It’s time for the return of the RIVER RIPPER!

Back by popular demand, we will run this competition over the weekend of 28th Feb to 2 March 2025.

Fishing starts 5pm Friday and entries must be received via email by midday Sunday the 2nd March.

Fishing must be completed within the river as per the rules, and we encourage catch and release of fish to preserve the fishery in the river.

Main Species will be Snapper, with other normal species that will be added to suit the entries received. Send us a picture and see what happens! There will also be a flounder category for those mud shufflers.

Categories will be Open and junior. Junior must be under 15 years of age at the commencement of the competition.

Please read the rules thoroughly to ensure that you enter the fish correctly. A briefing will be held at the club on Thursday the 27th February at 6PM to run through everything and answer any questions. There will be a spot prize of a bar tab for those that have entered and attend.

Measure mats for sale at the bar.

Entry is $30 for an adult and $20 for a junior.

Keep and eye on "STILLWATER BOATING CLUB FISHING EVENTS" on Facebook for more prize announcements and updates.

SWBC 2025 RIVER RIPPER RULES

This competition is run by the fishing committee or other nominated members of the Stillwater Boating Club (the committee). The committee shall have final decision-making powers on the eligibility of any angler or catch entered into the competition. Timing, species and prizes available may be amended due to catch numbers, weather or entrants at the committee’s discretion.

Read these rules carefully and if in doubt ask a committee member for clarification. Entries that are deemed invalid will not be eligible for any prizes.

The Competition

This competition is created to promote enjoyment of the resource we have in the Weiti river. The committee strongly encourages returning of fish to the river once measured.

This competition is to be run over the weekend of 28 February to 2 March 2025. Prize Giving will be held at the club at approx 4pm on Sunday the 2nd March. Fishing will commence 5pm 28 February and entries must be received by midday 2nd March.

No postponement date. In the event of a natural disaster, a refund will be given.

Fishing Method

NZ Fishing rules must be observed. Fish must be caught on a rod and reel, or flounder by spear.

No longlines, no nets.

Fishing Area

All Fishing must be completed within the boundary of the entry to the Weiti river, see below snip of a line from the yellow reserve marker on land to the red pole, continuing through the green pole to the northern headland of the river.

Map: View Map

Valid Species

Normal Species will be as below but not limited to:

• Snapper

• Flounder

• Longest other species.

Other species may be added at the discretion of the committee and will be notified prior to competition commencing.

*No sharks, rays or eels.

Entering A Fish

One fish per species can be entered for the competition. An angler may send in more than one fish to be entered but only the longest eligible fish will be entered for any prizes. Entries must be sent to fishing@swbc.co.nz by close of competition. All entries must have the angler’s name, species and length of the entry in the subject line.

In the event of a tie the entry that was received the earliest to the nominated email address will take the highest placing.

Anglers must be in attendance at the prizegiving to receive/ be valid to receive their prize. No show – no prize. Prize giving date will be announced prior to competition commencing.

Photographing The Fish

Providing a clear and valid image of the fish is the anglers responsibility and failure to enter a valid photo may be grounds for the committee to invalidate or deduct length from the entry.

Photos must be taken on a valid measure mat showing 5mm increments and a 90-degree plastic stopper. Tape measures and stickers are not valid. A list of valid measure mats and examples of photos can be viewed here https://www.fishingcomp.co.nz/approved-measures/

Providing the measure mat has an L shaped end and has been provided by a reputable supplier then other measures may be acceptable. If in doubt contact a committee member.

The fish must be placed so that the upper or lower jaw are against the stopper in their natural position (i.e., not elongated) and the tail is spread to prove length. Depending on the species and type of tail the measure will be taken to the shortest point of the V or longest point of the flat or inverted tail. Gutted, gilled or butchered fish will not be accepted. Measures will be rounded down to the nearest 5mm marking.

At the commencement of the competition the committee will announce via email and social media a number or object that must be in the photo. This object or number must be clearly visible in the photo and if incorrect or not clearly visible may be grounds for invalidating the entry.

Categories

Prizes will be awarded to categories as listed in the competition announcement, these categories will be divided into, but not limited to:

• Open

• Junior under 15 years

If a competitor enters a fish that places in the open category then that entry will be moved to that category and no longer be valid in the sub category. For example, if a junior catches a fish that places in the open category the entry will be removed from the junior category and be valid only in the open category.

General

Competition entry must be received before the commencement of the competition.

The committee reserves the right to amend comp formats and rules and will do their best to announce these via social media, email etc.

It is solely the entrant’s responsibility to be aware of the rules and requirements, the committee will be available to explain or clarify any areas that the angler does not understand.

The aim of the competition is to be fun and inclusive, any behaviour or actions deemed against this aim may be grounds for exclusion from the event.