMERON/Manawatu Standard.

RAIN WAS sheeting down and a saw-toothed wind was rasping inland from the sea at Tangimoana. Pools of water covered much of the beach road and good-sized trees had been tossed ashore by the surf.

Everyone of delicate disposition was inside in front of a warm fire. But not "Scruff".

"The weather's not too bad," says the grizzled 62-year-old whitebaiter.

"I can remember a time last year when I lifted my net and the wind caught it. I just about went surfing."

Scruff, who hails from Feilding, hasn't missed the opening day of whitebaiting season for 20 years and saw no reason why this year should be any different.

Mind you, he did sleep in until 8am instead of being at his stand and ready to dip his net at the official starting time of 6am.

He grew up not far from Canterbury's Waimakariri River and was introduced to whitebaiting at the age of 8 by his dad. Naturally the "old days" are legendary.

"There was about the same number of whitebaiters then as there are today, but there was so much whitebait my old man used to feed some to the chooks and dig the rest into the ground as fertiliser."

Aagh! That's enough to send fritter fanatics into a frenzy.

"We'd sell some to the fish and chip shop and get sixpence a pound [about five cents], but that's not pocket money. I've brought my caravan down for the whitebaiting. It's the first time I've fished this creek — the locals call it Stick Creek — but there's plenty of water running off the paddocks and a bit of current, so hopefully they will come in. I've heard that some people have taken six or seven pounds here in a day."

"But I don't worry. I've got the caravan all set up and some pork stew in the crockpot."

On some opening days Scruff has woken up to the patter of feet at 3am as hard core 'baiters scampered down to the beach looking for the best possies.

He's not too fussed though.

"It's a funny business," he says. "There have been times when I have had the three in front of me get nothing and I've gone off with five pounds. Then there are times when it has been me who's got nothing.

"Why do I come down here? It's the serenity. You sit on the beach and it's peaceful with no one to bitch at you. Hey! you'd better not say that in case the wife thinks I am talking about her."

(He's not. Really.)

"I look forward to opening day and start getting ready three months before. I count the weeks and the days after July. Even on a shit day like this it's still peaceful."

He has about a dozen whitebait swimming around in his bucket so far, but says that sometimes other things stray into the net — "you've always got to have a frypan in the back".

"Once there was a couple of flounders and my wife got a kahawai in her net. They chase the bait in. Those flounders were just luck — ah but it's good luck. With whitebaiting you try to observe tradition and throw the first one back to appease the gods, but there's nothing to say you can't throw it in front of the net. There's a damn good chance you might catch it again."

He says most 'baiters are aware that some of the adult whitebait are on the Department of Conservation's list of threatened species, but find it hard to distinguish between the types.

"There are 1058 whitebait to a pound, so you're not going to be able to check them all. There are some that have a bit of a reddish tint — I think they are one of the threatened species."

Some whitebait like fast-moving water and others need quieter, swampy areas, he says. These days farmers are draining the swamps to make a few more dollars and leaving whitebait nowhere to lay eggs.

"Yeah, I ... Hey, the rain's stopped. Sorry, gotta go and check the net."

www.stuff.co.nz/manawatustandard/4658554a6502.html

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DOC issues whitebait warning

By MERVYN DYKES - Manawatu Standard | Saturday, 16 August 2008

NORTHERN whitebaiters opened the new season yesterday to a reminder that two adult forms of the delicacy have been listed as threatened species by the Department of Conservation.

One, the giant kokupu, has been given a similar threat ranking to brown kiwi. The other listed as threatened is the shortjaw kokupu.

"Whitebait are the young of native fish such as giant kokopu, shortjaw kokopu, banded kokopu, koaro and inanga, collectively known as galaxiids," said DOC freshwater fish specialist, Jane Goodman yesterday.

"Our greatest concern was that we have all been checking streams and rivers with historical records of having adult galaxiids and not been able to find them."

DOC staff would patrol fishing sites to check whitebaiting regulations, to protect the species and the future fisheries, were being met:

• Fishing is permitted only between 5am and 8pm, or 6am to 9pm after daylight saving starts.
• The northern season closes November 30. The South Island's West Coast season opens September 01 and closes November 14.
• Fines of up to $5000 can be imposed for breaching regulations.
• DOC offices and sports shops have pamphlets listing all the rules.

Pollution, wetland drainage, introduced aquatic and weed pests, destruction of habitat and removal of water from steams also threaten long-term survival of whitebait.

Miss Goodman said it was crucial that all freshwater users cleaned their gear between waterways to protect freshwater biodiversity.

Miss Goodman said concern for the future of both the fish and one of New Zealand's best-loved recreational traditions prompted creation of whitebaiting regulations.

www.stuff.co.nz/manawatustandard/4658557a6003.html

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Small fry in short supply but it's early days yet

By HAYLEY GALE - The Nelson Mail | Saturday, 16 August 2008

A BITING COLD southerly was blasting up the Takaka River valley, but that didn't deter three hardy whitebaiters on the first day of the season.

Jim Collins, of Nelson, Owen Young, from Stoke, and Don Anderson, of Timaru, were the only whitebaiters seen fishing on the banks of the Takaka River on Friday.

Despite a 7am start, they had little to show for their efforts by 10am but a small number of fish that barely covered the bottom of their buckets.

"It's very slow and it's very cold. We didn't see much," Mr Collins said.

"The water is in quite good condition but the whitebait just aren't there yet," said Mr Anderson, who plans to stay around Takaka for six weeks.

All whitebaiters are being reminded to "check, clean, dry" their nets and other gear between rivers to help protect waters from the invasive alga didymo. Didymo is present in the Takaka and Motueka rivers but has not yet reached the Aorere River.

Department of Conservation Nelson-Marlborough technical support manager Martin Heine said whitebaiters, along with all other river users, had a key role to play in preventing the spread of didymo.

"We need everybody to do their bit by cleaning their gear between waterways to protect our freshwater environments," he said.

A fact sheet on cleaning methods is available from DOC rangers patrolling whitebaiting areas or from the MAF Biosecurity NZ website: www.biosecurity.govt.nz.

www.stuff.co.nz/nelsonmail/4658593a6510.html

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Whitebait season draws enthusiasts

By SAM McKNIGHT - The Southland Times | Saturday, 16 August 2008


OPTIMIST: Hwai Heng setting his whitebait net on
the Waihopai River on the first day of the season
yesterday. — JOHN HAWKINS/The Southland Times.

THE NETS were set, deckchairs laid out, a good book close by — it must be whitebait season.

And the first day of the season yesterday, was, by all accounts, a good one on the Waihopai River, keen whitebaiter Hwai Heng said.

"Just look, blue sky and sunshine it's a great day to be whitebaiting." Mr Heng was perhaps a little optimistic of how much he would catch, judging by the size of his bucket, but he said it was still "early days".

"There's a few in there, not quite enough for a pattie just yet, but there are a few more lifts to do." Mr Heng, in his second season as a whitebaiter, said while the Waihopai River was not as bountiful as the bigger rivers around Southland, it had its benefits.

