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Post by Kiwithrottlejockey on Sept 1, 2012 17:46:36 GMT 12
Gearing up for whitebait seasonBy LAURA MILLS of The Greymouth Star | Friday, 31 August 2012ANTICIPATION: A whitebaiter checks his net to see if he has caught enough of the elusive delicacy for that night's dinner. — Photo: Alan Gibson.GREYMOUTH could be the place to be when the West Coast whitebait season opens tomorrow — though temptation has already proved too much for a few people.
Pre-season sightings of whitebait are few and far between, despite the number of fishermen starting to amass on the riverbanks, but Greymouth is a different story.
"The rivers are very, very low," Department of Conservation Greymouth ranger Brad Edwards said.
"About three weeks ago, there was quite a lot of 'bait around."
However, since the fresh last week there had been no reported sightings.
He said a "couple" of early starters had been caught on the Grey River. He did not reveal where exactly they were found, but said they were "trying to keep to themselves".
In Hokitika, DOC ranger Ted Brennan said a lot of people were on the riverbanks, and a little whitebait seen heading upstream.
"There's been bits and pieces about, the odd shoal."
After reports of blocked creeks, the fresh seemed to have opened up many of them.
No one had been caught out fishing early in the Hokitika area. "They are either keeping well out of sight, or behaving themselves."
Things are also quiet in South Westland — perhaps a little too quiet.
DOC community relations manager Cornelia Vervoorn, of Fox Glacier, said very little 'bait seemed to be about.
"There have been a couple of smaller shoals in the Haast area, but nothing up here, which is quite unusual."
Again, pre-season compliance was good.
Haast whitebait buyer Moana Kerr from the Curly Tree Whitebait Company said they had yet to see any whitebait in their river, the Waita.
For the start of season, they will be paying $50 a kilogram, although once the supply ramps up the price will drop.
In Westport, no pre-season fishing activity was observed, or even reported from the public, which was "most unusual," DOC ranger Martin Abel said.
During the past week, staff had noticed several illegal stands built on the Buller River. The whitebait fishing regulations did not stop people building a structure, but made it illegal to fish from one.
"If DOC rangers come across someone fishing from an illegal stand they will ask them to stop fishing and take their details. Non-compliance or repeat offending may result in gear being seized and prosecution."
Whitebaiters had become quite slack in leaving their gear in the water after they had finished fishing.
He also asked people to help protect penguins and weka by either leaving their dogs at home or having them tied up on the riverbank.www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10830888
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Post by Kiwithrottlejockey on Sept 6, 2012 0:23:50 GMT 12
Whitebaiters’ patience pays slim rewardsBy TUI BROMLEY - The Greymouth Star | Monday, 03 September 2012SLIM PICKINGS: Opening day of the West Coast whitebait season.IT WAS slow going for whitebaiters who lined West Coast riverbanks on Saturday trying to catch the first ‘feed’ of the new season.
One veteran fisherman from Cobden said his patience was rewarded with a pound and a half of fresh bait from the Grey River, but “it took me two tides to get them”.
Elsewhere, people were content with the odd cupful, and shoals were measured in dozens of bait, not pounds.
Wallace Adamson, of Jacobs River, said South Westland rivers had been barren of bait pre-season and he did not even bother dipping his net on opening day.
“The signs were not good all through July. Usually, there are reports of big shoals sneaking up the river from mid-July and there are generally quite a few bait around on opening day, but there has been no sign of them this year.”
Mr Adamson said heavy rain over the past couple of days would rule out fishing for a few days, but would also be doing the whitebaiters a favour by creating floods to clean out the blocked river mouths.
Haast policeman, constable Rob Manera, said the dearth of pre-season whitebait had delayed the annual of influx of “townies”.
“There’s a few newcomers about but I notice that the riverbank camps are still empty. When there have been reports of big shoals pre-season those camps are almost full from day one,” Mr Manera said.
“They really only got in one day of fishing down here before the weather turned, and there are good floods in all the rivers now so it will be at least a day or two before the rivers settle down.”
