Bayleys fishing classic

Thursday 13th February 2025

12pm - 4pm – Skippers' briefing

Drop in and pick up your skippers' bags for you and your team anytime between 12pm and 4pm. The Bayleys, LegaSea and Fishing News teams will be onsite to assist with any questions you may have.

You’re welcome to start fishing as soon as you have your skippers’ bags!

Friday 14th February 2025

4pm – Prize giving

Fishing stops at 4pm sharp.

There will be refreshments from 4pm onwards before prize giving.

Prize giving will kick off around 5pm, with classic tunes, food and drinks flowing through the evening until 9pm.

Location

Bayleys Raglan, 9A Bow Street, Raglan

Entry fee

$600 including GST

Prizes

Trophy and $2,000 cash prize for the longest snapper caught by an individual. Exclusive prizes for team trifectas 1st, 2nd and 3rd place.

 

Register now

Thursday 13th February 2025

12pm - 4pm – Skippers' briefing

Pick up your skippers' bags for you and your team anytime between 12pm and 4pm from Bayleys House. The Bayleys, LegaSea and Fishing News teams will be onsite to assist with any questions you may have.

Friday 14th February 2025

4pm – Prize giving

Fishing stops at 4pm sharp.

There will be refreshments at Bayleys House from 4pm onwards before prize giving.

Prize giving will kick off around 5pm, with classic tunes, food and drinks flowing through the evening until 9pm.

Location

Bayleys House, 30 Gaunt Street, Auckland

Entry fee

$995 including GST

Prizes

Trophy and $5,000 cash prize for the longest snapper caught by an individual. Exclusive prizes for team trifectas 1st, 2nd and 3rd place.

 

Register now

You may fish anywhere you like, but you must collect your skippers’ bag and make sure you and your crew are registered to the fishing app. Fishing stops at 4pm the Friday of your chosen competition, and all team members are to be present at the prize giving at 5pm.

Bayleys Fishing Classic is a catch, measure, photograph and “voluntary” release, tournament. We encourage you to release large fish in healthy condition but of course, you may keep a few fish to take home for family and friends. Please handle all fish with respect especially if you intend to release any live fish back into the water.

Measuring your catch for The Bayleys Fishing Classic

A clear photograph of the fish, correctly placed on an official measure, is critical for your entry into the competition. It is your responsibility to ensure you provide an image that we can use to validate your entry. Place your fish on the official measure and take one or more digital photographs that clearly shows the whole fish, placed side-on, on the measure with either the upper or lower jaw touching the edge of the L-shaped plastic end of the measure. Ensure the V of the tail is clearly visible and as close to the midline of the measure as possible. Take the photo from directly above the fish looking down on it rather than from the front or side.

Checklist

• Make sure the photo is of sufficient quality and suitable to enable the species and length to be verified.
• The photo submitted must be in landscape format.
• Take several photos just in case. Please be mindful of placing the fish in an area that has both sun and shade, this can potentially cause issues due to the presence of shadows.
• The tip of either the upper or lower jaw must touch the edge of the L-shaped plastic end of the measure. It is permissible to place a hand or have someone hold the fish on the measure or use a damp cloth on the fish to settle it while a photo is taken, provided this does not obscure the fish significantly or prevent the Bayleys Fishing Classic administrators from being able to validate your catch.
• The V of the tail should be as close to the midline of the measure as possible. All fish must be placed side-on when on the measure.
• The measure should be placed on a flat surface.
• The jaw of the fish must not be distorted in an attempt to exaggerate the length.
• Fish must be measured fresh and must not be significantly cut in a manner that alters the length.
• We strongly recommend you DO NOT gut or gill your catch before taking the photo as generally it could render the fish ineligible for the competition. Photos with the fish clean of any blood are preferred and images with excessive blood may be declined.

Please note that your fish may not be eligible for entry to the Bayleys Fishing Classic if the above conditions are not met, however, the organisers totally reserve the right to accept an entry on the basis that an appropriate reduction in length is made for any non-compliance and/or the Bayleys Fishing Classic administrators reserve the right to disqualify any catch at their sole and absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever including but not limited to suspected measure tampering and false date submissions.

How is the length determined?

For species with a V tail, the innermost point of the V must touch or exceed the line on the measure to qualify for that 0.5cm increment. For example, if your fish is just over 40cm but does not reach the 40.5cm mark then the length recorded will be 40cm.

For species with a straight or convex tail, the measurement will be the point where the middle of the tail touches the measure. Please ensure your fish is placed so the tail is evenly spread, and the middle of the tail is along the midline of the measure. If the tail appears to have been squeezed together, a deduction in length will be made.