Thread: Whitebait debate

https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/...-ban-sock-nets

There are some grumpy folk around over this, my brother in law on the Coast said this is the last straw for Labour, he’s voted labour his whole life but between this and the ban on mining, etc the coasters have had enough! Was telling me about a certain f&b member who runs a eco lodge and how the river he is on is for the chop for whitebaiting as he doesn’t like seeing them, dirty deeds being done.

Originally Posted by outdoorlad

There are some grumpy folk around over this, my brother in law on the Coast said this is the last straw for Labour, he’s voted labour his whole life but between this and the ban on mining, etc the coasters have had enough! Was telling me about a certain f&b member who runs a eco lodge and how the river he is on is for the chop for whitebaiting as he doesn’t like seeing them, dirty deeds being done.

And the coast is where the party started.

I always thought the whitebait debate was , one egg or two,when making patties???

I dont chase bait myself but its a little like shooting ducks rules wise

once upon a time you could shoot ducks on the water but werent allowed cartridge longer than 2 3/4"
then water swatting was out and longer cartridges were in...more "sporting"
then steel shot came in and the bigger cartridges became normal.....loads of folk myself included have gone back to 2 3/4"
at the end of the day a bag limit is that...a limit on size of bag....who really gives a shit what the feathered little huas are doing when they meet thier demise???really what difference does it make???
same with your sock nets....if a quota is brought in,say 5kgs per person per day HOW that is caught is irrelevant as long as the existing rules to give others a whack further upstream are kept in play.
if you scoop 5kgs in first 10 minutes of the day...thats it you go home...and if you arent in your possie by 8am someone else can use it FOR THAT DAY...same as a maimai.

the not being able to sell it commercially is a thorny one BUT should do more than all other rules combined to reduce overall catch......which is the stated long term goal.asumably you could still give some to your mates for a donation as long as its come out of your say 5kgs per day...but couldnt sell it to fish n chippie to onsell.

thats what banning market gunning did for waterfowl ,using a punt gun to get your current bag limit(and no more) in some regieons would be problamatic but a heck of a lot of fun.

Seems to me the goal is to stop rec white baiting other wise banning the sale would be the quickest way to lower the take.
This is from an outsider looking in with no personal axe to grind

It is habitat destruction that is the important issue. Reducing the take won't make a difference if the habitat is not there for growth to maturity and spawning. On the West Coast a big issue has been an insecticide spray used on landcorp (and other) farms for grass grub which runs off into streams. It is a modern replacement for DDT.
On the SI East Coast many natal streams are devoid of tucker and we never see adult inanga anymore. Polluted with nitrates - black algae on the stream stones

Originally Posted by Moa Hunter

It is habitat destruction that is the important issue. Reducing the take won't make a difference if the habitat is not there for growth to maturity and spawning. On the West Coast a big issue has been an insecticide spray used on landcorp (and other) farms for grass grub which runs off into streams. It is a modern replacement for DDT.
On the SI East Coast many natal streams are devoid of tucker and we never see adult inanga anymore. Polluted with nitrates - black algae on the stream stones

This.

There are huge amounts that get past the nets, particularly once the season has finished. They are just having trouble with breeding territory.

I still hate picking out the eyes! Are there still a lot of “Elve?” Baby eels caught while white baiting? We used to eat them as well, but there were heaps in throwers in the Wairarapa

IMO the fishery needs to be managed. DOC who manage it at the moment dont have the resources or the manpower to do it. Maybe fish and game would be better. The commercial sale of whitebait needs to be stopped and the breeding habitat also needs to be protected. Poor old Joe blogs that only goes down to get a feed for the family dose not need to be penalized.

Originally Posted by Gutty

IMO the fishery needs to be managed. DOC who manage it at the moment dont have the resources or the manpower to do it. Maybe fish and game would be better. The commercial sale of whitebait needs to be stopped and the breeding habitat also needs to be protected. Poor old Joe blogs that only goes down to get a feed for the family dose not need to be penalized.

I've never been whitebaiting and doubt I ever will, but that is a good post. Who could disagree?

Originally Posted by MB

I've never been whitebaiting and doubt I ever will, but that is a good post. Who could disagree?

People with a vested commercial interest in selling the stuff.

Originally Posted by Russian 22.

People with a vested commercial interest in selling the stuff.

True. That's a shame.

the big one I see is that in the case of the west Coast they want to prohibit whitebaiting from basically every waterway.
This bugs the locals greatly as it is another slap in the face from the eco warrior politicians.
They cant do bugger all there now. Extractive industries are a no-no. They go through the appropriate consents only to get vetoed by Sage.
Forestry is screwed compared to what it was and farming is starting to get a bad rap as well.
They feel like they are under attack from the townie greenies and their vote doesn't count so they have the shits with this especially considering there is little on-paper research to back its justification.
If you cant guess I am en ex-pat west coaster. I didn't go back there after moving home form OZ due to lack of long term work.
And whilst I do occasionally like a feed of whitebait, I'm not too worried. haven't had a feed in over 2 years and certainly don't fish for the stuff.
In the Coast's case it seems to be just another blanket ban by a government who doesn't care about them and their voice doesn't count
Considering the goings-on since march does it not sound familiar?

Originally Posted by csmiffy

the big one I see is that in the case of the west Coast they want to prohibit whitebaiting from basically every waterway.
This bugs the locals greatly as it is another slap in the face from the eco warrior politicians.
They cant do bugger all there now. Extractive industries are a no-no. They go through the appropriate consents only to get vetoed by Sage.
Forestry is screwed compared to what it was and farming is starting to get a bad rap as well.
They feel like they are under attack from the townie greenies and their vote doesn't count so they have the shits with this especially considering there is little on-paper research to back its justification.
If you cant guess I am en ex-pat west coaster. I didn't go back there after moving home form OZ due to lack of long term work.
And whilst I do occasionally like a feed of whitebait, I'm not too worried. haven't had a feed in over 2 years and certainly don't fish for the stuff.
In the Coast's case it seems to be just another blanket ban by a government who doesn't care about them and their voice doesn't count
Considering the goings-on since march does it not sound familiar?

It is the whole south island. Not just the Coast. This current government has us all fucked.
The only support they get in the south is from liberal robots who live in our major cities and wouldnt have a clue or care what happens outside of their pathetic bubbles. They believe everything they see or read from a fake media.They will sign anything in order to look good, virtue signalling to their like minded mates.

Labour can buy votes just by shelling these pussies in populated areas with promises they never intend to keep. Expectedly the towny sheep are too fucking dumb to notice they have been screwed and keep voting for them. What is something positive that this current government has accomplished in the last 2 1/2 years that most of NZ is happy with? All I see is ban this and ban that. Eradicate this, we know whats best.
As far as the coast goes, I heard a rumour that tourisim is now bigger than dairy on the coast. Unbelievable. This amazing part of NZ is nothing like I grew up in. People are still the same but something is off. I cant put my finger on it.
Labour goverment is founded on the Coast but for the last 30 or so years they have just constantly shit on their roots with extremist ideas and destructive socialist policies. Its only going to get worse.








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@R93 say what you feel mate. Don't Hold back.
But dead right-basically what I said but with more passion.