Rules

Entry Fee is $6,000 per boat through April 1 and covers everyone on board. The entire team can attend all functions. After April 1, there will be a $600 late fee per boat.

All tournament entries are non-transferable and non-refundable. If your vessel is unable to compete in the event after submitting payment, your entry will be rolled over to the following year for full credit. Payment of the entry fee constitutes a representation by each entrant that he/she has read and fully understands the tournament rules that he/she will abide by such rules and the decisions of the Tournament Director and/or Committee.

The Louisiana Gulf Coast Billfish Classic is a sportfishing tournament where participants agree to fish in a fair and ethical manner. While the tournament does not strictly enforce the use of IGFA rules, it certainly expects that only minor technical differences will be employed by anglers. One noted exception is the allowance that the rod may be handed off one time within the first minute of the fight.

The full page of State Saltwater Fishing Rules can be found at http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/fishing/saltwater-finfish.

A Captains’ Meeting will be held on Wednesday at 5:30pm at New Orleans Big Game Fishing Club and Hurricane Hole Marina. Rules are Subject to Change. Any changes to the rules and final instructions will be given at the meeting. All participants are invited to attend the Kick-off Party following the meeting at 6:00pm.

An Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling Permit is required and participants must be familiar with and follow HMS regulations. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/permit/atlantic-highly-migratory-species-angling-permit-open-access

Anglers must obtain a Louisiana Basic Fishing License, a Saltwater Fishing License, and Saltwater Landing Permit. All of which can be obtained locally or online. https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/recreational-saltwater-finfish

Teams will depart from Grand Isle and Cypress Cove Marina at 10am on Thursday morning and will continue fishing until scales close at 6:00pm on Saturday. Boats cannot be trailered during fishing hours and must return to weigh-in by water. All boats with catch & release videos and fish to be weighed, must pass under the Grand Isle Bridge or into “The Jump” and check-in by 6:00pm on Saturday. 

Scales will be open until 7:00pm on Friday and Saturday.  All fish caught during the tournament must be weighed before scales close on Saturday night.  Boats must be checked in at Hurricane Hole Marina or Cypress Cove Marina by 7:00pm on Saturday to have their fish weighed in. Scales will close immediately after the last fish is weighed. All billfish catch verification forms for boated and/or released fish must be turned in to officials before the scales close.

• The following species are eligible for competition when caught by registered anglers in accordance with tournament rules:

Eligible for Catch & Release      

• Blue Marlin
• White Marlin
• Sailfish
• Spearfish

Eligible for Weigh-in at Scales

• Blue Marlin – 111″ minimum (LJFL)
• Tuna – 20 lbs minimum weight
• Wahoo – 20 lbs. minimum weight
• Dolphin – 20 lbs. minimum weight

Boated Blue Marlin must measure at least 112 inches in length from the tip of the lower jaw to the fork of the tail (LJFL). Deck checking of billfish is strictly prohibited: A boated billfish is one that has been partially or totally pulled on the boat. Boated billfish cannot be released for points. Culling or discarding a previously boated marlin is prohibited. Violation of this rule will result in team disqualification from the tournament, including all the categories entered, and forfeiture of all entry fees. 

No angler or boat may be in possession of more than one blue marlin per day.  Any angler in violation of this rule will be banned from further participation in the tournament without refund.

For each day the scales are open (Friday and Saturday), each boat will be allowed to bring to the scales a maximum of 1 blue marlin, 3 tuna, 3 wahoo, and 3 dolphin. 

Once a fish is boated a team may return to port for an official measurement. Teams must wait for scales to open for an official weight. 

The tournament committee reserves the right to reject any fish entry because of poor condition or one that does not meet the eligible requirements set by this tournament.  The condition of the fish will be left to the scrutiny of the tournament director and committee.  THEIR DECISION IS FINAL.

Each boat is required to record all billfish that are boated or released in the order in which the fish are caught on the Billfish Scorecard.  The order of the recorded releases should match the order that appears on the boat’s Catch & Release video. The Billfish Scorecard will be available in your boat information packet.  Report all boated billfish on the form.

Be prepared to give the following information:

• Name of Boat
• Name of Angler
• Species of Fish (Blue Marlin, White Marlin, Spearfish, Sailfish)
• Time released or boated
• Length of Fish

DO NOT report Tuna, Dolphin, or Wahoo on the catch & release form.

Committee boats will be used for conservation and informational reporting only.  Please contact a committee boat to report boated or released marlin.

Names of Committee boats and any changes to communication frequencies will be announced at the Captain’s Meeting.  Please use alternate frequencies for conversations not related to the reporting of billfish.

Your committee boats will be monitoring VHF Channel 78 and weigh station phone (337) 849-8642.

IMPORTANT:  A tail tag with the boat name and registered angler’s name must be attached to each fish before unloading at the weigh scales.

Tournament scales will be located at Hurricane Hole Marina or Cypress Cove Marina.

