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We do this yearly so that you lot get the chance to get your hands on some really nice prizes and we get the chance to stock up our image library again, so you need to be comfortable with us possibly using the photos for our content! This year we have pulled the competition under our FishCare program to help shed light on the myriad of issues facing our oceans and marine life, as well as help educate fishers on our five principles: Reduce Wastage, Maximum Survival of Fish, Maximum Utilisation, Impact and Safety/Personal Wellbeing.

Get ready to immerse yourself in the beauty of our oceans and showcase your photography skills on the world stage (we have subscribers overseas who may see these so we can say that) while also hopefully learning a few tips and tricks along the way around our FishCare’s school of best practice.

This year we have some impressive prizes to take away for each of the seven categories, as well as an overall prize for the best picture of the season. Our categories are all pretty special and feel-good, bar one – which is us looking for the nitty-gritty of what isn’t working in our oceans. It’s the pollution, the overfishing, the death and destruction of the marine world. Grim right? But that’s the reality!

1. Landscape Coastal Shots

Landscape and Coastal Images sponsored by Endemic World – with the winner getting their image framed by Endemic World in the size that they want. 

This category fits best under principle four of our FishCare program – Impact. Thinking about our part in the impact we have on our oceans, beaches and the life that live there. Little changes at a personal level can make a huge difference. 

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2. Underwater Photos

The underwater category is sponsored by our good friends at New Zealand Underwater. We’re looking for the best shot you take underwater. So pull on your website and set up your underwater camera or housing and get in the water!

The prize for this section is a $500 voucher at Splash Dive

This category fits across several FishCare principles, as a lot often do, but is best suited to number two – Maximum Survival. When we are out diving for kaimoana or spearing fish, we want to ensure that we are only touching and interacting with what we are planning to take for food. For example, that might mean not handling smaller crayfish or paua if you aren’t taking them.

3. Marine Life in Their Natural Environment

For this category, sponsored by Marine Deals, we would like to see any marine life (fish, birds, sea mammals, crustaceans, etc) in their natural habitat (not at the end of a line!). We want glorious photos of our wonderful wild life doing their thing.

The incredible prize for this category is a Shimano rod and reel surfcasting package with tackle, worth over $700 from! 

This is another strong contender for FishCare principle four – Impact. The way we interact with marine life is so important. From ensuring we aren’t injuring or killing seabirds and sea mammals and that the way we are conducting ourselves out while boating or fishing isn’t putting their lives in danger. Principle one is also very important here – Reduce Wastage. The rubbish that makes it to the ocean is incredibly dangerous for marine life. 

4. Collecting and Catching Kaimoana

Sponsored by Okuma, this is all about catching a feed and taking some great shots of it. We want to see some epic fishing and gathering shots, whether it’s pulling up monsters from the deep, shooting a kingi with the spear gun or gathering pipis from the beach. But please, not trophy shots. We want to see you in action, not holding up the big one!

The prize from Okuma for this category is an Okuma Coronado CDX 60 Tournament Concept Medium Light Boat Combo 7ft worth $379! An outstanding rod and reel combo.

FishCare’s principle two is very fitting here – Maximum Survival. It’s all about ensuring that the fish that are caught and aren’t being kept are handled correctly so that they have as much chance of surviving when put back that they possibly can. This means keeping fish in the water where possible, handling with wet hands, using de-hoookers etc. 

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5. Preparing, Cooking, and Eating Kaimoana

Now you’ve caught your feed, how are you going to make it tasty? This category, sponsored by Cobb Grills, is all about getting your kaimoana ready to eat, cooking it and of course eating it. We want you to capture the experience of cooking great food, with an emphasis of maximum utilisation and minimising waste.

Cobb are supplying the prize for this category. A Charcoal COBB Grill Premier  worth $289!

Principle three of the FishCare program is Maximum Utilisation – using as much of the kaimoana that you catch as possible. This means you’re eating more than just the fillets, and giving maximum respect to the seafood you have caught. It also means that we don’t always have to catch as much when we are eating more of what we do catch!

6. Things That Ain’t Right in Our Oceans

Unfortunately there are a lot of bad things going on in our oceans. From destructive fishing methods, like bottom trawling, to dumped fish, the rubbish and pollution. For this category we want to see photos of all the bad stuff that you see. It’s not most inspiring category, but it’s something we can’t ignore.

Things that aren’t right in our Oceans sponsored by LegaSea: LegaSea prize pack worth $350 including a kingi board, hat, sunglasses and UV top

This is a big one, and fits under all five of our FishCare principles: Reduce Wastage, Maximum Survival, Maximum Utilisation, Impact and Safety/Personal Wellbeing. Everything we do out on the water as recreational fishers has a flow-on effect and so when we take the time to make small positive changes, the results can fantastic. Our oceans and marine life are under constant pressure so it’s crucial we all play a part in helping restore abundance. 

7. Kid’s Photos

This category, sponsored by Wettie, is for the budding young marine photographer. If you are 13 years or under you can enter this category with any marine shots that you would like. 

And the Kids category – for kids, by kids – sponsored by Wettie! – two kids snorkelling sets with fins.

The kids section is a good chance to help teach the next generation of fishers to be the best guardians of our oceans and the life that dwells in and on the salty blue. 

Overall winner

The overall winner will be judged by New Zealand Fishing News and will receive a one year print subscription. All the winning photos will be published in the April 2025 NZ Fishing News edition. 

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Entries open on the 21st of December 2023 and cruise through until the 29th of February 2024 so if this page is live and you can submit photos then it’s still underway!

This is the perfect opportunity to capture the wonders of our oceans, shed light on marine conservation issues, and revel in the joy of fishing, boating, diving and all other nautical and aquatic activities. All shutterbugs, regardless of age or skill level, are encouraged to dive into the depths and participate. 

How to Enter:
? Capture your best shots according to the categories.
? Submit your photos HERE before the competition deadline.
? Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates and announcements.
Judging Criteria:

Our panel of expert judges will be on the lookout for creativity, composition, relevance to the category, and overall visual impact.

Terms and Conditions:

• No photos of trophy fish – no holding of caught fish and no weigh-ins thanks!
• Each participant can submit as many photos and can enter as many categories as they would like. Some photos might fit into multiple categories anyway!
• By entering the competition, participants agree to the T&Cs.
• Only photos taken by the entrant in the last 24 months will be accepted.

That’s it – it really is just as simple as capturing the content, submitting it here and waiting to see if your photos have what it takes to take out some top spots! Winners will be contacted directly and announced on our FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM pages.