How much is 1kg whitebait NZ?
Wholesale prices for West Coast whitebait range between $60 to $70 a kilo but retail prices vary.
How much is whitebait a kg?
Wholesale prices for West Coast whitebait range between $60 and $70 a kilo but retail prices vary.
Can you sell whitebait in NZ?
We chatted to the Department of Conservation and the official word is that whitebait is the only fish species in NZ allowed to be sold by recreational fishers – if you can catch it, you can sell it.
Where can I buy whitebait in NZ?
In spring, whitebait make their way upstream from the sea, swimming near the river’s edge. Large shoals are referred to as runs. Big runs often follow floods, a few days after the water clears – usually in the daytime on a rising tide. Whitebait can be caught from many New Zealand rivers.
How much does a whitebait weigh?
Although individuals are usually 300–400 mm long, one specimen has been found weighing 2.8 kg and measuring 580 mm long. Not the most adept of climbers, giant kōkopu are generally found close to the sea. They inhabit wetlands, lakes and forest streams, and rely on good bush surrounds.
Can you whitebait at night?
“Contrary to popular opinion, we’ve discovered that under clear sky conditions, fish are actively migrating at night. It was always thought that whitebait only travelled upstream during daylight hours. Whitebait can travel up to 18 km over 36 hours, and their maximum migration speed is about 1.5 km per hour.”
Why is there a shortage of whitebait?
The degradation of waterways through forest clearance, and the impacts of agriculture and urbanisation, have caused the whitebait catch to decline.
Are whitebait good for you?
They are packed with magnificent health benefits due to their rich source of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and muscle building protein. With reference to Wikipedia, Whitebait is a collective term for the immature fry of fish.
What do NZ whitebait grow into?
inanga
Through spring and summer, the little whitebait grow into adult fish known as inanga. Inanga are slender fish, with a small head and transparent fins. They are a pale creamy colour, mottled or spotted greenish-olive on their back and sides.
Whats the best tide for Whitebaiting?
Spring tides
Spring tides are favoured for the best catches of ‘bait. While the season can be slow in August and September, October and November are my favourite months for whitebaiting. The combination of increasing water temperatures and spring tide, perhaps after a little rain, create the ideal conditions for ‘baiting.
How far do whitebait go up the river?
It was always thought that whitebait only travelled upstream during daylight hours. Whitebait can travel up to 18 km over 36 hours, and their maximum migration speed is about 1.5 km per hour.”
Are whitebait endangered NZ?
“Four of the six whitebait species are threatened or at risk of extinction – giant kōkopu, shortjaw kōkopu, kōaro and īnanga. ” “Whitebait are a cherished part of Kiwi culture. They are taonga to iwi and for some New Zealanders, fishing for whitebait is an annual tradition.
Do you eat the heads of whitebait?
Whitebait are eaten whole with the head, tail guts and the lot still intact – most often fried, the tiny, delicate nature of the fish make them a highly sought-after dish.
What does a whitebait grow into?
Through spring and summer, the little whitebait grow into adult fish known as inanga. Inanga are slender fish, with a small head and transparent fins. They are a pale creamy colour, mottled or spotted greenish-olive on their back and sides.
What is the Maori name for whitebait?
Inanga
Whitebait – Inanga/ (Inaka for Ngāi Tahu) Māori tribes vary in what they call Inanga. Some refer the name Inanga to adults of freshwater species. Others more commonly refer to the juvenile fish of different species.
How far do whitebait swim up river?
Can you whitebait under a bridge?
No person shall fish for whitebait within 20 m of any tide gate, floodgate, confluence or culvert, or fish from any bridge, or from any vessel. Nothing in these regulations permits any person fishing for whitebait to interfere with, alter or modify the natural bed or banks of any river, stream, estuary or channel.
What is the best tide to catch whitebait?
Should we stop Whitebaiting?
If we ban whitebaiting tomorrow, these four species will still decline to extinction. It just might take a little longer. Although whitebaiting removes thousands of juvenile fish and is one cause of their decline, our degraded waterways are a much bigger limitation on the size of the adult populations.
Is it OK to eat whitebait?
Individual whitebait are tender and edible, and are considered a delicacy in New Zealand. The entire fish is eaten – including head, fins, bones, and bowels. Some species make better eating than others, and the particular species that are marketed as “whitebait” vary in different parts of the world.