Good signs for whitebait season

Some good-sized shoals of whitebait have been spotted in southern rivers, raising hopes of a strong start to the West Coast whitebaiting season tomorrow.
The West Coast Whitebaiters’ Association says the annual migration of fishermen to the river banks is well under way. The roads are full of caravans, campers, and motorhomes, many lugging nets, screens and four-wheel-drive bikes.
Department of Conservation staff have also been out and about — seizing five nets for illegal fishing before the season.
Fox Glacier area compliance officer Patrick Dennehy said whitebait had been about since July on the Waiatoto River.
“We’ve already recovered five nets on the Waiatoto. There’s always a bit of pre-season fishing and it’s hard to say whether it’s commercial. It’s about the same as other years, but we’ve more (staff) out there and have picked up a few more people.”
Franz Josef Glacier area officer Jim Livingstone found all was well and quiet on the Wanganui and Poerua rivers during two pre-season patrols in the Harihari area. However, there had been no bait sightings there.
But in Greymouth, DOC officer Brad Edwards reported seeing some good pre-season runs.
Whitebait association president Des McEnaney said he had heard good reports from South Westland rivers, and a “few” had been seen in the Hokitika River.
“Whether it means it will be a good season, I really don’t know.”
However, he emphasised there would be zero tolerance for intimidating and threatening behaviour this season.
There is one good omen for tomorrow, though — the forecast is for sunshine.