Port Douglas Marlin Challenge

20/08/2026

Hi to Everyone from the Port Douglas Marlin Challenge 18th - 21st November 2026. Over $50K up for grabs.
Below is the current outline of cash prizes & categories allocated thus far.

CATEGORIES
Winning Skipper / Boat (sponsored by AST Australia)
1st 10K plus 3 days slipping at the Big Boat Shed
2nd 5K
3rd 3K
4th 2K

Champion Angler (sponsored by Phoenix One Luxury Charters)
1st 3K plus a Tommy Bahama Voucher
2nd 2K

Daily Winners x 4 (sponsored by Cooktown Lure Shop & Cairns Coastal Coverings)
1K per day

Winning Deck Team (sponsored by Australian Sportfishing Charters)
1st $2K
2nd $1K
3rd $500

Salt Diary App
1st $5K (applies only to those that register on the Salt Diary App for the tournament)

Calcutta Prize Awarded to Top 3 Placings - Prize Pool TBA
60% 1st
20% 2nd
10% 3rd
10% Club

World Championship Invites to Costa Rica 2027
(over 2 million dollars in prize money)
Top 3 boat placings

If you have a successful event this could be a tournament to
REMEMBER for all your team involved .........

Registrations Close 11th November 2026
Luxury Salsa Bar presentation 21st November 2026 - 7pm.

Please any questions call Heff 0409610869
or email [email protected]
OR Register NOW !
www.portdouglasmarlinchallenge.com.au

08/07/2026

Hi to Everyone,
we are proud to announce a new major sponsor for the Port Douglas Marlin Challenge 18th - 21st November 2026.
We welcome Tom Chrisp, the main man behind the new Salt Diary App which is detailed below. Personally it is a game changer for keeping your log book and so simple to use. Committee member & 25yr skipper Damian Collete of the 60ft Shaka luxury game boat, has given it his highest approval as a must have tool for all in the pelagic game industry or even as a recreational angler.

Salt Diary Description -
Salt Diary is a simple, easy to use app that allows you to log and track your Pelagic fishing.

Log each fish within seconds of it happening whether it be Raised, Hooked or Caught. With each entry into your personal Salt Diary crucial information like Water Temperature, Moon Phases, Tide Phases, Currents, Altimetry / Location, Dates and much more are automatically logged privately and securely. Even if your offline whilst fishing it will update as soon as you return to reception.

Salt Diary then recognises patterns in that information and recommends your most productive conditions so you know exactly what to look for the next time you head out. Even if it is a trip next year you are geared with all the relevant information to plan ahead. It can also summarise into a weekly, monthly or quarterly report for you to refer back to any time you wish.

Are you ready to Log Your Legacy for years to come ?

Extra info!?
- Salt Diary will Launch officially in approx. 3 weeks on IOS and Android but available to quickly look at on-line now via the website.
- How people can find us
Website - Saltdiary.com
Instagram - Saltdiaryapp
Facebook - SaltDiary
Email - [email protected]

We are proud to have Tom as one his first major endeavours to launch this exciting concept and he has committed to a 5K prize to those that use this app for the during the 2026 Port Douglas Marlin Challenge.

Thanks Heff

01/07/2026

Hi to Everyone from the Port Douglas Marlin Challenge,
we have a few announcements to make but just a reminder our tournament dates are the 18th - 21st November 2026. Presentation night will be at the legendary Salsa Bar.
Exciting news we have 3 new sponsors as follows:

Cooktown Lure Shop Tackle World - Andrew Rich with Rob Erskine
If you've never laid eyes on it, this is the best ever tackle store and it's in Far Nth Queensland. You can spend easily a couple of hours strolling through this store as they carry that much stock from fishing, to camping and hunting. They also have every need for your 4WD and anything in between. It is an oasis for anyone that loves the outdoors. It is a much visit in person or you can search them on-line from anywhere in Australia.

Cairns Coastal Coverings - Paul Gibson
Without question Coastal Coverings are the epitome of excellence in boat marine upholstery and outdoor situations. Trusted by all in the industry the craftmanship is by far the most superior in FNQ. Don't look anywhere else, this is the best !

The Big Boat Shed - Joel McKenna
This is a must contact for all your slipping requirements based in Cairns. People travel for many a mile to access this essential part of boating and they have all the services from engineering, fabrication, detailing, electrical, shipwright, upholstery and boat wraps.
Operating in Cairns for over 15 years, The Big Boat Shed prides itself on offering you the convenience of DIY or let them project manage it for you.
They have all the necessary requirements, a one stop shop for all your boating needs !

So currently we have increased the cash prize pool to just over 45K and encourage you to share this amongst your social media contacts.

We always acknowledge our sponsors collectively which include Australian Steel Traders, Phoenix Luxury Charters, Australian Sportfishing Charters, Lure Shop Cooktown Tackle World, Coastal Coverings Cairns and the Big Boat Shed.