"I live just across the road so if I need anything I can just pop home." A little further down the river Mr Heng's whitebaiting mentor Alex Kidd had fared better with "enough for a feed".

Mr Kidd said he had been chasing whitebait across the region for 20 years, but it was something he never tired of.

"It's such a relaxing pastime, and I get plenty of reading done."

Department of Conservation compliance officer Alan Christie went out to some of the bigger rivers in Southland where he said he found plenty of people making the most of the first day of the season.

"Some were catching a wee bit, but it wasn't a great day." Mr Christie reminded whitebaiters to follow the regulations to avoid trouble.

"It was disappointing for us to have to make one seizure of equipment after someone was caught using two nets. The rules are easy to follow." He said it was too early to tell how good this season would be, but expected whitebaiters would have fun regardless.

www.stuff.co.nz/southlandtimes/4657662a6568.html

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Brutal final hurdle in bait odyssey

By IAN STEWARD - The Press | Monday, 18 August 2008


PERSISTENCE ESSENTIAL: Robert Harry, fishing at
the mouth of the Waimakariri River on Saturday,
says there is no way to predict what a season
will be like. — STACY SQUIRES/The Press.

THE FINAL episode in a six-month tale of heroic survival and eventual tragic failure started on Saturday, and no, it was not the Olympics. Whitebait season began at the weekend.

It is when the remaining one per cent of juvenile whitebait who have survived six perilous months at sea make their run back upriver.

While whitebait are a costly delicacy for humans, to the whitebait involved their capture is like falling in the last five metres of an ultra-marathon.

University of Canterbury marine ecologist Dr Mike Hickford said the whitebait which graced our pans and fritters spawned near the coast from eggs laid in vegetation along riverbanks.

Once hatched, the 5mm babies swam out to sea and spent six months growing up in the ocean. Despite the sea being a safer environment than rivers, 99% died, Hickford said.

At six months old the few remaining whitebait returned up rivers to grow to adulthood and lay their own eggs.

But on their return journey they had to face one last hurdle the hungry nets of whitebaiters.

One of those whitebaiters, Christchurch man Robert Harry, had little luck at the mouth of the Waimakariri River on Saturday but his recipe for success was simple persistence.

In his 20 years experience the only sure thing was: "The day you don't fish is the day they'll run."

Harry said there was no way of predicting whether a season would be good or not, and the experts agreed.

Hickford said the large volumes of water Canterbury's swollen rivers were pouring into the ocean might help bait to find the rivers, but whether a good season was on the way was unknown.

Whitebait did not necessarily return to the river they spawned in and could come from any of the South Island's rivers or even Tasmania, he said. The whitebait season runs until November 30.

www.stuff.co.nz/thepress/4659437a19753.html

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'Baiting ban sought by environmentalist

By GARY MOODY - The Southland Times | Monday, 18 August 2008


ROBERT GUYTON.

A SOUTHLAND environmentalist is calling for a ban on whitebaiting to allow the fishery to recover, just as the season kick-starts in Southland.

Robert Guyton, chairman of the Riverton Estuary Care Society and the South Coast Environment Society, said whitebaiting should stop until there was shown to be an increase in whitebait numbers.

In the past, whitebait was plentiful, but in recent years there had been a decline in stocks, he said.

The increase in dairying had led to more effluent in rivers, agricultural chemical run-off and the clearance of vegetation from riverbanks.

This inhibited whitebait breeding and dissuades them from going up Southland rivers, Mr Guyton said.

He was also concerned the high price of whitebait would tempt people to take more than they needed.

Although the Department of Conservation does have strict regulations, it could not monitor all the rivers.

He was worried that little was known about the state of the fish itself, and what effect chemicals in the water were having on it, and ultimately on those who ate it.

The water quality in Southland rivers was poor and must have some effect on the whitebait, he said.

Department of Conservation freshwater technical support officer Jane Goodman said a ban was not necessary.

Anecdotal evidence indicated that whitebait numbers might have declined, but the fishery was not being overfished.

Habitat destruction, introduced species and pollution from agricultural practices were having an impact, but the fishery was not at a point where closure was justified.

However, two of the five species of fish that grew from the juvenile whitebait were listed as threatened, she said.

If people took too much, the fishery would suffer.

www.stuff.co.nz/southlandtimes/4659274a6568.html

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Whitebaiting off to a mucky start in south

By AMY MILNE - The Southland Times | Friday, 22 August 2008


SLIM PICKINGS: Martha Barnes checking her net for whitebait at the mouth of the Rowallan River,
near Tuatapere. — JILL McKEE/The Southland Times.

SOME of us like to eat it with our eyes closed.

Others prefer to chop off the heads before cooking it.

But most just can't wait to stuff it in their mouths — beady eyes and all.

That's right, it's whitebait; the traditional delicacy generations of New Zealanders have enjoyed for more than 100 years.

Southland Whitebaiters Association president Brett Pearce said despite rain mucking up rivers in recent days, most whitebaiters have scored a feed or two in the first week of the whitebait fishing season kicking off.

Mr Pearce said it was still too early to tell if catches this year would be more abundant after last season's dismal results.

"We'll just have to wait and see," he said.

Meanwhile, the Department of Conservation is pleased with how the start of the whitebait season has gone with few reports of "early sampling" by people keen for a pre-season feed.

Department ranger Alan Christie said unlike previous years where reports of illegal fishing were a regular occurrence in the leadup to the start of whitebait season, this year there had been relatively few.

"There aren't many regulations for whitebaiting, but they are rules you need to know and abide by." Mr Pearce said a couple of whitebaiters on the Mataura River had already been caught out by the department for fishing with two nets, which was illegal.

"They've (the department's) caught a couple bending the rules with too much gear in ... there's always someone," he said.

Mr Christie said the department was also reminding whitebaiters to "check, clean and dry" nets and other gear between rivers to help protect our waters from the invasive alga didymo.

All waters should be treated as if they are infected with didymo and all gear used in waterways should be cleaned using one of the several cleaning options.

The whitebait season started on August 15.

Information on whitebaiting is available from Department of Conservation offices and can also be obtained on the department's website: DOC.govt.nz.

______________________________________

THE RULES:

• It is illegal to fish with more than one net.
• Using excess gear such as screens and a net that is more than 6m long, fishing more than a third of the waterway and fishing pre-season are also illegal activities.
• Persons whitebaiting are also required to remian within 10m of their net.
• Offenders may have their gear seized and can be fined up to $5000.

www.stuff.co.nz/southlandtimes/4664466a6568.html

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No let up for region's decreasing small fry

By MAIKE VAN DER HEIDE - The Marlborough Express | Monday, 08 September 2008



THE short life of an inanga in Marlborough is fraught with danger.

In just 12 months it will battle tides and drought, whales, birds and more tides and are likely to end up in a whitebait pattie.

To make it to adulthood is a massive achievement for these fish, Department of Conservation South Marlborough biodiversity ranger Jan Clayton-Greene explains.

"It's a fairly hazardous life. From the time they're laid (as eggs) they have to make sure they don't dry out. When they do hatch they try not to get eaten and when they're an adult they have to be able to get back up the river again," Ms Clayton-Greene said.

