Tiddlers top up Tutira

"As an incentive, anglers who return tags go into a draw to win a free trout fishing licence." Mark Sherburn, Fish & Gam

Lake Tutira received part of its annual top-up of trout yesterday, with Hawke's Bay Fish & Game releasing more than 2750 young fish into its waters.

The trout were transported from Fish & Game's Rotorua hatchery to release as part of an annual restocking programme.

Eastern Fish & Game Hatchery Officer Mark Sherburn said the 2750 yearling trout are made up of 500 browns and 2250 rainbows.

"They are yearlings and about 18cm long when we release them, and we expect they will reach about 45cm by this time next year. A nice size for anglers to catch."

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Five hundred of the rainbow trout and all the browns are tagged to enable Fish & Game to monitor how well they are doing.

Details of each fish's length, weight and condition and the method used to fish are noted to monitor the fishery, and the number of tags received provides an insight into survival rates.

"We'd be grateful if anglers who catch a tagged fish use the form on our website or phone through these details, as the information makes an important contribution to monitoring of the fishery. As an incentive, anglers who return tags go into a draw to win a free trout-fishing licence."

Spin fishing from the shore is an ideal way of catching trout and Tutira fishes well in autumn, through winter, and into spring.

Regulations stipulate a minimum size limit of 35cm, a bag limit of four trout, and fly and spin methods are allowed.

Mr Sherburn said Tutira doesn't have streams suitable for trout to spawn in, and although some natural reproduction takes place, the lake does need to be restocked.