Department of Conservation Greymouth ranger Brad Edwards said all three main rivers in the area — the Grey, New and Taramakau — had more fishermen than bait, some getting enough for a pattie but little more.
“There were lots of fishers about but there’s always a rush of early enthusiasm. It’s a long dry run up to the start of the season.”www.greystar.co.nz/content/whitebaiters%E2%80%99-patience-pays-slim-rewards
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Post by Kiwithrottlejockey on Sept 6, 2012 0:25:34 GMT 12
Seizure may have caused whitebaiter drowningThe Greymouth Star | Wednesday, 05 September 2012CORONER Richard McElrea has ruled that an epileptic seizure probably caused Westport woman Adrienne Dusseldorp to fall into the Waimangaroa River and drown last whitebait season.
The 49-year-old had been fishing near the river mouth on September 10, 2011.
She had been using a set net, which required her to wade knee-deep into the water to secure it.
A fellow whitebaiter observed her remove her trousers before wading into the water as the turning tide began to push big surges up the river. She appeared to be fiddling with her screen.
The witness’s attention was turned elsewhere and when he looked back Ms Dusseldorp had disappeared, but he assumed that she had just returned to the riverbank.
Next thing, he saw was two legs sticking out of the river some 20m away. Other whitebaiters dragged Ms Dusseldorp to shore and administered CPR until emergency services arrived, but they could not revive her.
The river was 50cm deep at her net and 2m deep in the middle.
Mr McElrea said Ms Dusseldorp had a background of epilepsy and there was no evidence of her struggling to get to shore.
“There are two possible reasons for her drowning,” Mr McElrea said.
“She may have been overcome by the forces of the river, causing her to become immersed. She may have suffered a medical event, which if it occurred was likely to be an epileptic seizure resulting in her immersion. On the balance of probabilities I find the latter to be more likely.”www.greystar.co.nz/content/seizure-may-have-caused-whitebaiter-drowning
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Post by Kiwithrottlejockey on Sept 6, 2012 0:27:28 GMT 12
Whitebait proving to be shy little crittersBy SUSAN SANDYS - Ashburton Guardian | Wednesday, 05 September 2012Hakatere whitebaiter Peter Kiddey wishes it was one pound of the delicious delicacy, instead of just one fish. — Photo: Kirsty Graham.WHITEBAIT was measured by individual fish caught, not by the pounds, at the mouth of the Ashburton River yesterday.
Whitebaiters say it could take another month or so for the season, which started on August 15, to begin its peak.
In the meantime it is a case of Murphy's Law for some trying their luck.
Hakatere Huts resident Peter Kiddey, 69, was out for his first day of the season yesterday, on the south side of the river mouth.
It looked like those on the opposite side were netting more of the small fish, but he was staying put instead of driving all the way to the State Highway One bridge to get to the other side.
By mid afternoon he had caught about one dozen fish, nowhere near his peak for last season of five pounds on one day.
"They usually get them when you are not here," he joked.
"You come down and they say you should have been here yesterday."Whitebaiters on the south side of the mouth of the Ashburton River seemed to be having more luck than those on the north side yesterday. — Photo: Kirsty Graham.Friend and fellow hut resident Brent Proffitt said he went out on his first day for the season on Monday.
At first he had thought he had caught about 20 of the fish, but a count up showed it was actually 50.
His best catch last year was about six pounds on one morning in late October.
He wasn't going to bother going out again until about September 28, "two days before the full moon".
Whitebait came in with the rising tide, and a full moon caused stronger tides.
Mr Kiddey and Mr Proffitt agreed that when the whitebait did run, they would not be telling many people.
Last year, towards the end of October when there were some good catches, all of a sudden cars flooded the Hakatere carpark as people flocked to try their luck.
"They all seem to get wind of it."www.ashburtonguardian.co.nz/news/todays-news/8439-whitebait-proving-to-be-shy-little-critters.html
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Post by Kiwithrottlejockey on Sept 9, 2012 15:13:18 GMT 12
Whitebait come to those who waitBy NIGEL BENSON - Otago Daily Times | Saturday, 08 September 2012WAITING: Andy Coburn, of Dunedin, demonstrates his whitebaiting technique at Henley. — Photo: Gerard O'Brien.THERE IS a secret to catching whitebait.