Anglers must remain with their fish until completion of the weigh-in procedure.  The angler must sign the weigh-in stat sheet to verify the weight, at which time will make the weight official.

All fish weighed at the scales must be returned to the boat.

All Tournament Awards are based on 50 registered tournament boats. Payouts are subject to change depending on the number of entries. Awards for Heaviest Fish will be presented to the angler/boat for fish caught in the following categories:

Top Jr. (16  yrs or younger) & Lady Angler Awards will be presented to the one lady angler and the one jr. angler with the most accumulated points based on the following:

• 1 Point per pound for Blue Marlin weighed at the dock  
• 700 points per Blue Marlin release                                                                                                               
• 200 Points per White Marlin release                                                                 
• 150 Points per Sailfish, Spearfish or for any unidentifiable marlin release excluding swordfish.

If no qualifying blue marlin are weighed, the cash award for blue marlin will roll down and be divided between the top 3 team’s accumulated catch and release points, 50/30/20.

Billfish Catch:  A billfish is considered caught when the leader connection is shown wound to the tip of the rod, or a team member is shown touching the leader.

Billfish Release:  The billfish is considered released when, after being caught by the above definition, the rod and angler are shown with the fish no longer connected to the line or the billfish is shown in the water, no longer connected to the line.

Designators will be assigned at the mandatory Captain’s Meeting. These markers must appear in all video submissions.

Points for catch and release are awarded when, in the process of the catch and release as defined above, all technical elements are shown on video. iPhones, iPads, and Go Pros are allowed to be used when capturing required footage.  Tagging is not required for points and billfish removed from the water or boated will be disqualified.

Video submitted for consideration for points must include the following technical elements:

• Angler fighting fish, including video of rod and reel
• Cockpit panoramic view
• Tournament designator
• The Catch (swivel at rod tip or team member touching the leader)
• Video of Billfish for species identification.  (Judges use dorsal, anal and pectoral fins for fish identification)
• The Release (the Billfish being released or video of the rod and angler with the fish no longer connected to the line)
• Secondary cockpit panoramic view after the release
• After the secondary cockpit panoramic view, a clear video of GPS date & time to be used for official release time.  Hold camera steady for several seconds to allow clear focus of GPS Date & Time (This is critical.) GPS must display in CDT.  Show designator alongside GPS if possible.

Verification Videos become the property of the tournament.  Verification videos and billfish scorecards must be turned in to the video judges at the designated judging location near the weigh station between the hours of 3:00-6:00pm on either Friday or Saturday.

All billfish released or boated must be logged on the Billfish Scorecard in the sequence in which they were caught; scorecards must be signed by the Boat Captain indicating they agree to the information as recorded. The scorecard must include boat name, angler’s name, species, date and time of release.  Detailed instructions are printed on the billfish scorecard which is included in the team packet handed out at registration.

All billfish must be recorded on the Billfish Scorecard regardless if you enter the Optional Entry for Catch & Release or not.  In case there are no blue marlin that qualify for the minimum size requirements and no awards are issued for that division, the money will be divided and roll over to the teams with the most points on the scorecard.  

Catch & Release placements are determined by points awarded as follows:

• 700 points for Blue Marlin
• 200 points for White Marlin
• 150 points for Sailfish, Spearfish or for any unidentifiable marlin (billfish excluding swordfish)

Only billfish caught and released according to these Rules are eligible for Awards as described herein.

The Billfish Scorecard must accompany the Catch & Release video to the weigh-in dock.  The form must be completed with all required information. Catch & Release verification videos and scorecards must be turned in to the video judges at the weigh-in dock by close of scales (before last fish is weighed) on Friday or Saturday.

Polygraph Test may be administered at the discretion of the Tournament Director and/or Committee.

Prior to fishing, each tournament boat must designate a representative payee to receive payment of all cash awards.  Payment of cash awards is by check. A single check will be written to the boat’s representative payee for the combined total of tournament cash awards and optional cash awards.

Checks will be written after the Awards Ceremony on Sunday.

Louisiana Gulf Coast Billfish Classic accepts no responsibility for the division of any cash awards between team members.

This is a separate entry.  The Optional Entry is not required to compete for Tournament Awards.

Participants may pay an Optional Entry fee in one or more of the following:

Catch & Release, Blue Marlin, Tuna, Wahoo, Dolphin will pay 1st, 2nd, and 3rd with a 50%, 30%, 20% split. Crew Jackpot is winner take all. In the event of limited participation in any category listed above, the payouts will be modified as follows: One team entered will be refunded in full, 2-5 teams will be winner-take-all, 6-9 will be 60/40 split and 10 or more teams will be the standard 50/30/20 split.  Participants who wish to pay an Optional Betting Fee prior to April 1, may submit a credit card,  cashier’s or business check made payable to the Louisiana Gulf Coast Billfish Classic.  Participants who wish to pay an Optional Entry Fee after April 1 must pay by cash, credit card or cashier’s check during registration hours on Wednesday at 5pm – 10pm of tournament week or make payment arrangements with the Tournament Director.  Optional Awards for Catch & Release divisions are determined by points according to Tournament Rules.  Optional Awards for boated Blue Marlin, Tuna, Wahoo, and Dolphin are determined by weight according to Tournament Rules.  In the event that no qualifying fish are weighed by an Optional Entry participant in a given Division eligible for an Optional Award, 90% percent of the Optional Entry Fees collected for that division are returned to the participant(s) who paid Optional Entry Fees for that division.

