Furuno Snapper World Cup

What the Superbowl is to North American football followers, the Furuno Snapper World Cup is to the Kiwi angling fraternity. The difference is, every time a New Zealand angler casts a line into the sea, they are potentially ‘playing’ to get their name on the iconic Furuno Snapper World Cup trophy.

The inaugural Furuno Snapper World Cup was contested as part of the Furuno Fishing Contest, awarded to the heaviest snapper caught at the three-day event, last held at Kawau Island’s Pah Farm. The tournament, held 19 times in various parts of the Hauraki Gulf, was a highlight on many crews’ fishing calendars. It was a social event with the most recent headquarters hosted in a giant marquee. To get your name etched on the prestigious trophy you had to land your snapper within the tournament’s rules and time frame, and your fish was weighed.

Today, with the Furuno Snapper World Cup being awarded to the winner of the snapper section of the Export NZ Fishing Competition, a free length-based nationwide event, you are in tournament mode every time you go for a fish once you’re registered. The contest is now far more inclusive – no tournament boundaries or time frames – and it is free to enter thanks to naming rights sponsor, Export.

The inaugural Furuno Snapper World Cup was contested as part of the Furuno Fishing Contest, awarded to the heaviest snapper caught at the three-day event, last held at Kawau Island’s Pah Farm.

As with many things over the COVID-19 years, the Furuno Snapper World Cup went into a short marketing hibernation period. But it is back and there will be an increased focus on sustainable fishing with entries based around fish length and not weight. When a contest is based on weight, the fish must die and this is a loss to the gene pool, especially as they tend to be the big specimens. With length being the determining factor, once the fish has been quickly measured and photographed, the angler has the choice as to keep or release it. The photograph has to show the fish on an acceptable measure before it is uploaded to the website.

Official measures can be purchased from the fishingcomp.co.nz and Burnsco stores, and other measures are accepted too. There is no entry fee to the Export NZ Fishing Competition and anglers can first catch their fish and enter after the fact. All snapper entered between June 1, 2023 and May 31, 2024 will automatically be eligible to contest for the trophy.

What the Superbowl is to North American football followers, the Furuno Snapper World Cup is to the Kiwi angling fraternity.

ENL Managing Director Gareth Hodson says the aim is to open the event to as many anglers as possible in a way that fits in with the company’s conservation ideologies. “The Furuno Snapper World Cup has a proud history dating back to the major multi-day event our company hosted annually, so we are keen to see as many people given the chance to get their name engraved on the trophy as possible,” says Hodson. “I am extremely pleased to announce, it’s back with vengeance.”

ENL’s recently appointed Chief Sales and Marketing Manager Richard Bowe says as promotors of the Furuno Snapper World Cup ENL wants to keep the rich history of this competition at the very forefront of snapper fishing across the length and breadth of New Zealand. “We want to continue to open up this competition and the opportunity to win a piece of New Zealand Fishing history,” Richard says. “There are some great names, captures and stories associated with the cup.

Current Furuno Snapper World Cup holder Daniel Fobbester has now secured the trophy twice

Special mention needs to be made of current Furuno Snapper World Cup holder Daniel Fobbester who has now secured the trophy twice. “There are few barriers to entry. The trophy can be fished for anywhere within the country’s 200- mile Economic Zone. Entry is free, it is based on length, not weight, keeping with the company’s conservation ethic, enabling anglers to return a trophy fish but still be rewarded for it. “It is our intention to continue to promote the competition and, in time, to also create a Furuno Annual Event within New Zealand for a fish off over a 48-hour period – stay tuned.”

To view the current leaderboard and for more info, click here.

August 2023 - Grant Dixon
New Zealand Fishing News Magazine.
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