BLACK SANDS 2027 – INVITE‑ONLY SHOWDOWN

The rivalry returns. Manukau Sport Fishing Club vs Muriwai Sport Fishing Club— the annual Black Sands clash is back for 2027.

Event Dates: 15–16 January 2027 Rain Date: 29–30 January 2027.

This is our invite‑only showdown, and the Black Sands Trophy is well and truly in play. Muriwai took the inaugural win in 2025, Manukau stormed back and claimed it in 2026, and now it’s all on for 2027. The score’s tied, and bragging rights over the entire West Coast are up for grabs.

Who’s taking the trophy home this year — Muriwai or Manukau?

Right now this is just a holding page — but the challenge is set.  BLACK Sands is coming.

25/06 Update - The end of Season is fast approaching & the  catches are being tallied.   The 2027 Black Sands team will be announced shortly.   

Black Sands Team Qualification

The Black Sands team consists of 20 boats.

Boats that represented MSFC in the previous year’s tournament only need to catch one qualifying billfish during the qualifying season to automatically secure their place in the following year’s team.

If a returning boat fails to catch a qualifying billfish, it loses its automatic qualification and must requalify under the standard selection criteria the following season.

Any remaining vacancies will be filled by boats in order of the highest number of qualifying billfish caught during the qualifying season, working down the rankings until all 20 places are filled.

If two or more boats have caught the same number of qualifying billfish, the higher placing will be awarded to the boat that caught its qualifying fish first.