Bitterly cold winter could mean poor whitebait season

A bitterly cold winter could mean a poor whitebait season for the West Coast. Photo / Geoff Walker

West Coasters could pay again for the bitterly cold winter - with a poor whitebait season.

The West Coast fishing season opens at dawn tomorrow, but one of the biggest whitebait buyers in South Westland says he is not holding his breath for a bountiful season.

"This winter has been the coolest we have had for some time and it will definitely have an effect on the season," Curly Tree Whitebait Company owner Tony Kerr, of Haast, said.

Even a day out from the opening, those setting up were few and far between, suggesting a lack of confidence in early catches.

He expected catches to improve as the weather and river temperatures warmed up.

"Traditionally, the whitebait season is better later, but how it is really going to go is anyone's guess," Mr Kerr said.

Things have been just as quiet at the other end of the Coast, with few people staking out their possies on Buller rivers.

Westport whitebaiter Lynley Roberts said the rain and cooler weather this winter was probably keeping whitebaiters and the whitebait away.

"Everything has been pretty quiet. There haven't been too many reports of people seeing whitebait in the Buller River. The odd person has spotted the occasional large shoal, but there hasn't really been much around," Ms Robert said.

"We had a good season last year and we are all hopeful of a good season this year. But it's all weather dependent, and with the El Nino weather forecast here until Christmas, it may not be so good. Time will tell."

Department of Conservation rangers are already policing the rivers for compliance with the whitebait fishing regulations and making sure no one is tempted to jump the gun.

"The forecast for the season, however, is not that good and with a wet spring expected the whitebait may not be as plentiful as people would hope," Hokitika ranger Shane Cross said.

Veteran Hokitika whitebaiter Barry Veale said he had been down to the river a couple of times and "hadn't seen a whitebait".

"The odd stand is being set up, but really things are not looking all that good at the moment. The river mouth is no good -- the spit goes right across it, so if any whitebait come up the river they will go straight up the (Mahinapua) creek."

Mr Veale said whitebaiters were probably waiting for the snow to clear on the mountains before starting to build their stands.

Cobden whitebaiter Kevin Herring has been keeping an eye on the Grey River but said there was very little about at this early stage.

"There's been the odd shoal but nothing great, plus the sea is pretty rough at the moment, which isn't helping the river," Mr Herring said.

He noted about a dozen hardy fishermen had staked out their fishing rocks on the Greymouth side of the river, and a couple on the Cobden side.

"The weather this season is going to play a big part. We are in for a wet spring, which is likely to make it an average season."

- Greymouth Star