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October 1st - 4th 2025
  • Sparkling gold game fishing gear
  • Bird view of Port Douglas with game fishing boats leaving marina
  • Bird view of game fishing boats in one row heading out to the Great Barrier Reefs
  • Game fishing boat Saltaire heading out to the Great Barrier Reef
  • Game fisher grabbing fishing line to draw in jumping marlin fish during tournament

Event Information

THE ANNUAL PORT DOUGLAS MARLIN CHALLENGE WILL RUN FROM THE 1st OCTOBER UNTIL THE 4th OCTOBER 2025.

Anglers from all over Australia and the world come to Port Douglas to undertake the challenge of fishing for one of the ocean's greatest prizes, the Marlin. The Marlin Coast hosts some of the best Marlin fishing in the world and game boats and crews arrive in Port Douglas to team up with the anglers, all with the anticipation of being the one to catching giant Black Marlin.

  • The Tournament format will differ from previous years. The pre-tournament briefing will be via email rather than a briefing night event.

  • Fishing will commence at 11.00am on 1st October and, different to previous years, fishing can commence anywhere within the permitted fishing zone, i.e between the top of Ribbon No. 5 and the bottom of Jenny Louise Shoal. The final day of fishing will be the 4th October 2025.

  • On the evening of the 4th October the compulsory Presentation night will be held at Salsa Bar and Grill, Port Douglas at 7pm.

THE TROPHY

Leon Thomas

25th March 1934 - 18th April 2011


Leon was Born in Dandenong Vic and spent his childhood at Barwon Heads. His best mates father was a commercial fisherman and Leon and his mate would go out and help on the 30 foot dory (these were known as 'Couta boats), trolling under sail for Barracouta.

His trade was printing and he got a job as ships printer on the coastal passenger/ freighters that ran between Sydney and Freemantle. He then moved to Sydney after he left the shipping company and founded a business with a partner that was to become Lynx Engineering in Croydon. At first mainly specialising in wrecking/building/ racing/ repairing/ MGTC sports cars, the business grew and branched out to cover modifying and 'hotting up' all types of cars.

In the early 70's Lynx branched out into boatbuilding, making 16 and 18 foot “Sidewinder” speed boats under license from a company in California, these were popular and in the mid 70's Leon sold out of Lynx taking as part of the payout the Sidewinder moulds and rights to build them. During this period Leon always owned a boat, ranging from a 24 foot Savage Ranger, 24 foot Mustang which he finished from lock-up stage and a 28 Bertram which were all used as fishing platforms, mainly for bottom fishing. He also always had a ski boat and loved weekends away on the Hawkesbury River water skiing.

Rules and Regulations

  1. Tournament Fishing Zone: Between top of Ribbon Reef No.5 and the bottom of the Jeny Louise Shoals.
  2. Eligible Species: Black Marlin (ISTIOMPAX indica); Blue Marlin (Makaira nigricans); Striped Marlin (Tetrapturus audax).
  3. Eligible Tackle: As published in GFAA angling rules and equipment regulations.
  4. Eligible Line Class: 37kg and 60kg line may be used.
  5. TAG & RELEASE ONLY EVENT: No fish will be weighed in the Tournament and this year a deckhand or crew member that touches the leader will be deemed a tagged fish. This allows for quicker release. IMPORTANTLY the leader may not exceed 30ft or 9.14m, the combined length of the double line and leader shall be limited to 40ft or 12.19m
  6. IMPORTANTLY: All Hooked fish must be radioed to Tournament Base immediately. Upon this communication the skipper will receive a 3 digit code (each different hookup will receive a random code). This must be recorded clearly on the equivalent of an A4 page (we recommended a small white board that won't get water damaged). This code must be shown recorded on video footage from the beginning of the hookup and once again at the end if a tag is recorded - uninterrupted. Stop/ Start Footage will be not be considered. So be oragnised in this regard.
  7. By day's end this video footage must be sent to tournament base via or phone or email to be eligible for cash prizes. These exact details will emailed to skippers in the briefing prior to the tournament. 
  8. Point Score: One (1) point per live marlin tagged & released in accordance with the Rules, irrespective of whether 37 or 60kg line was used.
  9. Number of Days Fished: Competitors may elect to fish all or any number of competition days within the Tournament dates. There is no reduction in fees for fishing less than 4 days.
  10. Judges: Port Douglas Fishing Club shall appoint Tournament Judges whose decision shall be final and binding and no correspondence will be entered into relating to the Judges decisions.
  11. Start Fishing: No Tournament fishing or chumming shall commence before starting time each day. Any fish hooked after the final radio sched but before stop fishing MUST be reported to the Radio Boat and acknowledged to be eligible. The fish may then be played out subject to the conditions of Rule 6.
  12. Radio Scheds: All hook-ups, fish lost, tags & releases must be immediately reported to the Radio Ship. The time of the tag & release is deemed to be the time at which the tag & release is reported to the Radio Ship. Details of Radio Scheds will be emailed prior to the tournament.
  13. Protests: A Protest must be submitted in writing to the Judges by 1900 hours on the last day of fishing.
  14. Tackle Inspection: Equipment and tackle used by competitors may be inspected at random by the Tournament Judges.
  15. The committee reserve the right to cancel or postpone the tournament if conditions are deemed to be too dangerous for the boats and crew.
  16. DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY: THE PORT DOUGLAS FISHING CLUB (THE CLUB) AND ITS OFFICERS ARE THE ORGANISERS OF THE PORT DOUGLAS MARLIN CHALLENGE (THE TOURNAMENT) AND ALL BOAT OWNERS, BOAT CAPTAINS, CREW AND ANGLERS INVOLVED IN THE TOURNAMENT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE CLUB AND ITS OFFICERS DO NOT ACCEPT ANY LIABILITY FOR LOSS, DAMAGE, INJURY OR DEATH TO ANY BOAT ENTERED IN THE TOURNAMENT OR ANY PERSON ONBOARD A BOAT ENTERED IN THE TOURNAMENT. ON THE REGISTRATION FORM THERE WILL BE BOX TO TICK WITH ABILITY OF PROOF ATTAINING TO SELF BOAT INSURANCE WHICH IS MANDATORY. 
Download Rules and Regulations

MEDIA CONDITIONS OF ENTRY

  1. Port Douglas Fishing Club ("the Club") may enter into an agreement with our sponsors which grants our sponsors exclusive rights to naming of the Tournament, sponsoring of the tournament and electronic media production rights, which includes the right to commercial production of DVDs and videos for use in filming television and DVD distribution.
     
  2. It is a condition of entry to the Tournament that a competitor may not:- a.Conduct or permit to be conducted any activity during the Tournament including filming, videoing, photography or interviewing, of the activities of the competitor, the competitor's boat, crew or visitors during the Tournament or relating to the competitor's participation in the Tournament or to the activities of the Tournament which is used for or may be used for the production of any commercial electronic media release whether before, during or after the Tournament without written permission of the club. b. Conduct or permit any activities to be conducted either during before or after the Tournament which uses or refers to the Club, its logo, the Tournament name or relating to the participation in the Tournament which is used for or may be used for the production of any commercial electronic media release without written permission of the club.
     
  3. If in the opinion of the Tournament Committee, a competitor breaches this rule the competitor may be immediately disqualified from the Tournament and further action may be taken against you for damages suffered by the Club.