2022 Stuart Sailfish Club
Light Tackle Tournament Rules
Light Tackle Dec 7th - 10th
Captains Meeting: December 7, 2022, at the Stuart Sailfish Club at 6pm.
Anglers: One angler, per boat, 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. Final determination of an angler’s eligibility will be made by the Tournament Rules Committee. This is a boat tournament, no need to register anglers.
Fishing Days: Fishing days for the (3) straight days December 8th - 10th. There is no penalty for fishing less than 3 days. Documented mechanical failures which would compromise the safety of the anglers and/or crew will allow the boat the option to transfer crew to another boat to continue the day of fishing.
Should these circumstances arise, the captain must report the situation and intentions to the Committee Boat. The Tournament Rules Committee will have final approval of any such transfers.
Fishing Hours: Lines in 8:00 AM. Lines out 3:30 PM.
BOATS MAY LEAVE OR ENTER THROUGH PALM BEACH, JUPITER, STUART, OR FT PIERCE INLET. THERE IS NO SPECIFIC DEPARTURE TIME
Boundaries: North boundary is N27.55, South is N26.25, and East Boundary is W79.40. (Subject to change at the Captain’s Meeting).
Fishing Regulations: IGFA Rules apply unless otherwise noted in these rules.
IGFA 20LB line tournament and NO hook and hand
Captains must attend the Captains Meeting.
No more than six lines per boat.
Four teaser lines without hooks are allowed, 2 of which may be dredges. Downriggers and electric reels are permitted for teasers only. Kites and live teasers are NOT permitted. No teasers in the water until lines in is announced. This is a dead bait ONLY Tournament for LTT.
Any natural dead bait or artificial lure may be used. Pitching bait to sailfish balling bait or into bait schools is prohibited. Chumming in any fashion is not permitted.
In the event of a multiple hookup the angler may use the rod holder to hold the rod while fighting the other fish. Anglers may not fight the fish from the rod holder.
Captains MUST fill out a catch sheet and send photo along with BRIEF Videos confirming each release.
Scoring: This is a Billfish release tournament.
Each billfish release will be worth 100 (Blue marlin, White Marlin, Sailfish, Spearfish)
Release is official when the leader knot touches the rod tip, or the mate takes control of the leader. Leader must be cut as close to the fish as possible. Deliberately jerking or snatching of leaders is not permitted.
Releases must be reported to the Committee as released, VIA VHF channel 80 or Text, providing boat name. ALL releases must be reported via VHF. Relays are accepted and will be confirmed as received.
Any fish hooked before 3:15 pm and report to the Committee Boat may be fought until caught; any fish hooked after 3:30 pm is ineligible on Friday. Same rule applies on Saturday ONLY up until 3:00pm.
Winners will be determined by the total fish released.
Ties will be broken by team first achieving release status as determined by time recorded in daily Committee Boat catch logs. The Committee Boat log is the official log for the tournament.
IDENTIFICATION MARKERS: Each team will get different colored markers at the captains meeting. Each morning we will give you the color marker of the day. This marker must be displayed during the fight and recorded. Failure to show the marker in your video proof will disqualify your catch, even if it is time-stamped.
RELEASE VERIFICATION RECORDINGS: Each boat is required to show video evidence of billfish catch and release. NO VIDEO = NO FISH This recording shall be time and date stamped in accordance with the “official time” as stated by the “Committee Boat” prior to each day’s fishing. Your video proof shall include: 1) Angler fighting the fish, 2) proper color identification marker, 3) sufficient footage of the fish to accurately determine the species, and 4) proper release evidence. All recordings submitted must be easily viewed by the committee. It is the team’s responsibility to have these items and the video cued up for immediate viewing. Failure to do so will delay the verification process. We highly recommend you have at least two recordings on different cameras, and underwater shots are the best way to accurately identify the species.
RELEASE AFFIDAVIT: Each billfish release must be noted on the day’s affidavit and submitted with your video to the committee each fishing day. Failure to turn in your affidavit will disqualify that day’s catch(es). Affidavits are supplied with your registration package. If you do not have one for each day, please see the committee for a replacement.
Any question or concern regarding fish be will be determined by the Video/Rules Committee alone. Polygraph will be administered to the winning team in the event there is a discrepancy with protest.
To qualify for points each release must be called in to the Tournament Committee including the boat name/number, by VHF radio or cell phone and it is acknowledged with an assigned catch number and official time of release. The time catch number must be entered for each release on the boat’s catch log. Hookups 15 minutes prior to the end of fishing must be called in for a release after lines out to qualify.
Your entry into the Stuart Light Tackle implies expressed approval that you and all anglers and crew members will submit to a polygraph test if requested by the rules committee. Failure to do will result in disqualification. A certified polygraph examiner will be on site should such services be required.
MEAT FISH: TUNA, MAHI, WAHOO & Kingfish - The heaviest in each category. Mandatory weigh in for all Meat Fish at designated weigh station for your inlet. You can bring by BOAT OR Vehicle, but they all need to weigh on the same scale by 6:00pm on Thursday and Friday. ONLY until 5:00pm on Saturday.
Weather: It is agreed by all parties that captain the captain has the ultimate responsibility to determine if conditions are unsafe for his vessel.
Regulations: It is the responsibility of all participants to be familiar with these rules. Participants are required to comply with all Florida and Federal laws and regulations, including but not limited to licenses, bag and size limits, speed limits etc. Failure to comply may result in disqualification without refund.
Videos: All Catch/Release Log Sheets & vides must be turned in by 6:00pm, and 5:00pm on Saturday by phone or in person. Email Jupiterbillfish@gmail.com, or Text to 561-665-1613 hand delivered.
Protest: Any protest must be filed in writing by the captain by 6:00 PM the same day as the infraction. This must be accompanied by a $1000 deposit fee, returnable only if the Rules Committee finds the protest to be valid.
Polygraphs: Any crewmember or angler of winning boats is subject to polygraph testing at the discretion of the Tournament Committee. Refusal to take the test will result in disqualification. Polygraph tests will include but will not be limited to questions on angling and release procedures and species of fish. Polygraph tests are final, and winners are not official until test results are obtained. Any registered boat or angler so disqualified shall not be entitled to any prize, award, or entry fee refund.
