Whitebait season opening day at the Waiwhakaiho River in New Plymouth.

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She's chased it for 50 years but whitebaiter Sue Maketoni never eats the expensive delicacy herself.

"I use it to barter," the New Plymouth woman said.

SIMON O'CONNOR/FAIRFAX NZ Whitebaiting veteran Sue Maketoni waits patiently for a shoal to cross her white stick at New Plymouth's Waiwhakaiho River.

"I just enjoy the fresh air, we have done it since we were kids."

Maketoni was one of many whitebaiters lining Taranaki rivers banks before day break on Monday, eagerly waiting for the season to begin.

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SIMON O'CONNOR/FAIRFAX NZ A whitebaiters keeps his eyes on the water as the season opened on Monday.

Although some of the fishers began gathering at streams and rivers before 4am and others had camped out overnight to secure a good spot they had to wait until 5am to get their nets wet.

Maketoni arrived at her spot on the Waiwhakaiho River, where she has fished for more than 50 years, about 3.45am but said the early start was necessary.

"It is if you want your possie," Maketoni said.

SIMON O'CONNOR/FAIRFAX NZ The Waiwhakaiho River was a popular spot as whitebaiting season began on Monday.

"You can't really see much at five o'clock, everyone has got headlamps on, it's like bloody aliens on the river."

Maketoni said there were a good bunch of locals who fished the river, who all knew each other and shared good banter when they caught up during the season because it was the only time they saw one another.

"You get to see who is taking a Maori day off work, just to go whitebaiting," she joked.

SIMON O'CONNOR/FAIRFAX NZ The sun rises at the Waiwhakaiho River as whitebaiting season begins on Monday.

She said all of the whitebaiters respected the rules and helped each other out.

By 8.30am Maketoni had more than half a kilogram of the translucent delicacy in her bucket.

Nathan Hammersley, of New Plymouth, slept on the river bank with his mate and got up at 4.30am for his first whitebaiting experience.

Although Hammersley hadn't caught much, he had enjoyed himself.

"It was quite good actually, it's something new, something different," he said.

When a woman, who only wanted to be known as Fran, was asked if the whitebait were running she replied "no" while giving a cheeky nod of her head.

"I'm only new but it has been awesome," said Fran, who had scooped up about a cup of whitebait.

DOC biodiversity ranger David Moss said it was important people only took what they needed and ensured they only fished during the day.

"Whitebait are juveniles of five species of native fish, like the giant kokopu, banded kokopu, shortjaw kokopu, inanga, and koaro. Those that escape the whitebait net grow into adult fish which are some of our most endangered native species."

Anyone caught breaking the rules and fishing illegally risked getting a fine of up to $5000 and having their fishing equipment seized.

The season runs through until the end of November and whitebaiters could fish between 5am and 8pm and from 6am to 9pm when daylight saving begins in September.