About this Event
RHYTHM & FISH 2026
OFFICIAL COMPETITION RULES
Tukapa Rugby & Sports Club Fundraiser
Saturday 14 November 2026
Backup Date: Saturday 21 November 2026
“Fish Hard. Fish Fair. Fish Safe. Then Back to Tukapa for live music and weigh in and prizegiving
1. PURPOSE
Rhythm & Fish 2026 is a community fishing competition and fundraiser supporting the Tukapa Rugby & Sports Club Clubhouse Redevelopment Project.
The competition is designed to be a fun, family-friendly event while promoting safe, responsible and legal fishing.
2. COMPETITION DATE
The official competition date is:
Saturday 14 November 2026
If the competition needs to be postponed due to weather, sea conditions or other circumstances, the backup date will be:
Saturday 21 November 2026
The Tournament Committee will confirm any postponement as early as reasonably possible.
3. COMPETITOR BRIEFING & CLUBHOUSE
The Tukapa Clubhouse will open from 3:30pm on Friday and Saturday.
Competitor briefing will be held at 6:30pm Friday night
Attendance at the briefing is mandatory for all competitors.
The briefing will cover:
· Competition rules
· Safety requirements
· Official fishing times
· Weigh-in procedures
· Competition updates
· Any weather or safety considerations
Food will be available for purchase at the club Friday with a meal provided Saturday.
The official fishing start and finish times will be confirmed at the 6:30pm briefing.
4. COMPETITION PRICE
Entry is:
$60 PER ANGLER
Your $60 entry includes:
Entry into Rhythm & Fish 2026
One free pint at the Tukapa Clubhouse
Dinner on Saturday night
Free entry to the live band on Saturday night
Entry into the Lucky Angler Draws
Eligibility for all advertised competition categories and prizes
Every angler must have a valid paid entry.
5. FISHING TIMES
Fishing officially opens after the 6:30pm competitor briefing.
No fish may be caught before the official competition start time.
Fishing closes at the official finishing time announced at the briefing.
Fish caught outside the official competition fishing window will be ineligible.
6. ENTRY
The competition is open to all anglers.
Every angler must have a valid paid entry.
Entry is confirmed once the entry form has been completed and payment received.
Each angler may nominate one Taranaki Rugby Club to represent in the Top Taranaki Rugby Club Challenge.
7. FISHING METHODS
The following fishing methods are permitted:
Boat fishing
Kayak fishing
Surfcasting
Rock fishing
Drone-assisted surfcasting
All fishing must comply with current New Zealand laws, regulations and Fisheries New Zealand requirements.
Longlines
Longlines are NOT permitted in the Rhythm & Fish competition.
Drone Fishing
Drone-assisted fishing is permitted subject to the following:
Maximum 5 hooks per trace
All equipment must be used safely and legally.
All Fisheries New Zealand rules and regulations must be followed.
Competitors are responsible for ensuring their drone fishing setup complies with all applicable laws and regulations.
8. COMPETITION CATEGORIES
Prizes will be awarded for:
Heaviest Snapper
Heaviest Kingfish
Heaviest Kahawai
Heaviest Gurnard
Heaviest Trevally
Heaviest Flounder
Heaviest Crayfish
Heaviest Barracuda
Average Weight Snapper
Heaviest Junior Fish – 1st Place
Heaviest Junior Fish – 2nd Place
Heaviest Junior Fish – 3rd Place
The Tournament Committee will confirm the calculation method for the Average Weight Snapper category at the competitor briefing.
9. SPECIAL AWARDS
Additional awards will include:
Top Boat Aggregate
Best Dressed Boat
Hard Luck Award
10. MULTIPLE CATEGORY WINS
An angler can win more than one species category.
Only one prize will be awarded per species category to each angler.
If an angler weighs multiple fish in the same species category, only their highest-placing fish will count.
The next eligible angler will move into the placing.
Each fish can only be entered into one species category.
An angler may win different categories with different species.
11. JUNIOR CATEGORY
The Junior Fish category is open to eligible junior competitors as determined by the Tournament Committee.
Prizes will be awarded for:
Heaviest Junior Fish
1st Place
2nd Place
3rd Place
The fish must be legally caught during the official competition fishing period.
12. PRIZE POOL
The prize pool will be based on the number of paid entries.
The target prize pool is $10,000.
The final prize pool will be confirmed once entries close.
Tukapa Rugby & Sports Club reserves the right to adjust the prize pool or prize allocation if entry numbers do not support the advertised target.
13. WEIGH-IN
All competition fish must:
Must beable to be fresh and eaten (eg on ice)
Be presented whole, unless otherwise advised by the Tournament Committee.
Be fresh and fit for consumption.
Be presented at the official competition weigh station.
Be in the weigh-in queue before the official competition closing time.
Officials may inspect any fish presented.
Fish that appear to have been deliberately altered, tampered with or damaged in an attempt to affect the weight may be rejected.
The decision of the official weighmaster is final.
14. FISHERIES COMPLIANCE
All competitors must comply with current Fisheries New Zealand recreational fishing regulations, including:
Minimum legal sizes
Daily bag limits
Legal fishing methods
Closed areas
Marine reserves
Any other applicable restrictions
Any illegal fish will be disqualified and may result in the competitor being removed from the competition.
