Season Fishing Rules

All Club rules apply to tournaments. The following rules apply to tournaments and supersede Club rules if they are in conflict.

1. Non-Member boats may fish Club tournaments if sponsored by a Club member who is onboard the vessel.

2. If a member's boat is non-operational, the member may transfer the boat's flag for the purpose of fishing a tournament and is eligible for any points earned for the boat.

3. Tournament radio channels will be chosen and communicated at each tournament Captain's Meeting.

4. Boundaries for Club tournaments and seasonal awards shall always be 125 nautical miles from the Cape May Sea Buoy. Club boats and anglers must depart for fishing grounds from any Cape May County Inlet and return to Cape May, however, boats may fish multiple days with a landing at a port other than Cape May. At no time during an extended trip may a Club vessel exceed the fishing boundaries for points to count towards Club totals. Boats fishing the Ocean City/Cape May Challenge Cup Tournament and the Ocean City White Marlin Open, while fishing out of Ocean City, MD will also have their fish count toward season awards.

5. With the exception of swordfish, there will be no Club prizes for boated billfish.

6. Billfish will be considered released when the mate grabs the leader, or the swivel touches the rod tip.

7. All fish must be caught in accordance IGFA rules and all local and federal regulations, except “Hook and Hand”, when applicable

8. Any fish to be weighed must be weighed on a certified scale at one of the following approved member weigh stations: Canyon Club Marina, South Jersey Marina, Jim’s Bait and Tackle. Photos of your fish on a scale will not be accepted. The weigh slip, or CMMTC fish report, must be signed by the weighmaster. If a separate weigh slip is used, it must be attached to a CMMTC fish report. A photo of the weigh slip must then be uploaded to the CMMTC Reel Time app; this is mandatory for any fish to be considered for Club awards.

9. It is the Club member’s responsibility to upload catch reports to the CMMTC Reel Time app prior to the indicated tournament deadline. Reports that are incomplete or do not meet these requirements will be considered invalid.

10. All ties will be broken on time. For boats tied for release points; the tie is broken by the boat releasing the last fish first. For boats tied for weight; the tie is broken by the earlier time the fish is boated.

11. The Club shall offer no cash tournament prizes.

12. Protests must be presented to the Tournament Committee in writing within 24 hours of the day fished. Please submit any protests to tournaments@capemaymarlintunaclub.com. The Tournament Committee, with a majority present, shall meet and make all final decisions.

13. To be eligible to fish the Challenge Cup, boats must have participated in at least two (2) offshore Club tournaments during the current season.

14. Additional rules may apply as determined by the Tournament Director and communicated at the Captain's Meeting.

 

Seasonal Award Descriptions

Season trophies will be awarded at the annual banquet.

·         The President's Cup: Awarded to the boat accumulating the most tournament points while fishing CMMTC tournaments.

·         The Canyon Cup: Awarded to the boat accumulating the most offshore points during the season. This includes qualifying billfish, tuna, wahoo, shark and mahi, as well as offshore tournament points. Offshore tournament points are awarded for placing in a CMMTC tournament in an Offshore category.

·         Offshore Boat of the Year Under 40: An award shall be made to the boat under 40 feet in length accumulating the most offshore points during the season. This includes qualifying billfish, tuna, wahoo, shark and mahi, as well as offshore tournament points. Offshore tournament points are awarded for placing in a CMMTC tournament in an Offshore category.

·         Offshore Boat of the Year Over 40: An award shall be made to the boat over 40 feet in length accumulating the most offshore points during the season. This includes qualifying billfish, tuna, wahoo, shark and mahi, as well as offshore tournament points. Offshore tournament points are awarded for placing in a CMMTC tournament in an Offshore category.

·         Inshore Boat of the Year: An award shall be made to the boat accumulating the most inshore points during the season. This includes striper, tog, weakfish, bluefish, fluke, seabass, and drum as well as all inshore tournament points. Inshore tournament points are awarded for placing in a CMMTC tournament in an inshore category.

·         Female Angler of the Year: Awarded to the female angler with the most points.

·         Angler of the Year: Awarded to the angler with the most points.

·         Junior Angler of the Year: Awarded to an angler under the age of 16 with the most points.

·         First Blue Marlin of the Year: Awarded to the angler that catches the first Blue Marlin of the year.

·         First White Marlin of the Year: Awarded to the angler that catches the first White Marlin of the year.

·         Weight Awards: Awards will be presented to the angler that catches the heaviest fish of each species during the tournament season.

 

Seasonal Award Rules

1. The fishing season for annual awards starts November 1st and ends October 20th. This applies to all species.

2. The decision to fish is left solely to participants who do so at their own risk.

3. Only members’ boats are eligible for boat awards. Fish caught on a non-member boat are eligible for angler awards only. The OWNER of the boat must be a member of the CMMTC to be an “Official Club Boat” to be eligible for Club seasonal awards, to be listed on the Club status board, and to be eligible to fish the Challenge Cup.

4. Angler must be a Club member, spouse of a Club member or child of a Club member (under age 21) to be eligible for seasonal awards.

5. Fish caught or released while a boat is under “Charter” with more than six (6) anglers are not counted for seasonal awards and should not be submitted on a CMMTC fish report.

6. All fish, whether boated or released, MUST be submitted to the Club via the CMMTC Reel Time App within 10 days of the catch to be eligible for awards.

7. First White Marlin and first Blue Marlin are based on a calendar year and must be caught trolling and released.

8. A Club member must have paid current dues prior to catching any fish eligible for Club season awards.

9. Junior anglers must be 16 years of age or younger at the end of the season. Junior Angler trophies are awarded to Club member's children only.

10. The Tournament Committee reserves the right, but is under no obligation, to add, remove and reschedule tournaments and to make additional awards, at their discretion.

11. The Tournament Committee may designate up to 3 tournaments a season as "Open Tournaments". Non-Member boats fishing an "Open Tournament" shall not be eligible for annual awards. An exception will be granted if a non-member boat applies for membership immediately following completion of the tournament fished.

12. In the event of a tie for Seasonal and tournament awards, the winner shall be the boat reaching the total in the respective category first.

13. The CMMTC Seasonal Point System is as follows:

Seasonal Point System
Points	Species
2	Blue Marlin
1	White Marlin
1	Swordfish
1	Sailfish
1	Spearfish
1	Mahi >20lbs
1	Tuna >60lbs
1	Wahoo >40lbs
1	Mako/Thresher >83"
1	Mako/Thresher Release
1	Tile >25lbs
1	Drum >60lbs
1	Flounder >6lbs
1	Weakfish >5lbs
1	Bluefish >12lbs
1	Tog >8lbs
1	Striped Bass >30lbs
1	Sea Bass >4lbs

 

TOURNAMENT POINT SYSTEM

In addition to the Seasonal Point System, Tournament Points will be awarded to boats during CMMTC tournaments. An individual boat may place in multiple categories per tournament.

Tournaments (Inshore and Offshore) will award points for 1st through 3rd Place for no more than 3 designated target species for each tournament.

Tournament Point System
Tournament Place	Points
1st Place	3
2nd Place	2
3rd Place	1