$1m-plus in prizes up for grabs at fishing contest
Global anglers to vie for prestigious rewards
What is being touted as the world’s largest fishing competition, the Kubota Billfish Classic, is set to return to the coastal town of Whitianga next week.
In its fifth year, the event has attracted 420 entries in 2024.
More than 400 boats will take to the waters of Whitianga between Thursday, March 14 and Saturday, March 16 across a three-day event.
Event organiser Tom Maxwell said the town is set to benefit in economic terms, with $6 million spent before the event gets under way.
He estimated between 2000 and 2500 people will converge on Whitianga over the weekend.
Teams will be competing for more than $1 million in prizes, including a five-tonne digger valued at $115,000.
Participating teams will travel across the world from locations including South Africa, Guatemala, the United States, the Cook Islands, Tonga and Australia to compete for a range of prizes.
Hosted by the Mercury Bay Game Fishing Club, Maxwell said he established the event after he became frustrated with New Zealand fishing events “not doing well”.
“I had some ideas on how they should be run; tournaments were not getting a lot of people turning up.
He said it was fantastic to see such a keen interest in his hometown’s natural beauty.
“This is where my fishing journey started. For me, there is no other place in the world that can host a competition of this calibre.
“I want to show the world our amazing town of Whitianga.”
A fishing charter captain, Tom travelled the world early in his career, competing in several international fishing competitions.
“After years of experience competing around the world, I was left disappointed in the state of fishing competitions in New Zealand, I knew we could do better. We have some of the most incredible game fish in the world from the Striped Marlin to the Blue Marlin, and there’s no better place to catch them than right here in the Coromandel in Autumn.”
The event is not-for-profit.
Maxwell said the competition promotes ethical finishing practices, with strict rules that must be followed by participants.
Predominantly a tag-and-release system, the data captured by participants is shared with scientists in the region to assist with their studies around migration habits.
The event is set to kick off at 7.30am on March 14 with a shotgun start.
This year’s prizes include $350,000 for the heaviest billfish, a share of the jackpot and a Kubota U48G Excavator for the ‘last man standing’.
The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on Saturday, March 16 at the waterfront.