The season went from September 1 to October 30, shortened considerably from previous years in an attempt to try to help a struggling fishery.
The new shortened season will take pressure off some of the most threatened whitebait species as they migrate upriver later in the year, Doc said in a statement.
"Doc is eager to hear from whitebaiters about how the season went and gather valuable information to improve the management of the fishery," Doc aquatic director Kirstie Knowles said.
"We’ve developed a survey of whitebaiters that covers fishing techniques, preferred whitebaiting rivers, the people who fish them, as well as issues of most concern to whitebaiters.
"The whitebait fishery will benefit from the survey results collected.
‘‘This baseline data will provide the direction to actively support a long-term sustainable fishery."
She said the survey was a key part of whitebait fishery data gathering that includes Doc rangers recording whitebait activity at the river and aerial photography in hard-to-reach places.
"The better the data, the better we’ll be able to support management of a sustainable whitebait fishery into the future."
Whitebaiters had talked of poor seasons in many parts of the south.
Previously, the majority of New Zealand’s whitebaiting season ran from August 15 until November 30, while the West Coast season ran from September 1 to November 14.
By: Staff reporter
