RULES

(Draft subject to change. Official rules were distributed at the Captains' Meeting.)

Registration/Check-in: All registered boats must be checked-in with the Tournament Committee and entry fee paid by 6:30pm, July 11, 2012 to qualify for prizes and trophies. Any boat entered in the MegaDock Tournament shall not be entered in another tournament simultaneously. The Tournament reserves the right to deny entry to anyone. All registered boats and anglers must be in compliance with Federal and State Regulations regarding recreational and/or charter fishing as well as SC Governor’s Cup Tournament Series Regulations.

Rules Meeting: At least one person from each boat should be present at the Captain’s meeting and is responsible for knowing the tournament rules including any changes that may take place at the meeting on the Wednesday evening prior to the tournament.

Fishing Time and Laydays: No lines or teasers in the water before official fishing hours each day. Official time will be GPS time. Fishing days for all eligible boats shall be any two out of the available three days. Fishing times and scale hours will be announced at the Captain’s Meeting. In the event the national Weather Service recommends that a small craft should exercise caution, boats may fish. If the national Weather Service instates a Small Craft Advisory, boats may not fish. A weather call will be made each morning prior to 6:00am. The tournament committee will make every effort to make the call as early as possible each day.

Fishing days must be reported to the tournament representative present at the breakfast area on the MEGADOCK on the day the boat is fishing.

Rod and Reel Rules: This is a rod and reel, hook and line tournament. Double line and leader may not exceed 40ft; neither of which may exceed 30ft. The following practices are illegal in this tournament: a) use of hand line or rope attached to the line or leader, b) shooting, harpooning, or lancing and c) no participant may transfer from one boat to another during a fishing day.

Reporting: All blue marlin, white marlin and sailfish must be reported to committee boats/tournament headquarters when hooked, lost, boated, or released. Radio frequency shall be VHF Channel 78. Fish hooked prior to or after fishing hours are not eligible. All releases must be reported on an affidavit provided by the tournament or DNR. These forms must be presented to a DNR or tournament representative by the closing of the scale on the day the fish was caught. In the event of mechanical failure a boat may request another tournament vessel deliver the affidavit on their behalf. No call-ins or faxes will be accepted. Affidavits swearing that all the rules and regulations were observed in reference to the described fish must be signed by every person aboard the boat that is 18 years or older. Failure of any person to sign, for any reason, disqualifies that fish. Each billfish requires an individual affidavit. Polygraph test will be administered if the tournament committee deems it necessary.

In the event a blue marlin is hooked during fishing hours, and due to an extended fight is not back to the scales prior to 7:30pm, the scales will remain open and the fish will be weighed. If the fish is released instead of boated, the affidavit must be delivered to the weigh master immediately upon returning to the marina.

Boundaries: All boats fishing in the MegaDock Tournament must fish in the coastal waters of South Carolina and must dock at the Charleston City Marina.

Mandatory Hook Requirements: Non-offset Circle hooks are mandatory when deploying natural/live bait or natural/live bait using artificial lures. Circle hooks are defined as any hook regarded as a circle hook designated by the manufacturer and originally designed and manufactured so that the point is turned perpendicularly back to the shank to form a generally circular or oval shape.

“J” hooks are allowed on artificial lures only.

Qualifying Fish: Fish must be caught in accordance with all state and federal laws and under IGFA regulations to qualify to earn points or awards. To qualify for release points, a billfish must be fought to the boat according to SC Governor’s Cup Tournament Series guidelines. All anglers, including Youth Anglers (under sixteen years of age on April 1 of the current tournament year) and Lady Anglers (over 16 years of age on April 1 of the current tournament year) must strike their fish in order to be eligible for series/tournament points or awards. After a fish strikes, only the angler is allowed to touch the rod. Once the leader is brought within the grasp of the mate or is wound to the rod tip, then the angler may have assistance to catch and release or boat the fish. When the mate touches the (IGFA legal) leader or it is wound onto the rod tip, the fish is considered caught and eligible for points. The hook should be removed or the line cut as close to the fish’s mouth as possible.

White marlin and sailfish are for release only. The minimum size for blue marlin is 105 inches measured in a curved line along the body from the fork of the tail to the tip of the lower jaw. All fish must adhere to State and Federal regulations to qualify for prizes in this tournament.

Boats will earn one point per pound and fraction of a pound for their single heaviest blue marlin weighed in the tournament. A penalty of 600 points will be assessed against a boat for each blue marlin brought to the dock not meeting the 105 inch size requirement. Federal regulation dictates that a boated billfish cannot be returned to the water.

Note: 105 inches exceeds the federally mandated minimum size limit. Should the federal size limit be increased, the minimum size for blue marlin eligible for weighing in SC Governor’s Cup Series tournaments will be increased automatically to exceed the new minimum size by two (2) inches if required.

Release Points: Only blue marlin, white marlin, and sailfish are eligible for release points. To be eligible for release points each boat must PHOTOGRAPH released billfish with a camera provided by the vessel. Billfish to be released may not be brought into the boat. Any billfish brought into the boat for pictures or any other reason will not receive release points.

The photograph must include the designated daily ribbon and billfish in view and in a position that constitutes a release. It is the responsibility of the boat to collect a new ribbon each fishing day at the breakfast area on the MEGADOCK starting at 4:00am. Each boat is required to keep their billfish photography on their camera until Friday, July 20, 2012. All boats are subject to random photography checks throughout the tournament. Leading boats will be required to submit their camera and/or chips to the Tournament Rules committee following fishing on Saturday, July 14, 2012. Fish verification will be at the sole discretion of the Tournament Rules Committee. Scoring for billfish released in good condition will be as follows:

Blue Marlin - 600 pts
White Marlin - 300 pts
Sailfish - 200 pts

White marlin and sailfish may not be brought to the boat. Any white marlin or sailfish brought into the boat for pictures or any other reason will not receive release points. Any billfish gaffed, harpooned or otherwise injured in an attempt to boat the fish will not qualify for catch and release points. Additionally, if the gaff crosses the vertical plane of the boat and the intent of the crew is to land the fish, yet the attempt is unsuccessful; the boat will not qualify for catch and release points.

In the event of a tie, the first boat to achieve the winning totals shall be declared the winner.

Game Fish: Winning game fish will be determined by weight. Fish must be in fresh edible condition and fit for human consumption. In the event of a tie, the winner will be determined by the first fish weighed-in. All game fish must be weighed the same day they are caught by the time the scales close. Fish must be delivered to the weigh master by the person that landed the fish or a representative from that particular boat.

Tuna category does not include little tunny, bonita, or skipjack.

Prize Payout: All prize money will be distributed within 15 days of the tournament’s conclusion provided there are no outstanding appeals or disputes. Payouts will be made payable to the person or entity so indicated on the registration form and W-9 of the winning boat. W-9 must accompany registration to receive payout

Protest: Any dispute must be submitted in writing to the tournament director by 9:00 pm on the day of the dispute. The Tournament Committee will make every effort, but will not be required to rule on the matter by 7:00 am the day after the dispute is submitted. All appeals require a $300 deposit. The deposit will be refunded if the dispute results in a change of judgment.

Withdraw from the Tournament: Teams have until Tuesday, May 1, 2012 to withdraw to receive a 50% refund. No entry fee will be refunded after May 1, 2012, unless we are able to back fill the space.

Rules Committee: Any boat breaking any of the above Tournament Rules may be disqualified. Decisions of the Rules Committee are final.