Whitebait are primarily of the young of three species: inanga, koaro and banded kokopu. Inanga is by far the most commonly caught species in Marlborough as whitebait. Inanga whose parents were lucky enough to make it as far as they did begin life as an egg clinging precariously to grass on the side of a river where fresh water mingles with seawater.

The eggs are laid at the high spring tide and, as long as they don't dry out, hatch in late autumn. The tiny fish are then carried downstream at the next spring tide, dodging bigger fish and birds along the way, Ms Clayton-Greene said.

They then spend winter at sea before returning to a river to mature and finally breed.

But on their way they have to dodge perhaps the biggest threat of all the gauntlet of whitebait nets.

It was difficult to tell whether whitebait numbers were decreasing through fishing, Ms Clayton-Greene said.

But what is known is that in Marlborough, inanga face a challenge their West Coast counterparts rarely would a lack of water.

A few years ago after a dry period, inanga were trapped in the Taylor Dam area because downstream, a section of the Taylor River had dried up, Ms Clayton-Greene said.

Marlborough District Council scientist Pete Hamill watched as hundreds of young inanga swam at the front of the flow as it slowly travelled towards the full downstream section of water, creating a link so they could head out to sea. Eels patrolled the cloud of tiny fish as they struggled forward, she said.

www.stuff.co.nz/marlboroughexpress/4685316a6563.html

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Vandals hit war vet's whitebait stand again

By RYAN EVANS - Taranaki Daily News | Monday, 08 September 2008


VANDALISED: David Long's whitebait stand
on the Onaero River has been destroyed
by vandals for the second year in a row.
— MARK DWYER/Taranaki Daily News.

A WAR VETERAN is fuming after his whitebait stand was vandalised for the second year in a row on one of Taranaki's most bitterly contested patches of water.

David Long, 64, arrived at his stand on the Onaero River, near Urenui, on Thursday morning to find his nets and hut slashed and buckets and jetty equipment stolen and thrown into the river — damage he estimated to be worth hundreds of dollars.

Last year, Mr Long's stand was one of seven hit by vandals following a dispute over the placement of stands.

He spent more than $800 repairing his gear before this season and moved his stand upriver, where he thought he would be away from the trouble.

Mr Long, who served with the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment in Borneo in the 1960s, says he is not going to let whoever has vandalised his gear beat him.

"It's absolutely mind-boggling," Mr Long said.

"I even had a few tears in me.

"If I walk away now, they've beaten me, haven't they? I'm going to carry on and get my nets fixed.

"I don't fear him coming back. There's only one person I fear and that's God almighty himself."

Waitara police investigated on Thursday, speaking to a suspect who told them he had nothing to do with it.

The police say without any proof there is nothing more they can do.

Mr Long says he can't figure out why anyone would want to slash his nets.

"I don't know what it is. I'm not catching whitebait for sale.

"I'm doing it for a hobby. I'm retired and I'm on a war pension. I come out every day. What else is there to do?

"Whether he's just holding something against me and thinking I'll get you again, I'll drive you out."

On a good day more than 100 people can be found whitebaiting on the Onaero River, from the river mouth to about 2km upriver, Mr Long says.

www.stuff.co.nz/dailynews/4684579a6002.html

[Deleted]

Taking the 'bait

By RICHARD TILL - Sunday Star Times | Sunday, 14 September 2008


YUMMY: The rest of us can only envy the Coasters'
plentiful catches of whitebait.

BOY, times do change. Once upon a time, West Coasters sent kerosene tins of whitebait to their city relatives to dig into the garden as compost. This week it retails for $135 a kilo.

There are heaps of stories of the big catches in the old days, two fellows catching 350kg in a day, runs so dense that dogs trying to drink from a stream can lick only 'bait from the flow and women on spring picnics jumping out of their pantyhose in order to use them as makeshift nets to catch a kilo or 10.

In the couple of weeks since the beginning of this year's season, the stories are of dwindling catches and fouled waterways unsuitable for breeding. The television news segments have gone the whole hog and labelled whitebait as a soon-to-be-endangered species.

The 'bait still run like they did in the old days in the more remote parts of the South Island's southern West Coast, far away from intensive farming and industry. In these places at this time of year the locals are whitebait wealthy. They may well be the only folk in the land who can sit down to a true feed of 'bait (a feed of 'bait being an occasion where you eat whitebait fritters until you don't want to eat another). In the cities we have been reduced to having cocktail snack-sized portions made with meticulous care, and considerable anxiety, from little 100g deal bags. In those volumes it often turns out to be an emperor's clothes experience. The faint flavour is barely noticeable when you are trying to savour it in every nibble.

In Haast, octogenarian Betty Eggeling still gets out and catches 'bait every season, although this year she says she'll only mind the nets and let the young ones do the lifting. She tells me that although it's early in the season the signs are very promising for a good year. She does it because she loves the catching, the cooking and the giving away of whitebait, mostly because it's the way they live in Haast.

Although she's famous for her patty recipe, Betty doesn't like to eat them. She's also famous for trimming the edges of her patties with a pair of scissors before sending a plate to a do and for spreading word on national TV of an old West Coast way with whitebait patties. Down Betty's way they serve whitebait patties with buttered white bread and mint sauce. You've got to try it to understand how perfect the combination is.

______________________________________

BETTY EGGELING'S WHITEBAIT PATTIES

Ingredients:

• 400g whitebait (if frozen, add a couple of tablespoons of flour)
• 2 eggs
• salt & pepper

Method:

• Have the whitebait as dry as possible.
• Separate the eggs.
• Add the yolks to the 'bait, season with salt and pepper and stir together.
• Beat the whites until they peak and then fold together with the seasoned 'bait and egg yolks.
• Cook immediately in clarified butter in a moderately hot pan.
• Serve patties with white bread, lemon, salt and pepper, a glass of red wine and mint sauce.

www.stuff.co.nz/sundaystartimes/4690515a20517.html

[Deleted]

Polluted waterways blamed for disappearing whitebait

NZPA | Tuesday, 16 September 2008

POLLUTED rivers and streams are being blamed for the disappearance of whitebait.

Massey University researcher Mike Joy has found whitebait have disappeared from about 75 per cent of their expected habitats in Manawatu and Horowhenua.

Dr Joy said the national group that monitored the fate of the adult whitebait (galaxiids) had reported a similar level of disappearance.

The dwindling numbers were further affected a number of fishers who caught juvenile whitebait, and sold them for up to $150 per kg, Dr Joy said.

"Not enough galaxiids are able to return to the streams because of the whitebaiting.

"Two of those species have the same threat ranking as a kiwi yet selling whitebait is a crucial incentive to get people out there.

"In the West Coast fishing stands sell for $60,000. Clearly, it's an industry for some people."

Dr Joy said his computer modelling, which he has focused on the greater Manawatu catchment, showed him where the whitebait should be, including the upper Oroua, upper Pohangina and upper Manawatu rivers.

"But they are not there, we have searched and searched for them."

Dr Joy said a few simple measures could protect what is left of the stocks, including prohibiting the sale of whitebait in the same way trout is protected, minimising high-country erosion and cleaning up waterways from pollutants including sewerage and run-off.