"Perseverance," veteran Dunedin whitebaiter Andy Coburn said with a grin this week.
"There's plenty of whitebait coming up the river. You've just got to be here on the day. It's a great feeling when you get a good lift. You can get around 500g on a good day.
Mr Coburn has been chasing the elusive little fish on the Taieri River at Henley since the 1950s.
"I've been whitebaiting here since I was a primary school lad, more than 60 years ago," he said.
"Forty years ago, there wasn't a soul down here. Now, there's a real community of whitebaiters. Lots of retired guys go whitebaiting now. It's a great way to spend your time."
"I always bring my caravan down the day before opening day. It's very relaxing sitting on the riverbank looking at the whitebait. You get lots of native birds around, like tuis, wood pigeons and kingfishers. And I enjoy swapping yarns with other whitebaiters and catching whitebait for my family."
Mr Coburn also shared his special recipe for whitebait.
"Mix four eggs with a tablespoon of flour and give it a good stir up. Add a wee bit of milk if you need it and then add your whitebait. It comes out like a cake. Beautiful."
The whitebait season runs until November 30.www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/225019/whitebait-come-those-who-wait
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Post by Kiwithrottlejockey on Sept 29, 2012 18:41:25 GMT 12
Excellent catches keep whitebaiters happyHauls of up to 31kg reportedBy BONNIE STRAWBRIDGE - The Nelson Mail | Thursday, 20 September 2012PERFECT SPOT: Clive Hodder whitebaiting on the Maitai River near Riverside. — MARION VAN DIJK/Fairfax NZ.WHITEBAIT are flowing well in Nelson and Tasman with happy fishers reporting bucketloads of the delicacy.
Conservation Department ranger Simon Bayly confirmed the whitebait were just starting to run but part of fishing etiquette was not to divulge your fishing patch.
"I heard of a catch of five pounds [2.2 kilograms] recently," he said. "But I cannot say where."
Mr Bayly said whitebait had not been running up until now because of the flooding. "They have been stuck out in the bay. As soon as the fresh water flows in, there will be more."
A Nelson Mail reader has reported whitebait running "really well in Motueka".
The woman who did not want to be named because "whitebaiters don't like to share the love", said in the Motueka area on Tuesday many whitebaiters had got catches of 8kg to 13kg and "one lucky bugger" got 31kg.
She said the whitebait were also flowing yesterday, with half and full buckets reported.
On Tuesday in a space of barely 100 metres between the Collingwood St Bridge and the Riverside footbridge, four hopeful whitebaiters sat along the banks of the Maitai River.
With one job completed already that morning, plumber Clive Hodder felt justified in casting his net and was down at the river by 9am.
He was set up with a chair, radio, book, thermos flask and even had dog Wilbur with him. But he had not had any time to read his book.
The whitebait were flowing.
"A good couple of shoals gets you on your feet," he said. It was the first time he had been to the spot this season, but with the amount of whitebait in his bucket, he would likely return. Just 20m down along the bank, Terry Wiechern who has been whitebaiting for several years had his set-net in the water.
He was pleased there were no ships in on the day which meant he would have been working down at the waterfront.
He usually fishes out at Appleby but was at the Maitai as the Appleby River was still in flood.
"People go far and wide to catch the little critters," he said.
While the Maitai was still flowing fast, he said the fish swim closer to the banks and that may have accounted for the half cup he had caught in an hour.www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/7706602/Excellent-catches-keep-whitebaiters-happy
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Post by Kiwithrottlejockey on Sept 29, 2012 18:41:40 GMT 12
Hard to relive past taste sensationsBy MATT RILKOFF - Taranaki Daily News | Saturday, 22 September 2012IT was only ever a single kernel of hope. A single kernel on a single cob in a field of thousands and thousands. But it was enough and with whitebait you only need a thimble full. So when I learned that frozen whitebait could be bought for $6.50 a pack in the supermarket, small as it was, the hope was enough to get me just a little bit excited.
