Whitebaiters eyeing net result

Fishers around the North Island are readying their nets for another quick but exciting whitebait season.

Today is opening day and Department of Conservation expects the season to be a bit of a mixed bag.

Jim Campbell, programme manager of biodiversity for the Whanganui area office, said a combination of loss of water quality and weather could define the success or otherwise of the season.

"Some farmers have now fenced off their properties so that cattle can't damage the water quality (but) it is hard to tell whether this will improve the water quality for our native fish," Mr Campbell said.

Last season was a success only for a few, so he said fishers would be hoping this one would prove to be better.

He said there were several key regulations that the public needed to be aware of.

Fishing was only permitted between 5am and 8pm or between 6am and 9pm when New Zealand Daylight Saving was being observed.

No one was allowed to fish for whitebait within 20m of any tide gate, floodgate, confluence or culvert.

Nor was anybody permitted to do any fishing for whitebait from a bridge or from a vessel.

And whitebait nets must have a mouth no larger than 4.5m (measured around the inside of the net frame) and framing material no wider than 120mm.

Mr Campbell said that from today, DOC staff and honorary rangers would be patrolling waterways to ensure compliance with the rules and be available to answer any questions.

The season closes on November 30.

Whitebait is the only fish amateurs are allowed to catch and sell. The delicacy is expected to fetch more than $100 per kg this season.