The website is open for entries already and if you have any questions you can call me on 0409610869 or email [email protected].
Thanks Heff

15/04/2026

Hi to Everyone,
a timely reminder that the 2026 Port Douglas Marlin Challenge this year is from the 18th - 21st November.
We are proud to announce that our major sponsors thus far are Australian Steel Traders, Phoenix One Luxury Charters and Australian Sportfishing Charters.
Currently we have raised 40K in cash prizes and will increase on this.
Please feel free to call me on 0409610869 or visit www.portdouglasmarlinchallenge.com for more information.
Thanks Heff

21/10/2025

08/10/2025

Hi to Everyone from the Port Douglas Marlin Challenge,
here's the 3 quick media videos covered by Channel 7 Cairns.
Just to let you all know monies have been paid out today for our winning categories.
Just awaiting on consultation for next years dates which indicates a very busy agenda on the general tournament calendar for marlin fishing. So stay tuned ....
Thanks Heff

06/10/2025

Hi to Everyone from the Port Douglas Marlin Challenge ....
Well the 2025 tournament is officially done and dusted, and what a 'Nail Bighter' it turned out to be with tender hooks in the final stages. All the final placings are listed below ....
However I've got cover a lot of thank you's before we get to this.
A massive thank you to our incredible Sponsors - Joel Pallister (Australian Steel Traders), Nicole & Darren Sandy (Sandridge Roads), Ben Aitken (Phoenix One Luxury Charters), Dan Begamo (Australian Sportfishing Charters) & Coastal Coverings.
Also a special mention to these people which assisted greatly in the process of putting this together and made it a huge success - Brett Goetze, Joel Pallister, Chris Miles, Dan Begamo, Ben Aitken, Damian & Patty Collete, Dave Evans, Nick Gibson, Ross & the team from the Port Douglas Coast Guard, Andrew Renwick On the Spot Signs, the Salsa Bar Team & Dan McCarthy.
Not to forget all the incredible Skippers, Crew & Anglers who embraced the tournament with enthusiasm, amazing fishing prowess and a very professional approach. We hope we lived up to all expectations in our control.
Just for some final house keeping we will announce next year's dates hopefully shortly in a day or so. Please share this post with as many people as possible. We are on local Channel 7 News again tonight for the third time. There is some very interested parties in increasing the prize pool next year considerably and we'll keep you posted.

Anyway Congratulations to the following winners, well done ....
All Photos attached ...

Tournament Statistics
54 Strikes 41 Hook Ups 31 Tags
Biggest Fish 800lb, 700lb, 600lb, 450lb

Champion Skipper
1st Dan Begamo Wild Turkey $20,000 - 6 tags
2nd Jason Legg Kiama $5000 - 6 tags
3rd Brett Goetze Akira $3000 - 4 tags
4th Chris Miles $2000 - 4 tags

Champion Angler
1st Karsten Schramm Wild Turkey $5,000 - 6 tags
2nd Blake Lamond Kiama $,3000 - 6 tags
3rd Adam Madin Stiff Rod $2,000 - 2 tags

Daily Winners
Day 1 Kiama $2,500
Day 2 Kiama $2,500
Day 3 Wild Turkey $2,500
Day 4 Wild Turkey $2,500

Winning Deck Team
Anthony Begamo & John Maxwell Wild Turkey $3,000

Calcutta
Wild Turkey $7,200
Kiama $2,400
Akira $1,200

Once again thanks to all involved. Brilliant effort everyone ....
Thanks Heff

29/09/2025

Hi to Everyone from the Port Douglas Marlin Challenge.
As Bruce Buffer would announce - "It's Time" for the 2025 Tournament. We have been blessed with a wonderful forecast and look forward to a hotly contested event.
We have had two more last minute entries being Keeper-R & Southern Comfort and we wish them all the best.
Just for a bit of fun I'd thought I'd run a pseudo bookie odds, please don't take offence.
Touch base with you all via radio Wednesday morning and look forward to meeting you all on Saturday evening. Enjoy the tournament, safe passage and Catch the Hell out of Them ...
Thanks Heff

PSEUDO ODDS
Stiff Rod 5/1 - previous winning crew, will feature
Ikon 7/1 - new to the tournament but 100% committed
Zulu 5/1 - well known vessel for catching marlin
Miss Nic 3/1 - in form boat in 2025, previous winner
Akira 4/1 - local boat, keen to get their name on the prize
Wild Turkey 4/1 - previous winner, always features up top
Moana 4/1 - previous winner, knowledgeable & ready to perform
Tradition 4/1 - renowned skipper with a lot of notches in the belt
Impillo II 6/1 - enthusiastic competition entrant in FNQ, keen as !
Kiama 4/1 - ready to peak, will compete fiercely
Keep -R 6.5/1- locally based know their stuff
Southern Comfort 5/1 - seasoned local boat