Me and whitebait go a long way back. I used to fish for them on the banks of the Waitara River with my grandfather. Later, when I was older, I used the same net to catch the slippery fingerlings in the dubious waters of the Waimoku Stream behind the beach shop in Oakura.
Back in the 1990s I would syphon a few off from the batch I was supposed to be frying up and handing out at Monteith's beer tasting events and more recently my sister's two-year stint in Hokitika gave me infrequent but memorable access to the delicacy.
But in all my life I had never bought whitebait and that was mostly because they cost $120 a kilogram and reporters earn only slightly more than dish rag. But $6.50 for a 250 gram pack, well, I could swing that easy. So into my basket they went and though I consequently found out they weren't New Zealand whitebait, I decided it was still worth a shot.
It wasn't the first time I had opted for economy over expense. In fact, that is how I shop. You won't see me buying fillet steak at $40kg when with a bit of technique and know-how the humble blade steak knocks you down with meaty flavour.
Give me offal any day, show me the bacon ends and I'll buy them and I'm happier with a lamb knuckle than the flashier shank.
I would like to think it was before or after but it was actually while I ate one of those slow braised lamb knuckles with my girlfriend last week that I pitched the idea of how we would eat the whitebait. "How's about this," I said half-way through a mouthful of meat. "We'll fritter them."
She looked at me as you might look at a beloved pet that had developed an unfortunate urinary control problem but I was used to that and carried right on.
"We'll get some white bread," I said stuffing a whip of potato mash into my mouth. "We'll make some coleslaw," I said chewing on a french bean. "And some mayonnaise."
Which made it all sound so simple even though I only explained half of it. You see, the coleslaw wouldn't just be run-of-the-mill coleslaw. It would have flat leaf parsley and red onion and sesame seeds. And I'd be adding more lemon juice than usual to the mayonnaise as I was expecting the whitebait to be a bit salty and the white bread, well, that had to be Quality Bakers sandwich slice. Not because it was the best white bread in town because it wasn't. Rather, it added a further element of Kiwi culture and nostalgia to the already classic menu.
It was complicated stuff that she had no stomach to listen to, which is why I kept it to myself as you generally have to do in New Zealand.
Other countries in which I have travelled have a much greater appetite for food talk and truly appreciate that food, not money, clothes or the type of car you drive, is the only material thing that really matters. I'm not ashamed to say it. The whole reason I spent six weeks tripping around China was for the food.
I passed by the crushing tourist traps, grimaced through the often painful bus trips, the crowds and the chaos and made great effort to ignore the choking smog of its cities. I was there for the steam buns, the handmade noodles, the braised frog, stewed intestine, whole cooked carp and morsels I can not even describe.
I took photos of every meal I ate and I quickly found the best way to break down the language barrier with the Chinese people I met was to show them these pictures of their country's food. After that everything was easy, as it is between kindred spirits.
The day after the lamb knuckles we weren't hungry for dinner until half way through the All Blacks game against South Africa. By the time I had cooked the meticulously planned fritters and brought them to the TV room with the bread and coleslaw and an extra helping of mayonnaise the game had started again. It was nerve-wrecking stuff. "What do you think," I asked my girlfriend.
"They're all right. Not great," she said with her usual honesty. "What did they cost again?"
Just $6.50 I said, and though that didn't make them taste any better it did make the disappointment, the crushing of that small delicate kernel, a little less severe.www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/opinion/7716422/Hard-to-relive-past-taste-sensations
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Post by Kiwithrottlejockey on Sept 29, 2012 18:41:56 GMT 12
The patient wait for whitebait runBy MARINO HARKER-SMITH - The Gisborne Herald | Tuesday, 25 September 2012TINY DELICACY: Wairoa whitebait fisherman Doug Waugh re-sets his net in the shallows of the Wairoa River mouth. — Photo: Marino Harker-Smith.SOME people are getting a little, others are getting a lot and almost everybody wants their fix.
