It's nearly whitebait season

and the little shag is making the most of it before the fishers move in!

Whitebait in New Zealand are the sprats of galaxiids (slim narrow fish with forked tails, which as adults live in freshwater rivers and lakes). In this juvenile state, whitebait 'sprats' resemble fat translucent worms. Very expensive to buy, they used to come is huge schools along the coast in some areas, but have been overfished to the point of being endangered. However there is still a time when they can be fished for in New Zealand, though obviously they are now difficult to catch.