Crew Jackpot

Verification video recordings must be submitted not later than the closing of the scales on final day of fishing.  Recordings should be submitted immediately upon return to the marina.

All recorded images and sounds become the property of the tournament and may be used by the tournament for display purposes during weigh in and future marketing campaigns.  Images will be copied from digital hard drive cameras onto tapes, CD’s and/or DVD’s, etc.

Video Tips and Recommendations

• Use fresh, new SD cards
• SD type Sony and GoPro, etc. cameras which generate consumer type files allowing the judges to quickly copy the recording to a computer which facilitates slow motion and segment by segment scoring
• Files with .MXF filename extension cannot be opened or viewed by the judges.
• Judges will not score from your laptop computer or iPad type tablet.
• Judges will accept more than one video of the same release from a different camera (of the same type), provided the same previous video requirements are met.
• If possible and without harm to the fish, have the mate display the dorsal fin on the video at the time of release to assist with identification.
• Underwater video of the release is helpful with identification.  Ensure video is adequately long to allow identification.
• Limit recordings to only video release recordings from this tournament with the segments staged, cued and ready for scoring.  Before entering the scoring room, know where images are located on the recording.  Have the SD card ready to be inserted into scoring computer.
• It is critical the person sent to scoring clearly understands how to provide the video digital media to the scoring judge.  One person per team is allowed in video scoring.
• Understand how to properly display the GPS date and time on your boat GPS prior to the tournament.  This is critical for a tie-breaker.

Remember:  Report releases to a Committee Boat on VHF Channel 78 so we can track them for unofficial reporting to the media and the verification committee.  Releases may also be reported to weigh station phone (337)-849-8642.

In the event the tournament committee feels in their best judgement fishing is unsafe due to severe weather, high seas, or any cause beyond the control of the Louisiana Gulf Coast Billfish Classic, the tournament may be cancelled or delayed.  If delayed, a new start time or date will be announced should weather conditions improve. If cancelled, entry fees will be rolled over to the following year in their entirety. If one day is fished, the tournament goes on.

Entrants shall have no claim against the Louisiana Gulf Coast Billfish Classic for return of paid entry fees. 

All teams and participants should make their decision to fish based solely on their own judgement.  Fish at your own risk.

For Catch and Release, team placement is determined by the first team to reach the highest total points as verified by the boats GPS time.

For fish weighed in, any category of fish brought to the scales, placement is determined by the order of weigh-in at the scales.  The recorded time of weigh-in determines placement.

In case of a tie for Top Lady Angler or Top Junior Angler on points, placement is determined first by the heaviest fish and then by the first angler to reach the highest total points as verified by the boats GPS time.  If it comes down to weighed fish only to determine tie breaker, placement will be determined by the recorded weigh-in time at the scales.

Any protests relating to the tournament must be submitted in writing along with a $1,000 deposit by the team captain to the tournament committee no later than 15 minutes after the last fish is weighed on the final day of the tournament.  All entrants agree to abide by tournament rules and regulations.

All disputes are decided by the Tournament Director and Committee.  Their decision is final.

Poor sportsmanship will be grounds for disqualification from the Louisiana Gulf Coast Billfish Classic.  Any violation of these rules resulting in disqualification will result in forfeiture of entry fee and prize money.

It is understood that all participants in the Louisiana Gulf Coast Billfish Classic enter at their own risk, and that the officers, committee members, sponsors, directors, tournament venue and all persons connected directly or indirectly with the operation of said tournament, shall be exempt from any liability for libel, slander, loss, damage, negligence, harm, injury or death suffered by any participant, entrant, anglers, his/her companions, boat captains, mates, crew members, vessels and equipment which may occur during or in conjunction with the tournament.  By tournament entry, the captain consents that the Louisiana Gulf Coast Billfish Classic may use without payment or restriction, any photographs in which he/she or any of their crew may appear for any purpose whatsoever; including, but not limited to resale, advertising, commercial or promotional material. The captain and his crew further release the Louisiana Gulf Coast Billfish Classic, officers and directors, and all persons from injury, loss or damage which may result.

All state record winners must submit to and pass in a conclusive manner, a polygraph examination administered by a licensed polygraphist provided by tournament officials.  All entrants agree to submit to a polygraph examination at the request of the tournament committee if there is a conflict involving said entrant. Failure to submit to such an examination will result in disqualification of the entrant at the sole discretion of the tournament committee.

ALL DECISIONS OF THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR AND COMMITTEE WILL BE FINAL.