2025 Geelong and Bellarine Snapper Classic

2025  Geelong and Bellarine Snapper Classic Event Terms and Conditions

2025 Geelong & Bellarine Snapper Classic fishing competition 1st to 15th November 2025

The Event

2025 Geelong & Bellarine Snapper Classic fishing competition

Leopold Angling and Aquatic Club’s vision is to create the largest and most environmentally sustainable snapper fishing competition in Port Phillip Bay that will have a positive impact on the community and economy of Geelong and the Bellarine and continue for generations to enjoy.

Every paid entrant is eligible for a prize in the 'entrants prize draw'. Catch a fish or not, you're in the draw!

Tag us in social media pics! #2025bellarinesnapperclassic

COMPETITION PRIZE POOL OF OVER $24,000!!!

ENTRY FEES:

Leopold Angling & Aquatic Club Member $50

Non-member $80

Juniors* Member $20 

Junior* Non-Member $30

*Entrants to junior category must be under 16 at 1/11/2025. Proof of age or relevant ID may be requested prior to prize award

HOW TO ENTER

Entry fees are payable by EFT or cash in person at Leopold Angling and Aquatic Club clubrooms, 711 Portarlington Rd, Leopold 3224 (enter via Alexander Ave Leopold).

Clubrooms are open from 4:30 pm to 7.30pm Friday’s unless otherwise announced.

Note: To be considered an entrant you MUST be registered via the Track My Fish (TMF) competition link BELOW and also register any fish you wish to enter via the Track My Fish app.

1.  Track My Fish (TMF) registration link 

2. Select to pay at the club rooms or by EFT

   EFT Payment to Bendigo Bank

   BSB #633 000

   Account #161 429 220 

   REF: Your surname

An automated email will be sent to you to confirm your successful registration upon completion.

Entrants are not deemed to be participating in the competition unless their competition entry funds have cleared into the Leopold Angling and Aquatic Club's bank account prior to the opening of the Competition.

 Geelong and Bellarine Snapper Classic entries open 19/9/25 

ENTRIES STRICTLY CLOSE MIDNIGHT 31/10/2025

Download the Track My Fish App to enter your fish during the competition

Click here for Apple (iPhone)

Click here for Android (anything that's not an iPhone. e.g. Samsung etc)

Click here to email the Geelong & Bellarine Snapper Classic

COMPETITION TIMES

Commences Saturday 1st November 2025 at 00:01am and ends 2:00pm Saturday 15th November 2025.

Note: no fish submitted outside of competition times will be accepted. The more you fish you enter, the greater your chances!

ENTRIES

Registrations for the event will open on 19th September 2025 and close at Midnight Sunday 9th November 2025. (Registration link available from 19/9/25)

PRESENTATIONS

Presentation will commence at 3pm Saturday 15th November, 2025 at the Leopold Angling & Aquatic Club, 711 Portarlington Rd, Leopold, 3224 (Enter via Alexander Ave Leopold)

MAJOR PRIZE CATEGORIES ADULT:

ADULT 1ST PRIZE: LONGEST SNAPPER (nose to fork in tail, Minimum 30cm)

ADULT 2ND PRIZE: AGGREGATE | Total nose to fork length of longest 3 fish submitted by Entrant throughout the competition (minimum 30cm nose to fork length)

e.g. 3 fish caught, 39cm, 48cm and 78cm = 165cm

ADULT 3RD PRIZE: MYSTERY LENGTH

Any competitor is eligible to claim only one (1) of the above three (3) prize categories. Where a competitor is eligible for a second category, that prize will be awarded to the next eligible competitor in the second category.

Leopold Angling and Aquatic Club Members Only

Adult 1st Prize: Club Member LONGEST SNAPPER (nose to fork in tail, Minimum 30cm)

Adult 2nd Prize: Club Member 2nd LONGEST SNAPPER (nose to fork in tail, Minimum 30cm)

Adult 3rd Prize: Club Member 3rd LONGEST SNAPPER (nose to fork in tail, Minimum 30cm)

This category is in addition to the Major Prize Draw i.e. an eligible Club Member can win the Club Member prize in addition to one of the Major Prize categories e.g. if a club member wins the longest snapper in the competition, they will also be eligible for the club member longest snapper. 

JUNIOR:

The first 40 juniors that registered will be eligible to collect a junior entry gift thanks to Aquatek Marine. The junior entry gift will be presented at the Competition Presentation 3pm Saturday 15th November, 2025 at the Leopold Angling & Aquatic Club 711 Portarlington Rd, Leopold, 3224.

