Anglers lured to Rotorua lakes with $25,000 trout prize!

The lure of the “big one” has taken on a whole new perspective with Fish & Game’s launch of a major fishing promotion on Rotorua’s lakes offering 25,000 as the top prize.

It is believed to be New Zealand’s biggest freshwater fishing prize offered in recent years.

The promotion will run for ten days from the start of the new trout fishing season on October 1, through to Sunday October 11.

During the last week of September, Fish & Game will release 40 rainbow trout with specially numbered red tags. Ten fish apiece will go into lakes Tarawera, Rotoiti, Okataina, and Rotorua in time for the opening of the new fishing season on October 1st.

The numbers on the tags correspond to prizes contained in sealed and numbered envelopes, one of which contains the grand prize of $25,000. The other envelopes each contain a $200 tackle or voucher prize, so every special red tag wins!

Eastern Fish & Game councillor Lindsay Lyons says the start of the trout fishing season is a major event on the angling calendar, with around a hundred thousand fishing licences sold throughout the country annually.

“Rotorua has some of the country’s best trout fishing and this is designed to attract anglers here so they can sample what this fabulous region has to offer,” Mr Lyons said.

“The Rotorua lakes are a wonderful place to fish for trout and while being here is reward in itself, now there’s the chance of catching a really grand prize too.”

Mr Lyons, who is also chairman of Fish & Game New Zealand, says trout fishing is of huge value to local and regional communities around the country.

“Anglers bring tens of millions of dollars into trout fishing regions every year, spending on accommodation, food and services. It is an activity which not only provides a great boon to local business, but also gives regions a good positive reputation and profile.”

“This promotion allows Fish & Game to promote Rotorua as a key, world-class fishing destination. It is our way of putting something back into our community and generating a sense of excitement and enjoyment, as well as opportunities for local businesses,” Mr Lyons said.

Lindsay Lyons has been involved in a similar promotion in the past and said the idea is a proven and successful formula.

“It creates keen interest in fishing the opening week of the season and rewards trout anglers with the possibility of winning a great prize.

“I would urge trout anglers to come to Rotorua for the entire first week of the fishing season and make the most of this opportunity to hook the big prize.

“After all, $25,000 will more than cover the cost of staying in Rotorua for the week and fishing the competition,” Mr Lyons said.

The Fish for Gold promotion is FREE to enter but limited to 1200 participants. Only specially tagged trout caught between the 1st and 11th of October are eligible to win prizes and anglers must have a current Fish & Game trout fishing licence.

Promotion details including terms and conditions and entry form can be found on Eastern Fish & Game’s page - click here