LINKS
2012 TOURNAMENTS
2011 TOURNAMENT RULES
CONSERVATION
The MBGFC and its Tournament Committee vigorously support Catch and Release in
all of its tournaments. Representatives of the National Marine Fisheries
Service may be on hand during the tournaments to view and study all fish,
obtain catch information, and, if need be, prepare the fish for further study.
All anglers are responsible for the proper disposal of any and all fish that
they bring to the weigh dock. The tournament committee may at its discretion
elect to retain any fish for display, testing, or further study.
Registration and Mandatory Captain’s Meeting
Tournament Registration can be done online at www.mbgfc.org or on site. On-site
registration will typically be held from 4pm to 8pm at the MBGFC Clubhouse
located on the grounds of the Orange Beach Marina. The captain, owner, or a registered angler must attend the mandatory Captain’s Meeting to be held at approximately 8pm. Only the captain, owner, or a registered angler can sign out their boat. If proper sign-out is not performed after the Captain’s Meeting, the offending boat will be disqualified from the entire tournament without refund including cash awards. Any rules changes will be discussed at this meeting. By signing out at the
Captain’s Meeting, the captain, owner, or registered angler acknowledges that they:
1. Have received the tournament guide and the tournament designator.
2. Understand and agree to abide by all rules in the tournament guide.
3. Have a copy of the rules applying to optional awards for breaking an Alabama
State Record. (if applicable to that tournament)
4. Understand all topics discussed at the Captain’s Meeting.
5. Understand that all Anglers, Captains, Mates, Crew (“Participants”) and Guests fish in the Tournament at their own discretion and at their own
risk. All Participants and Guests agree to indemnify and hold harmless the
Mobile Big Game Fishing Club (“MBGFC”) and its Members, the MBGFC Board of Directors, Orange Beach Marina (“OBM”), Sponsors and their agents and employees and all other persons directly or
indirectly connected with the tournament from any liability, loss, personal
injury or property damage, including Attorneys fees they may suffer arising
from their participation in the Tournament and all other activities occurring
at the MBGFC facility and/or OBM.
No tournament refunds will be made after the official sign out.
Tournament Start, Fishing Times, Eligible Ports of Departure:
Boats may depart after the captains meeting AND the owner, captain, or registered angler has signed out on the official sign out
sheet. Boats may only leave from Mobile Pass, Perdido Pass, or Pensacola Pass
for all tournaments. Departure from Florida will disqualify anglers for any
Alabama State Record Prizes. Fishing may begin after the captains meeting
unless otherwise specified at the captain’s meeting. Boats must be inside the Perdido Pass Rocks before 8pm (or an
alternative time designated at the Captains Meeting) on the last day of the
tournament. Upon arrival, boats must immediately contact MBGFC on VHF channel
72 so that Tournament officials can verify time of arrival and, for the
Memorial and Labor Day tournaments, issue a weigh in number to determine the
order in which you will proceed to the weigh dock. No fish will be entered into
the tournament for any boats that are not verified by the MBGFC to be inside
the Perdido Pass Rocks by 8pm. If you return before the weigh dock opens, it is
your responsibility to complete weigh in before 8pm or otherwise contact MBGFC
tournament committee before 8pm to confirm your on time arrival and, if
applicable, obtain your weigh in number for subsequent weigh-in.
The Junior Angler Tournament has different starting and fishing times to be
discussed at the Captains Meeting.
Licenses, Permit Requirements, and Regulations:
All fish must be caught in accordance with IGFA rules. Federal law requires you
to be in possession of a Highly Migratory Species permit in order to land and
possess any tuna or billfish or to catch and release billfish. A valid HMS
permit must be available to tournament officials at weigh-in. Information
regarding HMS permits may be obtained from the NMFS or visit www.nmfspermits.com. Registered anglers are also responsible for obtaining a valid Alabama State
Fishing License. Registered anglers fishing on charter boats are responsible
for verifying that the charter boat provides a valid Alabama state saltwater
fishing license. Registered boats and anglers must comply with all Federal and
Alabama state laws and regulations regarding fishing licenses, size limits, and
bag limits including the requirement to use circle hooks for all natural baits.