He also believed better monitoring of waterways would provide a clearer picture of their state.

"If we don't do something quickly we won't have these species any more."

www.stuff.co.nz/4693684a7693.html

[Deleted]

Whitebaiters' dilemma on Hokitika River

By LAURA MILLS - The Greymouth Star | Tuesday, 16 September 2008

HOKITIKA whitebaiters are facing a terrible dilemma this season — which of two river mouths to fish.

A number of South Westland river mouths that were blocked at the start of the season have now cleared, but at low tide the Hokitika River forks into two mouths.

Department of Conservation ranger Ted Brennan said the whitebaiter who could predict which one the bait would go up would be “on a winner”. “It has resolved some problems, though, like the long bar to the south with waves over the top. It will be interesting to see how long it lasts.”

Before the season opened, the Waitaha River was blocked and a big lake formed. It had rectified itself, but was still not the best for fishing. The Mikonui River had also righted itself, and the Totara River was “reasonable”, Mr Brennan said. “People seem to be catching small bits, a kilo here, a kilo there. The biggest I’ve heard is around 17 pounds. It’s still very early days.”

Mr Brennan said the usual compliance issues were beginning to surface, including people not staying within 10m of their net.

www.greystar.co.nz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2588

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Whitebait catches expected to improve

By MAIKE VAN DER HEIDE - The Marlborough Express | Wednesday, 17 September 2008


CATCH OF THE DAY: Wairau Diversion resident Cliff
Pihema says yesterday's catch is looking more
like it after a slow start to the whitebait season.
— CHRISTINE CORNEGE/The Marlborough Express.

AFTER nearly two weeks of fishing at the Wairau Diversion, Shirley Keen, of Christchurch, has just enough whitebait to make three patties.

It was hardly worth getting out of bed for, but sitting by the river yesterday with book in hand, Ms Keen said persistence would eventually pay off.

"You've got to have a go."

Marlborough's whitebait season has not exactly got off to a sizzling start but predictions are that it will improve along with the weather.

Ms Keen, who lives and travels in her campervan with her partner, Steve Paul, said she would take a five-day break from today, according to whitebaiting regulations, before returning to try again next week.

Wairau Diversion resident Cliff Pihema said he tried his luck with his scoop net three or four times a week since the season began but until last weekend had experienced slim pickings. Mr Pihema said his 19-month-old son had recently developed a taste for the tiny fish, and occasionally joined his dad at the waterside with mum to watch them being caught.

Mr Pihema said now that the water was warming up, there were more whitebait around and stories of larger catches at the Wairau Bar were filtering through.

But Mr Pihema said he was "loyal" to his local beach and no stories of giant whitebait patties would lure him elsewhere.

Department of Conservation South Marlborough community relations manager Colin Davis said he did not have much to show for a whitebaiting trip on Sunday at the Diversion. Although there were a number of people with their nets out, most were lucky to go home with a cupful of the tiny fish.

Mr Davis said the rivers were starting to clean up after a month of rain although more has been predicted for Thursday.

Though traditionally the whitebaiting season tended to get off to a slow start in Marlborough, Mr Davis said this year had definitely been "unseasonable".

But he said whitebaiting was all about enjoyment and plenty of people were doing exactly that, particularly now the sun was out.

www.stuff.co.nz/marlboroughexpress/4696019a6563.html

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Whitebait claims scoffed

By TUI BROMLEY - The Greymouth Star | Friday, 19 September 2008

A VETERAN West Coast whitebaiter has rubbished claims that the resource is “overfished” and even called for the Coast whitebait season to be extended to fall in line with all other regions.

Earlier this week, Haast whitebait buyer Colin McKinney hotly contested claims by a Massey University student that the sale of whitebait should be banned to save the species from extinction.

Today, Mick Tindale added his voice to the debate saying the West Coast season was too short as it was.

Coasters can first dip their nets on September 01 — two weeks after the east coast — and the season ends on November 14.

Mr Tindale said his 65 years of experience on West Coast river banks told him there was more whitebait available now than there ever was. Whitebait were running 26 weeks of the year, giving them 16 weeks of undisturbed travel to the spawning grounds, and runs were frequently seen before and after the official season.

“This is why the catches are increasing on the West Coast,” he said. “There were large personal catches years ago but purely because there were fewer fishers on the river.”

Mr Tindale said he and friends had fished the Haast, Okuru and Arawhata Rivers in the 1940s and 1950s, and the biggest catch he saw was 300kg. “This was caught by Joe Binzegger and Ron Ferris on September 15, 1950. Everyone hears of larger catches in our southern rivers now. “Whitebait is not ‘overfished’ it is ‘over-conserved’ — there is no basis for the West Coast having a shorter season than any other region in New Zealand,” Mr Tindale said.

www.greystar.co.nz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2608

[Deleted]

Fried whitebait salad with avocado and orange

By AMANDA LAIRD - The New Zealand Herald | Monday, 22 September, 2008


YUMMY: Fried whitebait salad with avocado & orange.
— BABICHE MARTENS/NZ Herald.

TRY this ...

Serves 4.

Ingredients:

• 2 avocados
• 4 oranges
• 3 handfuls of salad greens
• 1 Tbsp avocado oil
• 1 tsp honey
• 1 Tbsp grapeseed oil
• 2 tsp butter
• 300g whitebait
• Salt

Method:

• Peel and slice the avocado. Peel and segment 3 of the oranges.
• Arrange the avocado and oranges on a serving platter with the salad greens.
• Squeeze the third orange and combine the juice with the avocado oil and whisk in the honey.
• Heat a pan, add the grapeseed oil and butter then the whitebait.
• Cook for 3-4 minutes while gently stirring, then remove and spoon over the salad.
• Drizzle over the dressing and sprinkle with salt.

www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=10533866

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Whitebaiters seethe over thefts

By JANNA SHERMAN - The Greymouth Star | Wednesday, 24 September 2008

A Department of Conservation ranger has cautioned whitebaiters to secure their gear, after the theft of two nets from two deceased Hokitika whitebaiters.

Ranger Ted Brennan said the thefts were an unfortunate sign of the times, and whitebaiters needed to be wary when leaving their gear at river beds. “The times have changed and people need to keep abreast of those changes. They should be aware that if they leave their gear on the river beds it may not necessarily stay there.”

That was proven first hand last week for Hou Hou Creek whitebaiters Wally O’Sullivan and Julie Cain. The Hokitika couple had two nets stolen from the same spot they have stored their gear for 30 years — tied into flax bushes about 30m from the banks of the creek. “All of my buckets, my shovel and screens were still there, it was just the nets that had been taken,” said Mr O’Sullivan. He said it was upsetting that it had got to the point where people had to second guess whether or not their gear would be safe on the river bank. “Whitebaiters are known for their protocol and etiquette and it has just got to the stage where you can’t trust anyone these days. Where we fish everybody knows everyone and for the last 30 years we have never had a problem, up until now.”

Both nets had been recently upgraded to a near new condition, with new borders and screens, and had an estimated value of $500.

