Entry for 2026

The last two years this event has been completely free, thanks to the incredible support from our local businesses and community.

This year we’re introducing a small entry fee:

• Adults: $10
• Kids (15 & under): $5

The goal is not only to reduce pressure on our local sponsors, but also to help grow the prize pool.

We’re hoping to see the same amazing support from local businesses and with the addition of entry fees this should allow us to increase the number of prizes given out while also ensuring the event can continue even if some businesses find it harder to contribute in future years.

All entry money goes back into the event prizes and the minimal cost of organising and running the competition (time excluded). Recipts will be available after the event for full transparency.

NOW THE DETAILS…..

$500 MAIN JACKPOT MYSTERY PRIZE + 10% OF TICKET SALES!

PLUS LOTS of other Mystery Prizes during Prizegiving!

Just show up to Prizegiving with your Ticket and you’re in the draw to win a Mystery Prize!

No fish caught? No problem—if your number is called, you win!

OPEN TOP WEIGHT PRIZES *all ages

SNAPPER

1st $500     *Sponsored by Next Phase Pop up Shop

2nd $200     *Sponsored by Marsden Metals

3rd $100 *Sponsored by Chrispy Builders

KAHAWAI

1st $200     *Sponsored by Point Timber

2nd $100      *Sponsored by Bream Bay Realty

3rd $50 *Sponsored by Ruakaka Engineering

TREVALLY

1st $200     *Sponsored by Marsden Auto Centre

2nd $100     *Sponsored by Oliver Tuck Construction

3rd $50 *provided by ticket sales

NOTE: All Cash Prizes above are based on heaviest weight. 

KIDS TOP WEIGHT PRIZES (15 and under)

SNAPPER

1st $200     *Sponsored by Waipu Digger and Cartage

2nd $100      *Sponsored by Waipu Digger and Cartage

3rd $50 *Sponsored by Waipu Digger and Cartage

KAHAWAI

1st $100    *Sponsored by Green Clean

 2nd $50      *Sponsored by Ruakaka Sushi

3rd $30 *Sponsored by APM Lifestyle Property Maintenance

TREVALLY

1st $100     *Sponsored by Chrispy Builders

2nd $50     *Sponsored by Bream Bay Takeaways

3rd $30 *Sponsored by Oliver Tuck Construction

NOTE: All Cash Prizes above are based on heaviest weight. 

Junior + Kids have the opportunity to win prizes in their category plus compete in the Main Top Weight Prizes and $500 Main Mystery Prize! (lucky to be a kid!)

The Details:

This is a land-based fishing competition—beach only!
Fishing is limited to Rod and Reel or a handline (max 1 rod or handline and 3 hooks per person).

No drones, kites, fishing cannons, boats, or any devices that help get your line out further than a regular cast.

It’s all about good old-fashioned beach fishing—a great family day out with prizes for all ages!

Date: 

Saturday 25th April 2026 (Anzac Long Weekend)

Fishing Time:

 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM

This year the Port to Cove Rod & Reel Competition will start at 7:00 AM, slightly later than previous years. This change is to allow people to attend local ANZAC Day dawn services.

We acknowledge ANZAC Day and remember those who served.

You can fish anytime between these hours!

Early bird? Be there at 7 AM. Prefer a sleep-in? Rock up at 12 PM and get a few hours in!

Where: 

Fishing is off the beach from Marsden Point to Waipu Cove. Approx 20km of ataahua (beautiful) beach!

Scroll down further for all the access points onto beach and clickable directions.

Tickets:

Tickets available from (only one venue this year)

Ruakaka Lotto Post & Gift Shop – Click here for directions

The CUTOFF to grab your ticket is the day BEFORE the competition, we will not be selling the tickets on the day of the competition unless arranged prior. Contact us to discuss if needed.

Ticket Rules:
You’re welcome to pick up tickets on behalf of others, but please note: only one ticket per person is allowed, so name each ticket with individual name/s.

Anyone found with more than one ticket under their name will be disqualified from the prizegiving.

ID may be required at prizegiving to confirm the ticket belongs to you, especially if there’s any doubt about ownership.

