TO ALL ANGLERS FAMILIAR WITH OUR 2003 RULES:

 Rules 2, 7, 8, 9, 18, 22, 26, 28 and 33 have been changed. Rule 34 has been added.

A. GENERAL RULES 

1. Applicable Rules and Laws: I.G.F.A. rules shall apply to this Yamaha Contender Miami Billfish Tournament ("YCMBT") except where they are inconsistent with these YCMBT rules that follow, in which case these YCMBT rules shall apply. It is the responsibility of each angler to be familiar with these YCMBT rules and the I.G.F.A. rules. All registered anglers must also comply with all applicable Federal and Florida laws regarding fishing licenses, size limits, bag limits, speed limits, etc. Any infractions of the applicable rules will disqualify the registered angler(s) and boat from the entire tournament, and any disqualified angler(s) will not be entitled to any refund. 

2. Bait and Tackle: Fishing with live bait is permitted. Chumming with live bait is not permitted. The use of live bait daisy chains is not permitted. Fishing with wire line or hand line is not permitted. For purposes of this YCMBT, the leader shall not exceed a maximum length of fifteen (15) feet. Competing anglers are required to fish exclusively with YCMBT endorsed circle hooks when fishing with live or dead bait.  The use of traditional “J” hooks is permitted only when fishing with unbaited artificial lures. Hooks must have no offset. Hooks must not be altered in any manner whatsoever. The only eligible circle hooks are Eagle Claw 2004EL (recommended), Penn International Saltwater Circle Sea #P170 (recommended), Owner Circle Hook #S5179, Mustad Ultra Point Demon Circle #39951R or #39951BLN, Mustad Circle Hook #39950BL or #39960D and the Gamakatsu #221417 or # 221318. Any fish caught on any other hook type is disqualified. Any fish caught on a hook found to have been altered in any manner will be disqualified.

3. Boats: Any type or size of boat may be used in the tournament. Boats are divided into two classes. Those classes are:

a)        Outboards, which includes all engine(s) mounted on or behind the transom of the vessel.

b)        Inboards, which includes all vessels with the engine(s) mounted inside the vessel.

(Inboard/Outboards will be classed as Inboards.) Registered anglers may substitute boats with the approval of YCMBT officials, but for the purpose of any awards, which are dependent on boat class; fish caught on one class boat cannot be transferred to a different class boat. 

4. Maximum Anglers and Lines: Only registered anglers may fish in this tournament. Unregistered anglers may not be substituted for registered anglers. Registration closes at 10:00 p.m. on the Thursday before the first day of the tournament. Boats shall not carry more than six registered anglers during official fishing time. All boats are allowed to fish four lines in the water during official fishing time regardless of the number of registered anglers on board. Any boat may fish up to two additional lines, for a maximum of six lines in the water, regardless of the number of registered anglers on board, by either registering more than four anglers or by "purchasing" the additional lines, at the rate of one line per additional adult entry fee.

5. Eligible Species: The eligible billfish species in this YCMBT are sailfish, white marlin, blue marlin, broadbill swordfish, and spearfish. The eligible funfish species in this YCMBT are dolphin, wahoo, kingfish and tuna (yellowfin, blackfin and bluefin only). All boats are required to have a current Federal Tuna Permit, or the newly required Highly Migratory Species Permit (HMSP). (See Rule 1. Permits can be obtained through the NMFS at 888-872-8862 or www.nmfspermits.com).

6. Hooking Fish: Each eligible fish entered in this YCMBT must be hooked and caught by a single registered angler only. No person may hook a fish, or assist in hooking a fish in any manner, and then turn the rod with the hooked fish over to the registered angler who ultimately enters the fish. If multiple strikes occur on separate lines, and if a single registered angler is capable of hooking and catching more than one of the fish without the assistance of any other person, then each of such fish may be eligible for entry by such angler subject to the other rules of this YCMBT. The use of a rod holder to hook a fish is permitted provided that no person other than the registered angler who ultimately enters the fish touches the rod or reel once the fish is hooked. For purposes of this YCMBT, a fish shall be considered "hooked" at the time the fish strikes, runs with or eats the bait, regardless of whether the reel is engaged or in free spool mode and regardless of whether the rod is being held or is in a rod holder.

