Patience truly is a virtue when it comes to whitebaiting, according to Cappy Macdonald.
"You might go down all day and get nothing," Mr Macdonald said yesterday as he prepared for the season to open on Monday.
"If there's none that's too bad. You just go back the next day."
At 84, he's been whitebaiting for about 75 years.
His property on Wairau Bar Rd near Blenheim backs on to the Wairau River and he's been getting his whitebait stand ready as usual. The tidal flow and river currents wash away the platform every year.
Mr Macdonald catches only enough to feed the family.
He predicted this season would be better than last, because he had spotted plenty of whitebait during the past few days.
But he doubted the haul would be as good as previous years.
"It took about 20 minutes to fill a four-gallon drum ... back in the 1950s.
"You can't do that today; there's not as many there."
The whitebaiting season was always a highlight for him and the family, who enjoy whitebait as it is meant to be eaten – as fritters.
The whitebait fishing season runs from August 15 to November 30 over most of New Zealand. The season on the South Island's West Coast is from September 1 to November 14.
Restrictions on fishing include one net to be used per person, and for whitebaiters to remain within 10 metres of their net.
- The Marlborough Express
SIMON WONG
Last updated 13:00 12/08/2011
Cappy MacDonald
DEREK FLYNN/The Marlborough Express
ALL READY: Cappy MacDonald checks his nets at his pozzie beside the Wairau river in preparation for the Whitebait season which opens on Monday.
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