Whitebait rules to keep the fishery aliveSUPPLIEDCOLUMN: Dust off your waders and patch up those nets - whitebait season will begin soon. READ MORE:* Urgent review of whitebait rules needed* Tougher whitebait regulations wantedWe are not the only creatures who enjoy a feed of whitebait; mice love the eggs, and once the whitebait hatch and are swimming around, kahawai, trout, eels and shags feast on them too. Given the chance, whitebait grow into sizeable native fish such as giant kokopu, shortjaw kokopu, banded kokopu, koaro and inanga, collectively known as galaxiids. The eggs stay out of water for several weeks, and need good plant cover to keep moist. The larvae then float out to sea where they live and grow over winter, migrating back upstream as whitebait in spring.

Source: Stuff August 02, 2016 14:03 UTC