A fix of whitebait.
The whitebait fishing season has been under way for just over a month now and continues until November 30.
Wairoa whitebaiter Doug Waugh has been a keen whitebaiter for 40-odd years and still sets his net at the stand in the shallows near the river mouth that he built with his boys when they were young.
There was “nothing startling” about the season so far, although he did manage to net enough of the tiny delicacy for a fritter or two every other day, he said.
The whitebait had been “very scarce” for him but further up the river and in the deeper water, people were getting some “reasonable catches”.
“I would have spent 20 hours on the river for each pint I caught,” said Mr Waugh.
He had heard they were doing well at Te Arai River near Manutuke.
Department of Conservation (DOC) Gisborne-Whakatane Area biodiversity programme manager John Lucas said Hicks Bay waterways were having some reasonable catches but it was still pretty quiet around Gisborne rivers and streams.
Mr Lucas said it was still early. The Gisborne season did not usually pick up until about October, which was probably due to the rivers clearing up and some better runs as the season progressed.
“Whitebait run when they want to run,” he said.
DOC says whitebait species are in decline, mainly due to a lack of clean, healthy rivers and streams for the adult fish.
But planting and fencing stream edges could help lead to better whitebaiting in future years, as would following the fishing rules and net regulations which are available on the DOC website.www.gisborneherald.co.nz/article/?type=article&id=29558
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Post by Kiwithrottlejockey on Sept 29, 2012 18:42:13 GMT 12
Whitebaiters content to waitBy ALASTAIR PAULIN - The Motueka Leader | Friday, 28 September 2012STILL WAITING: Alanah Trewavas had four whitebait in her bucket. — Photo: ALASTAIR PAULIN.LOOKING like a shepherd at dog trials, Ricky Fowler crept up on his whitebait net, gently poking the river bed with a pair of walking sticks.
He was trying to flush any stray whitebait towards his net but when he checked it, there were just half a dozen of the translucent delicacies wriggling in the bottom. Into the bucket they went, joining about a quarter pound of their species.
It was early morning last Friday and Ricky was one of about 60 whitebaiters who had flocked to the Motueka River after word got around that the whitebait were running.
Ricky had been at the mouth of the river the day before, one of about 20 trying their luck there, and had come home with 4½lb. Before that he had been in Golden Bay, spending a week whitebaiting the Anatori and the Patarau.
The irony of a deep-sea fisherman spending his trip off fishing was not lost on him but he was loving it.
Just upriver from him Graham Boyes was out for his first day of the season.
"Someone said there was a bit around so I thought, I’ll take a day off work and see what happens," he said.
The Motueka man has been whitebaiting most of his life and said the best day he ever had was two years ago in the Moutere, when he got about 7lb.
"If I can get a feed and a couple in the freezer, I’m happy."
Next to him was Alanah Trewavas, who had just four whitebait in her bucket. But she was happy too, since the 1½lb she caught the day before was enough for her first feed of the season and a few cold patties to sustain her the next day on the river. She was going to head over to Golden Bay to try her luck on the Patarau or the Aorere.
She may have found it tough to find a spot to put her net in though, as her neighbour on the Motueka River, Brent Johnson, said he had seen 70 cars parked at the Takaka River last Thursday.
Ricky said the run of earlier in the week was tailing off. He estimated that it was a quarter of what it had been on Tuesday and Wednesday, when a Nelson Mail reader reported whitebait running "really well in Motueka".
The woman who did not want to be named because "whitebaiters don’t like to share the love", said that on Tuesday many whitebaiters had got catches of 18-30lb and "one lucky bugger" got 70lb.
Conservation Department ranger Simon Bayly said the run was just starting but etiquette was not to divulge your fishing patch.
"I heard of a catch of 5 pounds recently,’’ he said. ‘‘But I cannot say where."
He said whitebait had not been running up until now because of the flooding.
