Headquarters

Headquarters for each contest will be the Sulphur Point Clubrooms.  SEACOMS provide tournament communications.

Eligibility

All anglers must be current financial members of the Tauranga Game Fishing Club or other NZBGFC member club, or have a paid current Day Anglers Fishing Card.  All fish are eligible provided they are species nominated for the contest, exceed the minimum weight and were caught on line not exceeding 60kg test, or line specified for a particular contest.

Fishing Area

All water encompassed in Hydrographic Chart number NZ54 - Cuvier Island to East Cape.

Entries

Entry forms accompanied by contest fees must be received by the TGFC Office, Sulphur Point by the time specified on the entry form.  Entries will be accepted by phone with credit card details.  Contest starting dates and times will be detailed on the entry form for each contest.

Teams

A team will consist of a minimum of two anglers with no maximum for a team, and all may fish on any one day from the nominated boat.  Anglers may transfer from boat to boat during the contest, but fish or points are not transferable and remain with the nominated boat.  Contest headquarters must be notified immediately of any angler transfers.

Cancellation of contest

There will be, in the main, no cancellation of a contest.  If, due to the extenuating circumstances or severe weather conditions, the contest is cancelled or postponed, notification of such cancellations will be before start fishing on any given day of the contest.

Refunds

If a full cancellation occurs and no further date is set for the contest, the Administrator shall, upon written application from the team captain, refund the contest fees.  Full refunds will be given for any reason prior to the tournament provided it is requested before briefing.

Briefing

Briefing is compulsory and the team captain or nominated team member fishing the tournament must register at briefing night and attend briefing

Stop Fishing

Stop Fishing shall be the end of the contest.  All catch cards must be in the weighmasters hands by final weigh in time on the last day of the tournament.  Fish caught after weigh in time on all days except the last day of the tournament will go into the next days catch.

Weighstation

The weighstation for all contests will be the TGFC Contest Headquarters at Sulphur Point.  All fish must be weighed from the boat on which they were caught.

Condition of Capture

All fish to be presented to the weighstation fresh or chilled but not frozen.

Catch Cards

Normal TGFC Catch Cards will be used and must be completed by the time of the weigh in.

Minimum Fish Weights

The minimum weights for fish in all sponsored tournaments unless otherwise stated on the tournament entry form are:

Billfish              90kg

Shark                90kg

Tuna                 15kg

Albacore           7kg

Skipjack            5kg

Mahimahi          4kg

Kingfish            1 meter

S/B Spearfish    10kg

Snapper            2kg

Broadbill           must exceed line weight

Line Breaking Strain

The maximum line breaking strain used shall be 60kg.

Braid: Braid may be used in tournaments.

Disputes

The TGFC Committee will appoint judges to investigate disputes.  Such disputes must be received by contest headquarters in writing within three hours of the contest closing time.  The decision of the judges will be final.

Weighmasters

Any member of the TGFC committee is authorized to weigh fish.

General

The above Rules of the Tauranga Game Fishing Club Inc. take precedence over Club Rules for Pins and Trophies and IGFA Rules during sponsored contests only.  However, IGFA Rules will cover any matters not covered by these rules.  All fish caught during a sponsored contest by current financial members of the TGFC are eligible for Club Records, Pins and Trophies providing the fish has been caught in accordance with the TGFC Rules for Pins and Trophies.  This does not apply for Day anglers.  Points will be awarded to boats for fish caught by Day Anglers.  This applies to the following trophies only: Most Billfish points from a private launch – “Lady Luck Trophy”

Most Billfish points from a commercial launch – “De Luxa Trophy”