Tiny delicacy back on the menu

BAIT WATCH: Cameron Papple was hoping to net a feed of whitebait at the mouth of the Kai Iwi Stream yesterday. PHOTO/ STUART MUNRO 180815WCSMWHITEBAITING

Cameron Papple has been an on-again, off-again whitebaiter for about 10 years but by his own admission is a much better cabinet-maker than a catcher of the little critters.

But that doesn't deter him from getting a net into the water, and yesterday Mr Papple and his mate Heath Fitzgerald were fishing the Kai Iwi Stream near Archers Bridge.

The season opened on Saturday and runs until the end of November.

Fishing is only allowed between 5am-8pm or 6am-9pm when daylight saving comes into effect on September 27.

Mr Papple said as a pastime whitebaiting was hard to beat, especially when the weather was benign, as it was yesterday morning. Being self-employed meant he could pick his days but this was his first time at the stream for a couple of years.

"I've fished Whangaehu River mouth once but normally we come here and usually go a little further upstream," he said.

A question about having any luck is greeted with a laugh. "Not really. We've had the odd catch, like enough for a feed but we're not out there hitting it like some other people. But you've got to get out there and do it."

When the Chronicle called, Mr Papple had just put his net into the water on the incoming tide so wasn't reporting a catch at that stage.