Whitebait

[kevfromcoro]

Has anyone managed to get any whitebait this season yet?

I have been out several times and havent seen one yet.

Lot of people arent fussed on the stuff

I would walk across brocken glass for it.

[Trudes]

My Stepdad (who lives in Wairoa) had managed to catch about a cup full when I spoke to him last week. Yep that's a productive 5 hours!!

[nadroj]

I love it - It's the only seafood delicacy I induge in, but I seldom partake more than once a week.

Good excuse for a ride to Mokau for a fritter!

[StoneY]

Fact is the habitual yearly Whitebaiters have contributed strongly to the depletion of our fisheries to where there are no fish left to spawn the hoards of Whitebait seen in the past-
This is why there is none left-
Whitbaiters only have themselves to blame- as well as the useless quoata systems in place -

Whitebaiting has the worst effect on our fisheries than any other recreational activity -
Only bottom trawling the inshore zones does more harm- this is a fact established by NIWA -
Hence the ocean wildlife reserves placed around over 80% of the NZ coastline where fishing has been prohibited-

I used to love to fish- I was a deep sea fisherman in the Southern Ocean and we caught em by the TON not the pound-

I LOVED whitebait fritters too- but sadly- if our KIDS and GRANDKIDS are gonna know what eating fish is like we HAVE to stop whitebaiting NOW!

Rant over - have a great day

[BiK3RChiK]

I love whitebait too... Love whitebaiting as well.

Alas! I haven't been out for the past 2 seasons because of time constraints and my Raynauds Syndrome is getting worse and worse.

And I certainly won't be buying any at the price!!

[PrincessBandit]

Whitebait fritters YUM! Always a treat at my nana's house.

[Usarka]

I tried last weekend but i think I was using the wrong gear... What's a good size hook, and is squid ok for bait?

[98tls]

Been out a couple of times,only got a cupfull so far.Wont be long and there will be plenty.

[Pussy]

I tried last weekend but i think I was using the wrong gear... What's a good size hook, and is squid ok for bait?

Your gear is perfect for the job.
What knife are you using to scale and gut them?

[MisterD]

Rant over - have a great day

I could take it or leave it, but I believe I'm right in saying that either last year or the one before was a record (I heard some old duffer from the Coast talking to Marcus Lush on the opening day of the season...) because a lot of work has been done recently to clean up the spawning grounds.

Dunno, not an expert, why eat whitebait when there's crayfish?

[The Stranger:Me]

Fact is the habitual yearly Whitebaiters have contributed strongly to the depletion of our fisheries to where there are no fish left to spawn the hoards of Whitebait seen in the past-
This is why there is none left-
Whitbaiters only have themselves to blame- as well as the useless quoata systems in place -

Whitebaiting has the worst effect on our fisheries than any other recreational activity -
Only bottom trawling the inshore zones does more harm- this is a fact established by NIWA -
Hence the ocean wildlife reserves placed around over 80% of the NZ coastline where fishing has been prohibited-

I used to love to fish- I was a deep sea fisherman in the Southern Ocean and we caught em by the TON not the pound-

I LOVED whitebait fritters too- but sadly- if our KIDS and GRANDKIDS are gonna know what eating fish is like we HAVE to stop whitebaiting NOW!

Rant over - have a great day

Hmm, never heard this perspective before.
Do you have any references for this please?

I know we have seen less and less of them over the years. Was a time we could fill a 20 litre pail in an hour. Now you are lucky to get a litre in a night.

[Goblin]

Had 2 whitebait fritters at the Cold Kiwi. Dont know if they were fresh or Chinese imports tho.

[Blackbird]

Good excuse for a ride to Mokau for a fritter!

Good man! The Southern Cross in '05 finished at the lighthouse south of New Plymouth. Early the next morning and starving, I rode straight up to Mokau and for breakfast, had 3 large fritters, a pile of brown bread and butter plus a monster bowl of latte. IMHO, just about the most enjoyable meal I've ever had!

[kevfromcoro]

Good man! The Southern Cross in '05 finished at the lighthouse south of New Plymouth. Early the next morning and starving, I rode straight up to Mokau and for breakfast, had 3 large fritters, a pile of brown bread and butter plus a monster bowl of latte. IMHO, just about the most enjoyable meal I've ever had!

Christ.. you ate 3 of those.. they used to be the size of diner plates.

not sure if the whitebait are depleting.
local fishermen has seen acres of things.
DOC keeps a sringent eye on the whitebait stocks.
i allways only take enough for a feed.

[Romeo]

I've got two pet whitebait, they're both about 5 inches long now ;P.

I'm not against whitebaiters, there's generally more than enough to go around. But there are those in the sport which take it as their god given right to rape and pillage as much as they can. Guys fishing outside the allotted times, breaking the rules in all sorts of creative ways and catching so much they end up selling the left overs.