7. Radio Channels: VHF channel 82 shall be the primary radio channel during this YCMBT and VHF channel 78 shall be the alternate channel. The primary radio channel is reserved for all official YCMBT announcements and angler reports of hookups and releases as described in Rules 22 and 28. The alternate channel should be used for other discussions. All references to "the radio" throughout these YCMBT Rules shall refer to the primary radio channel unless notified otherwise by the YCMBT radio committee.

8. Daily Checkout: All boats fishing the YCMBT must be visually checked out by YCMBT officials each day. The check-out points are as follows: for even numbered boats, the southwest corner of the Miami Beach Marina bulkhead facing Government Cut; and for the odd numbered boats, the stake boat anchored on the south side of Government Cut. YCMBT officials will be on duty at the check-out points from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. each morning. All boats shall prominently display their boat numbers so that the number is clearly visible to the YCMBT officials on duty. Idle zones from the check points are: (1) east to the fishing pier on the north side of the cut; (2) west to pilot boat dock; (3) north to MacArthur Causeway. YCMBT officials will also be accessible on the radio to confirm visual check-out. After checking out, boats may proceed to their chosen fishing site to await the official start of fishing. Boats may not be transported by trailer to another location after check-out. After 9:00 a.m., any boat wishing to be eligible for the day's fishing must be visually checked out with the YCMBT officials at Miami Beach Marina fuel dock. No boat should inhibit the passage of any large ships, including cruise and freight, into or out of Government Cut. In case of breakdown, another boat may be substituted only after approval by YCMBT officials.

9. Official Fishing Time: The official fishing time on Friday and Saturday is 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. On Sunday, official fishing time is 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Official fishing time begins with the YCMBT official radio announcement broadcast on channel 82 (see rule 7) of “lines in the water” and ends with a “lines out of the water” announcement broadcast on the radio. All registered anglers on any boat with lines in the water before or after official fishing time, except when fighting a fish that has been reported to the YCMBT radio committee as described in Rules 22 and 28 will be automatically be disqualified from the entire tournament.

10. Bimini Start: There is no longer a Bimini Start. Please see Rules 8 and 9.

11. Territorial Limits: The fishing limits of this YCMBT are the waters of the U.S. no more than twenty-five (25) miles offshore. Registered anglers may fish as far north or as far south as they wish, but all registered anglers must return to the weigh station at Miami Beach Marina by the prescribed hour in Rule 12 in their assigned boat.

12. Weigh-in: The weigh station will be at Miami Beach Marina. All boats with fish to be weighed or with releases to be entered must proceed directly to the weigh station at the end of official fishing each day. Registered boats must be back to Miami Beach Marina inside the basin to report his or her fish before 6:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and before 3:00 p.m. Sunday for fish to count.

13. Bait Fishing: Registered anglers may fish for their own live bait before being visually checked out each morning. Bait fishing is specifically prohibited each morning between the time the boat has been visually checked out and the radio announcement of “lines in the water”.

14. Protests: Registered anglers may protest any fish entered in the tournament. All protests must be delivered in writing to the weighmaster on the day of the protested catch before the end of the weigh-in that afternoon. All protests will be considered by YCMBT officials, whose decisions are final. Any member of the YCMBT Board of Directors who is entered in the tournament shall temporarily resign his/her position on the Board during the running of the YCMBT to avoid any conflict of interest.

15. Weather: YCMBT officials may cancel any tournament day if, in their best judgment, unsafe conditions exist at sea for the average boat entered. No refunds of any sort will be made for any cause in the event of such cancellation. If one or two days are "weathered out", the YCMBT results will be final based on the results of the days that can be completed. Notice of cancellation and/or resumption of fishing will be broadcast on the radio at 7:30 a.m. A determination permitting fishing by YCMBT officials should not be interpreted to mean that the YCMBT ensures the safety of any registered angler or occupant of any boat. Registered anglers must make their own judgments whether to fish under the prevailing weather conditions based on the size and seaworthiness of their boat, their seamanship skills and any other relevant factors.

