More than 30 crews and 130 competitors from five countries will gather in the Kvarner Bay and Kvarnerić from 26 to 30 August
OMIŠALJ, 21 August 2026 – At the end of August, Omišalj will once again bring together sport fishing enthusiasts from Croatia and abroad. From 26 to 30 August, the 21st International BIG OM Big Game Fishing Cup 2026 will take place, one of the longest-running and best-known big game fishing competitions in Croatia.
The three-day competition will take place in the waters of the Kvarner Gulf and Kvarnerić, while the home port and land-based activities will be centred in Omišalj. This year’s BIG OM will bring together more than 30 crews and more than 130 competitors from Croatia, Slovenia, Italy, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia.
Over more than two decades, BIG OM has grown into an international event that brings together sport fishing, the sea, tourism and the local community. Tuna holds a special place in the BIG OM story, as it is at the heart of the competition and attracts experienced crews every year who are eager to take on the challenge of competing at sea.
Bruno Dragičević Memorial Tournament
This year’s event will be held as the Bruno Dragičević Memorial Tournament, in memory of a man whose contribution and love of the sea and fishing left a lasting mark on the BIG OM story. The memorial character of this year’s competition adds an extra emotional dimension and serves as a reminder that behind BIG OM, beyond sporting results, are people, friendships and a sense of community built over the years.
The winner earns a place at the World Championship in Costa Rica
BIG OM is part of the Offshore World Championship (OWC) system, with the winning crew earning the right to compete at the World Championship in Costa Rica. The competition will be monitored by representatives of scientific and professional institutions, representatives of the Croatian Sport Fishing Federation, and fisheries inspectors, further confirming the high organisational standards and sporting integrity of the event.
This year, TideFajt, with its Tuccoli sports vessel, will assist the organisers with offshore logistics and the transportation of the catch, ensuring that the tuna reaches the home port in Omišalj safely and efficiently.
Registration open until 8:00 p.m. on opening day
Crews wishing to participate in the competition can register until 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, 26 August, at the registration desk in Omišalj, immediately before the official opening ceremony of the 21st BIG OM.
The official opening ceremony on 26 August will mark the beginning of this year’s BIG OM, followed by the competition days at sea.
BIG OM is more than a competition
For several days, Omišalj will become a meeting place for competitors, their families, friends and visitors. Alongside the sporting programme, the event will feature social gatherings, gastronomy and live music:
26 August – Trio Insula
27 August – Universal Band
28 August – Insula Bend
29 August – Grooversi
The aim of the event is to bring visitors closer to the beauty of the sea and responsible sport fishing, while connecting sport, tourism and the local community. BIG OM also contributes to Omišalj’s tourism offer, attracting both domestic and international visitors during the final part of the summer season.
One of BIG OM’s defining features is the fact that, from the very beginning, the event has relied heavily on the voluntary work of KSRM BIG OM members and numerous friends of the event. Thanks to their time, knowledge and enthusiasm, this story has continued to grow for more than two decades.
Support from the local community and businesses
An important part of this year’s organisation is also the support of partners who have recognised the value and potential of BIG OM.
Konoba Mulić, Ro-trade, the Association of Croatian Defenders of Bakar and TideFajt have supported the organisation of the competition, becoming part of an event that brings together an ever-growing number of participants and visitors each year.
The organisers particularly emphasise that local businesses have recognised the potential of BIG OM and its importance for Omišalj, the island of Krk and the wider Kvarner region. Their support is essential to staging an event that connects sport, tourism and the local community while further promoting the destination.
The patrons of the 21st BIG OM are the Municipality of Omišalj and the Tourist Board of the Municipality of Omišalj, whose support confirms the importance of the event for the local community and the promotion of Omišalj as a tourist destination.
The 21st BIG OM will take place from 26 to 30 August 2026, with Omišalj once again becoming a meeting place for sport, the sea, tradition and the international fishing community, writing a new chapter in Omišalj’s fishing story with soul.
21st BIG OM 2026
26–30 August 2026 | Omišalj, Island of Krk
More than 30 crews | more than 130 competitors | 5 countries
Bruno Dragičević Memorial Tournament
Offshore World Championship Qualifier – Costa Rica
Organiser: KSRM BIG OM
Patrons: Municipality of Omišalj and Tourist Board of the Municipality of Omišalj
Partners: Konoba Mulić, Ro-trade, Association of Croatian Defenders of Bakar and TideFajt
BIG OM 2026 – COMPETITION PROGRAMME AND SCHEDULE
WEDNESDAY, 26 AUGUST 2026
until 6:30 p.m. – arrival in Omišalj
7:00 p.m. – team verification
8:00 p.m. – official opening ceremony
8:30 p.m. – team leaders’ meeting with judges and organisers
9:00 p.m. – dinner for competitors and guests, Trio Insula
THURSDAY, 27 AUGUST 2026
7:00 a.m. – bait delivery to the boats
7:10 a.m. – boat inspection and verification of the Catch List (until 7:45 a.m. at the pier)
8:00 a.m. – joint line start for all competitors
9:00 a.m. – “lines in the water” – start of fishing
6:00 p.m. – “lines out of the water” – end of fishing
7:00 p.m. – competitors return to the port
7:00 p.m. – dinner for competitors
8:00 p.m. – submission of video recordings
from 8:20 p.m. – catch verification (review of video recordings)
8:30 p.m. – weighing and scoring of the catch
9:00 p.m. – entertainment with Universal Band
FRIDAY, 28 AUGUST 2026
7:00 a.m. – bait delivery to the boats
7:10 a.m. – boat inspection and verification of the Catch List (until 7:45 a.m. at the pier)
8:00 a.m. – joint line start for all competitors
9:00 a.m. – “lines in the water” – start of fishing
6:00 p.m. – “lines out of the water” – end of fishing
7:00 p.m. – competitors return to the port
7:00 p.m. – dinner for competitors
8:00 p.m. – submission of video recordings
from 8:20 p.m. – catch verification (review of video recordings)
8:30 p.m. – weighing and scoring of the catch
9:00 p.m. – Insula Bend
SATURDAY, 29 AUGUST 2026
7:00 a.m. – bait delivery to the boats
7:10 a.m. – boat inspection and verification of the Catch List (until 7:45 a.m. at the pier)
8:00 a.m. – joint line start for all competitors
9:00 a.m. – “lines in the water” – start of fishing
6:00 p.m. – “lines out of the water” – end of fishing
7:00 p.m. – competitors return to the port
7:00 p.m. – dinner for competitors
8:00 p.m. – submission of video recordings
from 8:20 p.m. – catch verification (review of video recordings)
8:30 p.m. – weighing and scoring of the catch
9:00 p.m. – winners’ awards ceremony, Grooversi