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Thursday, July 31, 2008, 3:00pm – 6:00pm
–
Final registration dockside at Orange Beach Marina.
PLEASE NOTE: Registration forms must be filled
out in their entirety before boat departure. Final
registration for Optional Awards will also take
place at this time.
Thursday, July 31, 2008, 6:00pm
–
Captain’s Meeting to be held upstairs in Mobile Big
Game Fishing Clubhouse. PLEASE NOTE: IT IS
MANDATORY TO SIGN IN.
Thursday, July 31, 2008, 7:00pm –10:00pm
–
Pre-Tournament Gala dockside of Orange Beach Marina
– an event you won’t want to miss!
Martini Bar Sponsored by Gulf Coast Hatteras
Oyster Bar Sponsored by Marine and Industrial
Supply
Cocktails and Dinner Sponsored by Davison Fuels and
Capitol One Bank Marine Finance
Boats may leave after MANDATORY SIGN-OUT at
Registration Table not earlier than 9:00pm at which
time you will receive your team bag and tournament
designator kit. Optional Cash Awards participation
sheets will be issued at sign-out. All participants
are responsible for verifying Optional Cash Awards
participation sheets PRIOR to departure. Results
for Optional Cash Award sheets will be given out at
that time.
Friday, August 1, 2008 and Saturday, August 2, 2008
–
Fishing – All lines must be out of the water at
4:00pm Saturday, August 3 unless a fish that has
been reported to a Committee Boat prior to the end
of fishing, is being fought. All boats must pass
under Perdido Pass Bridge no later than 8:00pm.
Weigh station will be the certified scale at Mobile
Big Game Clubhouse. Scale will be open on Friday,
August 2, 2008 from 5:00pm until 10:00pm and on
Saturday, August 2, 2008 beginning at 4:00pm.
All boats must pass under Perdido Pass Bridge no
later than 8:00pm August 2, 2008.
Sunday, August 3, 2008, 9:30am – 11:00am
–
Awards Brunch held at the Mobile Big Game Fishing
Clubhouse.
Awards Brunch Sponsored By Marine Group Emerald
Coast.
Weigh station will be the certified scale at Mobile Big Game Clubhouse. Scale will be open Friday August
1st from 5:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. and on Saturday, August
2nd beginning at 4:00 p.m. All boats must clear Perdido Pass Bridge not later than 8:00 p.m. Saturday, August
2nd.
2008 Orange Beach Billfish Classic Tournament Rules
1.
Fishing
is continuous from 5:30am Friday, August 1, 2008
until 4:00pm on Saturday, August 2, 2008. All boats
must fish out of Perdido Pass. Boats may clear the
Perdido Pass jetties after the Captain’s Meeting is
over at 9:00pm on Thursday, July 31, 2008. All
boats must be registered and signed out prior to
departure. Monitor channel
72 departing and returning to tournament
headquarters.
2. Weigh
station will be the certified scales at Mobile Big
Game Clubhouse. On Friday, August 1, 2008, the
scales will open at 5:00pm and close at 10:00pm. On
Saturday, August 2, 2008, the scales will open at
4:00pm and boats with fish to weigh-in must clear
Perdido Pass Bridge by 8:00pm.
Monitor channel 72 for docking
instructions. Video confirmation may be walked to
the weigh dock for verification.
3. No
fishing lines of any type of teasers may be in the
water prior to start of fishing at 5:30am on Friday,
August 1, 2008. All lines must be out of the water
at 4:00pm on Saturday, August 2, 2008 unless a fish
that has been reported to a Committee Boat prior to
the end of fishing, is being fought.
4. CATCH
AND RELEASE BILLFISH ONLY. MINIMUM TWENY (20)
POUNDS ON TUNA, DOLPHIN AND WAHOO.
5. All
anglers weighing fish must have a current Alabama
Saltwater Fishing License. To purchase a license
please call 1-888-848-6887.
6. Eligible
fish for tournament awards are released (billfish
only), Tuna, Dolphin and Wahoo.
