2024 International Masters Angling Tournament Rules
GENERAL
The Invitational Masters Angling
Tournament is open only to anglers who have been approved by the Membership
Committee. Anglers desiring to enter the tournament must be sponsored by a
current or past participant and seconded by two additional current or past
participants. Anyone who has engaged in commercial fishing or received monetary
remuneration during the last three years for sport fishing activities such as
captaining a boat, mating, or guiding is ineligible to participate. Income
derived from sports writing will not preclude participation.
The limited number of world class
boats and crews necessitates restricting the number of anglers in the
tournament. Applications will be accepted from all anglers who qualify under
existing “Priority Guidelines” until October 1, 2023. After that date, anglers will be accepted
based on the postmark date of their application, up to the maximum number
deemed desirable by the Committee
A. The dates of the 2024 Masters Angling Tournament are January 23
– 26, 2024. Applicants must be
physically capable of competitively fishing in potentially rough sea conditions
three consecutive days.
B. There will be a meeting for
all anglers who are fishing the tournament for the first time at 2:30 pm on January
23 at
the Los Suenos Marina Lanterna Lounge. The purpose of the meeting is to
thoroughly review the tournament rules. Freshmen anglers are urged to study
these rules before the meeting so as to facilitate comprehension. Attendance at
this meeting is mandatory; anglers not in attendance without a committee
approved excuse will be penalized 200 points.
C. All anglers, including
freshmen, will meet at 4:00 pm at Los Suenos Marina, Lanterna
Lounge on January 23 for a review of the rules and to draw boat assignments.
Attendance at this meeting is mandatory; anglers not in attendance without a
committee approved excuse will be penalized 200 points.
D. The boat draw insures that no
angler fishes the same boat or with the same fellow angler more than one day.
The Committee reserves the right to alter the draw slightly to prevent two
freshmen anglers from fishing together on the first day.
E. The admission fee covers the
costs of the boats with crew, gratuities, extra or replacement fishing line,
terminal tackle, bait, lunches, prizes and social functions for the anglers and
their wives or a guest. Tipping of the crew is prohibited, and anyone
discovered tipping will be disqualified.
Coaching of the anglers by the
crew, or favoritism shown one angler over another, are violations of the rules.
Crew members may call out the location of a fish in the bait spread, but
delivering specific instruction on what the angler should do with his tackle or
bait is prohibited.
There will be three consecutive
days of fishing, weather permitting, with no lay day. The Weather Committee
reserves the right to cancel a day of fishing or set
geographical limits for safety reasons.
Fishing hours all three days are
8:30 am to 4:00, although the Committee may adjust these hours in the best
interests of the tournament before the first day of fishing has commenced.
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International Masters Angling Tournament 2024 Official Rules |
Anglers should be prepared to
board their boat two and one half hours prior to the commencement of fishing
time. Boats will not be held for a tardy angler after two hours prior to
fishing time. A substitute angler will be provided and the boat will depart the
dock.
Consumption of hard liquor during
tournament hours is prohibited.
Guests are not allowed aboard
without the prior approval of the tournament chairman and both anglers.
TACKLE AND EQUIPMENT
A. Monofilament Momoi 30# IGFA Hi Vis Yellow line
will be used. Anglers may spool at
home or bring their reels and the tournament will spool the line. Extra
line will be supplied by the tournament committee. The monofilament
main line must measure a minimum of 200 yards from the double line. (See
backing allowed below)
The use of
braided line for backing is encouraged to conserve the amount of monofilament
used. Braided backing material may be of any weight.
The monofilament main line used on top of the backing line must measure a
minimum of 200 yards from the double line.
B. Tackle will conform to
standard IGFA 30# class. There will be no spinning equipment.
C. A maximum of 5 feet of double
line will be allowed. The “wind-on” material will be supplied by the boat and
may be of any brand and test strength. The leader material will be supplied to
each boat by the Committee. The total length of the “wind-on” and the leader
will not exceed 30 feet in length.
D. 7/0 circle hooks will be
supplied to the boats by the Committee. One hook per bait allowed. Skirts,
chuggers and sea witches may be used ahead of and touching the bait and must be
made available to both anglers. Hooks are not to be modified by crew or
angler. Must be used as supplied.
