Whitebaiters return to lake

Lake Ferry, Wairarapa's most popular whitebaiting spot, opened for the first day of the whitebait season yesterday.

Community relations programme manager for the Department of Conservation (DOC) Garry Foster reminded whitebaiters to familiarise themselves with the regulations.

"They are put there to ensure that everybody gets a fair go, including the fish," he said.

Breaching the regulations can result in fines of up to $5000.

The season runs until November 30 and is policed by DOC rangers.

Whitebait fishing regulations summary:

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. Drag nets must be no more than 1m in height and be flat when laid on a flat surface. Both whitebait nets and dragnets must be no more than 3.5m in length.

Fishing gear can't exceed more than one-third of the water channel width, or be used in conjunction with another person's gear to exceed more than one-third of the channel width, or exceed 6m in length.

A person can't set or use more than one whitebait net at a time.

Every person who sets or uses a net must remain within 10m of the net.

Fishing gear must be removed from the water at the end of fishing or the end of the day, whichever is earlier.

Unlawfully taken fish must be immediately returned to the waters from which they were obtained. No discarding on shore of any fish taken when fishing for whitebait.

No fishing for whitebait within 20m of any tide gate, floodgate, confluence or culvert, or from any bridge, or vessel.