"They have been stuck out in the Bay. As soon as the fresh water flows in, there will be more."www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/communities/7742479/Whitebaiters-content-to-wait
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Post by Kiwithrottlejockey on Oct 5, 2012 1:10:51 GMT 12
Christchurch whitebaiters risk disease, DHB warnsBy NICOLE MATHEWSON - The Press | Monday, 01 September 2012TASTY CATCH: Whitebaiter Trevor Spriggs is ignoring a health warning on taking bait from the Heathcote River. He says Christchurch’s whitebait is safe to eat as long as people follow proper hygiene practices. — JOHN KIRK-ANDERSON/Fairfax NZ.WHITEBAITERS are being warned against fishing in Christchurch waterways after dangerously high levels of E. coli were found in samples taken from the Heathcote River.
However, a local whitebaiter argues the delicacy is fine to eat as long as people follow good hygiene practices.
The Canterbury District Health Board released a statement in August advising people not to fish in the city's sewage-contaminated rivers, but some have ignored the warning.
Board medical officer of health Alistair Humphrey said he recently tested samples taken from two whitebaiting "die-hards" who claimed there was no problem with fishing in the Heathcote River.
The samples were found to be four times over the level deemed safe for recreational use. One 100ml sample showed 2400 faecal coliforms. A sample that exceeded 550 coliforms would constitute a "red alert" for recreational water, Humphrey said.
Most ill-health effects from such contamination were considered minor, but more serious diseases were possible, including hepatitis A, giardia and salmonella, which could cause liver and kidney failure.
The whitebaiters were "quite contrite" about the situation once they heard the results, Humphrey said.
"They didn't realise it was that bad."
He advised people to avoid consuming whitebait from the city's waterways, as even if the fish was rinsed, contaminated water could get on skin and other utensils.
However, whitebaiter Trevor Spriggs said Christchurch's whitebait was perfectly safe to eat as long as people followed proper hygiene practices, such as rinsing the whitebait in fresh water and keeping it separate from other foods.
He ate about 40kg of whitebait caught from the Heathcote River last year and gave more away to friends, and no-one he knew got sick from it, he said.
Most whitebaiters were careful and would not fish immediately after a sewage discharge occurred, and the waterways normally returned to safe levels within a couple of days, he said.
He acknowledged that the CDHB's warning might put some people off fishing in the Heathcote River, but said he wondered if their sample had been flushed with fresh water and how long it was held before it was tested.
"Anyone wanting to whitebait, [should] go out there and try it for themselves. If the hygiene standards are there, you won't have a problem."www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/7749874/Chch-whitebaiters-risk-disease-DHB-warns
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Post by Kiwithrottlejockey on Oct 5, 2012 1:11:31 GMT 12
Clutha whitebait elusiveBy HELENA DE REUS - Otago Daily Times | Tuesday, 02 October 2012Whitebaiter John Witchall, of Ettrick, tries his luck at the Clutha River mouth yesterday. — Photo: Craig Baxter.AT 78, John Witchall knows his fair share about whitebaiting.
Each year, the Ettrick man spends the season at the Clutha River mouth near Kaitangata, in South Otago.
The whitebait were few and far between yesterday, but that did not keep him away from the water.
And for good reason — he has a way to go before he matches his biggest catch, more than 100kg, at the mouth several years ago.
As he works his net, Mr Witchall exchanges banter with another "old timer", Balclutha man Toby Sellwood (66).
"All those other buggers should be at work — Toby and I are retired and we should be catching everything," he said, laughing.Whitebaiters line up on the bank. — Photo: Craig Baxter.Whitebaiters are tight-lipped about an alleged 38kg catch at the river mouth late last week.
The man believed to be the successful whitebaiter said he caught only 28kg, and the big catches were to be had on the other side of the river mouth.
Another whitebaiter, Craig, who declined to give his surname, said he and a friend caught 120kg of whitebait in 20 minutes in the surf two years ago.
Whitebaiters stayed at their favourite spots, resisting the temptation to try their luck on the other side.
"There will be a fight if we go over there, and a fight if they come over here. We keep to our own spots," Craig said.