MBGFC has its own minimum weights in the Tuna, Wahoo, and Dolphin Categories
and a minimum Blue Marlin lower jaw to fork length of 106 inches which must be
met in addition to all applicable Alabama State and Federal regulations.
ELIGIBLE FISH
In the interest of conservation the MBGFC has set a Blue Marlin lower jaw to
fork length (LJFL) minimum of 106 inches which is above the Federal minimum.
There is a limit of one Blue Marlin per boat, per day in possession at any
time. Blue Marlin below the MBGFC 106 inch minimum length will not be weighed.
The possession of a Blue Marlin below the 106 inch minimum will subject the
offending boat to disqualification from the entire tournament without refund
and also the forfeiture of all other prize winning fish, including cash awards,
or points. The possession of an undersized Blue Marlin by Federal standards
will be reported to the proper conservation authorities. No retention of White
Marlin, Spearfish or Sailfish at any tournament will be allowed. The Junior
Angler, Ladies, and Limited Tournaments are Catch and Release only for all
Billfish species.
The MBGFC minimum weight for all Tuna, Wahoo, and Dolphin is 20 pounds. Yellow
Fin Tuna must also have a curved fork length of 27”. As of 2010, Federal regulations allow retention of 1 “trophy” Blue Fin Tuna per boat per year caught incidentally which must have a minimum
curved fork length of 73”. Any changes to the federal tuna regulations will apply and be discussed at the
captain’s meeting. The Junior Angler Tournament has additional eligible fish categories and also has its own minimum size
requirements for Tuna, Wahoo, and Dolphin.
All caught Blue Marlin and released Marlin must be reported to a committee boat
and a verification number obtained. Video verification is required for ALL Blue Marlin categories and catch and release marlin; refer to the video
verification section of the rules for details.
PRIZE CATEGORIES AND TIES
1st, 2nd and 3rd Place Blue Marlin*, Wahoo, Tuna, and Dolphin. In the event of a
tie, the first fish to the dock will be declared the winner.
1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Place Catch and Release which are awarded to individual
anglers according to total catch and release points including line class
multipliers. In the event of a tie, the angler to reach the point total first
as determined by GPS time of release will be declared the winner.
Additional categories are included in the Junior Angler Tournament; one prize
per category per angler.
Top Club Member, Top Male Angler**, Top Lady Angler **, Top Junior Angler **
(must be 18 years of age or younger at the start of the tournament), Top Small
Boat ** (32 feet and under), and Top Large Boat ** (Over 32 feet).
* Not awarded during the Junior Angler, Ladies, and Limited Tournaments.
** Not awarded during the Junior Angler Tournament.
Top Club Member, Male, Lady, Junior, and Boat awards will be determined by TOTAL POINTS including catch and release points with line class multiplier and points from
all other eligible fish (1point per pound). Ties will be broken using GPS time
of release. If no billfish are released in a prize category, the first fish to
the dock will be used to break any ties.
Catch and Release Rules
Points will be awarded for catch and release marlin. The catch and release
tournament PRIZES are awarded to individual anglers according to catch and release point totals
including line class bonus multipliers. The catch and release Cash Awards are awarded to boats according to catch and release point totals WITHOUT LINE CLASS BONUS MULTIPLIERS. All released marlin must be reported to an official committee boat in order to
obtain a verification number. Verification videos will not be reviewed without
an official committee boat verification number for each submission. All catch
and release video submissions will be reviewed and, if verified, documentation
of video verification will be given to the angler or boat representative by the
weigh master, dock staff, or member of the tournament committee.
Billfish Points and Line Class Bonuses; Line class applies to prizes only.
