Please read all rules BEFORE submitting registration and/or fee payments.
Rules will also be read at Captain's meeting on May 5th.
Level 1 is mandatory and required for entry into levels 2, 3 and/or 4.
FISHING DAYS
May 7, 2025 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
May 8, 2025 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
May 9, 2025 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
May 10, 2025 8:00 am to 2:00 pm
Scales for Gamefish (Level II) are open:
May 7, 2025 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm
May 8, 2025 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm
May 9, 2025 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm
May 10, 2025 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Scales will be open during fishing times and will not close for Blue Marlin weigh in.
You must enter Level One before entering any other level.
REGISTRATION: All boats must be registered and paid the entry to fee to qualify for prizes and trophies. Any boat may be substituted during the tournament but must be registered with the Tournament Committee prior to fishing. Registration forms will be accepted at the Captain's meeting on May 5, 2025 or via the tournament website. No entries or upgrades will be accepted after 9:00 am on May 9, 2025.
CAPTAIN/RULES MEETING: At least one person from each boat should attend the Captain's Meeting for the Tournament, which will be held Monday, May 5, 2025. Regardless, all participants are responsible for knowing all the Tournament rules, including any changes that are announced at the Captain's Meeting.
ROD AND REEL RULES: This is a rod, reel, hook and line tournament. Double line and leader combined may not exceed 40 feet; neither of which may exceed 30 feet. The following practices are illegal in this tournament: a) use of handline or rope attached to the line or leader; b) shooting, harpooning, or lancing; c) the transfer of any participant from one boat to another to assist in the landing of the fish.
BOUNDARIES: All fishing will be done between LORAN coordinates North 40275 and South 39200. Any fish hooked outside of the boundaries will be disqualified.
FISHING TIMES and LAYDAY: Fishing days shall be any two of the four days, captain's choice. Lay day forms must be submitted prior to 9:00 am on May 7th, May 8th and May 9th and prior to 8:00 am on May 10th for the day declared a non-fishing day. No lines, teasers, cameras, or omnidirectional sonar technology are permitted in the water before official fishing hours each day (9:00 am to 3:00 pm on May 7th, May 8th and May 9th and 8:00 am to 2:00 pm on May 10th). This is a two- day tournament. ALL TIMES ARE GPS TIMES.
REPORTING: All billfish must be reported to the tournament headquarters when hooked, lost, released, or boated. Fish hooked prior to or after fishing times are not eligible. Radio frequency shall be VHF CHANNEL 71.
RELEASE POINTS (LEVEL ONE): Release points will only be given for blue marlin, white marlin, and sailfish. When the mate touches the leader or the leader touches the rod tip before the fish is released. In the event of ties, the first boat to achieve the winning totals shall be the winning boat. Release forms must be submitted to the tournament committee no later than 6 pm the day of fishing. Release forms must be attested to by signature of angler, Captain, and one crew member that are on board at time of release. Official release forms are on the website.
Blue Marlin – 400 points
White Marlin – 150 points
Sailfish – 150 points
GAMEFISH (LEVEL TWO): All gamefish (Yellowfin Tuna, Wahoo, Dolphin) will be brought to Big Rock Landing to be weighed. Prizes for gamefish will be will be determined by the heaviest weighed fish for each category.
Gamefish categories are:
Yellowfin Tuna
Dolphin
Wahoo
QUALIFYING BLUE MARLIN (LEVEL THREE): To be eligible for prize money, a blue marlin must weigh at least four hundred pounds or measure at least one hundred and ten inches. Length shall be measured from the V-notch in the tail to the tip of the lower jaw. In the event of a tie by weight, the marlin having the largest total measurement of girth plus length shall be declared the winner. NC State Law states that you may only boat one blue marlin per day.
OUTBOARD ONLY - TOTAL RELEASE POINTS (LEVEL FOUR): Must also enter Level 1 Release Points and may enter any additional levels as desired. Entry in this level is restricted to outboard boats only. No inboards, inboard-outboards, jet powered, airboats or sailboats permitted. This also includes any hybrid or combination of any of the above. Release points will only be given for blue marlin, white marlin, and sailfish. When the mate touches the leader or the leader touches the rod tip before the fish is released. In the event of ties, the first boat to achieve the winning totals shall be the winning boat. Release forms must be submitted to the tournament committee no later than 6 PM the day of fishing. Release forms must be attested to by signature of angler, Captain, and one crew member that are on board at time of release. Official release forms are on the website. MUST ALSO BE REGISTERED IN LEVEL 3 TO BOAT A BLUE MARLIN.
400 POUND PENALTY: Boat will be penalized four hundred pounds from the weight of the of the largest blue marlin weighed in by the boat if:
a) Blue Marlin does not meet the tournament minimum length and/or minimum weight.
b) Fish does not adhere to State and Federal Fisheries regulations.
c) If the gaff breaks the outside vertical plane of the boat, the fish can no longer be counted as a release and no points will be awarded. If the fish is lost, the team will not be penalized 400 points. If the fish is boated, it must meet the minimum requirements or a 400-pound penalty will be enforced.
MANDATORY HOOK REQUIREMENTS: Non- offset circle hooks are mandatory when deploying natural bait or natural bait/artificial lure. "J" hooks are allowed on artificial lures only.
FEDERAL AND STATE REGULATIONS: All vessels and participants shall comply with North Carolina and Federal Fisheries laws and regulations regarding fishing licenses, vessel permits, fishing gear, season size, and bag limits.
DISQUALIFICATION: Boat will be disqualified with no refund or dispute if:
a) Any of the rules above are broken.
b) If a billfish is boated and not presented to the weigh master. A fish is considered boated when any portion of the fish breaks the outside vertical plane of the boat.
c) If a fish escapes before gaffing and is recaptured by any method other than as outlined in the angling rules. No free gaffing allowed.
d) Under no circumstances can you gaff the fish in order to measure the fish and then release the fish.
e) Attempted weight alteration is automatic disqualification.
IF NO QUALIFYING FISH IS WEIGHED IN LEVEL TWO THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF PRIZE MONEY FOR THAT CATEGORY WILL BE ROLLED OVER TO THE NEXT YEARS TOURNAMENT FOR THAT CATEGORY.
IF NO QUALIFYING FISH IS WEIGHED IN LEVEL THREE THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF PRIZE MONEY FOR THAT CATEGORY WILL BE ROLLED OVER TO THE NEXT YEARS TOURNAMENT FOR THAT CATEGORY.
IF NO QUALIFYING FISH IS RELEASED/WEIGHED IN LEVEL FOUR THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF PRIZE MONEY FOR THAT CATEGORY WILL BE ROLLED OVER TO THE NEXT YEARS TOURNAMENT FOR THAT CATEGORY.
For questions not covered by rules, the tournament rules committee will determine the solution to questions/situation and its judgment shall be final.
