Cold but promising start to whitebait season
Val Summerell from Norsewood whitebaiting on opening day at Waitapu in the Takaka River. Photo: Gerard Hindmarsh.
A record cold snap combined with an average 3.7m tide did little to enhance the opening of another whitebait season on Monday August 15.
But there were some surprises. Val Summerell from Norsewood couldn’t believe it when she scored a small shoal with her first scoop into the Takaka River, just up from the bridge at Waitapu.
“Never mind that I slipped on those slippery riverbed rocks while getting them and ended up completely falling in - at least I know there are bait here.” Val and her friend Hine normally whitebait together in the Wairoa River near Gisborne, but decided to give the South Island a go this season.
Out at the Anatori River, still a preserve of hard-core and experienced whitebaiters, the best catch on opening day barely covered the bottom of a bucket. Aorere whitebaiters fared little better.
Said one: “It always starts off slow like this, but when the weather warms up and the tides get to their highest, then we can expect some decent runs.”
The Department of Conservation has expressed its concerns nationally this year again, stating that destruction of the delicacy’s habitat is pushing overall stocks into decline. It is advising whitebaiters to do their bit to conserve stocks. Four of the five main whitebait species are now officially classified as in decline: giant kokopu, short-jawed kokopu, koara and inanga, the latter still being the most commonly caught species.
Research into the decline also shows a bigger picture. In a few areas whitebait numbers are actually increasing, possibly influenced by changing weather patterns, temperatures and currents (Reuben Williams, DOC HO, 2010). Golden Bay’s whitebaiters will no doubt have their own opinions as to the state of the fishery. Many have reported reasonable catches here in recent years.
Gerard Hindmarsh