7. IGFA
RULES WILL APPLY. NMFS REGULATIONS ON HOOKS FOR
TOURNAMENT WILL APPLY. A
130# test line is the maximum test line that may be
used. The angler must hook, fight, and bring the
fish to gaff, unaided by any other person. No one
other than the angler may touch the rod. The
Tournament Committee may inspect all equipment. All
anglers and crew and crew members are expected to be
familiar with IGFA rules. Non-compliance with IGFA
rules is grounds for disqualification.
NMFS Tuna Permits are required for
all Tuna entries. No Tuna will be accepted without
presentation of the NMFS Tuna Permit. To apply for
a permit, please call 1-888-872-8862.
8. Line
Bonus Points are awarded for the use of smaller line
as defined by IGFA test class line and rules. Total
points are computed by multiplying the Base Billfish
Points times the line bonus multiplier. Base
Billfish Points are: Blue Marlin, 500 points; White
Marlin, Spearfish or Sailfish are 200 points. In
the case of a tie, the winner will be determined by
the actual time of reporting.
Blue Marlin
White
Marlin, Spearfish, Sailfish
130# Test Line 1.00
500 200
80# Test Line 1.25
625 250
50# Test Line 1.50
750 300
30# Test Line 1.75
875 350
20# Test Line 2.00
1000 400
A color video must be
presented to confirm all Tag & Release submissions
and must clearly show the species of the
fish, the angler actually fighting the fish, the
tackle being used, the release of the fish and the
tournament designator (which will be presented at
registration). ALL of these conditions must
be met to receive Billfish points and any Line Bonus
Points.
9. Frozen fish will not be accepted.
10. In
case of a tie on weight, first fish to weigh dock
wins. Fish must be brought
to the weigh dock aboard the boat that landed the
fish.
11. There may not
be ay pooling of catch, or transfer of catch, from
one boat to another. Substitution of boats prior to
the start of the Tournament must have
clearance from the OBBC.
12. All boats
are responsible for their fish, the proper reporting
documentation, and confirmation in the Release
category, and the submission of State Record
applications.
13. The Captain
will notify a Committee Boat as soon as possible
after a released fish. If a Committee Boat cannot
be reached due to poor communication, the boated or
tagged fish MUST be verified by another
Tournament boat in order to have the fish counted
or tune to Single Side Band 4125 or VHF 72.
14. In the event
of inclement weather on Friday, August 1, 2008, or
Saturday, August 2, 2008, then Sunday, August 3,
2008 will be used to complete the Tournament. One
day of fishing constitutes a Tournament. If it is
necessary to reschedule the Tournament, a new date
will be set.
15. If there are
only two billfish released, then the release award
will be split 60/40.
16. If there are
no billfish released, then the entire release award
will be added to the Tuna, Dolphin and Wahoo
categories equally and the established percentages
will be paid for each place.
17. The
Orange Beach Billfish Classic is conducted on the
honor system and each entry will be responsible for
his team and his crew’s performance. Should anyone
have a complaint, of any nature, it must be
submitted in writing with the Tournament Committee,
30 minutes prior to the close of the Tournament.
WINNERS MAY BE SUBMITTED
TO A POLYGRAPH TEST.
18. The
Tournament Committee requires the release of any
billfish.
19. Disputes to
be resolved by the OBBC Committee. All decisions
rendered by the OBBC Committee are final.
20. All boats
must be in compliance with fishing rules and
regulations as stipulated by the National Marine
Fisheries Services and the State of Alabama.
21. Video
must include: the card indicating the time, day,
species, angler of fish, line class, the leader and
rod tip, the fish swimming away from the boat after
being released, and the splice or swivel through the
rod tip. All videos will be retained by Committee
and returned to boat.
22. A device to
measure 110 inches will be provided to each boat.
The burden of measuring and proving measurement
to Tournament Committee is responsibility of the
crew of the boat. A measurement greater than
110 inches will be awarded 101 points.
23. The 2008 Rules Committee members are Johnny
Dorland and Jimmy Beason.
IGFA RULES
Wire lines are
prohibited.
A double line must consist of the actual line used
to catch the fish. Double lines are measured from
the start of the knot, braid, roll or splice making
the double to the farthermost end of the knot,
splice, snap, swivel or other device used for
securing the trace, leader, lure or hook to the
double line. In all line classes up to and including
20lb (10kg) shall be limited to 15 feet. The
combined length of the double line and leader shall
not exceed 20 feet.
