EBOP Kayak Fishing Club Kayak Fishing Tournament Rules 2025

  • This event is open to human, sail, or Bixpy E motor assisted kayaks. Any other type of watercraft or propulsion is prohibited, No ferrying of kayaks by other boats is permitted
  • Only Rods and Hand lines may be used. Only two hooks per rod or hand line, treble hooks only on artificial lures.
  • All fish must be caught on the water from a kayak and transported to shore by kayak.
  • Tournament Registration will be from 5:45pm Friday the 25th April, followed by Safety briefing at 7:00pm. All contestants are encouraged to attend the Safety Briefing.
  • Fishing will be from 5:00am until 3:00pm on Saturday 26th of April 2025.
  • Weigh-in will open at 2:00pm in the car-park of the Ohope Charter Club and any angler not in the weigh-in line by 4:00pm will not have their fish weighed for the tournament.
  • Fish not deemed to be in good fresh condition run the risk of being rejected from weighing by Weigh Master. (Weigh-masters decision final)
  • All fish must comply with NZ Amateur Fishing Regulations, plus tournament limits and NO under size fish will be accepted. Tournament minimum size limits are Snapper 350-600mm, Kingfish 770mm and all others 300mm.
  • An angler may only win one prize per section
  • For the Snapper section an angler may weigh in 2 fish and Teams event (see below) all other species only 1 fish per species to be weighed in.

Prizes:

Fishing Categories – Eligible Species are as follows; Snapper, Kahawai (gutted/gilled), Kingfish, Trevally, Gurnard/Blue Cod and John Dory.

Grand Slam – This will be awarded (1st, 2nd) to the angler who weighs in any of 7 eligible species; the most species and their combined weight will be the final determining factor. Anglers will be able to weigh in one of each eligible species.

Teams section – This is for teams of 2 to 4 anglers entered in the main tournament and entered as a team.
*Total weight of 4 snapper weighed in by the team by any of the team members.
Team Entry is $20 per team and is payable by the Team Captain on the main entry form.

Average weight snapper by a non-EBOP contestant –1st Prize Only

Average weight snapper for all entrants – 1st Prize Only

Heaviest Snapper by a financial EBOP Kayak Fishing Club member – 1st prize only.

1st/2nd/3rd prizes for fish categories –  Snapper, Kahawai (gutted/gilled), Trevally, Gurnard/Blue Cod.

1st & 2nd prizes – Kingfish and John Dory.

Spot prizes – Given out at the briefing and prize giving. Note – person has to be present to claim any of the spot prizes.

Main Spot Prize – Drawn at the end of the prize-giving a Viking kayak from Whakatane Hunting & Fishing

Early Bird prize (registered on or before 31st March 2025) of $1,000 travel voucher from Helloworld Whakatane, Drawn at the briefing Friday evening.

Judging Rules

  • If two or more fish are of equal weight then the fish weighed in first will be deemed to be the winner.
  • In the event of prizes not being awarded for any reason, they will become spot prizes.
  • Cancellation of the event is always a possibility so notwithstanding influences that are outside of the club committee’s control, i.e, cyclone, floods, our back up contingency is Ohiwa/Tauranga harbours.
  • All matters on which these rules are silent shall be determined at the discretion of the Organizing Committee.
  • The purchasing of an entry in the EBOP Kayak fishing Club Kayak fishing tournament constitutes acceptance of the rules and regulations of the contest and participants agree to abide by the decision of the Organizing Committee and agree to take part in the event at their own risk. No Correspondence will be entered into.

Entry Fees

  • Entry Fee is $50* if entered by 31st of March 2025. Late entry is $60 up until 6:30pm Friday 25th April.
    Online Entries close 12PM Wednesday 23rd April.
  • EBOP Kayak Fishing Club member’s entry is $40 by 31st of March 2025. Late entry for club members is $60 up until 6:30pm Friday 25th April.
    Note – membership must be current.
  • Team Entry is $20 per team and is payable by the Team Captain on the main entry form.

Boundaries

  • The Tournament boundaries are to the East of Bowen Town Entrance and West of Cape Runaway including Tauranga Harbour and Ohiwa Harbour.
  • All fishing must be done within the coastline of these boundaries only
  • EBOPKFC have the right to alter fishing boundaries at any time.

Safety Rules

  • Solo fishing is discouraged. Contestants are advised to buddy up.
  • Everyone will be required to place their launching site on the map at the Safety Briefing. For those unable to attend email your names and launching spot to ebopkayakfishingclub@gmail.com or text Dylan 0273086717.
  • It is the skippers responsibility to cross any bar, river or enter the surf.
  • At least one form of electronic communication (cell phone or VHF radio) is to be carried by each angler or group of anglers. VHF channels to be utilized for the contest will be advised at the safety briefing. Please make use of Coastguard by logging a trip report.
  • Outside of any decision made by the EBOP KFC it shall be the CONTESTANT’S responsibility to determine if the conditions at their launching and fishing locations are safe for their personal abilities and kayak.
  • All contestants are encouraged to make use of setting a trip report with Coastguard, i.e, Whakatane Coastguard Ch 18, Waihau Bay Ch 65,Tauranga Ch 01 or 62.
    Note: These rules may be revised as deemed necessary by the organizing Committee.
    Contestants will be duly notified of any changes at safety briefing.

Mandatory Requirements for each Entrant.

  • Approved PFD/Life Jacket to be worn at all times on the water.
  • Communications (Cell phone or VHF) Distress Whistle attached to PFD
  • Tow line or anchor rope.
  • Sit-in kayaks require hand bailer, paddle rescue float and sealed bulkheads or buoyancy bags bow and stern.
  • White Navigation light if going out before Daylight.

Other Info

  • Gibbo’s Fresh Fish will sponsor a fish-filleter at the weigh-in and contestants are encouraged to make use of this at $1 min per fish filleted.
    These funds go to Whakatane Coastguard.
    Note – any unwanted fish frames will also be given away free to the public.

Registration & Payment Options

Treasurer: stace.lewer@hotmail.com
Direct deposit to our Bank Account;

Eastern Bay of Plenty Kayak Fishing Club
A/C # 02-0488-0055362-000
Please use you name as Reference

Note – Your entry will not be accepted until payment is received