While all efforts are made to keep this information current, all rules published on this website shall be considered unofficial. Official rules will be announced at the Captain's Meeting at the start of the tournament."

The Tournament:
The Bermuda Big Game Classic is a three-day, big-fish team event with top-team honors going to the team that tallies the most points during the tournament.  Prizes pay down to third place (first, second and third).  The tournament will award cash and prizes to the team(s) that catch the largest blue marlin and game fish (by weight) and most overall billfish releases.
A release trophy and cash prize will also be awarded to the team with the most release points for the tournament.  The high-point angler, lady angler and junior angler (age 17 and younger) will receive a trophy and prize package.  Eligible species for the tournament include blue marlin, white marlin, spearfish, sailfish, yellowfin tuna, wahoo and dolphin. The fee is $3,000 per team (up to six registered anglers).  This basic entry fee covers the participation of one to six registered anglers.  It also covers attendance at all planned entertainment and social activities for up to six participants.

• $200 for each non-angler participation-ticket package.  (Guests of anglers are welcome but are required to purchase participation tickets for entry to all planned entertainment and social functions.) $100 for Awards Cocktail and Dinner Banquet only July 11.  The tournament committee reserves the right to deny tournament entry of any individual, organization or corporation.  A final registration, captains meeting and kickoff party will take place from 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., July 7, at The Fairmont Hamilton Princess Hotel in the Harbourview Ballroom.
All teams that are preregistered and teams needing to register must send at least one representative to obtain your tournament credentials and team captains' bag.  All anglers and boat captains must attend the scheduled angler/captains meeting at 7:30 p.m., July 7, in The Fairmont Hamilton Princess Harbourview Ballroom.  If they do not attend, they accept and agree to be bound by all instructions and/or rule changes made during that meeting.  In an effort to maximize participation, registrations will be accepted until 8 a.m., July 8.

Angler, Crew and Boat Requirements:
Without exception, each boat must have on board one designated boat captain and at least one designated mate.  Captain and crew changes are allowed but must be communicated to the tournament committee prior to any days fishing.  There is a limit of six registered anglers per boat in this tournament; however, if an angler drops out, an additional angler can be signed on with the team if he/she registers before the start of that day's fishing.  Designated captains and mates can also be registered anglers.  Guests are allowed on the boats.  Boats may receive aid from other boats in the form of towing due to mechanical failure.  Teams and boats are NOT allowed to receive assistance in landing or releasing fish.  All participants must exercise good and courteous sportsmanship whether at the dock, under way or fishing.

Rules
IGFA rules apply in this tournament unless otherwise written or stated (see release rules for scoring points).  It is the responsibility of each registered angler and crewmember to know, understand and abide by IGFA and tournament rules during this competition.  Any angler, captain or mate who deliberately breaks these rules will be immediately expelled and disqualified from this and future tournaments without a refund of any jackpot or registration fees.  All winners may be asked to take and pass a polygraph test.
• Mates cannot hook the fish or touch the rod, reel or line (including the double line) at any time for any reason once the fish takes a bait or lure.
• The bait-and-switch method of angling is permitted; however, fish must be hooked at least 10 seconds before the mate may touch the leader.
• Wind-on leaders are permitted but may not exceed 30 feet as per IGFA rules.
For a complete list of the IGFA rules, go to www.igfa.org.

Release Rules
All teams must provide their own digital still or video camera to verify releases.  The camera must show the correct time and date on each photo or video.  To score an official release, the fish must be at the leader, and an identifiable photo must be taken of the fish showing the control-number code, time and date.  When you know you are going to release the fish, you must call tournament control and ask for the control-number code.  The control-number code will be between 1 and 5.  Then have your designated photographer or any other crewmember hold up the supplied number cards next to the fish as the photo or video is taken.  The photo or video must identify the species, control-number code, time and date. A snooter or rope may be used to control the fish at boat-side. 
After the release photo/video is taken, the official time, species, control number and angler name must be written on the catch-report affidavit.  Each registered angler and boat captain must then sign the catch-report affidavit.  At the end of the day's fishing, the camera, catch-report affidavit and all photos or video footage taken must be brought to the weigh station for verification of official release points.  Failure to do so will result in disqualification of that day's catch.  Do not delete any photography taken during tournament hours. 

