Anglers flock to contest

Catch of the day was on the menu in Glenorchy on Saturday night, following what is believed to be a record-breaking year for the 40th Glenorchy Fishing Competition.

First-time entrant Peter Kavanagh, a New Zealander who has lived in Melbourne for 40 years, shows off a rainbow trout he caught in Lake Wakatipu on Saturday.

Organiser Jessica Burke said they had hoped to attract 150 entrants for the annual fundraiser — instead, they had 275.

"It’s the 40th year of the fishing comp and, for once, the weather is decent, so we’re not surprised," Ms Burke said.

She also hoped most people would go home with a prize.

Entrants were split into men’s, women’s, junior and youth categories, within which there were sub-categories for brown trout, rainbow trout and salmon, further broken down into heaviest and best-conditioned catch.

"We even have categories for best hard-luck story, smallest fish — there’s even an ugliest fish prize."

Mr Kavanagh hoped he might get the prize for the competitor who travelled the furthest for the day.

He had been in Napier and travelled south to Alexandra a couple of weeks ago.