Tournament Rules: (Revised 8.19.10)
While all efforts are made to keep this information current, all rules listed below shall be considered unofficial. Official rules will be announced at the Captain’s Meeting.
- In order to be eligible for any awards and cash prizes, fish must be caught in compliance with all tournament rules. Said rules include conformance to state and federal size limits and possession of a current NMFS angling, general or charter/headboat category HMS permit. *All Participants will compete under the Angling Permit. (Further explained at the Captain’s Meeting) Participants are assumed to have all necessary permits required by law. For permit information visit www.hmspermit.gov or call the HMS Management Division at (727) 824.5399.*Note: Current Size & Retention Limits on all species will be announced at the Captain’s meeting.
- Boats may depart any inlet between & including Shark River Inlet south to Cape May Inlet. Only the Captain from each registered boat must call Tournament Director (609.377.0529) the morning of departing for their day(s) of fishing and provide their boat name, boat number & departing inlet for that fishing day. No boat may pass the sea buoy of any inlet prior to 5:00am on any fishing day ( Further explained at Captain’s meeting).
- The Fish day(s) you choose starts at 8:00 a.m.(lines in) and ends the following day at 10:00 am. No lines of any kind may be put into the water until the committee boat announces starting time (Further Explained at captain’s meeting). All lines & teasers must be removed from the water by 10:00 am. the next day. During the last half hour of fishing, all hook ups must be reported to a committee boat or another boat in the tournament (Further explanined at Meeting). Any fish hooked prior to 10:00 am, may be fought until boated or released, but it must be reported to a Committee boat or another boat in the tournament prior to the10:00am deadline and must be available for weigh-in by 3 p.m. that day.
- Boundaries for the Tournament shall be a radius of 125 nautical miles from the Absecon Inlet Sea Buoy.
- All IGFA rules apply unless otherwise noted as follow: A) Anglers are allowed to “Hook and Hand” to one other angler, but it must be done immediately after Hook Up and the angler must comply by the IGFA rules. From that time on, the angler must fight the fish alone until boated or released. Crew members are eligible anglers. B) Spreader bars, Birds, J-Hooks and kites are permitted. C) No Harpoons, Dart Gaffs or Green Sticks. D) * Line: The maximun line strength allowed is 250 lb test. Tournament and or non-Tournament lines are eligible. If the line test stated on the label is 25o lbs. or less, the line will be allowed in the tournament. The Tournament Director retains sole authority for interpreting and implementing the IGFA rules. Electric reels may not be used for Tilefishing. For a complete list of IGFA Rules go to www.igfa.org
- This event is a TROLLING &/or CHUNKING tournament. Jigging is permitted. Live Baiting and pitching is allowed. Tuna category is limited to Bluefin, Yellowfin, Longfin, and Bigeye.
- No limit on lines or teasers.
- Scales will be opened from noon until 3pm each day. FISH MUST BE AVAILABLE TO WEIGH IN (BY BOAT ONLY) NO LATER THAN 3:00 P.M. (Boats must be inside the LINE OF DEMARCATION (Inside the Tip of the Absecon or Manasquan Inlet) and have Boat Sea Tow confirmation. Fish will not qualify if boat is not inside the LINE OF DEMARCATION with Confirmation by the Boat Sea Tow.
- All fish must be weighed in on the official scales at Farley State Marina at Trump Marina in Atlantic City, NJ. or Hoffman’s Marina in Brielle, NJ. and must be accompanied by a signed catch- report-affidavit. Once the weight of the fish has been announced by the weigh master & removed from the scale, it is official and shall stand.(All Swordfish & Mako weights will be rounded off to the ½ lb. All Tuna, Wahoo, Dolphin & Tilefish will be rounded off to the .1 lb (tenth) In case of a tie in weight, Prizes will be equally divided.
