A Waihou angler could be $25,000 better off after reeling in a tagged trout on Lake Rotoiti.

Fish & Game has confirmed the fisherman hooked one of the specially tagged trout.

One of the 40 red tag trout being measured. Photo: Supplied.

Neil Stockley caught the trout while he was trolling on the lake earlier this week.

Some $25,000 is at stake thanks to Fish & Game's Fish for Gold promotion – 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 Neil 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,” says Mark.

'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.”

Mark says that 40 red tagged fish were put into four lakes – Rotorua, Rotoiti, Tarawera and Okataina, with ten going in each lake.

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. Every special red tag wins – but only one wins big.

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

'The excitement is certainly building now,” says Mark. 'If you entered the promotion, be sure to get out there and see if you can hit the trout jackpot.”