If an eligible junior is not present to collect the gift from the Competition Presentation, reasonable attempts will be made to contact the Junior entrant and the gift will be held at the Leopold Angling and Aquatic club rooms until 31/12/2025.

If the gift is not collected before 1/1/25, the junior entrant will be ineligible to collect the gift.

PRIZE CATEGORIES JUNIORS:

JUNIOR 1ST PRIZE: LONGEST SNAPPER (minimum 30cm nose to fork length)

JUNIOR 2ND PRIZE: AGGREGATE | Total fork length of longest 3 fish (minimum 30cm fork length)

Any junior competitor is eligible to claim only one (1) of the above two (2) prize categories. Where a competitor is eligible for a second category, that prize will be awarded to the next eligible competitor in the second category.

All fish must be entered using a commercially available brag mat. Brag mat must be flat and clearly show length of snapper as per point 3 under "Photo Submission Rules" in the Event Terms and Conditions below.

The first 100 eligible Entrants will be eligible to receive a free 2025 Competition Brag Mat thanks to Bang Packaging which will be available from the club. If you cannot make it to the club please contact the club via its email address for options to collect the brag mat ( CONTACT US )

Event Terms & Conditions

1. The 2025 Geelong and Bellarine Snapper Classic fishing competition (“the      competition” or "the event") is deemed to signify acceptance of and compliance with all terms, conditions and rules of this event.
2. Acceptance of and compliance with all terms, conditions and rules of the competition      deems the entrant eligible to compete and accept prizes where applicable.
3. All entrants must comply with the current marine safety, Victorian fishing and boating regulations and local waterway rules where applicable as well as all other laws.
4. Any behaviour compromising the enjoyment of competitors during the      competition, broadly, may result in disqualification.
5. Australian snapper, Chrysophrys auratus, is the only fish eligible for entry.
6. If required, rules may be amended in the spirit of competition to improve the event as it evolves. Updates will be communicated to competitors by email/ social media posts.
7. The competition is conducted with an emphasis on fun, fairness, participation,      enjoyment, and sustainable fishing practices. Any participant who is deemed to compromise this may be disqualified or have their entry rejected, rendering the competitor ineligible for prizes.
8. This competition is open to AMATEUR recreational fisherpersons only, where a person who is or has been involved in professional or commercial fishing with an increased skill level from those activities will NOT be eligible to enter.
9. Any entrant deemed to be gaining advantage from a person identified in point 8      are also at risk of disqualification.
10. All competitors, unless exempted under ‘‘Victorian Recreational Fishing      Regulations’’ must have a current Victorian fishing license and are required to show a legal recreational fishing license on request by organisers for eligibility of prizes.
11. Fishing is restricted to the confines of Port Phillip Bay and Corio Bay. Snapper      caught outside this area will not be eligible for the competition.
12. In the event of any disputes, the known facts will be reviewed and discussed      between the competition committee and club president where a final decision will be reached. There will no further discussion with any dispute raised after the final decision. Any behaviour compromising the enjoyment of competitors during this decision making process, broadly, may result in disqualification.
13. All fishing anomalies will be managed by the event organisers.
14. The event organisers may consist of the club president and the committee involved with organising the 2025 Geelong and Bellarine Snapper Classic or delegates
15. Observation of all marine, boating or fishing safety issues which may impact the      participation in a way that threatens the safety of entrants, including weather conditions, is the responsibility of entrants - except where an authority (e.g. coast guard) overrides participant observations.
16. The competition may be cancelled on account of extreme weather conditions      (determined by the coast guard, water police or relevant authority) or      unforeseeable issues.
17. If the event is cancelled in accordance with point 15, the competition may be      rescheduled at a later date. Entry fees (only) will be refunded where required.
18. Prizes are only available to eligible competition entrants unless otherwise      announced by competition organisers.
19. The competition will be judged on the length of the fish measured from the tip      of the nose to the centre ‘fork’ in the tail (fork length) on a commercially available brag mat.
20. The minimum entry fish length is 30cm ‘fork length’.
21. The measurements of the fish must be clearly visible and a photograph is to be      taken via the tournament app selected for the event. Photos being uploaded from a photo library or similar on a phone is prohibited and will result in disqualification of the fish that is the subject of the photo.
22. Measurements will be rounded to the next higher complete centimetre (i.e. 54.7cms will be 55cm).
23. Where multiple fish submitted are of the same length when measured as per the      event's measuring rules, the fish submitted first will be deemed to "beat" any other fish submitted after it where they are the same length.
24. By registering for and entering the competition, you agree that your data may be used by sponsors and LAAC for marketing purposes as part of your support to the prize donors/sponsors for the competition and competitors.