However, the sentimental value of the nets, rather than the monetary value was what had upset the couple more. The nets had belonged to Ms Cain’s late father, Noel Cain, who was a well-known whitebaiter in Hokitika. “I am quite gutted that something so sentimental of my father’s would be stolen. Our whole family is gutted.”

Ms Cain said she had wondered if the nets had been taken to be re-sold after learning of another whitebait net theft belonging to another late whitebaiter, Spence Routhan, from the shed of a Weld Street property in the lead up to the season.

The pair have reported the theft to the police and DOC, who have a piece of the unique framing that had been used on one of the nets. Mr Brennan said personalising gear in a way which made them easily identifiable was another precaution that could be taken to deter theft.

www.greystar.co.nz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2622&Itemid=41

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World-famous whitebait

By PATRICIA SOPER - The Southland Times | Friday, 26 September 2008

BORN AND BRED on the West Coast and completing my chef training in the early 80s, I dealt with tourists who visited the Coast in their droves, mostly on bus tours, which was the mainstay of the tourism industry in those days.

The Coast, especially South Westland, is world renowned for its whitebait so it was expected that we would have whitebait on the menu 365 days of the year.

I completed my chef's apprenticeship at the Kings Hotel where then-owner Russell King made sure that this was the case.

We sourced our bait from South Westland — many hundreds of pounds at a time with us having designated freezers just to hold the bait.

Gone were the days my uncle told me about of so much bait being caught by the kerosene tin full that it was dug into the gardens as fertiliser as they did not have freezers.

The hotel served the whitebait in the traditional way — as fritters served with wedges of lemon or malt vinegar.

It appeared on the menu not only for the tourists but also for the locals, who regularly dined at the hotel at our Saturday dine and dance nights.

Whitebait seasons on the Coast opens on September 01. Growing up in Greymouth, we always waited to see who got the prime whitebait spot on the Grey River.

The best spot was a stack of white rocks projecting into the river, creating a natural white area. As the bait swam over it, the whitebaiter was able to see the bait there for catching.

Whitebait consists primarily of the young of three species.

Inanga is by far the most commonly caught species.

All whitebait species spend part of their life cycle in fresh water and part in the sea.

The tiny fish hatch in late autumn and are carried down rivers, out to sea where they live and grow over the winter.

In late winter and early spring the whitebait migrate back up rivers and streams, finally settling and growing in bush-covered streams and swamps.

The start of the migration is thought to be influenced by river flows (shortly after floods) and phases of the moon.

Mature inanga adults migrate downstream to lower river sections and estuaries to spawn in grass covered by water during spring tides.

The eggs remain in the grass until the next spring tide covers them again, when the young hatch and are carried out to sea.

The combination of the fishing, controls, a limited season and the depletion of habitat have resulted in limited quantities being available on the market.

Whitebait is very much a delicacy and commands high prices, to the extent that it is the most costly fish on the market.

It is normally sold fresh in small quantities, although some is frozen to extend the sale period.

______________________________________

WHITEBAIT TARTLETS


WHITEBAIT TARTLETS: A tasty blast from the past.

Ingredients for Short Pastry:

• 200g flour
• 100g butter
• 2 to 3 Tbsp water
• Pinch salt

Method for Short Pastry:

• Sift flour and salt, then rub in butter until it resembles fine breadcrumbs.
• Make a well in the centre and add the water to make a firm dough.
• Chill for 1 hour, then roll out thinly. Cut with a round cutter and place into greased muffin tins.
• Prick the base with a fork and bake blind at 200°C until golden brown.

Ingredients for Filling:

• 2 eggs
• pinch nutmeg
• 3 Tbsp cream
• 2 Tbsp finely chopped parsley
• salt and pepper
• Juice of lemon
• 200g whitebait or as much as you can get your hands on.

Method for Filling:

• Combine the eggs, nutmeg, cream, parsley, lemon juice and seasoning in a bowl and mix well.
• Stir in the whitebait.
• Spoon into the pastry cases and bake at 200°C till the mixture is set.

Serve as an entree on some mixed leaves or as finger food.

www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/features/food-wine/737517

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Pan-fried whitebait with courgettes and lemon

The New Zealand Herald | Saturday, 27 September 2008


SEAFOOD & EAT IT: Pan-fried whitebait
with courgettes and lemon is a delicious
way to serve this seasonal treat.
— HERALD on SUNDAY.

SERVES 4 as an entree.

Ingredients:

• 3 courgettes
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 2 tsp lemon juice
• Flaky sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 Tbsp butter
• 100g whitebait
• Lemon wedges

Method:

• Trim the courgettes then slice lengthwise as thinly as possible. Toss in olive oil and lemon juice.
• Heat a pan and cook the courgettes for 1 to 2 minutes on each side, season then set aside.
• Wipe out the pan, add the butter and when it begins to foam, toss in the whitebait.
• Cook while gently stirring for no more than one minute.
• Remove with a fish slice. Serve on the courgettes.
• Sprinkle with flaky sea salt, pepper and a lemon wedge.

www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=10533890

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Getting down to the serious business of chasing white gold

By ZANE MIRFIN - The Nelson Mail | Saturday, 27 September 2008

WHITEBAIT have almost mythical status in New Zealand. Hailed as a Kiwi delicacy, these tiny, transparent estuarine fish are in great demand by commercial and recreational fishermen during the New Zealand springtime.

When the whitebait are running, job absenteeism is high, people speak in hushed, secretive tones, and it is every man for himself. Often termed white gold, fresh and frozen whitebait can reach upwards of $105 a kilogram in local fish shops, if and when it is available.

Whitebait in technical jargon is made up of the young of three main galaxiid species: inanga, koaro and kokopu, with inanga being the most commonly caught species. All whitebait species spend part of their life cycle in fresh water and part in the sea.

Tiny fish hatch in late autumn and are carried along rivers out to sea, where they live and grow over winter. In late winter and early spring, whitebait migrate back up rivers and streams, finally settling and growing in bush-covered streams and swamps (making great trout fodder along the way).

Mature inanga adults migrate downstream to lower river sections and estuaries to spawn in grasses covered by water during spring tides. The eggs remain in the grass until the next spring tide covers them again, when the young hatch and are carried out to sea, renewing the cycle.

All interesting stuff, but the really fascinating part about whitebaiting is the human behaviour and culture associated with the annual runs. All manner of people live streamside during the New Zealand whitebait season (August 15 to November 30, shorter on the West Coast), hoping to spy the familiar black shadow of a large shoal entering their net.

All sorts of nets are used, from small set nets to the large "Southland Sock" style, which is set for the entire tide, with two internal traps to stop whitebait retreating back downstream.

Tony Condon, a West Coast whitebaiting legend who I met on the lower Paringa River in South Westland, told fascinating true stories about the huge quantities of whitebait caught there over the years, mostly by people fishing from registered commercial stands. Condon's view is that internal traps in large modern set nets have totally revolutionised whitebaiting.

Department of Conservation staff would probably face a streamside lynching if they tried to remove such nets on the Coast, though.

"Feral inbreds" we may be, but whitebaiting is a very serious business.

