TEAM Cloudy B on Looney Tunes has secured the 2026 Flame Tree Fiji Classic title after an outstanding performance in the three-day offshore fishing tournament at Port Denarau Marina on Sunday.
The team finished with 1,904.1 points after tagging and releasing five billfish during the tournament, including three blue marlin on Saturday.
The victory, which earned the team $10,000 in prize money and the prestigious Flame Tree Fiji Classic trophy, also secures an invitation to represent Fiji at the 2027 Costa Offshore World Championship in Quepos, Costa Rica, next April.
The Denarau Game & Sport Fishing Club’s premier tournament was held from November 6 to 8 and is an official qualifying event for the international championship.
Team Flame Tree on Wai Tadra finished second with 1,164.8 points, while Lunasea claimed third place with 572.9 points.
Zach Wakeman of Team Flame Tree on Wai Tadra was named Champion Male Angler with 1,077.2 points after catching five fish, including two blue marlin tagged and released.
Nicole O’Halloran claimed the Champion Female Angler award with 500 points, while 16-year-old Tristan O’Halloran was named Champion Junior Angler with 750 points.
Tristan tagged a sailfish on Friday and a blue marlin on Saturday, marking his first catch of each species. Three members of the O’Halloran family also tagged and released their first billfish during the competition.
The tournament also produced impressive catches across other categories.
Chris Brookes of Team Broadwater on Dream Weaver landed the heaviest fish of the competition, a 45.1kg yellowfin tuna.
Neil Irvine of Lunasea weighed the heaviest mahi-mahi at 12kg, while Matt Alford of Rogue recorded the heaviest skipjack tuna at 14.1kg. Max Greenwood of Northstar II landed the heaviest wahoo at 10kg.
Six boats competed in the three-day event, recording 54 strikes and 45 hookups.
A total of 30 fish were brought to the boat, including eight billfish tagged and released under International Game Fish Association (IGFA) rules. These comprised six blue marlin, one sailfish and one short-billed spearfish.
Thirteen fish were weighed for a combined total of 284kg.
One of the tournament’s memorable moments came on Saturday afternoon when the crew of Rogue battled a fish for three hours and 22 minutes before the line eventually parted.
Denarau Game & Sport Fishing Club vice-president Glenn Wakeman said the tournament produced outstanding fishing action, with 45 hookups recorded over the three days.
The event was conducted under IGFA rules, with a strong focus on conservation through the tagging and release of all billfish. A minimum weight of 140kg applies to any marlin brought to the scales.
The prizegiving was held at Sails Restaurant at Port Denarau.
The tournament was supported by Flame Tree Developments as platinum sponsor, alongside a number of corporate and business partners.