The whitebait season, which opened on August 15, runs until November 30, except for the West Coast (September 01 to November 14). With daylight saving, fishing is now restricted to 6am-9pm.www.odt.co.nz/regions/south-otago/228442/clutha-whitebait-elusive
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Post by Kiwithrottlejockey on Oct 5, 2012 1:12:08 GMT 12
Whitebaiters urged to play fairBy DON FARMER - Wairarapa Times-Age | Wednesday, 03 September 2012NET WORK: The whitebaiters were out in force to find a feed at the mouth of Lake Onoke last week. — GORDON WYETH/Wairarapa Times-Age.WHITEBAITERS are generally behaving themselves and most are netting a feed in the process, the Department of Conservation says.
Ranger Tony Silbery said some had landed close to 1kg a day and "most have at least got enough for a couple of fritters".
Compliance with the rules had generally been good and no prosecutions were pending: "A few people have got a long view of what being no further than 10m from their net means, though."
Mr Silbery said whitebaiters should remember they must play fair and let some bait through or the fishery would eventually collapse.
A "few ratbags" who tried to block off culverts or fish out of hours were around and would "get to see us sooner or later".
Hours set by the rules meant the whitebait had at least some time to make it from the sea to their destination, giving them a chance to mature and ultimately ensure the species' survival.www.times-age.co.nz/news/whitebaiters-urged-to-play-fair/1567930 Lean catches in season’s first monthBy REBEKAH FRASER - The Greymouth Star | Wednesday, 03 September 2012TRYING THEIR LUCK: Whitebaiting in Westland.THE fishing fortunes of whitebaiters have not changed, as bad weather continues to hamper the first month of the season.
One stand on the Hokitika River is rumoured to have netted 44kg on Sunday, but otherwise, decent catches are few and far between.
Department of Conservation Hokitika community relations ranger Inger Perkins said the rivers had been relatively quiet since the season began on September 01.
“The weather hasn’t been helping, with rough seas and heavy rain events. We haven’t heard of any big catches.”
Rangers had been dealing with some whitebaiters who had breached regulations for the fishery.
“There has been some general non-compliance with the West Coast regulations, for example not using screens from the water’s edge, walking away from nets, that sort of thing. We are urging whitebaiters to comply with the regulations and to come and ask us if they are not sure.”
DOC Franz Josef-Waiau area community relations ranger Cornelia Vervoorn said she was unaware of any big catches so far in South Westland.
“One or two kilograms is the most that has been reported in a day, but otherwise people have been happy to get just enough for a pattie.”
The poor catches were partly due to the poor weather, she said.
“Generally, compared to other seasons, it’s been comparatively quiet on the rivers.”
Rangers were pleased to see that whitebaiters had been “playing by the rules, by and large”. “Though we’d remind visitors to the Coast to ensure they are familiar with the West Coast (Whitebait Fishing) Regulations so they don’t get caught out,” Ms Vervoorn said.www.greystar.co.nz/content/lean-catches-season%E2%80%99s-f%E2%80%8Airst-month
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Post by Kiwithrottlejockey on Oct 5, 2012 1:12:25 GMT 12
Enjoy the treats of springBy JAN BILTON - The Marlborough Express | Thursday, 04 September 2012SEASONAL DELIGHT: Whitebait Roulade and Parmesan-crusted asparagus. — Photo: JAN HILTON.SPRING is a time for freshening up menus with delights such as asparagus and fresh whitebait. Divine!
The official whitebait season runs from August 15 until November 30 (or September 01 until November 14 on the West Coast). Whitebait is a Kiwi favourite. The tiny species are the young of five native fish collectively known as galaxiids.
They spend six months at sea and then make their way up rivers and streams. Whitebait is a special treat, one that might be endangered as species run low.
Asparagus has made a slow start this spring but what I've tasted is chock-full of flavour.
Freshly picked asparagus has the best taste and maximum goodness. If the buds on the ends have started to open, it is a sign that the vegetable was picked when it was too mature and it may be tough. If the white ends extend too far up the stem, then the asparagus was picked too early.