Many whitebaiters like myself like to use a scoop net, which is a long-handled aluminium-framed net with a large oval mouth.

The mesh and net bag consist of a fine, soft white or grey material, and whitebaiters wait patiently along stream banks, visually searching for shoals that swim over their white "sighter" or "spotter" boards.

Once a shoal of whitebait has been sighted, a careful attempt to slowly scoop up the swimming shoal is attempted. It is exciting stuff when the net is lifted and a black pudding of whitebait is seen wriggling in the belly of the net. More often than not, though, the whitebait escape, as they are often skittish and very capable of eluding capture.

I've always enjoyed this visual form of whitebaiting, something I learned from my grandparents when I was a small boy. Indeed, one of my most treasured fishing tools is my grandfather's handmade scoop net frame, which was handed down to me.

My last really good catch of whitebait was several years ago on the rain-coloured Grey River on the West Coast. My fishing buddy Graeme Marshall, formerly of Nelson, and I had only a few hours to fish, and the water was too stained to spot individual shoals that day. Graeme suggested we take turns "blind scooping" as the tide pushed. I'm glad we did, as we managed a prodigious weight of bait in short order. Unfortunately, I had to go, but that's whitebaiting, and part of the allure of the sport.

Whitebaiting to me is spending time with friends, challenging myself against a tiny foe, enjoying nature with the miracle of spring and the tides, and, with a bit of luck, ending up with a feed to give to family and friends.

Whitebaiting around the Nelson-Marlborough area can still be pretty good. Golden Bay is the star performer, with the Takaka, the Aorere and the wild rivers of Mangarakau consistently producing results each season.

To the east, the Wairau River, Wairau Diversion and Opawa River turn on some consistent action for keen whitebaiters. Closer to Nelson, we have the Wakapuaka, Waimea and Motueka as likely places to try your luck.

I haven't seen anyone whitebaiting in the Maitai River for years, but the Nelson City Council reservoir on the North Branch Maitai wiped out this once excellent trout fishery, so it's logical to assume that the whitebait took a pounding, too.

We had a great time whitebaiting last Saturday, close to home in the Waimea catchment. My two boys, Jake and Ike, watched over by their grandfather Stuart, had an awesome adventure together.

Being young boys (six and eight), they were just as keen catching crabs and throwing sticks and stones, but later, when wearing polarised sunglasses, they were transfixed by the small shoals of whitebait moving upstream on the first push of the tide.

Sharing one set net, the boys had their first whitebaiting experience, and we were fortunate to catch one pound (450g) of the elusive delicacy — not a bad tally for the early season around Nelson. Wet, tired and covered in mud, the boys staggered home triumphant.

That night, we were probably one of only a few Nelson families tasting fresh, locally-caught whitebait. I can picture it still: a sizzling pan full of thick spoonfuls of succulent fresh bait, mixed in Baton River organic eggs, a dash of pepper, a twist of lemon, and washed down with a honey-spiced summer ale. Delicious!

www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/opinion/columnists/zane-mirfin/648209

[Deleted]

What whitebait?

By VIV LOGIE - The Greymouth Star | Friday, 10 October 2008


WAITING: Where oh where is the whitebait?

HALFWAY through a dismal season, whitebait patties remain off the menu for most West Coasters.

After six weeks of bad weather and scarce catches, experienced fishermen lament that the 2008 season will go down as “pathetic” after last season’s bumper catches in Hokitika and Greymouth. Some Hokitika whitebaiters hauled a trailer load of whitebait off one tide last season.

Cafes and restaurants are normally swimming with the West Coast delicacy at this point in the season, but many have not had so much as a taste. ABC Quick Lunch owner Mick O’Donnell said he was lucky to have whitebait on the menu, because there was so little about. “I was fortunate enough to score some early in the season — that was in the very first few days, but since then it has been very lean.” He was today selling his whitebait pattie sandwiches for $8 — the same as last season — even though the fish was so scarce. “I’m not like the power companies who keep pushing up their prices because the hydro lakes are low — I want to keep my price as reasonable as I can.”

Word down south is that the the whitebait started running yesterday but some seasoned baiters tell a different story. One Ross whitebaiter today described the season as “bloody atrocious.” “There is not much being caught in the Totara and even less in the Waitaha River — it is abysmal — I have only managed to net a kilo.” There were, however, reports of a bucket full being caught on the Mikonui River yesterday.

Sources say the cooler water temperatures and high seas are more than likely contributing to the poor results.

‘Kiwi’, a daily whitebaiter on the Grey River, said he had not heard of any decent catches, scooping only enough for the odd feed. He has set up base underneath the Cobden Bridge with a small hut and all the mod cons, but with nothing to fish, he and a few whitebaiting mates spend their days drinking coffee and playing chess. “Normally we spend our time cleaning our catches — but that doesn’t take up much time this season.” The bad weather and murky water had not helped the whitebaiters. “I haven’t caught anywhere near as much as I had the same time last year.” Kiwi has managed to bucket about 10kg and said the way things were going he did not expect things to improve much by the season’s close on November 14. “I can only hope it will get better — patience is a virtue.”

www.greystar.co.nz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2696&Itemid=1

[Deleted]

Volunteers help restore whitebait habitat

Opahu Stream prepared for inanga breeding.

By SIMON EDWARDS - Hutt News | Tuesday, 14 October 2008


WET FEET: The plant species dug in at Opahu Stream have been carefully chosen not just to suit whitebait
egg laying and native bird species, but to withstand salt water from tides that come up the Hutt River.
— Photo: GREATER WELLINGTON REGIONAL COUNCIL

WHITEBAIT (or inanga) are in decline around New Zealand but a restoration project on Lower Hutt's Opahu Stream is about restoring habitat for the little fish to lay eggs.

Amongst the conditions set under the resource consent for Greater Wellington Regional Council's Ewen to Ava flood protection works were requirements for a number of environmental enhancement projects once all the engineering and earthmoving work is done.

One aspect of this which has caught the imagination of people living in the Woburn and Moera area is the planting of wetland and slope native plant species on both banks of Opahu Stream, just upstream of where it empties into the Hutt River.

GWRC environmental planner Melanie McElwee says there have been good turnouts of local residents, including kids from nearby schools, to help council staff dig in plants known to be suitable for inanga breeding. Plants have been put in the water, as a place where the adults (galaxiids) can lay eggs, and on the nearby banks, so that when grown they'll will cast shade on shallow water.

Despite gale force winds at the most recent working bee in late September (and the weather was pretty foul at the first event back in July too) council staff and local volunteers have put in nearly 6,000 plants in total.

Melanie says in the decades before intensive settlement, the Hutt riverbank areas were covered in podocarp forest. It's not practical to try and restore/replicate that sort of environment, but a great deal of thought has gone into choosing plants and landscaping that will suit whitebait breeding, as well as provide a ‘corridor’ for native bird species.

That part of Opahu Stream is subject to tidal inundation, so the plant species had to be salt tolerant as well as able to survive regular water inundation. Wetland species such as oioi, sea rush and giant umbrella sedge were chosen.

