Taupo trout thriving

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 566, 13 December 1994, Page 16

Taupo trout thriving

Trout numbers in Lake Taupo are at their highest for many years. The Department of Conservation last week released results from its annual November survey which used sophisticated echosounding equipment. Taupo Ffshery manager John Gibbs says the department has been monitoring trout numbers in the lake every spring since 1988. The number of legal size fish has increased from a low of about 70,000 in 1 989 to about 200,000 this year. "Anglers catches reflect this increase," he says. "Fishing in the lake since early winter is the best it has been for years. Interestingly, the average size and condition of trout has increased also." Observations by fishery staff indicate that smelt, the main food supply of trout, are also more abundant than usual. While fishing prospects over the summer are very good, Mr Gibbs

cautions anglers not to expect the present conditions to last forever. "While the over harvesting that occurred in the late 1980s has been controlled by a reduced catch limit and lower angler numbers, trout populations are very much at the mercy of natural events," he says. 'The frequency and severity of summer floods in the tributary rivers where the young trout spend their early life largely determines the number that survive in the lake." The acoustic surveys show that trout numbers vary substantially from year to year and over longer periods. While the pattem has been for increases over the last five years, there is no guarantee that this will continue. "After a period of decline, the number of anglers fishing at Taupo has also increased dramatically in the first half of this season. It is possible that licence saies may reach record levels by next June."