‘Join The Fun’ - Have A Crack At Catching A 10k Trout

Anglers young and old are invited to “join in the excitement” of trying to catch a fish worth $10,000 as the new trout fishing season gets underway.

Fish & Game has unveiled details of another Fish for Gold promotion, where fishers can target trout with special green numbered tags – to win a grand prize of $10,000.

The major fishing promotion gets underway on Opening Day 1 October and runs for nine days until Sunday 9 October 2016.

Fish & Game Officer Mark Sherburn says that staff will release 30 rainbow trout with specially numbered green tags - ten into each of the three lakes, Tarawera, Rotoiti and Okataina, in time for the opening.

Numbers on the tags correspond to prizes contained in sealed and numbered envelopes and one of them contains the grand prize of $10,000.

The other envelopes each contain a $200 tackle or voucher prize, “so every eligible angler who returns with a green tag fish will win something.”

“We found from last season that it creates keen interest in fishing the opening week of the season, by giving anglers that possibility of being rewarded with a significant prize.”

Mr Sherburn says that this season it’s the first time in five years the opening has fallen on a Saturday, and being in the middle of school holidays, it provides lots of opportunities for families to get out on the water.

“Mix in Fish for Gold and it ramps up the fun, excitement and intrigue for all,” he says.

“Long time anglers in particular are well aware of the superb fishing on offer in the Rotorua lakes but we hope this will help attract others, including families, to sample the world class fishing on offer,” Mr Sherburn says.

Mr Sherburn says that the promotion allows Fish & Game to “give back,” something to the Rotorua community.

“By spicing up the first nine days of the new season and adding to the thrill level, we’ll hopefully attract more folk who are potential customers of local businesses, be they accommodation providers or fishing stores.”

Last year’s promotion had succeeded in generating some “great feedback” – anglers who fished the lakes where tagged fish had been released “really enjoyed chasing the big prize.”

There had been a lot of chat back and forth between anglers on the lake and at the ramps with the promotion really “lifting” the first days of the new season.

“So our advice to trout anglers is to come to Rotorua for the entire first week of the fishing season and make the most of this opportunity. You’ll find there is a licence to suit no matter what your holiday or fishing plans.”

Fish for Gold is free to enter. All you must have is a 2016-17 Fish & Game sports fishing licence. Children under 12 are not eligible to enter on a free child’s licence, but can if they are included as part of a family fishing licence.

The promotion is limited to the first1200 entries – and you must register online prior to Opening Day.

This competition is now closed