Along a 500m stretch of the stream on both banks, plants such as taupata, karamu, toetoe and mountain flax were put in over a 3-4m wide strip.

Melanie says all the plants were "eco-sourced" from the Wellington region to ensure authenticity and suitability for local conditions.

GWRC will maintain the plantings for the next three or four years, after which time Nature should take care of natural re-generation.

Designers have taken regard of inanga habitat requirements, including their need for still pools or low flow stretches of water. "We've tried to mimic the natural processes as much as possible."

Representatives of the Wellington Tenths Trust were also confident that it was correct to concentrate on Opahu Stream. "It has nothing like the water velocity of the Hutt River, and yet it is still connected to that main river system," Melanie says.

Time — and what whitebaiters along Hutt River haul up in nets — will tell whether the inanga have taken to the improvements.

On a wider front, it's not looking good for whitebait. A Massey University expert who has studied inanga and other freshwater fish for the last 15 years, Dr Mike Joy, warned last month that whitebait are disappearing from our waterways — most likely because of increasing pollution and erosion-borne sediment.

A recent study showed inanga have disappeared from around 75% of their expected habitats in Manawatu and Horowhenua.

"I recently attended a working group meeting in Gisborne and reports from all over the country are saying that the fish that were there 10 years ago cannot be found now. They are disappearing, and very fast," Dr Joy says.

Whitebait, which are nocturnal creatures, thrive in clear, clean water, with boulders to ‘hang out’ under in shade during the day.

www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/communities/hutt-news/672741

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Whitebait on the move

The Greymouth Star | Tuesday, 14 October 2008


GOOD CATCH: A bucketfull full of 'bait!

SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD Greymouth whitebaiter Nick Birchfield shows the results of patiently watching the Grey River, netting a few pound of whitebait by 9 o’clock this morning.

Several whitebaiters had their buckets half full, catching small shoals off the morning tide.

“It’s a good start before some bigger shoals come,” Nick said.

“They’re coming, I can feel it.”

Good catches were also reported on the Hokitika River this morning.

www.greystar.co.nz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2709&Itemid=43

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Scum flows as 'bait run

By REBEKAH LYELL - The Greymouth Star | Thursday, 16 October 2008


GOOEY MESS: White scum in the Hokitika River
causing problems for whitebaiters.
— REBEKAH LYELL/The Greymouth Star.

WHITEBAITERS on the Hokitika River yesterday were disgusted when a gooey, white scum flowed into their nets for the second day in a row, just as the whitebait were running.

One fisherman, “Charlie,” said whitebaiters were “copping it every day” with the mystery substance, which appeared to come from the Westland Milk Products factory just upstream. “As soon as it comes the whitebait just dies off. It’s disgusting. We pay big money for trenches and for our gear and this just ruins it all.”

Westland Milk Products acting chief executive Hugh Little is currently out of town so had not seen the substance. However, he said a malfunction occurred at the factory in the early hours of Saturday morning, and the company notified the West Coast Regional Council. “I am puzzled as to where this has come from. I’m not sure what is going on.” Council staff have launched an investigation into the spill and have taken photographs and samples of the substance.

Westland Milk Products holds a resource consent for discharges containing cooling water, condensate and treated dairy factory wastewater, into the Hokitika River. The consent allows a 300m ‘mixing zone’, outside of which the company must comply with water quality consent conditions.

www.greystar.co.nz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2718&Itemid=1

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Camping whitebaiters refuse council order to move

By LAURA MILLS - The Greymouth Star | Friday, 17 October 2008

SOME whitebaiters parked up near the Cobden Bridge are refusing to move on.

The grassy site, complete with an effluent dump station, became overcrowded last year as house-bus owners on their way to a convention in Otago stopped off at Cobden. The sight of washing lines, and even someone sleeping on a picnic table, prompted the Grey District Council to review its freedom camping policy. The updated policy has now come into force, which means anyone in self-contained buses and campervans can stay up to five days if they get a free permit.

However, some whitebaiters have refused to vacate the site, despite a request in writing. Mayor Tony Kokshoorn said council staff had been taking phone calls of complaints from Cobden residents. “It’s a fine line — there are going to be people that push the boundaries. There’s got to be a little bit of tolerance from both parties.”

The situation had generated “significant ill feeling” from members of the Cobden community directed at the overstayers, according to a council report. “We are under some pressure to deal with the problem decisively and efficiently,” chief executive Paul Pretorius said. The council may have to treat the effluent dumping zone as a parking area.

In Queenstown, this means people can park up but must abide by the rules of the car park, and pay for the privilege. “This action will be to the detriment of everyone and most certainly not beneficial to whitebaiting as we know it,” Mr Pretorius said. If he goes down that track, people may receive a parking ticket from the warden.

www.greystar.co.nz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2730&Itemid=43

[Deleted]

Whitebait Bites

By HELEN JACKSON | TV3 RECIPES

FOR AS LONG as I can remember whitebait season has always been a significant time of the year. As a child It often meant that meals were delayed due to the tide and we would furiously pedal our bikes down to the river to follow dad along the bank dragging a heavy pail of wriggling whitebait in our arms. In those days and in that location rather than being a luxury item they were something that was just synonymous with spring time and the move towards summer.

At well over $100 per kg in many urban stores, the status of whitebait has drastically changed. The Chinese counterparts are significantly cheaper but you won’t find the same distinctive flavour.

Many purists say that they can even tell exactly where the whitebait was caught from and one chef that I recently interviewed claimed that the whitebait from the Cascade was the best whitebait around.

As regional qualities are argued so too are cooking methods. I generally prefer the almost omelette style where egg whites are whisked separate to yolks and then gently folded together with the whitebait that has been dusted with flour and sea salt. But then again I have also eaten the most delicious heavier fritters wedged between thick buttered slices of white bread.

For those with whitebait to spare there is a decadence with abandoning the extra ingredients and simply pan frying floured whitebait in clarified butter and serving with a wedge of lemon.

Quite often I make them for a drinks party when I cook them in mini muffin pans and serve with a little dollop of aioli and a sprinkle of chopped parsley.

______________________________________

WHITEBAIT BITES


WHITEBAIT BITES.

Ingredients:

• 500 g whitebait
• 2 tablespoons flour
• salt to taste
• 4 eggs, separated

Method:

• Preheat oven to 200°C.
• Toss whitebait with flour and salt until evenly coated. Beat egg whites until soft peaks form.
• In a separate bowl lightly whisk egg yolks and fold into egg whites along with whitebait and salt to taste.
• Drop spoonfuls of mix into non stick mini muffin pans and cook for 5 minutes until puffed and springy to the touch.
• Allow to cool slightly and then serve with lemon and parsley or a dollop of aioli.

Makes 35 bites.

www.tv3.co.nz/OnlineExtras/Recipes/RecipeDetails/tabid/410/articleID/36937/cat/136/Default.aspx

[Deleted]

Oozing with oodles of pollution

Heathcote River oozing with pollution.

By DAVID WILLIAMS - The Press | Wednesday, 22 October 2008


RIVER VIEWS: Jason Hutton is satisfied the whitebait
are coming up clean from the Heathcote.
— KIRK HARGREAVES/The Press.