Competitors are responsible for knowing and following the current regulations.
15. TOP TARANAKI RUGBY CLUB CHALLENGE
Every angler may nominate one Taranaki Rugby Club when entering.
Points will be awarded in each species category, including Flounder, Crayfish and Barracuda:
Place
Points
1st 10
2nd 8
3rd 6
4th 4
5th 2
Points earned by anglers representing each nominated club will be added together.
The club with the highest total will be crowned:
RHYTHM & FISH 2026 – TOP TARANAKI RUGBY CLUB
The winning club will receive the Club Challenge Trophy and associated prize.
The Tournament Committee's decision is final.
16. SAFETY
Safety is the responsibility of every competitor.
Boat Fishing
Boat skippers are responsible for the safety of their vessel and crew.
All vessels must comply with applicable Maritime New Zealand requirements.
Appropriate safety equipment must be carried and used.
Kayak Fishing
Kayak anglers are responsible for their own safety and the safe operation of their kayak.
Appropriate safety equipment must be carried.
General Safety
Competitors must assess weather and sea conditions before and during fishing.
Nobody is expected or encouraged to fish in unsafe conditions.
All competitors participate at their own risk.
The Tournament Committee reserves the right to postpone, alter or cancel the competition due to weather, sea conditions or safety concerns.
17. FISH DONATION
After official weigh-in, all competition fish become the property of Tukapa Rugby & Sports Club.
Fish will be professionally filleted and used to provide food at the competition and prizegiving.
Any surplus fish will be donated to On the House to support the local community.
By entering Rhythm & Fish 2026, competitors acknowledge and accept this condition.
18. LUCKY ANGLER DRAWS
Every paid entrant will automatically be entered into the Lucky Angler Draws.
Spot prizes may be awarded throughout prizegiving.
Lucky Angler prizes are not dependent on fishing results.
Competitors should be present to claim prizes unless otherwise approved by the Tournament Committee.
Unclaimed prizes may be redrawn.
19. CONDUCT
All competitors are expected to:
Respect fellow anglers and other water users.
Respect the marine environment.
Dispose of rubbish responsibly.
Follow reasonable instructions from officials and volunteers.
Demonstrate good sportsmanship.
Represent the competition and Tukapa Rugby & Sports Club positively.
20. COMPETITION INTEGRITY
Rhythm & Fish 2026 is based on honesty, fairness and good sportsmanship.
The following may result in immediate disqualification:
Cheating or attempted cheating
Providing false information
Presenting fish caught outside the official competition period
Fish tampering
Breaching competition rules
Breaching fishing laws or regulations
Dishonest conduct
Conduct that brings the competition or Tukapa Rugby & Sports Club into disrepute
The Tournament Committee may:
Refuse an entry
Disqualify an angler
Remove an angler from the competition
Withhold a prize
Prohibit future participation
The Tournament Committee's decision is final.
21. ALCOHOL POLICY
The official weigh-in and prizegiving are licensed events operated under the Tukapa Rugby & Sports Club liquor licence.
NO BYO ALCOHOL IS PERMITTED
Rhythm & Fish 2026 is proudly supported by Lion, with alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages available for purchase from the licensed club bar.
Anyone bringing or consuming BYO alcohol may be asked to remove it from the premises or leave the event.
Failure to comply may result in disqualification from the competition.
22. PHOTOGRAPHY & MEDIA
By entering Rhythm & Fish 2026, competitors consent to Tukapa Rugby & Sports Club taking and using photographs and video footage from the event.
This material may be used for:
Social media
Websites
Advertising
Promotional material
Future fishing competitions
Club communications
23. DISCLAIMER & LIABILITY
All competitors participate in Rhythm & Fish 2026 entirely at their own risk.
To the extent permitted by law, Tukapa Rugby & Sports Club, the Tournament Committee, volunteers, officials, sponsors, weighmasters and representatives accept no responsibility for:
Injury or death
Loss or damage to boats
Loss or damage to kayaks
Loss or damage to vehicles or equipment
Loss or damage to personal property
Loss of catch
Weather or sea-related damage
Any other loss, damage, cost or expense arising from participation in the competition
Competitors are responsible for their own insurance and for complying with all applicable legal and safety requirements.
Nothing in these rules is intended to exclude any rights or obligations that cannot legally be excluded under New Zealand law.
24. CHANGES TO THE COMPETITION
The Tournament Committee reserves the right to:
Amend these rules
Change competition arrangements
Postpone the competition
Cancel the competition
Move the competition to the backup date
Alter arrangements due to weather, safety or other circumstances
Make decisions on matters not specifically covered by these rules
Significant changes will be communicated to competitors where reasonably possible.
The Tournament Committee's decision on any competition matter is final.
RHYTHM & FISH 2026
SATURDAY 14 NOVEMBER 2026
BACKUP DATE: SATURDAY 21 NOVEMBER 2026
$60 PER ANGLER
FREE PINT • DINNER • LIVE BAND • FISHING • PRIZES
FISH HARD. FISH FAIR. FISH SAFE. THEN BACK TO THE CHOOKHOUSE.
Proudly supporting the Tukapa Rugby & Sports Club Clubhouse Redevelopment Project.
Event venue & nearby stays
Tukapa Rugby Football Club Inc, Gladstone Road, New Plymouth, New Zealand
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.