PHOTO SUBMISSION RULES

1. “Catch and release” is encouraged and the utmost care should be taken to ensure a      safe return to the water of captured fish.
2. Snapper must be photographed using the track my fish app on a commercially      available brag mat, which is to be placed or mounted on a flat rigid surface.
3. Wrinkled/folded mats that, by opinion of judges, give the illusion of inaccurate      measurement of the fish in the photo will result in that photo being rejected.
4. Fish length must be clearly visible in the photograph. If the fish's fork length is not clearly visible, the judges may reject the submission.
5. The smartphone or camera used to take any images of snapper submitted in the      event may be inspected by organisers if requested. Failure to present camera or smartphone used to take the image as requested by the judges, event committee or delegate may result in disqualification from the event.
6. All submissions of photos give the event organisers permission to use photos on social media platforms and promotional material.
7. All entries that do not meet these requirements or requests will not be considered.

Tips to ensure your photo and fish are accepted

• Clean the camera lens, position the camera directly above the fish and as close as possible to show the full length of the fish plus the brag mat measurements.
• Make certain it is in focus.
• Make sure you have a way of including the daily code in your photo e.g. note pad an pen in the boat at all times.
• Don’t forget a happy snap with the angler holding the fish!
• Check the picture meets these requirements before you upload it.
• Take the photo again if it is not suitable
• Tag us in social media pics! #2025bellarinesnapperclassic

INDEMNITY

1. It is clearly understood that the entry is accepted on the condition that any person or persons participating in the contest do so at their own risk and any such person shall NOT make any claim against the Leopold Angling and Aquatic Club, the committee or any official or servant or other persons appointed by or acting on behalf of the said organisers or in connection with the competition for any injuries or loss suffered by the Entrant or any other person to by any act omission or negligence on the part of the committee or any other sponsors or official servants as aforesaid.
2. Every entrant taking part in the contest shall indemnify the said committee or other sponsors and the official servants and the other persons aforesaid against the claim by any other entrant or person whosoever or howsoever arising.
3. The organisers may, at any time before the commencement or during the      competition, refuse to accept and/or reject entry without assigning any reason thereof and without being in any way whatsoever liable to any person whatsoever for so doing.
4. Participants will be bound by the regulations governing the competition and adhere to      LAAC code of conduct. Refer below.

LEOPOLD ANGLING AND AQUATIC CLUB (“LAAC”, “the club”)

CODE OF CONDUCT FOR LAAC MEMBERS, VISITORS AND OTHERS

Membership of LAAC is a privilege and carries with it a responsibility to uphold the club’s reputation and standing in the community at every opportunity.

There are many users of the LAAC facility, therefore Members, Stakeholders, Visitors or others may not engage in conduct that brings disrepute to LAAC or is contrary to the Constitution and By-Laws of LAAC. All, however so involved in LAAC have a duty to ensure that they cause no adverse impact on any of these users because of their actions at LAAC or in the wider

community and environment.

Members, Visitors and Stakeholders must behave in a manner that facilitates, enhances and ensures the:

• reputation and standing of LAAC;

• amenity of other Members of LAAC;

• health, safety and comfort of staff employed at LAAC;

• enjoyment of visitors to LAAC; and

• physical property and facilities provided by LAAC.

Members, Visitors and Stakeholders shall not engage in conduct that:

• breaches accepted standards of public behaviour or the law;
• jeopardises the health and safety of Members, Stakeholders and Visitors;
• causes offence to Members, Staff, Stakeholders and Visitors;
• lessens the amenity and enjoyment of Members, Staff, Stakeholders and Visitors;
• damages, destroys, or lessens the value of LAAC assets;
• damages, destroys, or lessens the value of property owned by other Club Members; or facilitates the publication of material and/or comments (on any platform) that is obscene, defamatory, threatening, harassing, discriminatory, brand-bashing, hateful, disparaging or unfavourable about the Club (and/or is likely to bring the Club into disrepute or ridicule) and or about any other Member, Visitor or Stakeholder including its officers, directors, employees, agents, clients, partners, suppliers, competitors or contractors.

Any Member, Visitor or Stakeholder bringing the Club into disrepute may be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with Rules of the LAAC Constitution. Any Visitor or

Stakeholder breaching this code may be asked to leave the premises immediately. Any Visitor or Stakeholder who does not recognise or demonstrate an ongoing understanding of this code of

conduct may be asked to stay away indefinitely.