Whitebaiters champing at the bit

With less than a week until the opening of the West Coast whitebait season the Hokitika River is again a hive of activity as fishermen work to build and complete their stands.
Murray Fleming, who fishes the north bank, said with last season his worst in four years of fishing out of Hokitika, he was optimistic for a better season.
Others had a bumper season on the Hokitika with big runs over only a couple of days.
Rumours have already begun to circulate of big shoal sightings, and the temptation has been too much for some South Westland whitebaiters who were unable to wait and had their nets seized by the Department of Conservation earlier in the month.
The early fishing penalty comes as DOC promises to crackdown on its policing of the West Coast Whitebait Fishing Regulations this season.
DOC Hokitika area manager Ian McClure said his staff would be keeping a close eye on pre and post-season fishing, fishing in closed areas, setting or using more than one net, and ensuring the removal of fishing gear at the end of the day.
“We will be asking people to remove their fishing gear after the day’s fishing. This includes nets, poles etc that may be used to brace nets and screens and spotters.”
DOC has also warned fishermen, especially in South Westland, to get up to speed with the regulations around unlicensed whitebait huts.
South Westland area manager Jo Macpherson said any dwelling, such as river huts, were not permitted on DOC land.
“Now that our Conservation Management Strategy is finalised we have a clear policy relating to baches in particular. As a result we will be following up with removal of any structures which are unlicensed. Our particular focus this coming season will be around the Waiatoto, Cascade and the surfers camps at the mouth of the Ohinemaka (Black River).”
Hokitika ranger Inger Perkins said regulations were there for the good of whitebaiters, supporting the continued availability of the West Coast delicacy for future years and future generations.
Tempers flared last year over DOC’s enforcement, particularly at Southside, Hokitika. Whitebaiters were warned after erecting structures, cutting down vegetation and rolling rocks from the floodwall into the river to hold down their spotter boards.
Others were warned to behave by the police, who received a number of complaints about intimidation and threats.
Sergeant Russell Glue, of Hokitika police, said yesterday his officers would again be out on the river banks this season.
The Metservice is predicting rain or showers for Westland right up until open day, on September 1.