Scoring:
Billfish Division:  Five hundred (500) points rewarded for every blue marlin officially released, or 1 point per pound for every blue marlin weighed and verified over the 500-pound minimum.  Two hundred (200) points for every white marlin officially released.  One hundred (100) points for every sailfish or spearfish officially released.
If a blue marlin brought to the scales fails to make the minimum weight limit, the team that caught the fish will be penalized 500 points plus 2 points per pound that the fish is under the minimum weight.  For example, if a fish weighs 480 pounds, that team will be penalized 500 points for not meeting the weight requirement and another 40 points for the 20-pound difference.  The total penalty would cost them 540 points, and they would receive no other points for the fish.
Any billfish boated for any reason must be weighed.  Failure to weigh a boated fish will result in immediate disqualification for the remainder of the tournament and forfeiture of all points previously earned.
Only one blue marlin may be taken per day, per boat.  All white marlin, sailfish and spearfish must be released.  Once a billfish is boated, the team must take a picture or video of the fish while measuring the short length and girth of the fish.  The measurements of the fish must be reported to the tournament committee.
Yellowfin Tuna, Wahoo and Dolphin Division.  This is purely a biggest-fish category with scoring calculated at 1 point per pound.  The single largest fish, yellowfin or big-eye tuna, dolphin or wahoo caught over the three-day event will win a percentage of the base-entry cash and prizes.  Minimum weights for this category are as follows: yellowfin tuna, 25 pounds; dolphin, 20 pounds; and wahoo, 25 pounds.

Line:
The maximum line strength allowed is 130-pound test.  Tournament and/or non-tournament lines are eligible.  If the line test stated on the label is 130 pounds or less, the line will be allowed in the tournament.

Leaders:
The length of the leader is the overall length, including any lure or hook arrangement.  In all line classes exceeding 20-pound (10 kg), the leader shall be limited to 30 feet (9.14 meters).  The combined length of the double line and the leader shall not exceed 40 feet (12.19 meters) total.
The tournament committee holds the right to examine any hook sets, line and/or leaders at any time during the event.  Refusal to allow the committee to examine any hook sets, line and/or leaders will result in immediate disqualification from the event without a refund of any jackpot or registration fees.

Rods:
Unlimited in use or numbers.

Teasers:
Unlimited in use or numbers.

Baits:
Live bait, dead bait, lures and any combination thereof are permitted in this tournament.

Hooks:
All tournament participants must use non-offset circle hooks for all species whenever natural baits or natural-bait/artificial-lure combinations are used.  http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov

Catch-Report Affidavit:
All catches must be recorded on the catch-report-affidavit sheets provided.  The official time, species, control number and angler's name must be written on the catch-report affidavit.  Each registered angler and boat captain must then sign the catch-report affidavit.  The catch-report-affidavit sheets must be turned in at the weigh station each day.

• In the event of a tie, the team reaching the highest score first wins.

• All winners may be asked to take and pass a polygraph examination.

Daily Fishing Hours:
Fishing will commence at 8 a.m. and end at 4 p.m. on July 9, 10 and 11.  The tournament control's time will act as the official time for the start, catch and release and end of fishing each day.  The tournament committee reserves the privilege of changing starting and finishing times for any reason it deems necessary.  A radio start will take place each morning at 8 a.m.  The official tournament channel will be 7 INTERNATIONAL.

Fighting times:
In the event of late hookups, etc., all fish or release photos must be back to the weigh station and in the slip by 11:59 p.m. on the day of fishing.

Weigh-in/Release-photo check-in:
The weigh station and release-photo check-in station is at Barr's Bay Park.

Radio/Communications:
All billfish hookups, releases and lost fish must be reported to tournament control, along with the boat name, boat number, and angler name and fish species.  The tournament control's time will act as the official time for the start, catch and release and end of fishing each day without exception.  The official tournament channel will be 7 INTERNATIONAL.  A Bermuda cell phone number on which teams can also communicate will be given at the captains meeting.  During the last hour of fishing each day, all hookups must be reported.

Weather:
There is no weather committee.  The tournament is conducted on a fish-at-your-own-risk basis.  If any portion of the tournament is fished and a team or teams land or release fish that match the tournament's eligible species and minimum weight limits, then prizes will be awarded.

Protests:
All protests must be stated in writing and accompanied by $500. All protests will be settled the day of the incident.  All protests on July 8, 9 and 10 must be in the hands of the tournament's designated rules official by 7 p.m. on the day of the alleged incident unless there is a protest regarding a fish that comes to the scales late.  The protesting party, as well as the accused team members, captain and crew, must be present in any official protest hearing.  If the accused or protesting teams fail to show up for the protest hearing, they forfeit their right to be heard and will abide by the decision of the official tournament judges.  All decisions of the official tournament judges are final.