Making the most of the 2024 whitebaiting season

Many whitebaiters will be out there enjoying the 2024 whitebait season. There’s nothing like getting away from it all, relaxing in nature with some mates, and catching enough ‘white-gold’ for a few fritters. Being well prepared will help make whitebaiters’ experience even more enjoyable.

What are whitebait and what’s special about them?

Whitebait are the young (juveniles) of six freshwater fish species only found in New Zealand – īnanga, kōaro, smelt, and shortjaw, banded, and giant kōkopu. Whitebait adults live in freshwater and lay their eggs on riverbanks. Larvae emerge from the eggs and float out to sea, swimming upstream about six months later as whitebait. The juvenile whitebait that aren’t caught will travel further upstream, grow into adults and start their life cycle all over again.

Here are three steps to make the most of the whitebait season

1. Understand the rules around whitebaiting
2. Know how to keep safe near and in water, and
3. Help protect the environment by stopping pests invading freshwater habitats

Whitebaiting by the rules

Changes to the Whitebait Fishing Regulations were phased in from 2021-23. The new regulations support a sustainable, more equitable whitebait fishery and included changes to the season length, and gear sizes and placement.

The Department of Conservation (DOC) is responsible for managing the whitebait fishery, so you’ll see DOC rangers on the riverbank between 1 September to 30 October.

Keeping safe

Whitebaiting is a great way to enjoy New Zealand’s outdoor environment. However, fishing can be dangerous. Between 2019- 2023 four people drowned while whitebaiting. These preventable deaths occurred in the South and North Islands. None of the victims were wearing lifejackets.

You can avoid becoming a drowning statistic by following the

Water Safety Code’s four simple rules:

1. Be prepared e.g., know the weather and water conditions before setting off
2. Watch out for yourself and others
3. Be aware of the dangers e.g., understand the area you are fishing in
4. Know your limits e.g., learn safe ways of rescuing others without putting yourself in danger

You can also keep yourself safer by following these whitebaiting-specific safety tips.

• Don’t fish from wet rocks – it means waves are likely washing over them.
• Wear a life jacket and wader belt.
• Have two waterproof communication devices on you at all times, such as a mobile phone in a waterproof bag and a VHF radio or a distress beacon.
• Never go fishing on your own, fish with a mate who knows the area. Share your plans and expected time of return with a trusted person. Ask them to look for you at your expected location and call 111 if you don’t return.

Protecting the environment

New Zealand’s lakes, rivers, streams, and wetlands are under threat from invasive freshwater pests such as gold clam in the North Island, and didymo (rock snot) in the South Island. These pests can smother waterbody beds where whitebait, live, and clog fishing nets, water supply filters.

Gold clam die-offs can cause algal blooms increasing the risk of botulism, a potential killer of dogs and humans. In Ireland, invasive gold clams formed beds up to 15 cm deep that extended for hundreds of square metres.

You can help protect New Zealand’s whitebait fishery by not spreading these pests. Whenever moving between waterways, check, clean, and dry all fishing gear, waders and boats that come into contact with water. In the North Island you will need to follow the clam-specific Check Clean Dry requirements.

So, to get the most out of the whitebait season,

1. Stick to the rules,
2. Keep yourself safe near the water, and
3. Look after the freshwater environment.

More information is available on the DOC website www.doc.govt.nz/ whitebaiting. Need to know more? Email [email protected].