Where has all the whitebait gone?

Whitebaiters are having mixed success in the Eastern Bay of Plenty this season.
One month into the three and a half month season, there are contrasting stories about catch sizes.
Staff at Whakatane's Hunting and Fishing said they heard about a whitebaiter at the Whakatane Heads netting about two handfuls with every scoop.
"But I think we still need the water to settle down a bit before we get some really good runs," Neil Cook, from Hunting and Fishing, said.
Some seasoned anglers are telling a different story.
Thornton whitebaiter Heyden Johnston described the past four weeks as mediocre.
"I certainly couldn't say there have been huge catches but, there has been enough around for a feed," he said. "It has been a bit surprising that there has not been one decent run by now."
Mr Johnston agreed the murky water, from last month's heavy rain, made a difference.
"I have heard the Kaituna is fishing really well," he said.
Whakatane fish and chip shop, Wally's On The Wharf, is selling large whitebait fritters for $5 each.
Staff member Sheree, who did not want her last name published, said the shop was struggling to meet the demand for fritters.
"We got some whitebait in at the beginning of the season, which ran out quite quickly. The next lot went just as fast and we have just got our third bucket in now."
She said there were a lot of disappointed customers when there was no whitebait available, "But they said they would come back."
The whitebait season runs until November 30.