Line class bonus points are awarded for the use of smaller line as defined by
IGFA 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 200 Points. Line samples may be
requested. The line bonus multipliers and points are:
Blue Marlin White Marlin/Spearfish/ Sailfish
130 lb test line - 1.00 500 200
80 lb test line - 1.25 625 250
50 lb test line - 1.50 750 300
30 lb test line - 1.75 875 350
20 lb test line - 2.00 1000 400
Video Verification Requirements
Video verification is required for All Eligible Billfish, both Catch and Release and weighed Blue Marlin to be entered into the Blue Marlin category. The video requirements for Catch
and Release and weighed Blue Marlin are different and defined below.
All Catch and Release videos should clearly show the following elements utilized in the process of billfish video
verification:
1. Angler fighting the fish.
2. Rod and reel being used for the catch.
3. Tournament designator*
4. Species of billfish caught - video of the dorsal, anal, and pectoral fins AFTER THE FISH IS CAUGHT will assist in clear billfish species identification. (In the event the
verification video does not provide adequate information for billfish species
identification, 200 points will be awarded.)
5. “Catching” of the fish - one of the following must occur:
a. Swivel at the rod tip
b. Mate touching the leader
c. Wind-on leader onto the rod tip
NOTE: Once the fish is “caught”, the video should NOT BE TURNED OFF until steps 6-7 are complete.
6. Release of the fish in healthy condition
7. Video of GPS time clearly showing time and date; GPS must be set to Central Daylight Time (UTC minus 5 hours). GPS time will be used for determining ties in the catch and release prize
categories only. Failure to record the GPS time of release will result in the
time of release being 11:59pm on the day of the release as determined by the
committee boat verification number and date.
*If an additional video camera is used, tournament designator MUST be shown again. It is always a good idea to show the designator when the fish is
being filmed at the boat.
In accordance with federal regulations, BILLFISH MAY NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE WATER AND ANY BILLFISH REMOVED FROM THE
WATER WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR CATCH AND RELEASE POINTS.
Any of the following can result in a video being ineligible for catch and
release verification and therefore will not qualify for catch and release
points for tournament prizes or cash awards:
1. Failure to show the tournament designator.
2. Failure to show the tournament designator if additional video camera is used.
3. Failure to show the “catching” of the fish.
4. Failure to show the release of the fish in healthy condition.
5. Turning off video after “catch” before the fish is released.
6. Removal of a billfish from the water.
For gaffed Blue Marlin, video is required to have the following clearly shown.
1. Angler fighting the fish.
2. Rod and reel being used for the catch.
3. Tournament designator; failure to show designator (in the primary video or video
from additional camera/cameras) is the only video criteria that would make a
billfish ineligible for points in the Blue Marlin Category.
4. “Catching” of the fish - one of the following must occur:
a. Swivel at the rod tip
b. Mate touching the leader
c. Wind-on leader onto the rod tip
All videos must be shown on equipment at the MBGFC clubhouse grounds and must be
submitted before the close of the weigh dock at the end of the tournament.
Verification judges will not board any boat to judge video. Video must be
played on the equipment used to make video. Video may not be downloaded onto a
laptop computer and then brought to the judges for verification. It is your
responsibility to have necessary cables or connection that will allow your
camera to play back on a larger screen for judging. All video verification
submissions become the property of MBGFC; see disclaimer section of rules. All
tournament committee decisions are final.
BILLFISH REPORTING
You are required to report any caught Blue Marlin or Catch and Release billfish
to an official tournament committee boat or tournament official after the fish
is released or gaffed. Tuna, Wahoo, and Dolphin do not need to be reported. Committee boats will
monitor VHF Channel 72, SSB Channel 4125, or the Clubhouse at 251-981-6200. You
must contact a committee boat or tournament official as soon as possible.
Billfish reporting to committee boats can be relayed when necessary. If you do
not obtain verification from an official committee boat or tournament official,
the reporting will not be considered official, and your fish will not count for
the tournament. You are responsible for recording your verification number.