E. Teasers will be supplied by
the boat and need not be identical on both sides. Live bait teasers are not
allowed. Teasers may not be put in the water before starting time each day.
PROCEDURE
A. Two anglers will fish on each
boat. Under standard trolling conditions, each angler will fish a flat line
behind the teaser and forward of his rigger bait and a long rigger. Each bait
is to be of equal distance behind the boat to the corresponding bait of the
fishing partner. Flat lines may be run directly from the rod tip, through a
clip on the transom, or from a short rigger.
B. Anglers will change sides of
the boat every hour. Should a fish appear behind a bait during a change-over,
the rod belonging to the angler shall take precedence over the location of that
rod. If a fish appears behind an angler’s teaser during a change-over when the
angler has his bait in the boat or just behind the boat, the angler must drop
his bait back behind the teaser before the teaser can be moved.
C. Fish eligible for scoring are Sailfish,
Striped, Blue or Black Marlin. Any other species should be dispatched as
quickly as possible.
D. Fish are officially caught
when the angler winds on the leader through the first guide, if using a wind-on
leader, or when the swivel touches the rod tip if a wind-on is not employed.
The mate is not to touch the leader prior to either of the above described
events.
E. This is a dead boat
tournament. When a hook-up occurs, the captain must halt the forward motion of
the boat with a brief reverse thrust of the engines.
The transom of the boat may be maneuvered to face the fish, but
the boat may not at any time be advanced stern first toward the fish. All boat maneuvers of twin engine boats must
be accomplished with two engines simultaneously in gear, one in forward and the
other in reverse. In the event of a double header hook-up by two anglers, one
angler will be deemed to have hooked-up first, and that angler will have
control of the boat. The boat will then maneuver as if the second angler’s fish
did not exist. Courtesy on the part of the first angler may allow the captain
to make all efforts to catch both fish by maintaining an angle with the boat so
as not to cut off the second fish. But the first angler is within his right to
request that the transom be maneuvered to face his fish even if that maneuver
places the second angler’s fish in peril.
F. Scoring Marlin - From the time of strike the captain
shall engage the stopwatch and the boat shall maintain as a dead boat for the
first minute. If a single fish is hooked the boat may back down ONLY at the
angler’s request. If the fish is later identified as a sailfish the score will
be disqualified for angler and boat.
A marlin released after engaging in backdown will receive the
same points as a sailfish. The angler may choose to fight a marlin dead boat
style for a doubled score.
In the event of
a double header with the blue Marlin being hooked first by angler A and within
the one-minute time frame angler B hooks a sailfish then angler A has control
of the boat after the one minute but can’t back down until angler B has caught
and released his/her sail or has pulled the hook. Scoresheet will be
noted for Boat Assist.
F. Once a fish is officially
caught, the boat may make any necessary maneuver including backing down or
running forward to facilitate the cutting of the leader to free the fish.
Jerking the leader to free the fish is inhumane and is prohibited.
G. After an initial hook-up, both anglers may
leave their remaining bait or baits in the water for one minute. The second
angler must not impede the angler hooked-up to a fish. Partially or fully retrieving a bait to avoid
interference during the initial minute is allowed. Dumping a bait is not allowed. All fish hooked subsequent to the first fish,
and before the one minute time limit, assume the start time of the first fish.
Fish hooked after the first minute has elapsed must be immediately broken off so
as not to impede the first angler.
H.
When one or both anglers experience hook-ups that are not
positively identified as scoring fish, both anglers may continue fishing the
remaining lines. An angler hooked to a
questionable or positively identified non scoring fish may request at any time
the boat’s assistance by backing up to dispatch that fish, providing the second
angler agrees. Scoring fish hooked with
the boat in reverse do not count. An
unidentified fish that turns out to be a scoring fish is disqualified if the
boat has backed up. Scoring fish hooked
while non-scoring fish are being fought use their own start time.
Should a previously believed non
scoring fish be in fact a scoring fish, the start time is at the time of the
hook-up, and the one minute rule for the start time of subsequent scoring fish
applies.
A scoring fish hooked more than
one minute after the first scoring fish will not count and must be immediately
dispatched – with no interference to the first angler – regardless of when the
first scoring fish is finally identified.
