Two Bays Snapper Challenge 2026

Rules

Everything you need to know before you fish. Nine days, two bays, snapper only — and one new rule for 2026 that's caught a few people out already.

New for 2026

Creased brag mats lose 10%

If your brag mat is creased or folded when the fish is measured, 10% is deducted from the measured length. Lay the mat flat before you measure and photograph — it's the easiest 10% you'll ever save.

Everything else below is the same as you're used to. Read it anyway.

The short version

At a glance

When
12:01am Friday 30 October – 11:59pm Saturday 7 November 2026
Nine days. Fish from midnight Thursday night.
Where
Inside Port Phillip Bay and Western Port only — not outside the heads
Species
Snapper (Pagrus auratus) only
Minimum length
28cm fork length
How you enter a fish
Brag mat photo with the daily code, submitted through Track My Fish
Big fish
Anything 80cm or over needs video as well as a photo
Who can fish
Anyone — boat, pier, beach or kayak. No separate land-based division
Divisions
Open (18+), Junior (12 and under), Young Guns (13–17), plus the Club and Team Challenges
Presentation
Sunday 8 November 2026, Frankston Bombers Football Club

Getting it counted

How to submit a fish

Get this bit right and the rest looks after itself. Most disqualified entries fail on the photo, not the fish.

The photo

  • Use a branded brag mat bought from a tackle shop.
  • Lay the mat flat. Creased or folded costs you 10% of the length.
  • The photo has to clearly show all three of these:
    • The whole snapper, nose to tail
    • The measurement on the mat
    • The official daily code
  • Shoot straight down. Angled photos distort the length and get queried.

Fish 80cm and over

Any potential winner needs video as well. One continuous clip:

  • Fish alive and handled safely.
  • Laid on the mat with the code visible, all in the one clip.
  • Code clear and readable.

Blurry or incomplete footage is disqualified. If you think you've got a title fish, take the video before you do anything else.

Get the app first

Every entry goes through Track My Fish for Tournaments — it's free, and it's the only way to submit a fish. Download it and step through the setup before the comp opens, not while you've got a red flapping on the mat.

The daily code

A unique code goes out by SMS each morning to the number on your entry, and gets posted to the Reedy's Rigs and Two Bays Facebook pages. It has to be visible in your photo. Entered late? Watch the Facebook pages until your number's in the system.

How it's judged

Scoring and placings

  • Placings are judged on fork length, from the photo (and video where required).
  • Enter as many fish as you like. Only your longest counts for placings.
  • Tie-breaker: if two fish measure the same, the first entry submitted wins.
  • Keep it or release it — the entry counts the same either way.
  • Tampered or suspicious photos or footage void the entry.
  • The app leaderboard hides winners shortly before the comp closes, so nobody can snipe the lead.

Juniors and Young Guns

Age divisions

  • Junior — 12 and under.
  • Young Guns — 13 to 17 years.
  • Open — 18 and over.
  • Junior and Young Guns entrants can also enter the Open Division. See all five divisions.
  • We reserve the right to ask for photo ID at presentation day if there's any doubt about an entrant's age. A seventeen-year-old collecting a Junior prize isn't going to fly, and it's not fair on the kids who fished straight.
  • Age is taken as at the first day of the competition.

Winning

Collecting your prize

  • Prizes are handed out at presentation day, Sunday 8 November 2026.
  • Can't make it? We'll post your prize out to you. No one misses out for not being there.
  • The exception is the major draws — the boat package and the Mercury motor are drawn live at the end of presentation day, and you need to be on the ground for those.
  • Organisers may request photo ID before handing over a prize.

New for 2026

Team & Club Challenges

Two new ways to compete alongside the individual comp. You're still in for every individual prize either way.

Rules coming soon

Team Challenge

Fish with your mates as a team and battle it out for Team Challenge honours. Team sizes, how to register and how team scores are worked out are being finalised — full rules published here before entries open.

Rules coming soon

Club Challenge

Represent your fishing club against clubs from across Victoria. Every eligible capture adds to your club's total, and the winning club takes the Club Challenge trophy. Registration and scoring details published here before entries open.

One winner in each — no second or third. Nothing else about your entry changes: same rules, same scoring, same brag mat.

Your responsibility

Safety and conduct

  • You fish at your own risk and you're responsible for your own safety and conduct.
  • Marine safety, including weather calls, is on you. No fish is worth it.
  • All entrants must comply with current Victorian fishing regulations.
  • The comp runs in all weather. There are no refunds.

The fine print

Full rules & conditions

The complete list. If something above and something here disagree, this list wins.

  1. Fishing is restricted to within Port Phillip Bay and Western Port. Catches outside the heads are not eligible.
  2. The competition runs from 12:01am Friday 30 October to 11:59pm Saturday 7 November 2026 — nine days.
  3. Snapper (Pagrus auratus) only. Minimum length 28cm fork length.
  4. Creased or folded brag mats incur a 10% deduction from the measured length.
  5. All entries must be submitted via the Track My Fish smartphone app.
  6. The daily security code must be clearly visible in the brag mat photo.
  7. Fish of 80cm or more require continuous video evidence in addition to the photo.
  8. The app leaderboard hides winners shortly before the competition closes.
  9. Prizes are only available to registered entrants.
  10. Multiple entries allowed — only your longest snapper counts for placement.
  11. In a tie, the first entry submitted wins.
  12. Each entrant may win only one lucky draw prize. Names are not returned to the barrel.
  13. Lucky draw prizes are awarded regardless of what you catch, or the weather.
  14. Junior Division is 12 and under. Young Guns is 13 to 17. Open is 18 and over. Ages are taken as at 30 October 2026.
  15. Junior and Young Guns entrants may also enter the Open Division.
  16. Marine safety, including weather, is the responsibility of entrants.
  17. No refunds for cancelled entries.
  18. Submitting photos or video grants permission for promotional use.
  19. Organisers may request photo ID for prize collection, and may request photo ID at presentation day to verify the age of Junior or Young Guns entrants.
  20. Age is taken as at the first day of the competition.
  21. Prizes not collected at presentation day will be posted out, except the major draws, which require the winner to be present.
  22. Your information may be shared with competition supporters unless you opt out by SMS to 0412 441 074.
  23. The lucky draw is held at presentation day, Sunday 8 November 2026.
  24. Team and Club Challenge rules will be published before entries open and form part of these conditions.
  25. The competition is subject to rule changes, terms and conditions, and eligibility requirements.

Where it came from

Remembering the Tea Tree

Plenty of Victorian anglers still talk about the Tea Tree Snapper Competition. Nobody can replace it, and nobody should try. The Two Bays Snapper Challenge keeps that spirit going — a modern spring comp across Port Phillip Bay and Western Port that brings the community back together around big red snapper.

If you fished the Tea Tree, you'll feel right at home here.

Read it? Good.
Now go fishing.

Entries open through Ticketebo. One entry covers the full nine-day window, and every Open entry goes into the Lucky Prize Draw.

Enter the challenge See the prizes

Send the rules to your crew

Half the disqualifications come from someone not reading this page. Save them the trouble.

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