Fish & Game: ‘Excitement building’ in $25k trout stakes

Fish & Game: ‘Excitement building’ in $25k trout stakes

Fish & Game has confirmed that an angler on Lake Rotoiti has caught one of the specially tagged trout that could net a lucky fisher $25,000.

An angler from Waihou on the Hauraki Plains, Neil Stockley, caught the trout while he was trolling on the lake earlier this week – the new fishing season opened on 1 October.
Fish & Game’s Fish for Gold promotion has $25,000 at stake, the biggest freshwater fishing prize offered in recent years. Entries have now closed to the promotion which will run through to Sunday, October 11.
Eastern Region Fish & Game Officer Mark Sherburn says that Neil Stockley got quite a shock when he spotted the “flash of red.”

“Initially he was going to return the trout when he noticed the red tag.

“He told us that he ‘had another look and got quite a surprise.’

“And of course, at that stage he quickly changed his mind about keeping the fish.”

Mr Sherburn says that 40 red tagged fish were put into four lakes, Rotorua, Rotoiti, Tarawera and Okataina, 10 in each.

The numbers on the tags are linked to sealed envelopes containing prizes with one containing $25,000, and others a $200 tackle or voucher prize, so every special red tag wins – but only one wins big!

“We have to remind anglers however so we don’t dissapoint people that it’s too late to enter now – the deadline for entry was September 30.”

Whether someone has landed the big prize will be revealed when the envelopes are opened on Monday 12 October at 10am, at Eastern Fish & Game’s Ngongotaha headquarters.

“The excitement is certainly building now – if you entered the promotion be sure to get out there and see if you can hit the trout jackpot,” says Mr Sherburn.

ENDS

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