The double line on all classes of tackle over 20 lb
(10kg) shall be limited to 30 feet. The combined
length of the double line and leader shall not
exceed 40 feet.
The use of a leader is not required. If one is used,
it must meet the following specifications:
The length of the leader is the overall length
including any lure, hook arrangement or other
device. The leader must be connected to the line
with a snap, knot, splice, swivel or other device.
Holding devices are prohibited. There are no
regulations regarding the material or strength of
the leader.
In all line classes up to and including 20 lb
(10kg), the leader shall be limited to 15 feet. The
combined length of the double line and leader shall
not exceed 20 feet.
The leader on all classes of tackle over 20 lb
(10kg) shall be limited to 30 feet (9.14m). The
combined length of the double line and leader shall
be limited to 40 feet.
Gaffs and nets used to boat or land a fish must not
exceed 8 feet in overall length. In using a flying
or detachable gaff the rope may not exceed 30 feet.
From the time that a fish strikes or takes a bait or
lure, the angler must hook, fight, and land or boat
the fish without the aid of any other person, except
as provided in these regulations.
If a rod holder is used and a fish strikes or takes
the bait or lure, the angler must remove the rod
from the holder as quickly as possible. The intent
of this rule is that the angler shall strike and
hook the fish with the rod in hand. In the event of
a multiple strike on separate lines being fished by
a single angler, only the first fish fought by the
angler will be considered for a world record.
If a double line is used, the intent of the
regulations is that the fish will be fought on the
single line most of the time that it takes to land
the fish.
A harness may be attached to the reel or rod, but
not the fighting chair. The harness may be replaced
or adjusted by the person other than the angler.
Use of a rod belt or waist gimbal is permitted.
When angling from a boat, once the leader is brought
within the grasp of the mate, or the end of the
leader is wound to the rod tip, more than one person
is permitted to hold the leader.
One or more gaffers may be used in addition to
persons holding the leader. The gaff handle must be
in hand when the fish is gaffed.
The angling and equipment regulations shall apply
until the fish is weighed.
The following acts will disqualify a catch:
Failure to comply with equipment or angling
regulations.
The act of persons other than the angler in touching
any part of the rod, reel, or line (including the
double line) either bodily or with any device, from
the time a fish strikes or takes the bait or lure,
until the fish is either landed or released, or in
giving an aid other than that allowed in the rules
and regulations. If an obstacle to the passage of
the line through the rod guides has to be removed
from the line, than the obstacle (whether chum,
float line, rubber band, or other material) shall be
held and cut free. Under circumstances should the
line be held or touched by anyone other than the
angler during this process.
Resting the rod in a rod holder, on the gunwale of
the boat, any other object while playing the fish.
Hand lining or using a hand line or rope attached in
any manner to the angler line or leader for the
purpose of holding or lifting the fish.
Shooting, harpooning, or lancing any fish, including
sharks and halibuts at any stage of the catch.
Chumming with or using as bait the flesh, blood,
skin or a part of mammals other than hair or pork
rind used in lures designed for trolling or casting.
Using a boat or device to beach or drive a fish in
to shallow water in order to deprive the fish of its
normal ability to swim.
Changing the rod or reel while the fish is being
played.
Splicing, removing, or adding to the line while the
fish is being played.
Intentionally foul hooking a fish.
Catching a fish in a manner that the double line
never leaves the rod tip.
Using a size or kind of bait that is illegal to
possess.
Attaching the angler’s line or leader to part of a
boat or other object for the purpose of holding or
lifting the fish.
If a fish escapes before gaffing or netting and is
recaptured by any method other than as outlined in
the angling rules.
The following situations will disqualify a catch:
When a rod breaks (while the fish is being played)
in a manner that reduces the length of the tip below
minimum dimensions or severely impairs its angling
characteristics.
Mutilation to the fish, prior to landing or boating
the catch caused by sharks, other fish, mammals, or
propellers that remove or penetrate the flesh.
(Injuries caused by leader or line, scratches, old
healed scars or regeneration deformities are not
considered to be qualifying injuries.) Any
mutilation on the fish must be shown in a photograph
and fully explained in a separate report
accompanying the record application.
When a fish is hooked or entangled on more than one
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