Be prepared to give the following information:
1. Name of Boat
2. Name of Angler
3. Species of Billfish
4. Pound Test Line
5. Time of release.
6. Classification of Angler (M, F, or Jr.)
PROTESTS
All protests must be submitted in writing to the Vice-President of Tournaments
or Tournament Chairman no later than 30 minutes following the closing of the
weigh dock after the conclusion of the tournament. Protests must be accompanied
with a $500 protest fee. Only a successful protest will result in the refund of
the $500 protest fee. All decisions of the Tournament Committee are binding and
final. MBGFC reserves the right to make exception to any rule when the
Tournament Committee decides it is in the best interest of the participants,
spectators and or the MBGFC.
WEIGH DOCK
The official weigh dock for all tournaments is the MBGFC dock. Weigh dock times
vary with each tournament and are subject to change. Any changes will be
discussed at the captain’s meeting. See separate schedules for specific times. All fish brought to the
dock must be in edible and fresh condition. Any evidence of freezing will
disqualify any fish. The weigh master has the right to refuse any mutilated fish or fish considered
to be in poor condition. All fish must be brought to the weigh dock on the boat
upon which they were caught unless granted permission by the tournament
committee in the interest of the safety of the participants or spectators and
or the MBGFC. Someone from each boat must at all times remain with the fish to be weighed.
Catch card documentation will be provided at weigh dock. The angler must sign
and verify the weight before it becomes official. No Billfish will be weighed
without a verification number from an official tournament committee boat or
tournament official. You are responsible for obtaining and recording this
number. Any angler who wins may be subject to a lie detector test, and winning
billfish anglers in the cash awards will be asked to furnish video verification
(as described in the video verification section of the rules) that that fish
was indeed caught by them during the tournament. Members of the NMFS may be on
hand at the weigh dock to sample various contents of any and all large fish
presented to them. Please cooperate in the interest of science, and help us
obtain as much information as possible for the future of offshore fishing and
this magnificent resource.
The weigh board does not necessarily reflect the official standings of the
tournament.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR WEIGH-IN
Memorial Day and Labor Day Tournaments only
• Boats must be inside Perdido Pass rocks by 8:00 p.m. unless otherwise designated
at the Captains Meeting. You must call the MBGFC Tournament committee on
channel 72 once you pass inside the Perdido Pass rocks to confirm your time of
arrival and be assigned a weigh-in number if needed. Your weigh-in number will
determine the order in which you are called to the weigh dock.
• The MBGFC will begin monitoring VHF Channel 72 at 3:30 p.m. for assignment of
weigh-in numbers to allow boats needing to weigh fish access to the weigh dock.
• The weigh dock opens at 4:00 p.m. and will close after all eligible boats have
completed their weigh in and/or video verification.
• After you obtain your weigh-in number, position your boat in the channel outside
the entrance to the Orange Beach Marina Canal and wait for your number/boat
name to be called.
• All fish to be weighed must arrive by boat on the boat upon which the fish were
caught unless granted permission by the tournament committee in the interest of the
safety of the participants or spectators and or the MBGFC.
• All verification videos must be brought inside the Perdido Pass rocks on the
boat upon which they were caught. Verification videos can subsequently be
brought to the clubhouse by car or other means. A weigh in verification number
must still be obtained and such videos must be presented for review before the
close of the weigh dock. Please notify the Tournament Committee if you plan to
hand deliver videos for verification and do not need to weigh any fish.
• Depending on conditions, MBGFC will have boats 36’ and under come to the side of the weigh dock. Boats over 36’ will be accommodated on the front of the weigh dock.
• The MBGFC may have boats waiting in the marina canal to fill empty places at the
weigh dock, but please do not enter the marina canal until your boat number/
name is called.
• All boats in line for the weigh dock should leave enough room for boats entering
Orange Beach Marina (and not going to the weigh dock) to be able to pass
freely. (This means boats needing fuel and/or going to their assigned slip.)
• Please – NO WAKE - Idle speed only - to minimize damage to spectator boats due to surge.
Experienced operators use one engine in gear.
• Please cut your engines once you are tied to weigh dock. Diesel fumes are
hazardous to the health of the dock crew and spectators.
• All boats that require video verification (with or without fish to weigh) should drop off the angler/ boat representative with the video equipment and
all cables at the designated video verification dock in Terry Cove. A shuttle
will take the angler or representative to the clubhouse for video verification.
