Reel Life October 2025 - Eastern

New season underway with a Bang!

The new season kicked off on Wednesday 1^st of October with a bang in the Rotorua area, and as is customary, hundreds of anglers headed out at dawn onto the calm waters of lakes Rotoiti, Okataina and Tarawera.

Image above: Scott Tamblin with a 3kg Rotorua lakes rainbow taken on a softabait

The forecast for building northwest winds meant boaties needed to plan their days fishing tactics early to make the most of the conditions. Lake Rotoiti, with it’s east-west orientation is always difficult in a westerly breeze, and this saw anglers tucked into the many sheltered bays by lunchtime. As it happened, the winds weren’t as bad as forecast, and plenty of fish were brought to the net. Anglers made the most of the sheltered landscape of Tarawera and Okataina, which enhanced fishing opportunities, and resulted in some impressive catches on both lakes.

Our team of staff and helpers were present on the day, checking licences and weighing and measuring catches, plus interviewing almost 500 anglers about their fishing methods and effort. The harvest rate on the day was 1.59 fish per angler (excluding boat surveys, as they provide incomplete angling trips). This harvest rate was much higher than the long-term average for fish brought home to the table (1.2 fish/angler). A high number of released fish also points to the overall strike rate being quite exceptional.

The general size and condition of the opening day fish were on par with the exceptional opening of 2024. Tarawera’s 2 year old hatchery autumn releases tipped the scales at 579mm and 2.41kg. These were 3mm smaller than the same aged cohort from the 2024 opening but were 35mm longer, and a whopping 553g heavier on average than the same-aged fish from the 2023 opening. The 2-year-old spring released fish (March – May 2024) averaged 536mm and 2.09kg. As with the autumn releases, they were 3mm shorter than the 2024 opening spring cohort but 90g heavier.

The heaviest fish measured for the day was a 3.7kg (8.15lb) , 660mm 3 year old hatchery rainbow caught by Guy Veitch from Tarawera.

Opening day produced smiles and impressive fish from the Rotorua lakes

Lake Okataina produced autumn 2-year-olds that were 29mm longer and 370g heavier than at the 2024 opening Day. The spring released 2-year-olds were also longer (5mm) and heavier (200g) than the 2024 opening fish. The largest fish measured was a 612mm, 2.83kg 3-year-old. Harvest rate was high at 2.04 fish per angler. Just a reminder for anglers looking to launch vessels at Okataina, an MPI Controlled Area Notice still exists requiring all vessels to be cleaned at the Wash Place, Te Ngae Rd and QR codes received before heading to Okataina.

Lake Rotoiti produced longer yet lighter ‘autumn’ 2-year-olds (573mm and 2.24kg) compared to data from the 2024-25 opening day and slightly shorter, lighter ‘spring’ released 2-yr-olds (510mm, 1.57kg). The largest fish seen was a 660mm, 3.29 hatchery released 3-yr old. Rotoiti’s harvest rate was also much poorer than average for the opening day at 0.70 fish per angler but as mentioned, the wind will have played a big part here.

Lake Rotorua continues to produce a high number of good-sized fish, trolled, jigged, soft baited and fly fished. Excellent catches of rainbows, and the odd brown are being taken off the airport, Ohau and Mokoia with one or two colours of lead and a Tassie/smelt fly combination. The drop off, off the Ohau has also fished well when the winds are light or from the North and soft baits are the method of choice here. Brown trout are on the cruise along the northern and northwest shores and smelt flies or damsels are the best option to target these trophy fish.

Rich Barter with a fat rainbows from Lake Rotorua, common at this time of year

For the first time is several years the East coast streams and rivers received favourable weather for opening week, with all rivers running clear. Recovering fish are reported to be in poor condition, but some catchments are showing populations of young silvery ‘pounder’ rainbows which is promising for the future of these fisheries. As we remain, still, in the shadow of Gabrielle’s damage, it will be important to handle young and recovering fish well to ensure their survival and the long-term recovery of these amazing fisheries.

With the long weekend looming, we suggest you get out there and enjoy what the Eastern Fish & Game Region has to offer. In what has been labelled as the world’s largest study of its kind, Fish & Game has shown that fishing can significantly boost wellbeing and mental health. The research used validated clinical assessment tools to demonstrate that active anglers were 52% less likely to report moderate-to-severe psychological distress and thoughts of self-harm, and 46% were less likely to experience moderate-to-severe anxiety. For more on this study see here.     

Cleaning fish

We are sometimes asked about cleaning fish on the lake or river. The Freshwater Fisheries Regulations 1983 state, ‘No person shall leave any fish, or any cleanings or offal from fish, lying unburied on the bank or margin of any waters’.

It’s worth considering the ‘littering’ aspect of leaving fish offal at popular locations, so just let common sense prevail and make sure anything you leave isn’t visible to the next party to that location.

New Access Mapping System

 A new online mapping system has just been adopted by the Eastern Fish & Game Region (and several other regions). It is still in development, but is already a useful tool for finding fishing locations and the regulations that apply to that spot. The filter tool (top right of screen) enables users to focus on the access or fishing style they are interested in.
Select here to view

Don’t forget to CCD!

The new season is a good time to remind everyone of our need to Check, Clean and Dry gear between waterways. Pest organisms are sadly on the increase and the precious resource we all love is at risk. Please remember to CCD between your fishing trips, follow the instructions of the Regional Councils and MPI.

Datawatch tagged Trout

Tagged trout can now be entered online. Entries go into the draw to win one of 10 free whole-season fishing licences: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QCH5ZR6

Eastern Region Fishing Diaries – All lakes and streams

Fill in your fishing diaries here to help us manage the Eastern Fish & Game region. Participants go in the draw to win a $100 voucher from Kilwell: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QRSD7D3