Ages:

All Ages Welcome!
Our fishing competition is open to everyone – Kids, Juniors, and Adults alike!

🎣 Main Cash Prizes for heaviest Snapper, Kahawai, and Trevally is open for everyone to try and win. Any age group – so whether you’re 5 or 55, you’re in the running!

👦 Junior & Kids Division (Ages 1–15)

• Special Mystery Prizes just for Juniors and Kids
• PLUS the chance to win in the Main Cash Weight Categories
• AND you’re in the draw for the epic $500+ Main Mystery Prize
  (It’s a great time to be a kid!)

Weigh Station Info:

• Opens: 12:00 PM
• Final Weigh-In Cut-Off: 3:00 PM sharp
• Location: Car park at the beach entrance on Mair Road, Marsden Point (site of our first competition!)
• Directions: https://maps.app.goo.gl/RxfG5zyqw6EHPut76

Make sure you’re in line before 3 PM to have your catch weighed—no late entries accepted!

We are not auctioning fish so please take your fish home.

Fish Weigh-In Rules:

• All fish must be caught on the day of the competition, between 7:00 AM and 3:00 PM, and from the beach only—anywhere between Marsden Point and Waipu Cove.
• You must be in line at the weigh station by 3:00 PM to have your catch weighed. No exceptions.
• All fish must be of legal size to be eligible for weighing and entry.

Fishing is off the beach ONLY. No fishing past this line, it is the harbour mouth. The beach is to the east! 

Prizegiving: 

4:30 PM

Venue: RUAKAKA TAVERN

CLICK HERE FOR DIRECTIONS

Feel free to pop in earlier and grab a cold drink and feed. They have a great bar snack menu and restaurant next door!

Main Cash Prizes and Junior/Kids – Based on Weight

All our main prizes are awarded based on the weight of the fish.

If two or more entrants have fish with the exact same weight, the prize will either:

• Be shared (if it’s cash or a product that can be split), or
• Decided by a coin toss, if it’s not possible to divide.

Lots of Mystery Prizes to be Won!!!

All you need is a ticket to be in the draw at Prizegiving—no fish caught required!

Come along, and you could walk away with a surprise!

No Ticket, No Prize!

To claim any prize, you must be at prizegiving and show your ticket. Prizes can only be claimed by the person whose name is linked to the ticket.

• If any main weight prizes are not claimed at prizegiving, the next best-weighted fish will win the prize. All prizes require the ticket holder to be present at prizegiving.
• If the main prizes are not claimed due to a lack of fish, they will be redrawn as mystery prizes.
• The organizers take no responsibility for lateness or for anyone who fails to claim their prize before it’s redrawn.

For unclaimed mystery prizes, we will continue to redraw until a winner is found.

• Once a mystery prize winner has been drawn, their ticket will be removed from the draw, and the remaining mystery prizes will be given out.
• After all mystery prizes are claimed, all remaining tickets will go back into the draw for the Main Mystery Prize of $500 plus 10% of ticket sales!!!

Other Rules

Rod & Reel, Handlines Only! – One per person

Fishing is strictly land-based from the beach—anywhere between Marsden Point and Waipu Cove. No exceptions!

Fishing off the rocks or in the harbour is NOT considered beach fishing.

Participation at Your Own Risk

Competitors participate in the tournament at their own risk. Mai Place Bream Bay and anyone involved in organizing or running the competition do not accept any liability for material damage or personal injury sustained before, during, or after the tournament.

By entering the competition, all participants are deemed to have read, understood and accepted the rules, clarifications and additional instructions outlined on this website.
Anyone found in violation of these rules will be excluded from prizegiving.

Fish Weighing:
Only our scales may be used to weigh fish, which will be done at the weigh station.

Disputes:
The decision of the Tournament Administrator will be final and binding in all disputes.

Note: It is illegal to buy, sell, or swap recreationally caught seafood.

9 Access points onto the beach. Only 2 for 4WD access. 

From North to South. 

4WD beach access 2 & 7 ONLY.

Click Links For Directions.

