Autumn fishing in New Zealand has a compelling new focus this year, with a nationwide competition ditching traditional weigh-in scales for smartphone technology and a catch-and-release format.
The SnapCatch Classic runs through the SnapCatch app and is free to enter. Registrations are open now, with fishing having kicked off on 30 March and the competition window closing on 10 May, just ahead of the Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show in Auckland.
Instead of bringing fish to a weigh station, competitors use an official AI Measure Mat to record the length of their catch before returning it to the water. The process follows four steps: measure, snap, submit, and release. The AI technology logs each entry by species, while a live leaderboard tracks standings throughout the competition before going blind in the lead-up to prizegiving. Several traditional fishing competitions have folded in recent years as fish numbers decline, and SnapCatch is positioning itself as a genuine alternative to the established model.
"Fishing is part of who we are as Kiwis," says SnapCatch founder Paul Minton.
"But as the sport grows, we also need smarter ways to protect it. SnapCatch gives anglers the opportunity to measure, record and release their catch, allowing people to compete seriously while supporting responsible fishing practices. It's simple, it's fair, and it's built with sustainability in mind."
The competition is open to all New Zealand anglers, with dedicated Open and Kids sections across key species including Snapper, Kingfish, Trevally, Kahawai, Blue Cod and Tarakihi.
The prize pool is worth approximately $25,000, with the top prize, a Suzuki DF2.5 outboard, going to the angler who lands the longest fish overall. Other prizes include a Lowrance Elite FS9, a Lowrance Eagle Eye 9, Yamaha grab bag packages, a 12V 1400A Intelli-Start Professional Lithium Jump Starter, Ultimate Rod Racks rod holders, and Motomuck products.
Prizegiving takes place live on the main stage at the Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show at 3pm on Saturday 16 May.
Helen Kay, General Manager at XPO Exhibitions, says the competition is a strong fit for the 2026 show.
"This is exactly the kind of innovation the industry needs. It gets people out on the water, connects them digitally, and brings them back to the Show to celebrate. It's inclusive, nationwide, and it aligns with where recreational fishing is heading."
Registration takes less than two minutes at snapcatch.co.nz, and the first 300 entrants receive a free official AI Measure Mat.
The Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show runs 14 to 17 May at the Auckland Showgrounds.