I. At any time an angler may call
one or both of his rods “out of action.” The rod or rods may be called “back in
action” with no necessity to return them to the boat and be re-positioned only
if there is no fish behind the bait. A rod called “out of action” that has a
fish appear behind the bait must remain “out of action” until the fish
disappears or the angler returns the bait to the boat and re-positions it.
J. One angler with two scoring fish hooked at
the same time, may fight these fish utilizing rod holders and alternating rods
in and out of the holders.
K. When one angler is baiting a
fish at his teaser or behind one of his baits, the lines of the other angler
must remain in their trolling position. An angler may not alter the position of
his baits, remove the line from the rigger or flat line clips, or attempt to
bait a fish off his partner’s bait or his partner’s teaser.
L. Under temporary conditions of
numerous strikes by non-scoring fish, one or both anglers may decide to carry
their baits in the boat or trail them in the water just behind the boat. Should
a fish appear behind the teaser of the angler with a bait in the boat or just
behind the boat, that teaser may not be moved until the angler drops his bait
back behind the teaser.
M. The boat must be in forward
motion when the baits or teasers are overboard unless hooked to a fish and in
the one minute grace period. It is not legal to put the boat into neutral in
order to sink the baits. Backing into
schools of fish or bait is not legal.
N. The anglers at no time may leave the cockpit
and walk around the sides of the boat or go on the bow of the boat to fight a
fish.
SCORING
A. Timing commences when the fish
is hooked and line peels from the reel with the drag engaged or the angler can
retrieve line. Fish hooked subsequent to the first fish and before the initial
sixty seconds has elapsed will utilize the start time of the first fish.
B. Each fish when hooked is worth
100 points for the first 30 seconds. Thereafter, the score for catching the
fish drops by 5 points with the elapse of every 30 seconds. At the end of 10
minutes the fish is considered “overtime” and receives 5 points with no penalty
for breakoff. A sincere effort,
expeditiously executed, should be made to retrieve the outstanding line on an
overtime fish before release. Such
action will benefit the fish and return both anglers quickly to action.
C. On positively identified non-scoring fish
hook-ups, the captain will not start the stopwatch.
On questionable hook-ups the
captain will start the stopwatch and announce when one minute has elapsed. With this information the second angler will
know how to behave if he has hooked a scoring fish and the first hook-up proves
to be a scoring fish as well. If less
than one minute has elapsed, both anglers have opportunities to catch
their fish for score. If more than one
minute has elapsed, the second angler must dispatch his fish as quickly as
possible with no interference to the first angler.
On questionable hook-ups the
captain will start the stopwatch and clear it immediately when the fish is
positively identified as a non-scoring fish.
With a clear watch the captain and anglers are ready for a scoring fish
event.
On scoring fish hook-ups after an
initial hook-up that had not yet been positively identified, the captain will
note the elapsed time on the stopwatch.
If the first fish proves to be a non-scoring fish, the captain will
subtract that amount of time from the second angler’s final time, as the second
angler’s start time is the time of his hook-up.
If the first fish proves to be a scoring fish, the second scoring fish,
if it is hooked within one minute of the first fish, assumes the start time of
the first fish.
D. Anglers will be penalized for
a broken line regardless of the circumstance, with the single exception of a
fish being cut off by an adjacent boat. Broken lines are only penalized if the
fish is positively identified as a sailfish or marlin. There is no penalty for
a broken line by another species of fish or an unidentified strike.
E. In the event of a broken line,
the angler will be penalized one half the score that would have been garnered
if the fish were to have been caught at that exact moment. For example, a
sailfish broken on strike results in a 50 point penalty. A fish broken off
after 5 minutes and one second is penalized 25 points. Broken line penalty is
the same for all scoring fish.
F. Anglers are responsible for
the line, including the double line knot, and will be penalized for any
breakage. Anglers are not responsible for breakage of the wind-on leader, the
leader, or the knot joining the wind-on to the line.
If the bimini comes back, there
is no penalty.
G. All scoring fish caught or
broken off must be immediately reported to Radio Control. The report is to be
as follows: transmit the boat number, the angler number, the time on the fish
and whether there was a broken line or boat assist. Radio Control will respond
with a reiteration of this information and then supply the time of day, the
event number, and a confirmation if there was a broken line or boat assist. The
captain is to record all this information.
