GFA PNG NATIONAL GAME FISHING TITLES
The largest annual sporting event in Papua New Guinea. Nine days of world-class competition, camaraderie, and spectacular catches held over the Easter period each year.
49TH NATIONAL TITLES — KIMBE, WEST NEW BRITAIN
Hosted by the San Remo Game Fishing Club · March 30 – April 5, 2026
ABOUT THE NATIONAL TITLES
The GFA of PNG National Game Fishing Titles were first fished in Rabaul in 1976, hosted by the New Britain Game Fishing Club. In that tournament, the most successful team was Marty Nagel and Rod Ellison of the Bougainville Sport and Game Fishing Club. The highest point scoring lady angler was Kay Groves of the Lae GFC, and the Independence Shield was won by the Bougainville S&GFC.
The tournament has been held continuously since then, in a rotation between New Britain, Bougainville, Lae, Madang and Port Moresby. Bougainville has unfortunately dropped out, and New Britain went into recess as they recovered from the volcano in 1994 — they recommenced with the Millennium Titles in 2000.
The Titles have evolved into the largest annual sporting event in PNG with between 250 and 450 anglers depending upon venue and a budget usually exceeding half a million Kina, thanks to huge support from its many sponsors.
HOW THE TITLES WORK
The focus is on team fishing, split into tackle classes to encourage all styles of game fishing. Teams of 2–4 anglers compete together.
Each team fishes any two days out of the nine. This allows the limited number of appropriate boats in PNG to fish several teams — a most successful arrangement.
An entirely separate tag and release section mirrors the capture section trophy categories to encourage conservation of all species.
The Titles are not a money tournament — the big buzz is to be the National Champion for that year and take home a nice trophy for the mantelpiece.
ROTATING HOST CLUBS
The Titles rotate between host clubs across PNG each year.
PORT MORESBY
Port Moresby GFC
LAE
Lae Game Fishing Club
MADANG
Madang GFC
NEW BRITAIN
New Britain GFC
KIMBE
2026 Host — San Remo GFC
EASTER WEEK TRADITION
The Titles are always held over the week before Easter, over Easter, and conclude with a crying towel session on Easter Monday. It’s as much a social event as a sporting one — bringing together anglers, families, and communities from across PNG.
The nine-day format includes fishing days, social events, sponsor nights, the famous Billfish Shootout, and culminates in the Presentation Dinner where the year’s champions are crowned.
NATIONAL TITLES RESOURCES
TROPHY CATEGORIES
All prize categories across Weigh and Tag & Release divisions.
View Categories →WANT TO COMPETE?
Teams must be registered through an affiliated GFA PNG club. Contact the GFAPNG or your local club for entry information and to secure your spot for the next Titles.