The Striped Marlin World Cup (SMWC) Tournament (hereinafter referred to as the Tournament) aims to highlight the premier striped marlin fishery and ensure fair competition. By participating, all teams agree to adhere to these rules and regulations.

• Fishing Date: February 6, 2025

• Entries Close: January 31st 2025, 8pm

• Any changes to tournament entries must be submitted via email to the SMWC HQ no later than 6:00 AM local time on February 5. Requests received after this deadline will not be considered.

• Fishing Commencement: 6:00 AM local time on February 6, 2025

• To qualify, all documentation—including both videos and the signed catch card—must be received by SMWC Headquarters (HQ) by 8:00 PM local time on February 6, 2025.

• Location: Fishing may occur worldwide, provided it complies with International Game Fish Association (IGFA) regulations and the ability to provide an IGFA signed catch card. 

• Minimum Fish Weight for Qualification: The Striped Marlin must exceed 100 kilograms to qualify.

Weighmaster Requirements: 

• Weighing must be conducted by an official weighmaster affiliated with an IGFA Club.

• The weighmaster must not be a member of the crew associated with the marlin being weighed.

• The catch must be weighed using certified scales, and the weighmaster must complete and sign the catch card provided by an IGFA-Affiliated Club.

• Weighing Facilities: Participants are responsible for securing access to certified weighing facilities at an IGFA-Affiliated Club before selecting their fishing location. The tournament organisers are not liable for any delays or unavailability of weighing facilities.

To officially register a qualifying fish in the Striped Marlin World Cup, the following procedure must be followed:

1 - Notify Headquarters

Inform Striped Marlin World Cup Headquarters (SMWC HQ) of the capture of a qualifying Striped Marlin as soon as possible. If available, provide the fish’s short length and girth measurements.

2 - Video Documentation

Two videos must be submitted:

Video 1 must clearly show:

1. The Striped Marlin alive as it approaches the boat.

2. The Striped Marlin being brought aboard the vessel.

3. A clear deck with no other Marlin present.

4. A timestamp from a secondary smartphone.

Video 2 must clearly show:

1. The Striped Marlin being weighed at an IGFA-affiliated club with certified scales. The video must show the marlin unobstructed, with the weight on the scale clearly visible.

Video Submission:

• Both videos must be submitted to SMWC Headquarters as soon as possible and no later than 8:00 PM local time on February 6, 2025 for the fish to qualify in the competition.

3 - Reporting and Documentation

Catch Card: The catch card, completed and signed by an official weighmaster, must be submitted to SMWC Headquarters by 8:00 PM local time on February 6, 2025. See the ‘Fishing Regulations’ section for full details on the catch card requirements.

4 - Communication Methods with Striped Marlin World Cup Headquarters (HQ)

Use one of the following methods to report and register a qualifying catch. Striped Marlin World Cup is not responsible for delays or technical issues beyond its control that may prevent the receipt of your documentation. If you do not receive confirmation of receipt, call SMWC HQ immediately.

Phone or Text:
Nick Ravlich: +64 21 225 7809
Jana Ravlich: +64 21 720 845

Email: stripedmarlinworldcup@gmail.com

Entry Fee: The entry fee is $2,500 NZD per team and this is non refundable.

Prize Distribution: 82% of the total entry fees will be awarded to the team that catches the largest qualifying striped marlin.

If there is a tie and the two largest qualifying striped marlin weigh exactly the same, the prize will be divided evenly between the two winning teams.

If no qualifying fish is caught, a random draw supervised by the New Zealand police will determine the winner.

A minimum of 10 boats must be registered for the tournament to proceed. If this minimum isn’t met, entry fees will be refunded to all registered boats.

Any disputes or protests must be submitted to Striped Marlin World Cup Headquarters by 8:15 PM local time on February 6, 2025. The SMWC Committee will review all disputes, and their decision will be final and binding. Teams are required to provide all necessary evidence and comply with any requests or enquiries from the committee; failure to do so will result in disqualification.

Identification: If there is a question or dispute regarding the species, SMWC Headquarters must be notified immediately.

The marlin in first and second positions must be preserved whole for 24 hours for possible dissection, inspection, and DNA testing. Teams will be notified if their fish are in first or second position.

Doubt: Participants must contact SMWC Headquarters immediately if there is uncertainty about the marlin species.

Handling: Teams are responsible for maintaining the fish’s integrity and adherence to these regulations.

Safety: The safety of participants is the responsibility of the skipper and crew.

Striped Marlin World Cup accepts no liability for safety concerns. The Tournament will proceed regardless of weather conditions. Participants must assess the seaworthiness of their vessel and the safety of their crew.

Adherence: By entering the Tournament, all teams agree to comply with these rules and any additional instructions from Striped Marlin World Cup Headquarters.

Prize Payment: The winning entry will be contacted for payment details after the completion of the tournament.