2010 TOURNAMENT RULES

  1. IGFA RULES
    1. All anglers and crew members are expected to be familiar with the IGFA rules. 
    2. The angler must hook, fight and bring the fish to the boat for release unaided by any other person.
    3. No one other than the registered angler may touch the rod once drag is engaged (including thumbing the reel).
  2. TACKLE
    1. Line class shall not exceed 100 lb test as listed by manufacture.
    2. Maximum 6 lines per boat in the water at one time.
  3. ANGLERS
    1. This is a Boat/Team tournament with unlimited registered anglers allowed
    2. Paid or professional anglers are not allowed. (Paid or Professional is defined as anyone who has been directly paid as Captain, Mate or Angler, either recreationally or for tournaments, within the past year.)
    3. Paid crew, including the Captain and Mate, cannot be registered as anglers for this event.
  4. FISHING HOURS
    1. No bait or teasers in the water before starting time.
    2. 7:30am – 3:30pm Wednesday and Thursday
      1. Any boat that has called in a hook-up and received a release number from the Committee Boat may fight the fish to conclusion without time limit.
      2. All boats not hooked up at lines-out, must report to the official scoring station with catch affidavit cards and cameras by 5:30pm or that day’s releases will be disqualified
    3. 7:30am – 3:00pm Saturday
      1. All boats must report to the official scoring station with catch affidavit cards and cameras by 5:00pm or that day’s releases will be disqualified
    4. Weigh-in for eligible fun-fish species will be 4:30pm– 5:30pm on each fishing day. Fish brought to the weigh station after 5:30pm will not be eligible for prizes or awards.
  5. REPORTING
    1. Upon hooking a billfish, the captain will notify the Committee Boat and report, if known, the species of the fish and the angler’s name.
    2. All hookups must be acknowledged by the Committee Boat to be eligible for tournament points. If you cannot communicate by radio ask another boat to relay and get a release number for you. Alternate – call on satellite phone to local number provided.
    3. The Committee Boat will reply to the hook-up with a control number. This number will be used to identify the reported fish. In the event of multiple fish being hooked at one time, the Committee Boat will supply a control number for each fish hooked (Control number cards have been provided to each team prior to start 0-9).
    4. Lost fish must be reported in a timely manner.
    5. All teams must provide their own digital still or video camera to verify releases. The camera must show the correct time and date stamp on each photo or video.
  6. RELEASED FISH
    1. To be eligible for release points the following procedure must be followed:
      1. A release is defined as the main leader, not including double-line, touching or passing the tip of the rod OR the mate or other member of the crew, touching the main leader, not including the double-line.
      2. To score an official release, an identifiable photo must be taken of the fish showing the control card, time and date stamp. Note: Cameras must be verified at registration or prior to the start of fishing on any day if a substitute camera is being used.
      3. Once released the captain must report the species and receive the official release number from the committee boat.
    2. Upon release and after the photo is taken; the official time, species, release number and angler name should be written on each catch report affidavit.
    3. All Boat/Team members must sign the catch report affidavit prior to submission to the scoring station.
    4. The camera, catch report affidavit and all photos or video footage taken must be brought to the official scoring station by 5:30pm (Unless as noted in Rule 4,a,i.) on Wednesday and Thursday and 5:00pm on Saturday for verification.
    5. The species of fish identified on the catch affidavit must match the photo or the fish will be disqualified.
    6. A qualified release requires that the fish to be released stay in the water at all times.
      1. Any fish that is removed from the water by holding it up for display or bringing it into the cockpit will be disqualified and assessed a 500 point penalty.
  7. FUN FISH DIVISION
    1. To be eligible for Fun-Fish weigh points the following procedure must be followed:
      1. Each team entered in the Fun-Fish division may weigh one (1) fish per fishing day for points; regardless of eligible species. (Teams may weigh more than one eligible fun-fish to determine the fish of the greatest weight.)
      2. IGFA rules addressed in Rule 1, including all sub-sections, apply to this division.
      3. Fun-fish weight and points WILL NOT count towards the overall award(s) and are intended only as a separate division not included with billfish categories.
  8. HONOR SYSTEM
    1. The tournament is to be conducted on the honor system.
    2. Any protest must be in writing and a non-refundable deposit of $200.00 is required. All deposits will be donated to charity.
      1. Protests must be filed the same day as the rules infraction is observed and signed by the team captain or owner.
      2. Protests will be heard and judged by the Tournament Committee at their sole discretion; the Committees’ decision is final.
      3. This system of arbitration is agreed to in-advance by any and all participants.
  9. AWARDS
    1. Awards will be presented in the overall and team categories. Additional awards will be given to the high point boat each day.
  10. RELEASE POINTS
    1. Released billfish will receive the following:
      1. Blue Marlin - 500 points
      2. White Marlin - 200 points
      3. Spearfish - 200 points
      4. Sailfish - 100 points
  11. WEIGH POINTS
    1. Eligible species are the following
      1. Dolphin
      2. Wahoo
      3. Tuna
    2. Fun-Fish will receive 1 point per pound
    3. Minimum weight for fun fish is 30 pounds
    4. Each participating Boat/Team can weigh one eligible fun-fish per day
  12. TIES
    1. All release ties will be decided on time using “last fish confirmed first” rule
    2. Weigh Fun-Fish ties will be decided based on first fish weighed
  13. WEATHER
    1. All boats will fish at their own discretion and at their own risk.
    2. The Tournament Committee reserves the right to cancel or postpone a fishing day due to weather.
  14. COMMITTEE BOAT COMMUNICATIONS
    1. The Committee Boat will monitor the official tournament frequency of VHF Channel 71.
    2. A Bahamian cell number will be provided for satellite call-in
  15. RULE AMMENDMENTS
    1. Rules may be amended at any time up to and during the Captain’s Meeting on April 27, 2010.
  16. LIABILITY
    1. It is understood that all participants enter the tournament at their own risk and they, individually and collectively, thereby assume all risk which may be involved in participating in the Tournament, particularly hazards due to weather conditions.
    2. Participants fully understand that at any time during their participation, they may elect not to participate when they think hazards are too great.
    3. The Tournament Committee, Organizers, Sponsors and anyone connected directly or indirectly with this tournament shall be exempt and is hereby released from any liability for loss, damage, negligence, harm or injury suffered by anyone participating in this Tournament.
    4. By your presence at this event, you are granting permission to use your name and any and all photographs/video taken of you, your family or your boat for the promotional use of the Tournament.

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