Hundreds of anglers in Canterbury flocked to the high country over the weekend, with the fishing season there getting underway.
The season officially opened on Saturday, with some keen fishers out on the water just after midnight, according to Fish and Game NZ.
Rasmus Gabrielsson, chief executive of North Canterbury Fish and Game, says the start of the season is eagerly awaited by local anglers.
"The high country is part of the uniqueness of the Canterbury Fishery, nowhere else in the world do anglers get to fish in such beautiful scenery so close to a major population centre,' Gabrielsson said.
"These lakes are easy to get to and have healthy populations of fish that give anglers the chance to get a meal for the table with only a day trip from the city."
Over 200 anglers entered the popular Lake Coleridge fishing competition, which as well as giving participants a chance to win thousands of dollars worth or prizes also gives Fish and game a chance to monitor how healthy the fish population in the area is.
As well as recording the weight and length of fish caught, Fish and Game also remove scales, otoliths and stomach samples of selected fish caught for age and diet analysis.
"The otolith is an ear bone in the fish, which in simple terms records the age and chemical signature of where the fish is from, and can be analysed by Fish and Game staff to assist in management of the fishery."
The heaviest fish of the day was won by Danny Pye, from Cust, who landed a 3.8 kilogram brown trout from Lake Selfe.
