Angling Rules for the
Caicos Classic Release
Billfish Tournament 2008

Tournament
Rules

• All anglers and crewmembers are expected to be familiar with the IGFA Salt Water Angling Rules. The angler must hook, fight and bring the fish to the point of release unaided by any other person. No one other than the angler may touch the rod. IGFA Salt Water Angling Rules apply at all Caicos Classic tournaments with the following exceptions.
• Maximum line strength shall not exceed that of manufacturer’s stated 130 lb (60kg.) test.
• Alternate anglers are allowed. Committee must be notified by 7a.m. that day with a maximum total of 4 anglers per boat.
• For a release to qualify for points the following conditions must be met:
  a. The observer and one other witness must identify the fish as to species
  b. The leader is brought within the grasp of the mate
  c. Wind on leaders must have identifying mark in place of swivel.
• Release points shall be scored as follows:
  Blue Marlin - 300 points
  White Marlin - 200 points
  Sailfish - 100 points
• If you are using natural bait or natural bait and artificial lure combinations you must use a circle hook. J-hooks may still be used with artificial lures.
• Channel 19 shall be used to contact committee boat. Relay of communications is allowed if a boat is not able to contact the committee directly.
• Observers shall be provided by the committee. Each boat must have an observer on board each fishing day. Captain must report to committee the exact time of hook-ups as determined by observers. Ties will be broken by the time of the first fish released. Daily fish reports must be filled out by observers and must be signed by captain each day.
• An angler may fight a fish until it is lost or released so long as it was hooked and reported to the Committee boat prior to ‘Lines Out’
• Fishing hours shall be 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday, June 13th is a mandatory lay day.
• A maximum of 5 baited lines may be fished from each boat.
• Tournament fishing is restricted to the Turks & Caicos waters only--Bahamian waters are off limits!
• Any protest must be in writing and filed with Committee on the same day as the alleged violation.
• Decision of the Rules Committee is final.
• This is an individual boat tournament and no boat will be allowed to substitute for another.
• Once the fish has been declared to be released by the angler, the fish cannot be taken out of the water and/or brought on any part of the boat at any time. If the fish is brought on the boat for any reason whatsoever the boat will be penalized 300 points.
• If a boat is hooked up and fighting a fish all other boats should stand clear.
• It is expressly understood that all participants in the tournament enter at their own risk. By registering as an angler in the tournament, the angler holds harmless the Caicos Classic, the committee, officials, sponsors, donors and all persons, connected with the tournament from any libel, slander, loss, damage, negligence, from injury or death suffered by any participant, entrant, sportsfisherman, their companions, crew, family members, vessels, and equipment which may occur during or in conjunction with the tournament.
• By registering in the tournament the angler consents that the Caicos Classic may use without payment or restriction any photographs in which he or she appears for any purpose whatsoever, including, but not limited to, resale, advertising, commercial or promotional material. The angler further releases the tournament officials from any loss, injury or damage that may result from said pictures.
• By signing the entry form, the angler agrees to comply with the rules and regulations of the Caicos Classic

Classic Registration Form - 2008 - PDF 16k

Classic Rules in printable form - 2008 - PDF 18k

Marina Registration form - PDF 12k

Dear Boat Owners, Captains, Crew and Anglers,

Welcome to the 2008 Caicos Classic
IGFA Offshore Qualifying Event

Hey Gang,

We are looking forward to seeing all are regulars back and meeting some new crews and owners at this year's Classic Tournament. Our 2007 event couldn’t have had a more exciting finish as I’m sure you have heard by now.

I am happy to see that NOAA Fisheries Service has finalized the circle hook rule for tournament participants for 2008. The Classic Tournament will be adding the non-offset circle hook to its rules. So if you haven’t, practice up.

Registration for the 2008 is on Tuesday, June 10 and the entry fee is $2500.00. A discount of $200.00 is applied to those that register before February 28, 2008. Fishing days are June 11, 12, 14 & 15, with a lay day on the 13th. Awards Banquet is on June 15th.

Even though you may not be fishing the tournament come on down and hang out with us, plenty of fish for everyone. We will be having fun. Looking forward to fishing with all of you.

Lines in, catch `em up!

Art

Please feel free to contact us either by email art@caicosclassic.com, fax 649 946 4350 or my cell phone 649-231-0278

Overall Contest: Entry Fee $5,000 per boat. Pays 3 places.
1st – 50% 2nd – 30% 3rd – 20%

Daily Contest: Entry Fee $2,500 per boat. Awarded to the boat with the most release points per day. If there are no qualifying fish on any given day, the prize money will be carried over to the next day. If there are any unpaid places for the daily the boat registered in that category with the most release points will win, or in case of a tie, the boat registered in that category with the earliest release points wins.

5% of the Calcutta will be presented to the DECR (Department of Evironmental & Coastal Resources)

The above Opportunities of Chance are subject to change depending upon number of boats entered in the Tournament.