Eligibility & Entry
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Entry Fees: Adults $70, Juniors $20 (under 16 as of July 1, 2025)

All fees must be paid before fishing.
Entries close midnight, January 31, 2026.

Must enter before fishing; fish caught before or on the day of entry are not accepted.

Open to members of Waikato Sport Fishing Club or NZSFC Affiliated Clubs.

o Membership options:
Family (2 adults, up to 4 children under 16): $90
Adult: $40
Student/Transitional (16–21): $20
Junior (under 16): $10

Minimum Weights & Lengths

• Billfish: 90kg (all line classes)
• Sharks: Tag & Release only
• Albacore, Skipjack, Mahimahi, Yellowfin: No minimum weight
• Ties: First fish caught wins.
  

Tackle & Weigh-In

• NZSFC/ IGFA rules apply; max line class 37kg.
• Weighed fish: Present tackle, including Terminal Tackle, Gaff or Tag Pole and Catch Card at weigh station.
• Scales can be NZSFC affiliated or simply have a current calibration certificate.
• Line Class needs to be recorded for Weighed Fish only
• All lures are to be removed before the fish is weighed.
• Marlin bill are to be wrapped with insulation tape.
• No frozen fish accepted; must be weighed within 36 hours of capture.
• No fish may be sold or auctioned.
  

Prizegiving & Draws

• Prizegiving: Wednesday, March 11, 7:30 pm at Club Rooms.
• Angler/team must be present to claim prizes.
• Major prize winners are excluded from further major draws.
• Draws conducted via random number generator or numbered balls.
  

Fishing Rules
Area: Entire NZ coastline.
Times: 12:00 am Dec 1, 2025 – 11:59 pm Feb 28, 2026.
One fish, measured, weighed or tagged per species entered per angler per day.

Catch cards must be signed by Angler, Skipper and Weighmaster and submitted via the Sporty App by stop fishing time. (Submission button above)

Weighed and Tagged Fishing must be caught in line with NZSFC/IGFA Fishing Rules

No set/drag nets, long-lines, or droppers (landing nets OK).
No registered commercial boats (charter boats allowed).

Points & Scoring

• Weighed Offshore Fish: Points = (Fish Weight × 100) ÷ Line Weight
• Measured Inshore Fish: Points = Length (cm) × 0.5
• Tag & Release: Billfish 600 pts, Sharks 100 pts, Kingfish 50 pts

o Tag only marlin, sharks, or kingfish (over 75cm). Photo verification required.
o Tagged kingfish cannot be entered as measured fish.
o Ties decided by earliest catch time.

Protests & Disputes
Submit written protests no later than 15 minutes after competition closing to President@WaikatoSportfishing.co.nz.

Disputes Committee’s decision is final.

Safety & Weather

• Skippers should postpone fishing in bad weather.
• All boats must report trips to Coastguard.
• Fair competition spirit required; breaches may result in exclusion.
• Organizers accept no responsibility for injury, loss, or damage.
  

Prize Categories – SIMRAD Summer Champs 2025-26
General Principles
Prizes are awarded for Top 3 in Men’s, Women’s and Junior divisions for Snapper, Kahawai, Trevally, Kingfish and Gurnard and Overall Points.

• Prizes for Gamefish will be awarded for the overall Top 3 heaviest per species.
• Fish Points Category, Top Three Total of Length, Weight and Tagged points caught by Men, Women, and Junior Anglers.
• If a category or species is not caught, prizes are drawn randomly among eligible participants.
• Major prize winners are excluded from further major draws.
• Anglers/teams must be present at prizegiving to claim prizes; otherwise, the prize is redrawn.
  

Fish Points Categories
 Top Three Total of Length, Weight and Tagged points caught by Men,
Women, and Junior Anglers.

Special Draws

• Lucky Draws: Randomly drawn among eligible anglers/teams present at prizegiving.
• Last Man Standing Draws: Team member must be present to win; otherwise, prize is redrawn.

Eligibility for Prizes

• Only participants from Adult or Junior categories are eligible for these prizes.
• Each angler/team can win only one major prize section per draw.
  

Heaviest Fish Categories
Prizes for the top Three heaviest fish caught by all anglers in each of the
following species:

• Billfish (Marlin, Broadbill, Spearfish)
• Yellowfin Tuna
• Albacore Tuna
• Skipjack Tuna
• Wreckfish (Blue Nose, Hapuka, Bass)
• Mahi Mahi

Details:

• Weighed fish must comply with minimum weights and line class rules.
• In case of a tie (identical weight), the first fish caught takes precedence.

Longest Fish Categories
Prizes for the longest fish caught by Men, Women, and Junior Anglers in each of the following species:

• Kingfish
• Snapper
• Trevally
• Kahawai
• Gurnard

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Details:

• Length is measured in Centimetres.
• Only one fish per species per angler per day can be entered.
• A tagged Kingfish cannot also be entered as a measured fish.

A BIG THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS: