Whitebait Season

Whitebait season has opened.

New Zealand whitebait, or inanga, are caught in the lower reaches of the rivers using small open-mouthed hand-held nets. Whitebaiters constantly attend the nets in order to lift them as soon as a shoal enters the net.

The whitebait are small, sweet and tender with a delicate taste. The most popular way of cooking them is the whitebait fritter, similar to an omelette, nice and light and very delicious!!

Today is a day of thoughts, reflections and memories. It is one year ago that Canterbury was hit by the 7.1 earthquake. This morning I took a walk along the banks of the Kaiapoi River where alot of damage was done. The town is moving along, slowly and surely and today people greeted me with warmth and hope as they prepare for their new town to arise. Building has started and progress is being made.

This afternoon Hubby and I took a walk to the Waimakariri River mouth where families were having picinics on the beach, fisherman were casting their rods and whitebaiters were whitebaiting. A bright blue sky above with calm waters below, no wind - a lovely day at the beach.

Its Father's Day here in NZ and I remember as a small girl clambering up the stopback of the Whakatane River with my gumboots on and down the other side looking for my Dad who was whitebaiting. We would sit and chatter as the water flowed by, Dad would pull the net in and all these tiny whitebait would be squiggling around, we took them home for Mum to make whitebait fritters - they were divine and today are a delicacy.

Happy Father's Day to my dear Hubby, my Father-in-law and to all other dads on this day of thoughts, reflections and memories :)

Many thanks for your kind comments on yesterdays Little Shag - it made the spotlight page, thank you :))