Whitebait season could be closed

Figure this, you go to [the] river everyone tells you about to get whitebait, and nothing is there.

Well that was the story for Mokau resdient Mike Ancell and residents of New Plymouth talked to Dribble NZ and this is a report we made with our reporters down in Taranaki

Whitebaiting should be banned for this season says Mike Ancell of Mokau, Taranaki. 

"There has been no whitebait to catch, its terrible" he explains

We caught up with residents from New Plymouth and talked to them and they told us

"No wonder there is none left, two commercial buisness's have already aproached me" this eight weeks from its season opening.

From what we found out residents told us that normally in August and September there are heaps of whitebait but by the looks of things the commercial side is getting to Taranaki's rivers.

The Conservation Department is aware of the issue but there isnt a plain and simple awnser.

CAN THE SEASON REALLY BE CLOSED? 

"It can BUT it wouldnt be able to be policed throughly" says the Conservation Department 

If people are concerned about the ammount of Whitebait they should restrict there catch, thats the motto of the Conservation Department but when we told Mokau resident Ancell he said "it's bloody mad, I dont eat much whitebait I normally collect it for [the] family. 

Dribble NZ went down to Whaiwakio River yesterday and found one person trying to get some whitebait, but no such luck, There was nothing in his bag and he left.

Taranaki's whitebait season ends on Nobember the 30th but there is a chance that it could be closed well before there due to many complaints

Though a number of species classed as whitebait are in decline, there are no limits on how many a person can catch.

TRYING IS TOO HARD

Dribble NZ Reporters in New Plymouth went to see the Whitebaiters at East End, their were a few there and we waited for five miniutes with them (each person) but they had not caught any and "I have been trying for fourty miniutes" said one whitebaiter.

Although when we went to another river by Waitara, one person had luck not alot but he had luck, "It is enough to make a few fritters for my son and I's breakfast. 

"Im going to go and enjoy" he says.

BEST THING TO DO

Keep sending in complaints if your trying but getting no where "they will budge soon" said a Taranaki resident.

Otherwise just for the meantime try to ease down on the load that you catch.

Dribble NZ News, Taranaki