Kubota Billfish Classic: The Largest and Richest Fishing Event in New Zealand

This week's Kubota Billfish Classic tournament will bring a welcome boost to the local economy.

Event organiser, Tom Maxwell estimated that last year's tournament brought in $1.2 million into the local economy, and is expecting that this year the impact will be double.

This year we have 265 boats registered and entries are sold out. The fishing contest will see approximately 1,200 anglers and fishing enthusiasts from around the world gathering in Whitianga for the chance to win big. This event certainly contributes to our local economy and puts our town firmly on the fishing event calendar.

– Tom Maxwell, Kubota Billfish Classic event organiser

Event supports local student scholarship

This year anglers and supporters of the event can take home apparel branded with an event logo designed by Mercury Bay Area school student Vienna Blofield. 

Last year Vienna entered her design and was the winning recipient of the $5,000 Kubota Billfish Classic scholarship which was established to support local students with tertiary education costs. 

A selection of long and short sleeved tees and hoodies with Viennas design can be purchased from Longshore Marine in Whitianga. For each piece of merchandise sold, $5 will go back into the 2024 scholarship fund.  

Kubota Billfish Classic Major Prizes 

The heaviest billfish of the tournament will take home a whopping $200,000 prize, with other prizes up for grabs including:

• gate prize/last man standing will receive a Kubota Sidekick utility rig valued at $30,000
• heaviest tuna and heaviest mahimahi will each receive $10,000
• first billfish tagged each day will win a full set of Shimano Tiagra/Stella Combos
• last billfish tagged, the prize is even more exciting. The winner will receive $5,000 plus 4 nights' accommodation and a 2-day charter in Vavau, Tonga
• last man standing tagging prize, every tagged billfish goes into the draw for a chance to win $5,000 and a 4-day charter in Kona Hawaii
• spot prizes. 

There are also jackpots for the champion team on billfish points. The potential total purse is up to $927,500, with 70% going to first place, 20% to second place, and 10% to third place. Every  individual jackpot entry gets an entry into the draw to win a Kubota zero turn ride-on mower.

Every team that enters all three jackpot options across the board also goes into the draw for a chance to win a return helicopter flight to Lottin Point, East Cape, plus a 4-day hunting trip and accommodation.

More information about the event

For more information go to the All About Whitianga Events page using the link below.