Whitebaiters were out in force around the country on Wednesday, lining river banks for the long-awaited first run of the season.
But they're facing criticism from advocacy group Forest & Bird, who want commercial fishing banned for sustainability reasons.
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"Four out of five of our whitebait fish are at risk of disappearing forever, so we've got to have the discussion as to whether we want them on our dinner plate," says freshwater advocate Annabeth Cohen.
Forest & Bird have launched a campaign to ban commercial whitebaiting, saying the native species is on track for extinction due to habitat, climate change and fishing.
The Department of Conservation is watching closely, with four species either threatened or at risk. Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage says a working group will be giving her recommendations about improving whitebait management by the end of the year.
Some fishermen agree there should be more regulation, like scoop net whitebaiter Colin Reid.
"They should limit the nets," he told Newshub. "These sock nets catch everything that goes up the river, and it spoils it for everyone."
However, sock net whitebaiter Allan Parkhill believes there's already enough protection.
"They run nine months of the year - I've sat here at Christmas time and seen like pounds going through, so they're breeding, they've got to be."
While this whitebait season is off to a good start, the future remains uncertain.
Newshub.
