Whitebaiting on the West Coast of NZ

At 91, Ron McTaggart's lifelong passion for whitebaiting had not dimmed. He still dragged himself out of bed every day at 4am or so to see if conditions were right to set up his net.

His family had discussed whether they should try to talk him out of the treacherous daily treks down to the Grey River, but his wife of 56 years, Nancy, said: "We decided if that's what he wanted to do, that's what he was to do."

Their fears were realised when Mr McTaggart died while whitebaiting this week - the latest to fall victim to the lure of the delicacy on the South Island's West Coast this season.

Mr McTaggart's death on Monday was the fifth since September among West Coast whitebaiters.

Three have drowned, or fallen into a river after a suspected heart attack, and the other man died in a car accident returning from a whitebaiting trip.

The deaths don't appear to have any link but have come as a shock to the fishing community.

West Coast Whitebaiters Association president Jim Bushby said it was one of the most tragic seasons the region had suffered.



"It's just one of those things that happens from time to time. There's a lot of elderly people go whitebaiting and it just catches up with them eventually.

"There's really not a lot you can say, other than give your condolences to the families. Next year, there might not be any [deaths] at all."

With the West Coast producing the best whitebait in the country, people tended to flock in from around the country to try their luck, he said.

Category:

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• whitebait
• west
• coast
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• zealand
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[1OnceMoreWithFeeling]

Did anyone read the fact that he is now dead before commenting?

[alvinolson1]

Hope you have a great season

[auntymim]

Hay im Leo Hall i love whitebaiting bet ya got a good feed. Love to see more

[JTMNZ1972]

awesome video would love to see more.