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Great big-game photography has a way of freezing moments that otherwise disappear in seconds. This year, photographers from around the world submitted their images for the 2026 Marlin Photo of the Year Contest, capturing everything from explosive billfish action to the boats, people and places that define the sport.
From that initial field, the Marlin editorial staff narrowed the competition to the Top 10, evaluating the photographs on quality, composition, creativity, overall impact and their ability to capture the spirit of big-game fishing. From there, the decision went to the public, with voting open from Sept. 15 through Sept. 30.
When the votes were counted, Richard Rusak (@aumakua_outdoors) emerged with the 2026 Marlin Photo of the Year. Rusak’s winning image is all action: a sailfish erupts at close range, filling nearly the entire frame as spray hangs in the air around it. The fish’s bill points toward the camera while flashes of blue and silver contrast against the dark water, and a bright pink lure adds one final burst of color. It is the type of split-second moments that doesn’t come around often, and Rusak captured it beautifully.
Zeb Taylor (@zebtaylor_photography) earned runner-up honors with a dramatically different take on big-game fishing. His black-and-white image captures a sport-fishing boat charging across the water in front of a dark, tree-lined shoreline. Rather than focusing on a fish, Taylor’s photograph celebrates the machine and the pursuit itself, with the boat, spray and brooding sky creating a timeless, clean, offshore scene.
Rounding out the top three was Didrik Stavervik (@Didrik_stavervik), whose entry very much brought the attention back to the fish, with a unique shot of a blue marlin’s anatomy that’s typically only reserved for a ballyhoo or squid.
Rusak’s winning photograph and his achievement will be featured in the 2027 Marlin Best of Big Game Annual Guide, published this December. He will also be recognized onstage at the 2027 Marlin Awards in Palm Beach, putting an exclamation point on a contest that showcased some of the best imagery in big-game fishing.
And to everyone who submitted a photograph, made the Top 10 or cast a vote: thank you for helping us celebrate the people behind the lens who continue to document the sport we love.
