Rules IGFA rules will apply, except as amended below. Open to boats of any size. Boats may depart any port, but must return to Wachapreague Marina for catch report and/or weigh-in. Any line size up through 130lb test shall be permitted. It does not have to be "Tournament-grade" line. There will be no limit to the number of anglers, lines, or teasers utilized. All persons on board are required to be registered in the tournament. This is a trolling tournament as to all fish. Unconventional or non-trolling techniques are strictly prohibited. No backing into schools, pitching bait, casting, jigging, use of casting tackle, use of spinning tackle, use of live bait or live bait teasers. In addition, the use of "pilchards" (dead or alive) and the use of cast nets or dip nets is prohibited. Any person on board may hook the fish and pass the rod to one angler. The fish, once hooked, must be allowed to pull line and be fought by rod and reel. Hint: if we've left something off the list, try it at your own risk. No boat is to gain an advantage over other boats by use of unconventional techniques. One (1) angler may hand the rod to another angler immediately after a fish is hooked if necessary for safety. There will be no "taking turns" by anglers in fighting a fish. Release requirements: Any crew member must touch or control the leader to be counted as a release. In addition, obviously, to it being clearly observed by at least one crew member to be a billfish. "Spirit of the Tournament": All fishing, conduct, protests and rulings are to be withing the intentions and spirit of the Tournament. It is intended to be enjoyable, in good fellowship and for everyone to have a great time. Unacceptable conduct (at home or at sea), unfounded protests etc. will be strongly considered as grounds for exclusion from the Tournament in future years. Times Fishing will be from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM. No lines or teasers in the water outside of these times. All times are Eastern Daylight Savings Times. Ties will be broken on time. All hook-ups, releases and catches of billfish must be reported to a Committee Boat as soon as possible using the boat name and boat number. In the event of a tie, the boat releasing the final billfish or catching the largest of the other species will be the winner, based on time of release or catch. In the event more than one of the last billfish released or the largest of the other species are caught at exactly the same time, the tie breaker will be the first hook-up of those particular fish. There will be no time limit on fighting fish. You must, however, report that you are hooked-up prior to 3:30 PM to fight a fish after 3:30 PM. General This is a two day Tournament, but in case of bad weather keeps everyone from fishing one of the days, one day can consititue a Tournament. There will be no lay days. There will be no weather committee. Fishing is at the discretion of individual boat captains, but we urge everyone to have safety uppermost in their minds. VHF Channel 72 will be the Tournament channel. Decisions concerning break-downs or radio failures will be made by the Rules and Judging Committees. In case of a break-down, a team may transfer to a boat not previously entered, or an individual may transfer to another boat already entered, but must notify the Tournament Chairman in advance of that day's fishing. Scoring Tournament species for which prizes will be awarded include: Billfish - most released only Tuna (any) - largest Wahoo - largest Dolphin - largest All billfish, including white marlin, blue marlin, hatchet marlin, sailfish and broadbill swordfish will be scored in the same category, with each released billfish scoring one (1) point. Catch Reports Catch reports must be filled out completely, signed at the bottom by the boat captain and turned in to the Weighmaster no later than 8:00 PM each fishing day. The Weighmaster will be stationed next to the scales at Wachapreague Marina from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Late arrivals will be considered only if for legitimate problems, including late hook-ups, but every effort should be made to communicate the estimated time of arrival prior to 8:00 PM. Radio Reporting Committee Boats will be employed. All boat will be strongly encouraged to fish in the same general area. It is required that each time a possible billfish is hooked-up it must be reported immediately to a Committee Boat with boat name, boat number and time of hook-up. Each time a billfish is released or captured, it must be reported with the boat name, boat number and time of release or capture as soon as possible. Any extraordinary catches of fish in other categories should also be reported with estimated size. Committee Boat "countdowns" will occur twice each fishing day so that everyone can be aware of the standings. They will occur at 12:00 noon and 3:45 PM sharp. Everyone is asked to clear the communications channels so that the Committee Boat can give the standings without interference. Hook-up and releases or catches made during the 12:00 noon countdown will be reported as soon as the countdown is completed. Protests Protests must be in writing, signed by at least two participants from the protesting boat and turned in to the Tournament Chairman or member of the Rules and Judging Committee prior to 8:00 PM on the same day the alleged infractions occurred. A decision will be rendered by the Rules and Judging Committee prior to the next day's fishing and such decison will be final. The Committe may render penalties ranging from a reprimand to reduction in credit for fish to full disqualification. By entering the Tournament all participants officially declare the Rules and Judging Committee to be totally incapable of mistakes and waive any further appeal. All decisions of the Rules and Judging Committee are final. Other Any contestant who fails to comply with the rules and regulations may be declared ineligible for competition and shall automatically foreit all rights and claims to any award or prize in this Tournament. All participants expressly by their entry in this Tournament release the Wachapreague Marina, its owners and operators, the Eastern Shore Marlin Club, its officers, committees, and members from any an all liabilities or losses for libel, slander, damage, negilgence, injury or death suffered by an entrant, pariticipant, companion, crew, guest, or family member that may result from any Tournament activity.