Several structures and camping set-ups, including tents, have been erected along the northern banks of the Waimakariri river by whitebaiters. Photo / George Heard
As the sun rises over North Canterbury’s Waimakariri River, excitement brews among those eager to get their hands on some whitebait.
However, this season’s frenzy has drawn attention not just for the catch but for the unusual spectacle along the northern riverbank.
Makeshift structures, including tents, can be spotted along the sand, and smoke billows from fires as animals roam free.
At the heart of the improvised campsite are several whitebait catchment points.
Although the season started on Monday, September 1, the Herald has been told that many keen fishermen started securing their spots weeks ago.
One person the Herald spoke to mentioned that although he was unable to attend during the week, he needed to secure a spot for a child so they could still go whitebaiting on the weekends.
He said he understood the excitement of others but noted that it made participating difficult for those who were unable to camp out for weeks at a time.
A Waimakariri District Council spokesperson said staff would be ramping up efforts to keep things in order, deploying staff to monitor the temporary encampments.
The spokesperson said overnight camping on the beach or sand dunes was not permitted.
They said the council would also be working closely alongside the Department of Conservation (DoC).
“The regulation of whitebaiting is a joint agency approach; DoC rangers will be monitoring the river mouth throughout the season,” the spokesperson said.
“The council’s role is making sure that Pegasus Bay is used appropriately and in line with the Pegasus Bay Bylaw.
“Under the bylaw, freedom [and] overnight camping on the beach or sand dunes is not permitted.”
They said council staff would be visiting the site and “taking an education before enforcement” approach in the first instance.
Matthew, a Christchurch man, has been whitebaiting since the 1990s, having learned the craft from his grandfather.
He said it “never used to be like this”.
“There are more rules nowadays, like how long your net and pole can be and stuff, and I know that can be frustrating for some people, but it’s gotten ridiculous,” he said.
“Every year, it’s been getting worse and worse. And not just at the Waimak, but also at the Avon and Heathcote Rivers too.
“There’s a bunch of us who do it because we love it and always have, and then there’s the cowboys who make the rest of us look bad.
“They do stuff like illegal fishing overnight, camping and leaving their mess behind, working in big networks to take over the rivers and having dangerous, threatening dogs to scare locals away.”
Matthew said many local people from around the area had complained, and he had copped abuse himself.
“They’re at the end of their tether, which I can understand,” he said.
“Last season, I got so annoyed myself I started reporting it to the council and DoC and honestly, nothing happens.
“They pass it on to the other department and hand you on to the next person until you are going in circles and give up.
“It’s messy I think, because ECan sort the river and water itself, the Department of Fisheries or whatever looks after the fish and the sea life in the water, and then council and DoC sort out the actual riverbed themselves - so they all just pass it along.”
He said overfishing and staying out on the river way past the end of the season were also issues.
“I told DoC about that so many times last year and in the end, it was basically ‘we’re really busy, we will go down and visit them and let them know to stop’.
“But the guys out there know nothing will actually happen, so they just do it anyway.
“They don’t care there’ll be no whitebait left for our kids and grandkids if they keep doing it.”
DoC introduced new rules for whitebaiters in 2021.
Biodiversity senior ranger Mailee Stanbury said it was important all whitebaiters follow the rules.
“It’s the responsibility of all whitebaiters, whether they are camping or not, to follow the whitebaiting regulations,” Stanbury said.
“[Regulations] are designed to take pressure off the fishery and improve equity of fishing opportunity between whitebait fishers.
“Whitebaiting is only allowed from 5am to 8pm, or 6am to 9pm during daylight savings.
“You can find whitebaiting regulations on DoC’s website, which include rules on spacing, gear and fishing within tidal limits.”
According to the DoC website, there is no specific limit on the amount of whitebait that can be caught at one time.
However, each person is allowed to use only one net at a time.
This net must not exceed 3.5m in length, and its mouth must not be larger than 4.5m.
Additionally, drag nets must not be taller than 1m and must lie flat when placed on a flat surface.
Fishing gear must also be removed from the water at the end of each fishing day and whenever a person takes a break.
The maximum length of whitebait fishing gear must also not exceed six metres.
The enforcement of these rules is carried out by DOC.
The whitebait season in New Zealand has just started and will last until October 30, except in the Chatham Islands, where it runs from December 1 until the end of February.