Name: ESFA Junior Fishing Challenge 2026
Brand: ESFA
SKU: COMP-k5swhP22fvJdxM7YHGBI
Availability: InStock

A year-long species-based competition exclusively for junior anglers under 16. Monthly species winners are crowned on the 1st of each month, with the annual champion determined from the 12 monthly winners. Parents submit entries on behalf of their child.

Competition Dates

Start: Monday 23 February 2026

End: Thursday 31 December 2026

Target Species

Flathead, Bream, Mulloway, Trevally

Scoring

Biggest Fish (by length)

Prizes

1st Place: Annual Champion Trophy per Species
2nd Place: Monthly Trophy per Species

Rules

1. Eligibility & Legal Catches

Open to anglers under 16 years of age at time of entry.
All fish must be caught legally per current Queensland DPI regulations.
Minimum size: 35 cm total length (TL) – undersized fish disqualified.
No commercial methods, diving, spearing, or foul-hooking allowed.
Fish must be caught in publicly accessible Queensland tidal/inshore waters (Moreton Bay, surf beaches, estuaries, etc.).
Rod must be 8ft or under, with line class 15lbs or lighter – heavier setups will result in disqualification.

2. Measurement & Photo Requirements

Measure total length (TL): Straight line from tip of snout (mouth closed) to extreme tip of tail.
Use a standard rigid brag mat or measuring board – pinch tail together for max length, round down to nearest whole cm.
Brag mat photos only – photos must not include images of children or any person under 18.
Mandatory photo requirements (clear, high-res):
- Full side view of fish on brag mat with length clearly visible.
- ESF competition tag/number or unique entry code in frame.
- Fish alive and in good condition at time of capture (catch-and-release preferred).
All submissions are subject to AI measurement verification – length must be clearly readable from the brag mat markings.
Blurry, angled, edited, or non-compliant photos = automatic disqualification.

3. Submission & Judging

All entries must be submitted by a parent or guardian via the ESF platform – no self-submissions accepted.
By submitting, the parent/guardian confirms the catch details are accurate and consents to the entry on behalf of the junior angler.
One entry per month per angler – additional entries in the same month will be disregarded.
Location is recorded as region only (state/territory) – no specific GPS coordinates or waterway names are stored.
Longest AI-verified TL wins each monthly category; ties broken by earliest submission time.
Random spot-checks and manual photo review by ESF moderators.
Submit before end of each monthly period (23:59 AEST, last day of month).

4. Prizes & Fair Play

Monthly prizes awarded to top entries in each age bracket (TBC).
Category bonuses may apply (e.g., best beach catch, best estuary catch).
Cheating, fake entries, or rule breaches = permanent ban of the account and forfeiture of all prizes.
ESF takes child safety seriously – any entry containing images of minors will be removed immediately and the account reviewed.
All decisions are final by ESF admins.

Get the kids out on the water this autumn – bream, flathead, and whiting are the perfect targets for junior anglers! Tight lines, stay safe, and have a parent or guardian tag @ESFAdmin with any questions. 🎣