#1 Marsden Point Beach – Mair Road

https://maps.app.goo.gl/RxfG5zyqw6EHPut76

#2 4WD access – Rama Road 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/vk8q7kEEjiYm5v6Y7

#3 Te Kamo Road Carpark, weigh station area

https://maps.app.goo.gl/53JdzPasne4Sy31m9

#4 Peter Snell Rd, Racecourse

https://maps.app.goo.gl/atJwU2S2begnRpn19

#5 Ruakaka Surf Club

https://maps.app.goo.gl/atJwU2S2begnRpn19

#6 Carpark next to Uretiti Camp – turn left before entering the camp

https://maps.app.goo.gl/atJwU2S2begnRpn19

#7 4WD access – Uretiti Tip Road

https://maps.app.goo.gl/2S92UQ6pQ7poNgdQ6

#8 Johnson Point Road, low tide access by foot only

https://maps.app.goo.gl/bAbYRbhknkrzSwxW9

#9 Waipu Cove  

https://maps.app.goo.gl/MTjwgK6RZvtQPfaP6

🚨 Important Legal Notice – Beach Driving & Access 🚨

As the organiser of this fishing competition, we are not responsible for any breaches of local bylaws or regulations regarding beach driving and vehicle access.

All participants and attendees are personally responsible for familiarising themselves with and following the relevant laws and regulations as outlined by:

• Whangarei District Council
• Northland Regional Council

👉 For full details, visit:

• Whangarei District Council Bylaws
• Northland Regional Council Beach Driving Rules

To ensure the success of this event and to keep it going in future years, we need everyone’s cooperation.

❌ Vehicle Exclusion Zones on our Bream Bay beaches

Driving is prohibited in the following sensitive areas. Vehicle exclusion zones for Bream Bay beaches:

• Anywhere north of Mair Road.
• NIWA site to the Ruakaka Estuary.
• Ruakaka Estuary to the steps south of the Surf Club.
• Waipu Estuary area and approximately 2km north.
• Waipu Estuary area to Waipu Cove.
• Northern part of Langs beach left of the main access.

These areas are ecologically sensitive and legally protected.
Fines of up to $5,000 may apply for non-compliance.

✅ In Permitted Areas – Follow the Rules

• 30kph speed limit
• Road rules apply
• Use designated accessways only
• Stay off dunes and soft sand
• Avoid disturbing shorebirds and shellfish
• Watch for pedestrians and beach users

Signs are clearly visable at the two main access points at Tip Rd and Rama Rd and show all the zones you can and can not drive.

Anyone reported to be driving their vehicle in any of these restricted areas, clearly marked with signage on the beach entrances will be instantly disqualified from the prizegiving if we can identify you to a name/ticket.

PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT US.  Contact NRC Incident Hotline on 0800 504 639. They will need a date, time and location; make, model and registration of the vehicle; and a photograph showing the vehicle and distinctive landmarks if possible.

Please also respect the beach and pickup all rubbish when you leave.

Below is the list of amazing local businesses that have supported this competition

If your business would like to support the competition, we’d love to hear from you. Please get in touch.

“Proudly supported by local businesses from around Bream Bay.”

Next Phase Pop Up

Ruakaka Lotto Post and Gift Shop

Echo Homes

Marsden Cove Pharmacy

Point Timber

Chrispy Builders

Z 24 Hour Fitness

Marsden Cove 4 Spuare

Atlas Concrete

Poly Barbers

The Origin Northland

Harker Herbals

Ruakaka Motors

JOP Print

Fast Signz

Kebab and Pizza Ruakaka

Bream Bay Realty

Waipu Liquor Centre

Ruakaka Tavern 

Ruakaka Racing

Wortelboer Motors

Welsh Construction

Bream Bay Takeaways

Smooth 105 FM

Marsden Metals

Ruakaka Engineering

Marsden Auto Centre

Waipu Digger and Cartage

Ruakaka Sushi

Porthouse Bar and Eatery

Mangawhai Fishing and Diving

Clean Az Cars

Monster Fishing

100% of Sponsored Money and Gifted Products/Services go towards organizing the competition and prizes.