Lower Clutha Trout Fishing Competition to support fishery research

The return of the Lower Clutha Trout Fishing Competition on Saturday, November 27, is a win-win for anglers and the fishery, Dunedin angler Bryson Carraher says.

Mr Carraher is keen to defend his title after winning heaviest brown trout at the inaugural event in March this year.

“It’s a great competition for kids and other anglers, and it helps research to support the fishery,” he said.

Anglers gearing up for this month’s event will again be helping otolith research into brown trout.

The competition will be held in the main stem of the Clutha River from the Roxburgh Dam to the sea and the lower Pomahaka River.

Otago Fish & Game officer Bruce Quirey said the research project is studying the life history of trout from spawning to maturity in the lower Clutha.

“Identifying the natal streams of trout and where they mature helps us to protect and enhance the fishery,” Mr Quirey said.

Fish & Game will collect the heads of brown trout weighed in at the competition. These will be sent to the University of Otago to analyse fish otoliths (ear bones) as part of a collaborative research project.

“The competition helps us to quickly gather a lot of data from these tiny ear bones the size of a pea.”

 

EVENT DETAILS

The Lower Clutha Trout Fishing Competition will be held on Saturday, November 27, between 7am and 4pm.
Weigh-in will be held at Clutha Park Showgrounds in front of Cross Recreational Centre, between 3.30pm and 5pm. Prizegiving will follow after 5pm.
Fish entries are to be presented whole - not gutted or gilled.
Contact Energy is sponsoring $3000 worth of prizes.

The categories include:
·        Heaviest brown trout
·        Heaviest rainbow trout
·        Heaviest perch
·        Heaviest fish caught by a child or junior angler (age 17 and under)
·        Spot prizes
Maximum two fish for weigh-in per entrant.
Entrants must have a valid fishing licence.

To register, anglers can follow the link on the Otago Fish & Game Council Facebook page, go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BQDXHNJ  or sign up on the day.