TOURNAMENT RULES

In an effort to showcase individual team skills, the rules of the Bermuda Big Game Classic have been designed to allow teams to fish this event as they would while fun fishing.

The Tournament  The Bermuda Big Game Classic is a three-day, big-fish team event with Top Team honors going to the crew that tallies the most points during the tournament. The award provides prizes for first, second and third place finishers. The tournament will also award cash and prizes to the team(s) that catch the largest blue marlin and gamefish (by weight). A Release Award (trophy and cash prize) will also be presented to the boat releasing the most eligible billfish.

Eligible Species  Blue marlin, white marlin, spearfish, sailfish, yellowfin tuna, wahoo and dolphin.

SCORING

Billfish Division  Five hundred (500) points for every blue marlin officially released or one 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.

Only one blue marlin may be taken to the scales per day, per boat. White marlin, sailfish and spearfish are release only.

Any billfish boated for ANY reason MUST be weighed. Failure to weigh a boated fish will result in immediate team disqualification for the remainder of the tournament and forfeiture of all points previously earned.

Teams bringing undersized billfish to the scales will be penalized 250 points, plus two points per pound that the fish is under the minimum weight. The team will receive no points for the fish.

Release Rules  All teams must provide their own digital still or video camera for catch verification. The camera must show the correct time and date stamp on each photo or video. To score an official release, an identifiable photo must be taken of the fish showing the control code, time and date stamp.

Control: When you know you are going to release the fish you must call tournament control and ask for the control code number. The control code number will be between one and five. Then have your designated photographer or any other crewmember hold up the number with his/her fingers in front of the fish as the photo is taken. The photo must identify the species, finger code, time and date stamp.
After the release photo is taken, the official time, species, control number and angler 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/video 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.

Tuna/Wahoo/Dolphin Division  This is purely a biggest-fish category, with scoring calculated at one point per pound. The largest yellowfin 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
Wahoo: 25 pounds.

Catch Reports Affidavit  All catches must be recorded on the catch report affidavit sheets provided. The official time, species, control number and angler 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 whether you catch a fish or not.

• 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.

Angler and Crew Requirements  Without exception, each boat shall have onboard throughout the competition one registered boat captain, one registered team captain and at least one registered mate. There is a limit of six anglers per boat. Registered captains and mates can also be registered anglers.

If an angler drops out, a replacement angler can signed-on with the team. The replacement angler must register BEFORE the start of that day’s fishing and pay the Tournament Committee $50.

Rules  IGFA rules apply in this tournament. (See release rules for scoring points.) It is the responsibility of each team 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 at ANYTIME 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.


Line and Leaders
The Tournament Committee retains the right to examine any line and/or leaders at anytime during the event. Refusal to allow the committee to examine any line and/or leaders will result in immediate disqualification from the event WITHOUT a refund of any Jackpot or registration fees.

Line  130-pound-test maximum, tournament or nontournament lines are eligible. If the line test stated on the label is 130 pounds or less, the line is allowed in the tournament.

Leaders  The length of the leader is the overall length INCLUDING any lure or hook arrangement.

In all line classes up to and including 20-pound (10 kg), the leader shall be limited to 15 feet (4.57 meters). The combined length of the double line and leader shall not exceed 20 feet (6.1 meters).

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 leader shall not exceed 40 feet (12.19 meters) total.

Rods  Unlimited in use or numbers.

Teasers  Unlimited in use or numbers.

Fighting Times  In the event of late hookups, etc., all fish must be back to the weigh station and in the slip by 12:00 a.m. on the day of fishing.

Daily Fishing Hours  Fishing will commence at 8:00 a.m. and end at 4:00 p.m. on the 8th, 9th and 10th. The tournament has a radio start each morning at 8:00 a.m. The official tournament channel will be 7 INTERNATIONAL. During the last hour of fishing each day ALL HOOK-UPS must be reported. The Tournament Committee reserves the privilege of changing starting and finishing times for any reason they deem necessary.

Radio Communications  The official tournament channel will be 7 INTERNATIONAL.

All BILLFISH hookups, releases and lost fish must be reported to Tournament Control, along with the boat name, angler name and fish species. The Tournament Control’s time will act as the official time for any and all catches and releases without exception.

Captain's Meeting  All anglers and boat captains must attend the scheduled angler/captain’s meeting. If they do not attend, they accept and agree to be bound by all instructions and/or rule changes made during that meeting.

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.

Entry Fee  The entry fee is $3,000 per team, which includes up to four registered anglers. It also covers attendance at all planned entertainment and social activities for up to four anglers, their captain and mate. Up to two additional anglers (maximum total anglers per team) may be added at a cost of $750 per add-on angler.

Guests of anglers are welcome but are required to purchase participation tickets for entry to all planned entertainment and social functions. The cost is $170.

Protests  All protests must be stated in writing and accompanied by a $100 fee. All protests will be settled the day of the incident. All protests on the 8th, 9th and 10th must be received by the tournament’s designated rules official no later than 7:00 p.m. 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 made by the official tournament judges.

All decisions made by the Official Tournament Judges are final.