2021 Official
Tournament Rules
This is a fun tournament
and all participants are expected to fish in a sportsmanlike manner and to
follow IGFA Regulations as well as the following additions. Please pay special
attention to the “circle hook only” rule amendment (11.5).
1.
Minimum Boat Size: 30 feet LOA. Final
determination of boat eligibility will be at the discretion of the Tournament
Committee.
2. Tournament fishing will begin at 8:30 a.m.
All entrants must check out each day by radio with the Committee Boat before
entering the ocean. All entrants must not pass the sea buoy before 7 a.m. Boats must leave and enter from Fort Pierce
Inlet, St. Lucie Inlet or Jupiter Inlet.
Tournament fishing will stop at 3:30 p.m. All boats inside the inlet by 5:00 p.m. will
be considered on time. Any late returns
shall be penalized by deducting all fish caught for that day. Mechanical or electrical problems will not
excuse a late return.
3.
Tournament fishing area:
a.
Northern Boundary 27.50’.00 North
b.
Southern Boundary 26.46’.00 North
4.
A sailfish hook-up must be called into the
“Committee Boat” as soon as possible on VHF channel 80. If unable to reach “Committee Boat” by VHF
radio, then releases can be called in by cell phone. The “Committee Boat” will validate your
hook-up by announcement. Any cell phone
releases called in will be relayed over the VHF radio. All boats must have a VHF radio. The “Committee Boat” will then verify your
information by announcement and give you a release time, which must be recorded
on your daily catch affidavit and turned in at the end of the fishing day, with
your video evidence. If you lose your
fish prior to release (i.e. jump-off, pulled hook, etc..) please inform the
“Committee Boat” as soon as possible. The time stamp of the digital image is the
official release time and must be within (plus or minus) fifteen (15) minutes
of the time reported by radio to the “Committee Boat.” If the timestamp of the identification of the
fish is over fifteen (15) minutes from the VHF call, then the release time will
be moved to the time of the identification time.
5.
An official release will be credited when
the swivel touches the rod tip for the first time, or the mate takes control of
the leader. The digital image must have
the colored flag of the day in view.
THIS IS A SAILFISH RELEASE TOURNAMENT.
6.
All sailfish must be caught on dead bait or
artificial lures. No live baiting or chumming permitted. Dead bait or
artificial teasers without hooks are permitted.
7. LEADER:
The double line or wind-on leader, and the leader, shall not exceed 20 feet.
The double line or wind-on leader may not exceed 15 feet in length.
8.
Dangerous boat operating during tournament
and especially in the inlet area will result in DISQUALIFICATION! No passing allowed between Sandsprit Park
and the inlet.
9.
Backing down is permitted
10. No
more than six lines per boat. Spinning
Reels are not allowed. Any fish hooked before 3:30 pm and reported to the
Committee Boat may be fought until caught, but vessel must be in by 5:00
pm. Any fish hooked after 3:30 pm on any
fishing day is ineligible.
11. Sailfish
catches must be reported to the Committee Boat as released. Boat name, angler
name and time of release must be reported, and fish number caught for
video/camera. Releases may be relayed if Captain cannot reach Committee Boat.
12. The
angler or crew will furnish all tackle and line.
a.
LINE
AND BACKING: 20lb line is the only line permitted in this tournament. Monofilament, multifilament, and lead core
multifilament lines may be used. Wire lines are prohibited. Backing is
permitted. The catch shall be classified under the breaking strength of the first
16.5 feet of line directly receding the double line, leader, or hook. This section must be comprised of a single,
homogenous piece of line and my not exceed 130-pound line class.
b.
Double lines not required but are measured
from the start of the knot, braid, rill or splice, making the double to the
furthermost end of the knot, splice, snap, swivel or other device used for
securing the trace, leader, lure or hook to the double line. The double line
shall be limited to 15 feet.
c. LEADER:
The use of a leader is required. It must meet the following specifications: The
length of the leader is the overall length including any lure, hook arrangement
is 15ft. There are no regulations regarding the material or strength of the
leader. The combined length wind-on leader or double line, and the leader,
shall not exceed 20 feet, including the hook.
d.
Single hook only.
e.
“NON-OFFSET” CIRCLE HOOKS ONLY – J-HOOKS ARE
NOT ALLOWED.
f. BAIT:
Any natural dead bait or artificial lure may be used. Live bait is prohibited.
Netting of bait is prohibited. Tossing of bait is prohibited.
g. LINES
& TEASERS: A Maximum of 8 (eight) lines per boat are permitted. 6 (six)
lines with baits and 2 (two) teasers without rods. Teasers are permitted
without hooks. Live teasers are not permitted. Teasers may be deployed from rod
but with an electrical reel or kite rod with an electric reel. Teasers must
come off the riggers.
h.
Neither teasers nor baits are allowed in the
water until fishing starts at 8:30 a.m.
i.
Boats can be dead in water or moving forward
for the first hook up. If baits are left in the water for multiple hook ups,
the boat CAN be backing down, but any fish caught must be hooked, fought and released
from the cockpit. If baits are brought in, they may not be put back out until
normal trolling is resumed. NO PITCH BAITING IS PERMITTED AT ANY TIME.
j.
Release is official when swivel touches the
rod tip or mate takes control of the leader. Leader must cut as close to the
fish as possible. Deliberate jerking or snatching of leader by mate to cause
the leader to break will disqualify the fish.
k.
In the event of a multiple hookup, the
angler may make use of the rod holder to hold the rod. NO REELING OF LINE CAN
OCCUR FROM A ROD HOLDER DURING THE HOOKUP.
14. Only
releases by registered anglers will count towards totals. Any registered
anglers per boat, per day with no more than two (2) of those registered anglers
being professional. Any points caught by professionals will count towards the
overall results for the Treasure Coast Series. As defined by the Light Tackle
Tournament, a professional is any person who has been paid for their professional
services as a captain, mate or crew member while engaging in fishing within the
last twelve (12) months.
15. Scoring
ties will be broken by the boat first achieving winning status as determined by
the time recorded in daily catch logs. The numeric day of fishing for the boats
in question will also be used to break scoring ties.
16. Competing
boats must honor and give fighting boats all the room necessary.
17. Any
protest must be filed in writing or by the angler on the observer’s daily log
by 6:00 PM on the same day as the protested incident. A $200.00 protest binder
must accompany all protests. This binder is refundable if the Rules Committee
upholds the protest. All protests will be held confidential, and the Rules
Committee’s decision WILL BE FINAL.
18. INLET:
To maintain safety in a narrow channel, no passing between Sandsprit Park and
the seaward side of the North/South breakwaters. A slower boat may, at its
discretion, via Channel 73 VHF invite a faster boat to pass in the restricted
area. Safe and gentleman-like conduct to and from Pirate’s Cove Marina is
expected.
19. PENALTY:
Any boat disregarding rule 16 that is reported to the Committee Boat will have
one fish deducted. Boats violating this rule may be penalized only if another
boat files a protest in writing to the Rules Committee.
20. Participants
in the Pirate’s Cove Sailfish Classic enter at their own risk. Officials and
all other persons connected directly or indirectly with the operations of the
tournament shall be exempt from any liability for loss, damage, negligence,
harm, or injury suffered to any participant, entrant, sport fisherman, their
companions, boat captains, crew members, vessels and equipment which may occur
during the tournament.
21. All
boats must carry Liability Insurance.