H. At the end of each day anglers
must fill in an angler/boat score sheet. Angler’s score sheets are incomplete
without all the following information:
1. Date, boat name and boat
number.
2. Angler names and numbers.
3. Time of day, time on fish,
event number, indication of broken line or boat assist if applicable and points
earned (or lost) for each fish.
4. Total points for the day.
5. Signatures of both anglers
and the captain.
Incomplete score sheets will
result in a 50 point penalty for both anglers and a one fish penalty for the
boat. Regardless of the number of omissions on the score sheet, the maximum
penalty incurable in one day for each angler is 50 points, and the maximum
penalty for a boat in one day is one fish.
I. All protests must be called in
to the committee before the boat reaches the dock. Ruling on protests is the
province of the Rules Committee, and all decisions are final.
J. The angler/boat score sheet
must be turned in to a representative of the scoring committee upon return to
the dock. Promptness in turning in this document is greatly appreciated by the
Committee.
K. Tying angler scores will be
broken by the lower average time on all fish caught.
BOATS AND CREWS
A. Boat crews shall consist of
one captain and one English speaking mate with two others, possibly non-English
speaking mates, allowed. A tower man is permitted but must be one of the supplied mates on
board not an additional person.
B. The crew is responsible for
presenting to the tournament each day a tidy boat, devoid of unnecessary
paraphernalia in the cockpit, all equipment such as rigger pins and terminal
tackle in good order, and a sufficient supply of rigged bait. Lunch and cold
drinks for the anglers are also the responsibility of the boat.
C. There will be a mandatory
captains’ meeting on January 23 at 6:00 pm to review the tournament rules,
answer questions, and pass out the boat packets which contain, among other
things, a copy of the rules, boat score sheets, and stop watches. The site for the meeting will be Los Suenos
Marina, Beach Club.
D. Boat scores are based on the
number of scoring fish caught by the anglers aboard with no consideration for
time on the fish. Fish broken off prior to going overtime do not count either
for or against the boat total. Overtime fish count for the boat even if broken
off subsequent to the ten minute time limit.
All efforts must be used to release the scoring fish without breaking a
line.
E. Crew should be aware that the
anglers are fishing strict IGFA rules that prohibit anyone but the angler from
touching the rod, reel or line when baiting or fighting a fish. Inadvertent
contact with the angler’s equipment when a fish is striking a bait or hooked
disqualifies that fish. Deliberate interference subjects the boat to a one fish
penalty.
F. The only allowable baits are
ballyhoo, mullet, belly strips and squid. Live bait is not permitted.
G. Captains and anglers are
responsible for the accurate completion of the daily score sheet. This sheet is
incomplete without all the following information:
1. Date, boat name and number.
2. Both
anglers’ names and
numbers. Captains Name.
3. The angler name, angler
number, time of day, time on fish, event number and
indication of broken
line or boat assist if applicable for each scoring fish.
4. Signatures of both anglers
and the captain’s signature.
An incomplete score sheet will
result in a 50 point penalty for both anglers and a one fish penalty for the
boat. Regardless of the number of omissions on the captain’s score sheet, the
maximum penalty incurable in one day for each angler is 50 points, and the
maximum penalty for a boat in one day is one fish.
H. Coaching of the anglers by the
crew, or favoritism shown one angler over another, are violations of the rules.
Crew members may call out the location of a fish in the bait spread, but
delivering specific instruction on what the angler should do with his tackle or
bait is prohibited.
I. Boat score ties will be broken
by the earlier time of release.
J. There are no time outs but an
angler may call his/her lines “out of action”.
VI. ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
A. Anglers achieving certain
totals of fish caught cumulatively in various tournaments will be awarded
achievement pins as follows:
20 scoring fish - Bronze Award
35 scoring fish - Silver Award
50 scoring fish - Gold Award
100 scoring fish - Platinum Award
175 scoring fish – Diamond Award
250 scoring fish – Grand Master
For the tabulation of cumulative
scoring fish, overtime fish do not count.
Anglers in each division at the
start of the tournament will compete against their fellow anglers in the same
division for an award for division winner. Ties will be broken based on the
earliest time of day.
B. There is a prize for the billfish
caught in the least amount of time. In
the event two or more anglers post identically fast times, the winner will be
determined by the first fish caught.