What the Superbowl is to North American football followers, the Furuno Snapper World Cup is to the Kiwi angling fraternity. The difference is, every time a New Zealand angler casts a line into the sea, they are potentially ‘playing’ to get their name on the iconic Furuno Snapper World Cup trophy.

The inaugural Furuno Snapper World Cup was contested as part of the Furuno Fishing Contest, awarded to the heaviest snapper caught at the three-day event, last held at Kawau Island’s Pah Farm. The tournament, held 19 times in various parts of the Hauraki Gulf, was a highlight on many crews’ fishing calendars. It was a social event with the most recent headquarters hosted in a giant marquee. To get your name etched on the prestigious trophy you had to land your snapper within the tournament’s rules and time frame, and your fish was weighed.

Today, with the Furuno Snapper World Cup being awarded to the winner of the snapper section of the Export NZ Fishing Competition, a free length-based nationwide event, you are in tournament mode every time you go for a fish. 

Congratulations to the 2024-25 Season Champion -  Christian-Ray Simons!