- Each boat can weigh only 1 fish from each species. The Captain will choose the fish and present a signed catch-report-affidavit to the weigh master before weighing.(Catch-report-affidavit sheets will be in Captain’s Bag).
- In the event of a boat disability, you may transfer to a second boat not in the tournament and assume original boats name without paying an additional entry fee if approval is made by Tournament Director. All disabled boats must report to Tournament Director Immediately. Circumstance & Final decision will be made on a case by case basis by Tournament Director Only. And his Decision is final.
- In the event of a disability while fighting a fish the angler may not switch to another boat nor can anyone from another boat come aboard to offer assistances in fighting or boating the fish.
- Registered boats unable to return from fishing under its own power will be disqualified.
- Any foul play or “unsportsmanlike” behavior, boat, crew and angler may be disqualified from the tournament. (Any fish may be subject to inspection before or after weigh in)
- Any protest must be submitted only by an official registrant and must be put in writing and signed by all crew & angler. As to the weight of the fish, any protest must be made while fish is on the scale. Once fish has been removed from scale, it is official and shall stand. Any fish under protest will be kept on “Lock up” until committee Judges releases an official decision and their decision is final.
- Tournament channel 72 VHF, Alternate 10 VHF
- There is no “WEATHER COMMITTEE” so Vessel owner and or Captain are soley responsible to make the decision if the boat will fish. You are soley responsible for the safe navigation of your vessel. Only one day need be fished for the tournament to be considered official and prizes to be awarded.
- The Tuna $takes invitational, Chef Lenny’s Enterprises LLC, Sea Tow, Leonard John Strobel, Trump Marina Hotel*Casino, Farley State Marina, Hoffman’s Marina and its Affiliates will assume no responsibilities for any loss, injury or damage incurred while fishing or participating in this tournament.
- Registered Boats & Crew fishing the Tuna $takes Invitational 2010 will not be allowed to fish any other tournament during the day or days you fish the Tuna $takes Invitational. Any boat or crew member violating this rule, will be disqualified from the Tuna $takes Invitational.
*Important…
The Tuna $takes Invitational promotes the conservation of all species of fish, and the release of billfish. We will have high minimum qualifying weights on all tournament species. During the Tuna $takes Invitational you MAY NOT enter or participate in any other fishing tournament during the day or days you fish the Tuna $takes Invitational. Any boat or crew member violating this rule, will be disqualified from the Tuna $takes Invitational. Note: You will not be able to collect any cash prizes if you are disqualified from the Tuna $takes Invitational.
In order for fish to be eligible for awards and cash prizes, fish must be caught in compliance with all tournament rules. Said rules include conformance to state and federal size limits and possession of a current NMFS angling, general or charter/headboat category HMS permit.
Protests:
All protests must only be filed by a registered angler or crew member. The tournament director must be notified immediately by calling 609.377.0529. All protest(s) must be in writing, signed by the protesting angler/crew member and include the registered angler(s) name(s), a contact phone number and $500.00 cash or check made payable to the Tuna $takes Invitational. All protests will be settled the day after the alleged incident. All protests must be in the hands of the tournament director not later than 6pm the day after the alleged incident. 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 or any individual member fail to show up for the protest hearing, then they are forfeiting 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. The $500.00 fee required to protest will be returned to the protesting angler/crew member should the protest result in a decision in the protesting angler/crew member’s favor.
Polygraph:
Winners may be subject to take & pass a polygraph examination. If a participant refuses to submit to a polygraph test for any reason, then any winnings that may be coming to that boat will be automatically forfeited.
. Participation is by invitation only. The director reserves the right to decline the entry of any boat or crew
. Any last minute changes will be announced at the Captain’s meeting
. All participants must retain a current Atlantic HMS Angling Permit available through the NMFS
. The Tuna $takes reserves the right to cancel the tournament at anytime in which case entry fee will be returned
For every boat entry... Tuna Stakes Invitational 2010 will donate $35.00 to RFA.
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