The New South Wales Game Fishing Association has announced that its annual interclub tournament, held at Port Stephens each February, will be sponsored for the next four years by Nautilus Marine Insurance.

Next year's event, the largest in the southern hemisphere, will be known as the 2010 Nautilus Boat Insurance Interclub Tournament. It will be held on the weekend of February 27-28 and March 7-8.

Regarded by fishermen as the NSW state championship, next year's tournament will be the 48th annual event and more than 1000 anglers in as many as 200 boats are expected to take part.

At the signing the four year naming rights sponsorship agreement, Nautilus Marine CEO Lyndon Turner said it was wonderful to be able to support the NSWGFA and the anglers who enter.

"This is a wonderful partnership which benefits both Nautilus Marine and the NSWGFA," Turner said.

"We are impressed with the NSWGFA as an organisation and in particular the well-established, well-conducted interclub event.

"Nautilus Marine is proud to lend its name to the event and we all look forward to great fishing and great boating weather."