The opening of the trout season tomorrow will see keen fishers out on the lakes, but for many reeling in the big one is going to mean more than just catching a fish.
Because swimming in the chilly waters of either Lakes Tarawera, Rotoiti or Okataina is a fish with a bounty of $10,000 on its head.
Fish & Game has released 30 trout with special green numbered tags and if you catch a fish with a tag, you're going to win a prize. Numbers on the tags correspond to prizes contained in sealed and numbered envelopes and one of them contains the grand prize.
The promotion runs for nine days until October 9. No one netted the big prize last year and Fish and Game hope to see it go this year.
There are 10 tagged trout in each lake, and given that it's school holidays, the timing couldn't be better.