Quick Guide
Welcome to the Buller Bluewater Classic - presented by PELAGIC
Help us build a legacy.
The Buller Bluewater Classic is the South Island’s first-ever game fishing competition – the West Coast’s new month-long fishing contest for marlin, swordfish, tuna, mahi-mahi.
Compete throughout February or March and be a part of Buller’s new Bluewater game fishing. Enter anytime – one entry covers the whole two months.
A handy clarification regarding points, heaviest fish, and fairness for anglers traveling from elsewhere:
- Anyone can land fish, but we’re encouraging and incentivising tag and/or release
- Points matter. Most awards are based on points, and tag and/or release continues to be strongly encouraged with double points.
- New addition: We’re now recognising heaviest fish categories by tag and/or release using estimated weights, calculated by officials from measured lengths (see the measuring guides in the rules folder).
- Landed fish weights will also be tracked on the leaderboard for bragging rights and first-ever South Island records. We’re just not incentivising heavy harvest.
- One-Trip Wonder prize draw: In fairness to those who live further away / can only make one trip during the month – you’ll automatically go in the draw for prizes.
Key dates:
Competition starts: 1st Feb. Closes 3pm, 31 March – with a prizegiving and nightmarket held on Easter eve – Thursday April 2nd.
Shortjaw Saturday’s – pop in to Shortjaw Brewing on Lyndhurst Street on your way past from fishing for brews and banter
How to enter:
- Read the rules.
- Complete the registration form – enter anytime during the month,one entry covers the whole month
- One registration PER person fishing (ie not per boat – though give us your boat name as you may win champion boat!)
- Pay the $50 fee – see below
- Pick up your entry trailer sticker* which must be presented at weight in / with tag & release photos
How to record your catch:
- Report departure per maritime rules
- 1 hour prior to return to port, text 0274-383 630 so weighmaster meets you there to:
- 1) view tour entry ticket 2) weigh fish and/or 2) view evidence of tag and/or release
- At time of captures or releases report to weighmaster
- Tagged and/or measured Releases also require messaging Buller Bluewater Facebook page with evidence at the time (see instructions) – if out of cell data range text to 0274-383-630.
How to pay
*You can pay the $50 entrance fee in person at Coast Outdoors (234 Palmerston Street, Westport) or online via the following bank transfer information:
Coast Outdoors Ltd
12-3178-0104716-00 (Reference: BBC)
*If you pay online and / or will be arriving on a Saturday after 1pm or on a Sunday, message James (below) and let him know you need to pick up ticket and trail entry sticker.
Trailer Stickers & Tickets
These are essential on weigh in. Pick up from Coast Outdoors at 234 Palmerston Street, Westport. If you arrive on a Saturday after 1pm or on a Sunday, message James (below) and he’ll arrange to get your entry sticker to you.
Useful contact numbers:
- James at Coast Outdoors: 0276607493
Arranging trailer sticker collection if you have paid online, or are collecting out of hours - Garry Anderson at Promo Safety 0274 383 63
To report return to port for weighing
Accomodation options (in the event it’s all booked out)
Radio, safety and communication
See Westport Harbour Info pack.
All vessels must comply with Maritime NZ safety requirements.
Harbour Masters office: 0800 497 8427 or call/text 021 959 279.
Must give “all ships” call on VHF ch14 on entry and exit.
Comp chat Ch 8 but please monitor Ch 16 in case anyone in the area needs assistance.
Parking
Parking at times will be at capacity – we have overflow parking for those entered in this competition. See layout here.
There is a Parkrun event 7.30am – 9.30am every Saturday morning in this area and there will be children and dogs running round. That is a great community event, and we don’t want to step (or drive) on anyone’s toes, so please be mindful and share the space together.
Accommodation
There is plenty of accommodation in Buller district but if this competition gets as big as we think it might and places get filled, please see our pinned post on our facebook page – we do have options we can help with. Or call Garry Anderson 0274 383 630
Rules
Rules and info sheets found here – including Tag and/or Release information and measurement instructions.
We’re focused on ground work for next year’s event, please note that this year’s rules won’t necessarily reflect what next year’s will be.
Tag And Release:
Tag and/or release is encouraged, particularly for billfish. Plus it gets you double points. For landed fish, only one fish, per eligible species will be weighed per boat.
Award categories
Please see our social media for announcements about awards and prizes – we’ve got a swag of awards and prizes.
A few examples of trophies and/or awards:
- Buller Bluewater Classic Champion (Adult and Youth)
- Champion Boat
- Striped Marlin Champion | Swordfish Champion | Yellowfin Tuna Champion | Bluefin Tuna Champion (Southern and/or Pacific) – Adult & Youth
- NEW: Tag and/or Release Heaviest Fish Per Species estimated weight prizes
- First tagged fish – marlin or tuna – by a junior under 16
- Last Tagged Marlin
- Photo Competition prizes, Spot Prizes, Best Hard Luck Stories
- (Acknowledgement and bragging rights only: Leaderboard heaviest landed fish per species)
- One Trip Only prize draw
- … and more as announced on social media
Points
We will track weights for everyone to view, for your own bragging rights, but there are no heaviest fish categories for awards. We are encouraging Tag and Release.
Points also contribute to overall points tally for overall champion award.
Striped Marlin (Kajikia audax)
- 500 points for Tag/Release
- 250 points each for all weighed marlin
Blue Marlin (Makaira nigricans)
- 500 points for Tag/Release
- 250 points each for all weighed marlin
Black Marlin (Makaira nigricans)
- 500 points for Tag/Release
- 250 points each for all weighed marlin
Swordfish (Xiphias gladius)
- 800 points for Tagged/Release
- 400 points each for all other weighed Swordfish
Yellowfin Tuna (Thunnus albacares)
- 400 points Tagged/Released
- 200 points for weighed
Bluefin Tuna (Southern or Pacific)
- 300 points tagged Tuna
- 150 points for weighed
Mahi Mahi / Dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus)
- 400 points Tagged/Released
- 200 points for weighed
Bigeye Tuna (Thunnus obesus)
- 400 points tagged
- 200 points for weighed