OTAMARAKAU SCHOOL SURF FISHING COMPETITION 
​Entry Fee: NZ$35.00 Per rod or handline
Sunday 24 March 2024
Start Time 07h00
Prize Giving at School 14h00
2216 Old Coach Road, Te Puke 3186
Rod tags are available for pickup from Otamarakau School
Present confirmation email to verify at the school 
Monday to Friday 9am-2.30pm from now until the competition
Friday 22nd March until 5pm
Saturday 23rd March 10am - 6pm
Sunday 24th March from 5.30am 
Welcome to our 2024 Fishing Competition, we trust you will have a most enjoyable time and a successful day with us. 
(Please read this entry ticket carefully as there will be no replacements) 
Entry Fee $35.00 per Rod or Handline 
  1. By purchasing this ticket it constitutes acceptance of the rules and regulations of the competition - if in doubt, ask the officials before you start, as no warning will be  given. Any competitor who commits a breach of the rules will be disqualified. The decision of the organising committee shall be final and no correspondence will be  entered into. 
  2. HEADQUARTERS:  Contest  Headquarters  and  official  weigh-in  is  at  Otamarakau  School,  2216  Old  Coach  Rd.  Parking  for  prize  giving will  be  available  on  the  School  grounds as directed by the parking wardens. 
  3. CONTEST START: Competitors are permitted to site themselves at their desired fishing positions on the beach prior to 7.00am. However, any competitor who is found  to be fishing prior to this time will be automatically disqualified. Beach Wardens will signify official start by the raising of their marker flags and finish by the lowering of  the flags. 
  4. HOURS:7.00am — 12.00pm. Final weigh-in closes at 1.00pm, followed by presentation of prizes. 
  5. BOUNDARIES: Otamarakau Sandpit to Murphy’s Motor Camp as identified by Warden’s flags on beach (subject to change). 
  6. CASTING: A more competent person may cast  for others, but each competitor must land their own  fish. Assistance in gaffing of large  fish is permitted. Only rods or  handlines are permitted. Lines must not be taken out on surfboards, by swimmers, kontikis, bait mortars, kayaks or fishing torpedos etc. One ticket allows one handline  or rod per person, no sharing lines. 
  7. TAGGING: All fish when caught must be taken ALIVE to your nearest Beach Warden’s Post, as identified by flags, where they will be recorded and marked by a Beach  Warden. Fish must be weighed in at Contest Headquarters any time between 7.00am and 1.00pm. Fish that have not been tagged by a warden on the beach prior to weighing in at headquarters will be disqualified. 
  8. DISQUALIFICATION: Any non-competitors  fishing with competitors renders such competitor liable  for disqualification. Also a competitor  fishing with an unregistered  rod or handline during  the contest renders the competitor liable  for disqualification.  Any weighed  fish may be gutted immediately after weighing in. The presence of any  foreign matter in the body of a fish shall warrant disqualification of the competitor. 
  9. COMPLAINTS - Any competitor who wishes to lay a complaint against another competitor  for breach of the rules must do so in writing to the organizing committee  before 4pm on the day of competition for it to be investigated. This is your competition and you can assist in ensuring that there is fair play at all times.
  10. The organizing committee lays no claim to any fish caught. Fish will be returned to you immediately after your weigh-in. 
  11. Please take your rubbish and please do not leave empty bottles or other trash on the beach. Please respect the birdlife and sand dunes. 
  12. Please take care with the parking of your vehicle on the main road to ensure it does not obstruct traffic. 
  13. In the event of a tie, the first fish weighed in at Headquarters will be declared the winner. 
  14. Tickets are not refundable. Each ticket is registered to each individual entrant and are only transferable if a request is made to the organizers in writing a minimum of 5  days prior to the competition.. TICKETS PURCHASED ONLINE MUST HAVE REGISTERED AT OTAMARAKAU SCHOOL OR ANY OF OUR TICKET RETAILERS TO RECEIVE A  HAVE ROD TAG WITH YOUR TICKET NUMBER AND NAME CLEARLY WRITTEN ON THE TAG. ONLY ONE ROD PER TICKET AND ONE TAG PER ROD
  15. PRIZES: In the event that any prize is unclaimed due to insufficient fish caught, the prizes will be distributed at the discretion of the organisers by way of random ticket  draw.  The number on the ticket will be used as the basis for the draw and the ticket must be presented at the time of the draw to claim the prize.  Failure to produce  the winning ticket will result in a redraw.  Only people present at the time of the draw can win a prize. If one fish qualifies for more than one prize it will automatically  be allocated to the higher value prize. ONE FISH IS ELIGIBLE FOR ONE PRIZE ONLY. 
  16. ROD TAGS: Must be collected and attached to the rod before fishing commences. These can be collected from the school office Mon to Fri during school hours 8.30am - 2.30pm leading up to the competition or by showing your ticket at any of our retailers stipulated on the website on Fri the 22nd between 8.30am 2.30pm. Sat 23rd between 10am till 4pm or Sun 5am till 12pm. Please bring your ticket (either printed or on phone) as proof of purchase. All rod tags must have the order number and the name of the ticket holder and/or rod holder printed on the rod tag.
  17. Only competitors present at the time of the spot prize draws can win a prize upon presentation of their ticket. Failure to do so will result in a redraw.
  18. Competitors who win a major prize and are not present at prize giving are  responsible  for collecting or arranging collection and delivery of  their prize at  their own  expense.  The Otamarakau School Fishing Competition Committee accept no responsibility for any prizes after 5pm on 24th of March 2024
  19. Please respect our beach and keep only to established access tracks. Please keep all vehicles off the dunes. 
  20. Otamarakau School accepts no liability for injury, damage or loss to yourself or others whilst participating in the competition. 
  21. CHILDRENS SECTION - Only one fish per child will be eligible to win prizes in the Children’s section, any further fish caught by this child would then be entered in the  open section.  Only children age 12 years and under as at 24th of March 2024 are eligible to enter this section. No shellfish or crabs. 
  22. LADIES SECTION - Only one fish per Lady will be eligible to win a prize in the Ladies section, any further fish caught by this Lady would be entered in the open section.   Only Ladies aged 13 years and over as at 24th of March 2024 are eligible to enter this section. Only fin fish will be eligible. No sharks or rays. 
  23. All competitors must comply with the MPI Auckland/Kermadec Fishing Rules. The minimum lengths of fish that may be taken are set out below. Fish smaller than these  must be returned immediately to the water alive and unharmed. Sand Flounder (or Dab) 23cm, Flatfish, Trevally, Red Cod, Red Gurnard and Tarakihi -25cm; Blue Cod and Snapper -30cm; Butterfish – 35cm; Moki – 40cm; Kingfish – 75cm. 
  24. ALL OTHER SPECIES SECTION - Only fin fish will be eligible. NO sharks or rays. 
  25. PHOTOGRAPHS - Photos may be taken by Otamarakau School Fishing Competition Committee during the contest and at prizegiving. These photos may be used for publicity and similar purposes. By entering the competition contestants understand and give permission for such usage.
Please ensure the competition is accident free, please take care.

Finally we wish you well, and trust that when you leave the beach you will exercise utmost care on the roads. 

GOOD LUCK! GOOD FISHING! BE CONSIDERATE 
Together We Build Life-Long Learners