16. Entry Forms: Every prospective angler in this YCMBT must submit a fully completed entry form together with all required fees to be considered for acceptance and registration in the tournament. YCMBT officials reserve the right to refuse entry to any prospective angler, with or without cause, in their sole discretion. The YCMBT shall return all entry fees tendered by any prospective angler whose entry is refused. Entry fees paid after 3/19/04 must be in the form of cash or cashiers check.

17. Photographs: In consideration for the YCMBT's acceptance of his or her entry, each registered angler specifically agrees and consents that the YCMBT may use any photograph in which he or she appears for any purpose whatsoever, including but not limited to resale, advertising, commercial or promotional material, without compensation or restriction of any kind.

18. Observers: A list of boats requiring observers will be read on YCMBT radio at 6:15 a.m. each morning. Those boats required to carry an observer may pick up their observer from the Miami Beach Marina fuel dock or floating dock at 6:30 a.m. The list of boats requiring an observer will be reread on the radio, periodically till all observers have been picked up. Each boat must confirm Observer on board to committee boat via radio channel 82. In consideration for the YCMBT’s acceptance of his or her entry, each registered angler specifically agrees and consents to carry an observer on his or her boat at the request of YCMBT officials at any time. Refusal or failure to carry an observer at the request of YCMBT officials will result in disqualification from the tournament and forfeiture of all prizes for all registered anglers on the boat. Observers may protest the same as registered anglers as provided in Rule 14. 

19. Polygraphs: In consideration for the YCMBT's acceptance of his or her entry, each registered angler specifically agrees and consents to voluntarily submit to a polygraph examination or examinations, to be conducted by a polygraph examiner selected by the YCMBT, at any time until all prize winners and awards are determined and announced.  Further, each registered angler agrees to obtain the agreement and consent of each and every occupant of the boat from which he or she fishes during the tournament (including but not limited to the captain and crew) to submit to a polygraph examination or examinations as described above. The method and conduct of all polygraph examinations, and the interpretation of the results thereof, shall be in the sole judgment of the polygraph examiner appointed by the YCMBT, whose opinion shall be final. If any registered angler or occupant of a vessel refuses to submit to a polygraph examination, or if any registered angler or occupant gives a response which, in the sole opinion of the polygraph examiner, is untruthful, then all registered anglers on the boat shall be immediately disqualified without further notice from the YCMBT. Any registered angler so disqualified shall not be entitled to any prize, award, or entry fee refund.

20.  Hold Harmless: All registered anglers and non-registered occupants of their boats enter and participate in this YCMBT voluntarily and at their own risk. In consideration for the YCMBT's acceptance of his or her entry, each registered angler, for his or her heirs, executors, and administrators, agrees to release, hold harmless and indemnify the YCMBT, its officers, managers, directors, agents, polygraph examiners, sponsors, donors, the city and county where the event is held, and all other persons connected directly or indirectly with the operation of the tournament, from and against any and all liabilities, claims, actions, damages, costs, fees or expenses which he or she may have against any above-described party, or which his or her captains, crew members, family members, companions or non-registered occupants of their boat may have, arising out of or in any way connected with his or her participation in this YCMBT, including any  injury or death suffered by any registered angler, boat captains, crew members, family members, companions or other occupants of any boat, and including any damage to vessels and equipment, which occurs during or in conjunction with the event. Each registered angler understands and agrees that this release specifically includes and waives any claims based on libel, slander, negligence, action or inaction of any above-named party.  Each registered angler further understands and agrees that this release specifically includes and waives any claims arising from the YCMBT's use of any photographs as described in Rule 17 above, from the YCMBT's placement of an observer on any boat as described in Rule 18 above, and from the YCMBT's administration of or interpretation of any polygraph as described in Rule 19 above.

