Overview
Sustainability
The Export NZ Fishing Competition has sustainability as a founding principle. You can release your catch or take it home to feed friends and family - the choice is yours as the angler. All you need to do is take a photo on an official Export NZ Fishing Competition measure, or one that has been approved for the competition (click here for approved measures), and upload it to this website.
The Competition is ongoing
The 2026-2027 season will run through to 31st May 2027. Anglers can fish anywhere in New Zealand waters, and at any time during the season. The annual Leaderboards will keep you up with the play and our permanent Hall of Fame will be an enduring record of those great trophy fish and the anglers who caught them!
Recognition and Bragging rights
The longest fish in each species will feature at the top of our leaderboards, recognising the best anglers in the country for a particular species. The contest is for fish caught using a rod and reel only, but saltwater species can be taken from boat, jetski, kayak, or from the beach or rocks. This competition is all about bragging rights but YES, we have some stunning prizes to be won throughout the season as well, thanks to our amazing sponsors!
Eligible species
Snapper, kingfish, kahawai, trevally, gurnard (red gurnard only), tarakihi (EXCLUDING king tarakihi - predominately found at major offshore structures such as King and Ranfurly banks; slightly larger and has either a less prominent band or no dark band behind the head. King tarakihi also can be identified by a dark band at the ends of the pectoral fins), john dory, blue cod, blue moki and trout are all eligible for the '25-'26 season provided they meet legal size limits and have been measured and photographed on an approved measure. Any entry submitted must include a digital photograph that clearly shows the whole fish on the measure, confirms the measurement precisely, and the placement complies with the rules for measuring your catch.
How do you enter?
You'll need to have an official measure or access to one. Place your catch on the measure and take several digital photos that clearly show the fish, in its entirety, on the measure. Upload the photo/s which will then be approved by our admin team and loaded onto the leaderboards. Please take the best photos you can, because if we can't confirm the length we reserve the right to decline your entry.
How much is it to enter?
Currently registration is FREE thanks to our mates at Export. Check out the registration page and input the code Export to unlock your registration for this season.
Registration
Registration is FREE thanks to Export! Each season finishes on the 31st May at midnight.
An approved measure is needed so your catch can be accurately assessed by our admin team. A list of approved measures can be found here and please note that ANY of these measures can be used for this competition. You can purchase a measure here.
Measures are also available at Burnsco stores nationwide.
Registration enables you to upload your entries for the current competition season, enter a qualifying fish of any eligible species, enter our sponsors sales promotions, and feature on our leaderboards.
Registration after catching a fish and photographing on an official measure (for example, such as from a charter boat, fishing club, tournament contest or using a friend's measure) is permitted.
The Export New Zealand Fishing Competition is open to New Zealand residents only. Any prizes won must be able to be delivered to a New Zealand address. The fishing area is anywhere within the NZ economic zone.
FAQs
Q: WHAT SPECIES CAN I ENTER IN THE EXPORT NZ FISHING COMPETITION?
A: Please check the current list of eligible species under Eligible Species on our Rules page as species may change from time to time.
Q: CAN I REGISTER AFTER THE FISH HAS BEEN CAUGHT AND SUBMIT MY ENTRY?
A: Yes, but the fish must be photographed correctly, either on an Export NZ Fishing Competition measure or one that we have already approved for the comp.
Q: WHAT ARE THE RULES FOR PHOTOGRAPHING THE FISH ON THE MEASURE?
A: Please read our rules on measuring your fish carefully, paying particular attention to how the fish should be placed on the measure.
Q: WHAT IF MY PICTURE ISN'T CLEAR ENOUGH TO CONFIRM THE LENGTH?
A: The Export NZ Fishing Competition admin team reserves the right to invalidate your entry if we can't confirm the fish length. All fish must be photographed to clearly show the whole fish on the measure. The photo must conform to the rules for photographing the fish on the measure.
Q: CAN SOMEONE HOLD THE FISH ON THE MEASURE WHILE THE PHOTO IS BEING TAKEN?
A: Yes, provided the photo confirms the measurement precisely and it conforms to the rules for photographing the fish on the measure (see above).
Q: WHEN THE MEASUREMENT FALLS IN BETWEEN TWO MARKS ON THE MEASURE, WHICH ONE DO I USE?
A: Measurements are rounded back to the nearest 0.5cm mark on the measure. For example, if your fish is just over 40cm but does not reach the 40.5cm mark then the length you are to record when you enter your catch will be 40.0cm.
Q: DO I HAVE TO RENEW MY REGISTRATION EACH YEAR?
A: No; once you have registered, you will automatically be re-registered at the beginning of each new season.
Q: WHAT IS THE OFFICIAL MEASURE?
A: The Export NZ Fishing Competition official measures include any measure that has been formally approved for The Export NZ Fishing Competition by the Export NZ Fishing Competition organisers (see the current list of approved measures here).
Q: CAN MY CHILDREN ENTER?
A: You must be 18 or older to register. This is because Export is a major sponsor of this competition, and alcohol advertising is not permitted to people under the age of 18.
Q: WHAT HAPPENS TO MY RECORDS IF I DON'T RENEW MY REGISTRATION?
A: Species leaderboards are refreshed at the end of each season. Any catch that features in our 'Hall of Fame' leaderboards will remain in those leaderboards until it is beaten by a larger specimen.