To store, wrap asparagus in wet paper towels and place carefully in a plastic bag. Store the unsealed bag in the refrigerator. Use as soon as possible, before the asparagus turns bitter.______________________________________ WHITEBAIT ROULADEIngredients:- 225g whitebait
- 4 eggs, separated
- cup cream
- Flaky salt and freshly ground back pepper to taste
- 4 Tbsp grated parmesan cheese
- cup sour cream
- 3 Tbsp capers, rinsed, drained and chopped
Method:- Finely grated rind 1 lemon Preheat the oven to 200°C. Grease and line a 33cm x 23cm sponge roll pan.
- Wash and drain the whitebait then pat dry with a paper towel. Combine with the egg yolks, cream, salt, pepper and 2 Tbsp of the parmesan cheese.
- Beat the egg whites, until stiff. Fold 2 Tbsp of the egg white into the whitebait mixture, then gently fold in the remaining egg white so the volume is not lost.
- Pour into the prepared pan. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until cooked through but still soft. Turn onto a sheet of foil that has been lightly dusted with the remaining parmesan cheese. Cool.
- Spread with the sour cream. Sprinkle with capers, lemon rind, salt and pepper. Carefully roll up. Carefully wrap in foil and chill in the refrigerator.
- To serve, cut into 2cm slices. Excellent served with blanched or parmesan-crusted asparagus and lemon wedges.
Serves 8 as a starter or 4 as a main course.______________________________________ PARMESAN-CRUSTED ASPARAGUSIngredients:- 16 medium-thick asparagus spears
- cup plain flour
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- cup each: finely grated parmesan cheese, fine dry breadcrumbs
- Canola oil for frying
Method:- Snap the ends off the asparagus — they will break off at a natural point. Shave the ends with a vegetable peeler, if preferred.
- Dip the spears in the flour, then in the beaten egg, then the combined parmesan and breadcrumbs.
- Pour enough oil into a saucepan or frying pan to come at least 1cm up the side of the pan. Fry the spears in batches, until crisp and golden. Drain on paper towels.
- Great served as an accompaniment to a meal or as a snack with drinks matched with aioli as a dipping sauce.
Serves 4-6.www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/lifestyle/7767261/Enjoy-the-treats-of-spring
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Post by Kiwithrottlejockey on Oct 6, 2012 12:15:19 GMT 12
Whitebait rule warningBy ANDREW ASHTON - Otago Daily Times | Saturday, 06 October 2012ALTHOUGH the Department of Conservation (DOC) is warning whitebaiters travelling to the West Coast to check the regulations before they go, North Otago whitebaiters appear to have little reason to leave town, following a stunning start to the season.
Whitebaiting rules on the West Coast differ to those in North Otago and the rest of New Zealand, but DOC Franz Josef-Waiau area community relations ranger Cornelia Vervoorn said compliance officers were still having to deal with rule breaches from people visiting the area.
Ms Vervoorn said it was the responsibility of individual whitebaiters to familiarise themselves with the differences in regulations.
"We'd strongly advise people to do their research before they set their nets. We'd remind visitors to the coast to ensure they are familiar with the West Coast regulations so they don't get caught out."
West Coast whitebaiting regulations were available at DOC offices or online, she said.
DOC Otago freshwater ranger Peter Ravenscroft said it was simple to pick up a brochure on the West Coast regulations, but added that with local North Otago rivers experiencing a rise in whitebait catches, there might not be many local anglers making the trip to the coast.
"It has been the best start for a long number of years, and it's actually fishing well throughout the whole of Otago. Normally the Clutha is our number one site, and there are some good catches down there, but there have been some good catches on the Waikouaiti and the Kakanui."
"It has been a surprising and pleasing start."
Hauls of 18kg had been reported on the Waikouaiti, 28kg on the Clutha, and 3kg on the Kakanui, which was more than usual for the time of year, he said.www.odt.co.nz/regions/north-otago/229119/whitebait-rule-warning
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