Ray Ditchfield has placed an ad in the Taranaki Daily News looking for a friend who could join him whitebaiting.

A retired fisherman is patiently awaiting a big catch from an advert seeking a whitebait mate.

Ray Ditchfield advertised in the Taranaki Daily News for a fellow fisherman with whom he could partner for the upcoming whitebait season.

"Taranaki is world renowned for having good whitebait waters," said Ditchfield, who loves the fish in the pan or in an omelette.

David Unwin/Fairfax NZ Ray Ditchfield, of Palmerston North, has cast his net for a fellow whitebaiter with whom to enjoy Taranaki's fine rivers this season.

"I don't know how you would relate it to taste, but there's just something about the flavour of whitebait.

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"I can offer a good chat, help with expenses and just share those times out in the water. It would be a lovely experience," said the fisherman, of Palmerston North.

Whitebait season runs from August 15 to November 30 and Ditchfield hopes to cast his net in Taranaki's rivers from opening day until September 18, when he will head out to Australia for his grandchildren's school holiday.

Normally, Ditchfield bunks with some mates in Waitara, but this season he needed to find a new fishing companion.

"My friends are away on holiday, so I'm hoping to find someone I could fish with and who could provide accommodation.

"I've fished in the rivers in Taranaki and had such a great experience that I wanted to come back.

​"I figured someone up there would have a bach that they'd like to share or maybe had a stand I could watch if they went on holiday.

"I have all the gear. I'm just looking for someone to share expenses with."

When Ditchfield returns from Australia on October 6, he plans to head back to Waitara waters.

"My friends should be back by then and I'll have a place to stay and fish the remainder of the season."​

Ditchfield, whose parents instilled in him a love for whitebait fishing, said the sport took time to master.

"There are steps in improving whitebait skills. Different rivers need different gear and different techniques.

"We all fish in our own ways and we could teach each other a thing or two.

"If I could learn something and pass something on, it would just be a wonderful experience."

Although Ditchfield is still waiting to hear from a Taranaki whitebaiter after last Saturday's advert, he remains positive and patient.

"I don't mind fishing alone. You just stare at the water and see all the whitebait and, boy, does that make your heart race.

"If people miss the ad, then I'll find someone locally."

Oddly enough, the advert is not Ditchfield's first time seeking a fishing mate through the classifieds.

"I was an accountant for PGG Wrightson for 40 years before I retired in '96 at 56 years old," he said.

"I wanted to take advantage of my free time, so I put out for a whitebaiter in the West Coast and I had three responses within a few days.

"I went down to Haast and fished with John Patterson. We still keep in touch to this day.

"He sends me heaps of whitebait and I shout him a beer."​