There were rich pickings on the opening weekend of the new fishing season – big bags, big fish.

Lake Rotoiti produced the biggest fish including a trout of more than four kilos (nine pound), and another six fish that also weighed in well over three kilos.

The biggest of them, which was 67cm long and weighed 4.1 kilograms was caught by Mitchell Tombleson while competing in the aptly named Lake Rotoiti Monster Trout Tournament.

Fish & Game Officer Matt Osborne says another three of the entries were quality fish that weighed 3.5kg or more.

Overall, Lake Okataina was the stand out performer – not the biggest fish but the most fish. It had the best catch rate of the three lakes that reopened – Okataina, Tarawera and Rotoiti.

'We measured nearly 150 fish brought in by just over 100 anglers at Okataina and the two year old fish that were mostly caught were on average 51cm and weighing 1.65 kilos.”

The busiest lake as usual was Tarawera, with a total of 364 anglers. The catch rate was slightly ahead of the 2015 opening.

The two year-old rainbows caught were larger than last opening and their condition was better, averaging 49cm and 1.36kg.

The largest fish that staff measured from Lake Tarawera was a modest three year-old trout that weighed 2.4kg.

Mr Osborne says the Ohau Channel started fairly well and 51 anglers kept 49 fish.

The largest was a 66cm brown jack which weighed 3.88kg.

Only a couple of anglers were found breaking the rules on Opening Day – similar to previous openings. One angler was fishing without a licence while in another case, two men were trolling with three rods out. The rules say just one rod per angler.

The message to anglers is there are some sport fishing rules to be followed so 'don't take chances – play fair.”