B. BILLFISH RULES

21. Releasing Billfish: YCMBT officials encourage all registered anglers to release their billfish. There is no advantage in this YCMBT to boat a billfish regardless of how big the fish may be. A billfish shall be considered a "release" only when the leader or swivel attaching the fishing line to the leader touches the rod tip or when the mate touches the leader, provided the angler's intent is to release the fish. 

22. Reporting Billfish: The YCMBT committee boat must be notified on the radio immediately after a registered angler releases a billfish except during the last 15 minutes of each day, during which time all fish must be reported upon being hooked. All reports must include the assigned boat number and angler letter. No billfish shall be eligible, without exception, unless the YCMBT committee boat has acknowledged the information provided over the radio and given a confirmation number to the angler. Boats which cannot make radio contact with the YCMBT committee boat for any reason should contact another boat for a relay.

23. Scoring: Registered anglers will receive 200 points for each release of an eligible billfish. Each boat will be provided with release cards which must be completely filled out, signed by the entire crew aboard the boat, and delivered to the weigh station by boat only each day for releases to count. The species of billfish, time of release, confirmation number, boat number, angler name and letter are mandatory on the card. Awards will be scored on the most points accumulated by a registered angler. In the event of an exact tie, the registered angler/team accumulating the most points first will be the winner.

24. Team Awards: These awards will be given to the top ten teams of registered anglers aboard one boat. A team shall consist of at least two but no more than six registered anglers. To be eligible for team awards, a team must declare their affiliation upon registration and pay the additional team registration fee. All individual anglers, regardless of their team affiliation, are eligible for individual awards as well as team awards.

25. Family Billfish Award: This award will be given for the highest total points accumulated by two or more immediate family members who are registered anglers fishing from the same boat. For purposes of this category "immediate family members" shall only mean spouses, their children, and siblings, such as husband/wife, father/son, mother/daughter, or brother/sister.

26. Amateur Boat Awards: These awards will be given for the highest total points accumulated by one or more registered anglers fishing from the same amateur boat. To be eligible for amateur boat awards, each angler and every other person aboard the boat, including crew, must be an amateur. An "amateur" is anyone who meets all of the following criteria: (a) during the past three years has not been compensated for his/her fishing services in any way; (b) during the past three years has not been a commercial fisherman; (c) has never been the master angler in this tournament; (d) during the past three years has not finished in the top three individual places in this tournament; and (e) during the past three years has not been a member of a team that finished in the top three places in this tournament. One participant on each Amateur Boat must declare on the entry form that each person aboard throughout the tournament will meet these amateur criteria. Amateur anglers are eligible for all other awards in this YCMBT provided appropriate entry fees have been paid.

27. Captains Awards: These awards will be given to the captains of the top three boats whose anglers accumulate the highest total points.

C. FUNFISH RULES

28. Reporting Funfish: Funfish do not need to be reported upon being boated. However, during the last 15 minutes of official fishing time each day, all fish must be reported on the radio upon being hooked.

29. Scoring: Prizes will be awarded for the heaviest eligible funfish species measured to the nearest 1/4 pound. A ten pound minimum weight will be in effect for all eligible species in all funfish categories. No more than three (3) of each eligible funfish species may be weighed per boat daily in all funfish categories. All fish must be brought to the weigh station by boat only. Each boat will be provided with tail tags which must be completely filled out, signed by the entire crew aboard the boat and affixed to the fish's tail for the fish to count. The angler's name, designated letter and assigned boat number are mandatory on the tag. In the event of an exact tie, the first fish weighed in will be the winner.

