Fish & Game reminder - deadline looms for $10k trout entries

Anglers and their families have been reminded to “get in quick” if they want to hook an orange-tagged trout worth a cool $10,000 – one of 30 very special fish that have just been released into three Rotorua lakes.  

Right: Is this a 10k trout? One of the 30 before its release.

The trout were released into lakes Rotoiti, Okataina and Tarawera – ten fish into each lake – in the annual Fish for Gold promotion.  

The deadline for entries is midnight on Sunday September 30 (2018).

Anglers who qualify have just over a fortnight to try and catch the “big bucks fish” between October 1 and 14.

“Be quick because the entries close on Sunday – no second chances,” says Eastern Fish & Game Manager Andy Garrick.

“It’s free to enter if you have a current licence but you must register.

“And we’re taking the opportunity to remind people that everyone who catches a fish with a special orange tag is a winner because every one of these fish has a prize associated with it.”

The next biggest prize after the $10,000 fish is an outboard motor, a Yamaha 2HP outboard valued at just under $1000, sponsored by Telfer Marine Rotorua, he says.

The other 28 special tags at large carry the promise of vouchers or tackle prizes worth $250 apiece, and these prizes are kindly supported by local firms Hamills, Kilwell and Outdoorsman Headquarters.

Anglers will easily recognise one of these specially tagged fish – the tags are prominent near the dorsal fin, Mr Garrick adds.

“The tagged fish in question range between 35cm to 40cm length, so check all fish caught very carefully.”

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

“Just to spice things up further, if none of the specially tagged fish are caught and presented within the allowable period, all eligible entries in the promotion will be in the draw for one of five $250 tackle or voucher prizes,” Garrick says.

So enter now to be in with a chance, he adds.

“Opening Day, Monday October the first, will be a real family day with school holidays in progress and Fish for Gold will, as it has in the past, add some thrills and excitement as anglers haul their catches in.”