• Boats that only require video verification have the option to come to the weigh
dock to be acknowledged by tournament officials and spectators and are
encouraged to do so.
• Keep Tournament Channel 72 clear during weigh dock operation hours, Boats
waiting to be called to weigh dock should carefully monitor Channel 72 and when
your boat/number is called, respond to dock master that you are proceeding as
directed. If a boat does not respond when called, dock master will call next
boat in line.
• Once your boat is at weigh dock, do not get off of your boat until instructions
are given to determine when your fish will be weighed. If you are weighing
tuna, have tuna permit ready before coming to weigh dock. Once all fish on your
boat are weighed, the dock master will tell the captain/owner and you will be
asked to depart and make room for the next boat.
• “Catch card” documentation for all eligible fish will be issued at the weigh dock.
• Please help us to minimize the time required to weigh fish by following
directions. We will allow you time to have pictures made but please clear the
dock immediately afterwards. This is a courtesy to your fellow fishermen who
are waiting in the harbor.
• Tournament participants should not use channel 72 to inquire about the results
of the tournament.
For the Ladies, Junior Angler, and Limited Tournaments, weigh-in and video
verification will all occur at the MBGFC dock and there will be no video
verification drop off in Terry Cove. Otherwise, the weigh-in procedure is
identical for the Ladies and Limited Tournaments.
The Junior Angler Tournament has its own weigh in procedure and fishing times
that will be discussed at the Captains Meeting.
AWARDS PRESENTATION
An official awards presentation will be held following each tournament. Updates
may be obtained from the weigh board on the weigh dock during each day’s weigh-in. For the Junior Angler Tournament awards will be presented in the
clubhouse at the conclusion of the tournament. The awards presentations for the
Memorial Day, Ladies, Limited and Alabama Invitational Labor Day Billfish
Tournaments will take place on the day following the tournament at
approximately 9:30 AM following the awards brunch.
CASH AWARDS
These categories are separate and are not included in the entry fees. Payout is
determined by total money received for each category minus 10% for MBGFC
expenses with the remaining 90% split 50%, 30%, 20% for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place
in each category. If only 2 fish are eligible the remaining 90% will be divided
60%, 40% for 1st and 2nd place. If only one fish is eligible the 90% will go to
that fish. All winners are subject to a polygraph examination at the discretion of the
Tournament Committee; see polygraph policy section of rules. In the event of a
TIE in ANY cash award category, cash awards will be split equally among the
winners as follows; Three or more ties for 1st place will evenly split 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place cash
awards. Two ties in first place will evenly split the 1st and 2nd place cash
awards and second place winner(s) receive the 3rd place cash award. If there
are no ties in first place, 2nd place ties will evenly split 2nd and 3rd place
cash awards. Third place ties (without ties in 1st or 2nd place) will evenly
split 3rd place cash awards.
CATCH AND RELEASE
Color Video movie confirmation is mandatory; see video verification section of
rules.
Catch and Release cash awards are awarded according to the total catch and
release points accumulated for each boat and not the individual angler. Categories are $100, $300, $500, $1000, $2000, $5000, $10,000, and $25,000. All Catch and Release must be verified under the rules as stated under general
Catch and Release rules. Payout is 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in each category.
There will be NO LINE BONUS POINTS when calculating catch and release point totals for Cash Awards. Each verified
blue marlin caught and released is 500 pts and all White Marlin, Sailfish, and
Spearfish are 200 pts. If video verification committee cannot verify the
species of your marlin, it will be classified as a white marlin.
TUNA, WAHOO, DOLPHIN
Categories are $150 and $500 for the Tuna, Wahoo, and Dolphin with 1/3 of total money for 1st place in each
category. Tuna, Wahoo, and Dolphin each have a $100, $300, $500, $1000, $2500, and $5000 category. Payout is 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in each category.
LARGEST FISH ON DOCK
Winner take all for largest fish on dock, $500.