30. Funfish Boat Entry: An alternative per-boat entry fee is available to any prospective group of anglers who desire to compete only for funfish awards on the same boat. Upon registration, the designated captain of any boat electing the per-boat entry for funfish must register all individual anglers who will fish only for funfish awards on his or her boat during this YCMBT. Rule #4 setting the maximum anglers and lines per boat applies to boats in this category. All such "boat entry" anglers are only eligible for the funfish awards, but registered anglers who pay the per-angler registration fee are also eligible to win those funfish awards in addition to any billfish awards. No registered angler who has paid the per-angler registration fee may fish on the same boat as "boat entry" anglers.

31. Family Funfish Award: This award will be given for the highest aggregate weight of eligible funfish accumulated by two or more immediate family members who are registered anglers fishing from the same boat.  For purposes of this category "immediate family members" shall only mean spouses, their children, and siblings, such as husband/wife, father/son, mother/daughter, or brother/sister.

D. JUNIOR RULES 

32. Any angler who has not reached his 16th birthday may fish in the Junior Division.  Junior anglers will still be eligible for all other awards. Entry in the Junior Division is voluntary and must be declared on the entry form to entitle the angler to win Junior Division awards. Junior anglers must be accompanied by an adult registered angler. No more than two junior anglers per registered adult shall be allowed on any boat.

E. ADDED VALUE CATEGORIES

33. The YCMBT offers four "added value" categories for registered anglers only. All YCMBT rules apply, and scoring in each of the three categories will be in accordance with the applicable YCMBT rules for billfish or funfish. Fees to enter these categories are on a per-boat basis and are in addition to angler, team and boat entry fees. Participating boats must register for the added value categories of their choice at or before tournament registration. Team declaration and entry is not required to compete for billfish categories. Entry fees paid after March 19, 2004 must be in the form of cash or cashiers check. Fifteen percent (15%) of the gross entry fee in each category will be donated to conservation. The remaining eighty-five percent (85%) will be awarded and divided in each category as described in Rules 34, 35, 36, 37 and 38 below. Actual cash prize amounts of each category are dependent on the number of boats entering that category. All prizes will be paid by check at the awards presentation.

34. $5K Hook-Up: The " $5K Hook-Up " will seek the same eligible billfish species as the YCMBT. The winning boat will be determined by the combined total billfish points accumulated by all registered anglers on each competing boat throughout the YCMBT. Entry fee is $5,000 per boat. The award for the $5K Hook-Up will be on a winner-take-all basis.

35. Grand Anglers Club: The "Grand Anglers Club" will seek the same eligible billfish species as the YCMBT. The winning boat will be determined by the combined total billfish points accumulated by all registered anglers on each competing boat throughout the YCMBT. Entry fee is $1,000 per boat. The award for the Grand Anglers Club will be on a winner-take-all basis.

36. Pot of Gold: The "Pot of God" will seek the same eligible billfish species as the YCMBT. The winning boat will be determined by the combined total billfish points accumulated by all registered anglers on each competing boat throughout the YCMBT. Entry fee is $500 per boat. Awards for the Pot of Gold will be distributed for first, second and third places on a fifty percent (50%), thirty percent (30%) and twenty percent (20%) basis.

37. Dynamite Daily: The "Daily Winner" will seek the same eligible billfish species as the YCMBT. A Daily Winner will be declared each day of official tournament fishing. The winning boat will be determined by the combined total billfish points accumulated by all registered anglers on each competing boat each day. Entry fee is $150 per boat. Awards for the Daily Winner will be distributed evenly over each day of official tournament fishing.

38. Kettle of Fish: The "Kettle of Fish" will seek the same eligible funfish species as the YCMBT. The winner will be determined by the heaviest combination of funfish accumulated by all registered anglers on each competing boat, or the heaviest single fish caught by a registered angler on a competing boat, whichever is greater, throughout the YCMBT.  A ten pound minimum weight will be in effect for all eligible species. No more than three (3) of each eligible funfish species may be weighed per boat daily. Entry fee is $200 per boat. Awards for the Kettle of Fish will be distributed for first, second and third places on a fifty percent (50%), thirty percent (30%) and twenty percent (20%) basis.

Copyright 2004 by the Greater Miami Billfish Tournament, Inc. All rights reserved.