THE Heathcote River is a sewage disposal drain but that does not deter whitebaiters.

It's a wee bit rough," Jason Hutton says of the Heathcote River from the comfort of his deck-chair, as he waits for the tide to turn.

The Hornby whitebaiter has plied the Heathcote and Avon rivers for five years and today sits on the grassy banks of Riverlaw Terrace.

"There's been sewage dropped here in the last couple of weeks, which isn't the best," Hutton says. "But the old whitebait seem to be coming up clean no-one seems to be getting sick off it."

He also worries about quantity.

"A good catch (five years ago) would be three to four pound a day. Now, at the moment, you'd be lucky to get half a pound a day."

Selling his catch is a problem because people think Christchurch's two main rivers are dirty, he says a perception backed up by an Environment Canterbury (ECan) report, which says the catchments of the Heathcote and Avon rivers are "significantly degraded".

"Sedimentation, nutrient enrichment, toxic pollution and faecal contamination are all serious problems," it says.

In general, the state of the waterways has not changed in 15 years, the report concludes.

Sewage overflows, which regulary happen after heavy rain, contribute, as does stormwater run-off and industrial spills.

A few houses downstream from where whitebaiter Hutton waits, Cyril and Greta Berthold hold serious concerns not just about the river, but also for their fish pond.

"The damn ducks come in and feed on our snails," Greta Berthold says. "All the birds come here to drink in the pond sooner that than drink in the river. Isn't it disgusting?"

The Bertholds have warned children and whitebaiters about what they describe as "quite a dangerous river".

They point out Hutton is perched only 200m downstream from the Locarno Street pumping station overflow.

Years ago, when the sewerage pipes were smaller, Greta says the overflows used to be more spectacular.

"There would be these geysers, like in Rotorua, with french letters, you name it, coming down. Some kids would be standing over it."

When the Berthold children (now aged 42 and 39) were young, people could fish out a crayfish from the Heathcote's shingle bed. Now it is muddy and polluted.

Cyril and Greta Berthold say they have made themselves unpopular with successive city councils over the years with their complaints.

"It doesn't worry us, we're just about dead," Cyril Berthold says. "But it's the future generations; we're turning it into a cesspool."

Alex Drysdale, the chairman of the Avon-Heathcote Estuary Ihutai Trust, says the city council has spent millions fixing its sewerage infrastructure.

While he is not happy with the pace of the work and the state of the rivers is "not good" he says the "city fathers" are putting the matter right.

"They're in an unenvious situation, an impossible situation, because you rely on staff to advise them and the staff turnover has been unbelievable. So it would be unfair to criticise them unless I know an individual was a qualified scientist of some sort."

Christchurch City councillor Sue Wells, who lives near the Bertholds, says the council needs to lift its game on the Heathcote.

"We need more money being spent on the river but I don't think it's fair to say we haven't done anything there's $22 million worth of invisible sewer work."

However, she says funding will have to come from rates increases or by putting the river work ahead of something else.

As long as there are ducks in the river, there will be faecal coliforms, she says.

"I'm aware that the river doesn't meet contact recreation standards and it never, never will and we have to be realistic we're not going to have a river that people will be encouraged to swim in.

"If that means kids aren't allowed to raft in the river and get hosed off at the end, that's PC hooey."

The council last week decided an annual race on the Heathcote which features homemade rafts, craft and canoes, would be postponed because of concern over the state of the river.

Back in Riverlaw Terrace, Jason Hutton ponders a glaring contradiction.

Does he think the river is polluted? "Yeah, a little bit. There's scum on the water. Let's just say I wouldn't drink the water."

Swim in it? "Definitely not."

Does not the water affect the whitebait? "It's a difficult one. Pretty much everyone else is the same as me. If you catch whitebait you're careful about where you're catching it."

www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/christchurch/684193

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Whitebaiters' catches are ruined by pollution

The Timaru Herald | Wednesday, 22 October 2008

WHITEBAITERS have had some unwanted meetings with patches of greasy globules on coastal baiting spots north of Caroline Bay over the last week.

At the Opihi River mouth on Sunday some whitebaiters went as far as tipping the delicacy out of their nets because of the presence of rancid grease.

Environment Canterbury investigating officer Lance Corcoran had received several reports in the previous week from the harbour, Smithfield Beach and Opihi Mouth of tallow-like material being spotted by whitebaiters. Two weekends ago he had reports of the material being picked up. The globules are a dirty brown colour but lighter in the centre.

"It appears to be a fatty substance, possibly tallow."

Mr Corcoran said that when squeezed the material was "quite foul smelling".

Mr Corcoran said it was important to report any sighting of pollution as soon as possible because on two occasions the material had already dispersed by the time staff arrived. However, a sample has been taken for testing.

This type of pollution has happened before.

In 1999 processed animal fats washed up on Caroline Bay and in February last year firm granules of tallow washed up on Caroline Bay. Mr Corcoran said the pollution at Opihi was different being softer and about the size of a 5c piece. The source of the pollution had not been located. The dirty appearance of the tallow made him suspect the tallow had not been freshly processed.

"I'd say it's old product which has been washed up from somewhere. It's not fresh tallow."

On Sunday night whitebaiter John Richardson took home his whitebait, but the presence of greasy globules which smelt bad put him off eating it. He provided a sample for testing and put the rest on the compost heap.

"I must have wiped my face or my mouth with my hands and I could taste it for bloody ages."

Mr Richardson had not seen the pollution since Sunday.

"I've been out the last couple of days and everything's fine."

www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/684288

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Whitebaiter defiant as nets nabbed and charges laid

The Dominion Post | Saturday, 25 October 2008

A WAIKANAE man has had three whitebait nets confiscated, been banned from his prized fishing spot and faces police charges but is determined to fish next week.

The Conservation Department confiscated three of Mike Bridger's nets this week and police charged him with threatening to kill after a row with a woman whitebaiter beside Waimea Stream.

Mr Bridger, 57, built a whare, or small shelter, on the bank at the start of the whitebait season and with a first aid certificate in hand, named it the Waimea Whitebaiters First Aid Station.

He dragged a tree stump to his fishing possie and secured it to the bank to control the current. It blocked most of the stream, riling a nearby woman, and during a heated disagreement he allegedly threatened to kill her and has now been banned from his spot.

Mr Bridger said he was delighted when he spotted a tree stump floating in the stream about a fortnight ago. "I thought there is my taniwha. Some people walk the dog, I walk the log. I am not here to make friends, I am here to fish. I am not going to let a two-pound shoal go past.

"I do not fly deliberately in people's faces but I call a spade a spade," the former seaman and watersider said.

His offer to rotate catches with the woman and another fisherman was not appreciated, he said. The season had been slow so far.

"It was just about to get flash and I was struck off. I am livid."

But he planned to make another net and vowed to be fishing again next week.

DOC ranger Adrian Whiteman said Mr Bridger would face charges in relation to illegally building a structure on the stream bank and using more than one net. "He was blocking off just about all the stream, received one warning but kept fishing. He will go to court."

www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/central-north-island/689063