Te Toa o te Onepango - Champions of the Black Sands
15 OR 16 January 2027, Whatever date is best suited with weather. The rain dates are 29/30 January 2027.
Muriwai Sports fishing Club vs Manukau Sports fishing Club
Contest Rules
The Competition will be fished under full IGFA rules and regulations. Please visit the NZSFC website (http://www.nzsportfishing.co.nz) for up-to-date information.
Date: 1 Day Tournament
Waiting period: 15 OR 16 January 2027, Whatever date is best suited with weather. The rain dates are 29/30 January 2027.
Registration: All Skippers must attend briefing night, details TBA
Entry Fee: $250 per boat
Eligibility
All skippers must be current financial members of Manukau Sports Fishing Club.
Entry fee must be paid before September 1st.
Fishing Time Start fishing 7.30AM -4.30PM
No lures or baits in the water until the start time (7.30am)
Any fish to be weighed on the day of competition must be at the weigh station by 7.30pm, No exceptions
Weigh In
All fish must be weighed in by an official Weighmaster on certified scales. All Fish must be called in on VHF Ch63 (Official Channel) the area when hooked up and landed.
All weigh forms to be handed to the official weigh master. Where possible all fish caught during the contest should be notified the official VHF Channel on that day. Properly completed Weigh Slips or Tag Cards are required to register your capture.
Tag Fish
A photo of fish with time stamp and tag visible must be made available to the official weigh master.
Minimum Weights
a) Billfish 90kg
c) Tuna 15kg (excludes albacore or skipjack tuna)
Tackle
All tackle must be in accordance with current IGFA rules and regulations. This will be checked at weigh stations.
Bad Weather
In the event of unfavourable weather conditions, the contest committee reserves the right to cancel fishing and re-schedule contest dates and times. If the contest is cancelled, entries are refundable.
Protests
Any protest concerning the validity of any catch, shall be filed in writing and signed by the plaintiff, no later than 7.30pm the same day. In the case of protest the Committee’s decision is final.
Rules
All boats must leave and return from Little Huia Harbour, on the same day. There will be a shotgun start from the 50m mark outside of the Manukau bar @ 7.30am sharp.
Contest Committee phone details
Manukau:
Daniel Sluiters - 0211516991
Vagn Dyson - 0212244428
Jesse Drake - 0212551309
Muriwai:
Scott Bell - 0224749450
Weighmaster’s phone details
Pete Jackson – 027 484 1445
Prize allocation:
Heaviest Marlin
1st place = 30% Purse allocation
2nd place = 10% Purse allocation
Most Tagged Marlin
1st Place = 30% Purse allocation
2nd Place = 10% Purse allocation
Heaviest Tuna (Excludes Albacore and Skipjack) Yellowfin, Bigeye, Bluefin Tuna only
1st Place = 20% Purse allocation
In the case one of the sections is not caught, the percentage of the category not achieved is evenly split across the other categories
If no sections are hit, the purse jackpots to the next season's comp.
Team Qualification
The initial Black Sands team is made up of the top 20 boats based on their billfish performance from the previous season.
For boats that were already part of the Black Sands team in the previous season, there is an opportunity to secure their place again by catching at least one qualifying billfish during the qualifying season.
If a returning boat catches at least one qualifying billfish, they secure their place in the following season's team regardless.
If a returning boat does not catch a qualifying billfish, they do not automatically retain their position and instead move into the reserves pool.
Once returning team boats have secured their places, any remaining positions in the 20-boat team are allocated according to billfish performance, with the highest-performing boats taking the available spots from the qualifying season.
Qualifying Billfish
For the purposes of Black Sands qualification, qualifying billfish include:
- All marlin species
- Broadbill swordfish
- Tagged or weighed over 90kg
Reserves
If a boat declines their invitation, is unable to compete on the scheduled dates, or otherwise leaves a position vacant, that position will be filled from the reserves.
The reserves are ranked according to each boat's combined billfish numbers from the previous two seasons.
Boats are ranked from highest to lowest based on their total qualifying billfish over those two seasons, and we will work down the reserve list in that order as positions become available.
Using a two-season performance measure is intended to recognise boats that have consistently performed at a high level while allowing some grace for a boat that may have had an mechanical issues, been away, or simply experienced a season where the numbers didn't go their way.
The Principle Behind the System
Black Sands is a competition based on performance, consistency and earning your place.
Every season presents an opportunity to fight for a position in the 20-boat team. Returning boats must continue to perform to secure their place, while other boats have the opportunity to challenge them and earn their way into the team.
The reserve system recognises proven performance over time, while the team qualification process ensures that spots are earned on the water.
Catch the fish. Earn your spot. Defend it.
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