Whitebait guide
Whitebait
It's hard to believe people could get excited about catching a
fish five millimetres long, but that's the name of the game in
whitebait season.
Whitebait are a delicacy, selling for more than $150kg. They are
tiny, almost transparent fish that are caught in a net or screen.
New Zealand whitebait are primarily the young of three species:
inanga (Galaxias maculatus), koaro (G. brevipinnis) and banded
kokopu (G. fasciatus), with inanga the most commonly caught
species.
Special sizes and conditions apply to the type of net used to catch whitebait, with the mouth of nets not permitted to be larger than 4.5 metres; nor have framing material wider than 120mm; or be longer than 3.5m.
There are other strict regulations applying to whitebait fishing to help conserve numbers of this native fish, and breaching regulations can result in fines of $5000.
As early as the 1920s whitebait was expensive enough to be considered a luxury. 'When we get married/ We'll have whitebait for tea' were the lines of a popular song at the time.
Whitebaiters
Many 'baiters', as they are called, have caravans or baches
(shacks) and take up residence on river banks for the season. The
baches and their piers, known as stands, were selling for high
prices. In 2006 one stand on the Waiatoto River sold for
$46,000.
Some whitebaiters sell their catch to buyers who supply fish shops
during the season. But as whitebait runs diminish, many people keep
their catch and give any excess to family and friends.
Cooking whitebait
Whitebait fritters or patties are the most common recipe. You mix
together a few eggs, two tablespoons of flour, a teaspoon of baking
powder and salt, and as much whitebait as you have. Spoonfuls are
then fried in butter or oil. The fritters are often eaten between
slices of buttered white bread.
Regulations
Whitebait are one of a handful of native species that can
be legally harvested and sold. In 2006 there were no limits on the
amount of whitebait anyone could take as long as they were fishing
legally. The fishery is controlled by the Department of
Conservation. Regulations vary, with hand-held nets allowed in some
areas and fixed nets in others. Whitebaiters should check local
rules first.
A person can only use one whitebait net, and must be within 10 metres of it at all times. Fishing gear must not extend over more than a third of the width of the stream. Rules also govern the length of the season, placement of screens, net and screen size, and many other factors. Because they are structures in the river beds, whitebait stands require a licence under the Resource Management Act 1991.
These regulations ensure that some whitebait pass the nets and establish themselves upriver as adults. They can then return to estuaries to spawn the next generation.
The season
The season for all areas of mainland New Zealand except the West
Coast extended from 15 August to 30 November. Fishing is permitted
from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. during New Zealand standard time, and from 6
a.m. to 9 p.m. during daylight saving time.
There are different seasons on the West Coast (1 September-14 November) and the Chatham Islands (1 December-last day of February).
The days of catching cartloads may be gone, but each spring, translucent shoals can still be seen in many rivers, doggedly swimming upstream. Word soon gets out that the whitebait are running.
