Fish and Game reported the 2-year-old trout from Lake Tarawera was “absolutely remarkable”, with hatchery fish released during autumn 2023 coming in at 583mm and 2.45kg.

“This is a whopping 600g per fish heavier than last opening,” the statement said.

Lake Rotoiti and Lake Okataina also had bigger fish than the last two years, it said.

“Two very wet seasons which weren’t pleasant for us land dwellers have really pumped good forest catchment nutrients into the lakes and boosted the food chain,” Osborne said.

“Anglers were very happy to be out on the region’s lakes, and the weather really turned it on. I think lots of fishers were stoked to be out there fishing with friends and families, relieving stress and being able to catch great fish was the cherry on top.”

The day’s biggest recorded fish was a brown trout weighing 10 pounds caught in the Ohau Channel by Rotorua local angler Cary Coker.

Lake Rotoiti produced a rainbow tipping the scales at 4kg and Lake Tarawera a rainbow of 3.4kg.

“With the real boom time in the food chain coming following smelt spawning, this season has the potential to produce some truly magnificent trout as we head through the season toward the autumn and early winter,” Osborne said.

The boat fishing season on Lakes Rotoiti, Tarawera and Okataina extends until the end of June 2025.

Rotorua has 13 trout fishing lakes, many of which are open all year.