Whitebaiters have had mixed results this season, but overall, it has been an above-average season.
Although the season starts in August, traditionally October to November are considered the best times to whitebait. Solander, local whitebait distributors, General Manager Aaron McCorkindale, said overall volumes are higher this year and October has certainly seen bigger volumes than the previous months.
Keith Wilson whitebaited at Headingly Lane’s small stream, which appealed for its peacefulness and easy access, but was aware the catches at the larger rivers would be bigger. Rabbit Island is good with small tides, but the Appleby Bridge area yields better results with the big spring tides.
“I’ve caught enough for a good feed today but yesterday didn’t see a single whitebait,” he said.
Keith has caught three or four feeds this season from nine or ten outings. A five-pound catch is his best this year. He said that was enough to share with his wife’s whitebait widow friends, those whose husbands had previously been white baiters.
Dianne Feaver and Natasha Sadler had the net in the car so stopped off at the river on their way to town. They weren’t confident they would get much with their scoop net but hoped to get enough for tea.
Novice whitebaiter, Amy Hill last Thursday watched a man next to her catch 17 pound. Later in the day, another whitebaiter pulled in 7 pounds, while nearby she caught just 25 whitebait.
“I’m not very lucky,” she said. She gets so disappointed and wonders why they are catching a lot and her haul is only small. One or two pound is enough to feed her family but even on the days she doesn’t catch any, she enjoys sitting at the river taking a break from her busy life.