BLUE MARLIN
Winners are required to verify a caught billfish with color video movie proof
(not digital pictures) and are subject to a polygraph examination; see video
verification section of rules. Categories include: $100, $300, $500, $1000, $2000, $5000, $10000, and $25000.
Top Captain and Crew Cash Award ($150) is awarded to first place only according to Catch and Release points without
line class multiplier and points from all eligible fish.
Cash Award Payments
Cash award winners will be announced at the end of the awards ceremony. Results
as read at the awards ceremony are unaudited. Cash award checks will be issued
within 2 weeks after the tournament is complete provided there are no outstanding appeals or disputes. No cash award checks can be issued unless the cash award sheet is completely
filled out including a valid Driver’s License Number and Social Security or tax ID number. An IRS form 1099 will be
sent to all Cash Award Winners at the year’s end.
WITHDRAWAL POLICY
A. If pre-registered and withdraw prior to 4:00 p.m. registration, you will be
refunded everything less credit card fees.
B. If pre-registered and withdraw prior to sign out and after 4:00 p.m., you will
be refunded all cash award less credit card fees and entry fees less credit
card fees and $75 fee for food, ditty bag, per angler.
C. If you withdraw after sign-out at Captain’s meeting, no refund will be given.
DISCLAIMER
Registrants accept the following conditions: Participants enter the tournament
at their own risk. The MBGFC, its members, officials, committee members, and
all persons directly or indirectly connected with the tournament shall be
exempt from any liability for loss, damage, negligence, harm, or injury to any
participant, entrant, sports fisherman, his companions, boat captains, crew
members, vessels, and equipment, which may occur during registration or during
the tournament. By completing the tournament application the participant
acknowledges that such recordings become the property of the MBGFC and gives
consent for the MBGFC to use without payment or restriction any photograph,
video, or audio recording in which any participant may appear, for any purpose
whatsoever, in regards to but not limited to advertising, promotional material,
and/or sale. All winning entrants agree to submit to a polygraph examination
(lie detector test) at the request of the Tournament Committee. Failure to
submit will subject the entrant to disqualification at the Tournament Committee’s discretion. One day of fishing constitutes a complete tournament. In the event
of inclement weather any part of the tournament may be canceled, postponed or
continued. All participants and boats shall exercise good sportsmanship and
courtesy whether at the dock, underway, or fishing. Any participant that
violates federal or state law will be disqualified. If the tournament shall be
canceled for any reason beyond the control of the MBGFC, entrants will be
refunded a prorated share of their entrance fee at the discretion of the
tournament committee. No refund will be made after the official start of the
tournament (discussed at the captain’s meeting).
Payment of an entry fee, completion of the tournament application form, and
sign-out at the captains meeting by the designated boat representative
constitute a representation by each angler, owner, captain, and crew member
that he/she has read and fully understands the Tournament Rules and that he/she
shall abide by such rules and the decisions of the Tournament Committee.
MBGFC Polygraph Policy
In consideration for the MBGFC’s processing each tournament participant’s registration acceptance of his or her entry, each registered angler
specifically agrees and consents to voluntarily submit to a polygraph
examination(s) that will be conducted by a polygraph examiner selected by the
MBGFC, at any time until all prize winners and awards are determined and
announced. Further, each registered angler agrees to obtain the agreement and
consent of each and every occupant of the boat from which he or she fishes
during the tournament (including but not limited to the captain and crew) to
submit to a polygraph examination or examinations as described above. The
method and conduct of all polygraph examinations, and the interpretation of the
results thereof, shall be in the sole judgment of the polygraph examiner
appointed by the MBGFC whose opinion shall be final. If any registered angler
or occupant of a vessel refuses to submit a to a polygraph examination, or if
any registered anger or occupant gives a response which, in the sole opinion of
the polygraph examiner, is untruthful, then the offending angler(s) on the boat
shall be immediately disqualified without further notice from the MBGFC.
Any registered angler(s) that is disqualified shall not be entitled to any
prizes, awards, or refund of the entry fees or cash award fees.
