The Catalina Classic Marlin Tournament will award first through third place cash awards for the heaviest striped marlin weighed by participating teams.

QUALIFYING FISH

• The Tournament has set an official length of 84 inches, measured from the lower lip (with the mouth closed) to the fork in the tail, or a weight of 165 pounds as a standard to be used.
• Only striped marlin measuring 84 inches or weighing 165-pounds or more shall qualify in the tournament. A penalty for weighing undersize fish will be assessed.
• For each striped marlin weighing less than the minimum 165-pounds and measuring less than 84 inches, a penalty of 15 pounds will be deducted from the weight of the largest qualifying fish weighed by the team for the Tournament’s First through Third place cash prizes.

BOATING AND WEIGHING FISH

• Once a marlin is brought into the boats cockpit, it is deemed boated and MUST be weighed. Failure to weigh a boated fish will result in tournament disqualification and forfeiture of any previous points, prizes, and jackpots.

OPTIONAL DAILY JACKPOTS

• Optional Daily Jackpot entry fee categories of $250, $500, $1,000 and $2,000 per day are available to interested teams.
• Daily Jackpots pay 85% of the gross daily entry fees back to the winners of the respective categories.
• The Optional Daily Jackpots are a winner-take-all format with a minimum qualifying length of 84 inches or weight of 165-pounds.
• Daily Jackpot prizes will roll forward and backward if there are no qualifying fish weighed on one or more days by a Daily Jackpot entrant. Example: If on the first day of fishing no qualifying fish are weighed to claim one or more of the Daily Jackpots then the prize or prizes will roll forward to the second day and will be added to that days respective Daily Jackpot prizes.
• If the Daily Jackpot prizes are claimed on the first day of the Tournament but not the second day, the prizes will roll backward to the team or teams, which claimed the prizes on the first day.
• Penalty points assessed for weighing an undersized fish on the second day of fishing will not affect a team’s Daily Jackpot winnings on the first day of fishing.
• Once a Daily Jackpot prize has been earned it cannot be lost by earning penalty points for weighing an undersized fish on a different day. However, a team which weighs a qualifying fish and an undersized fish on the same day shall have any penalty points deducted from the weight of their qualifying fish in determining any Daily Jackpot winnings on that day.

TOURNAMENT CASH PRIZES

• All cash prizes are based on a 100-team quota. Should there be more or less teams all cash prizes will be adjusted accordingly.
  

  First Place wins $76,000
  Second Place wins $28,000
  Third Place wins $16,000

  In addition to first through third place cash prizes, the team that finishes in fourth place will win a free entry into the 2011 Catalina Classic.

• Winners will be awarded their prizes on the basis of heaviest striped marlin caught, determined by weight only.
• A single team can claim only one of the Tournaments First through Third Place “Cash Prize Places”.
• In the event of a tie, places involved will divide prizes evenly.

TEAM ROSTERS AND CAPTAINS

• A team shall consist of one to six team members with one team member designated as captain.
• No more than six people are allowed on board during tournament hours (with the exception of designated tournament or media personnel).
• Each team member must be listed on the official team roster. Substitutions are permitted with prior notification to and approval by tournament officials.
• The team captain will be responsible for all correspondence and payments to the tournament, and distribution of all prize money for their team. It is the team captains’ responsibility to insure that all team members follow all rules and regulations of the tournament.
• All boats must fly the official Tournament flag during the Tournament.
• Any misrepresentation on the team’s signed entry form, signed release affidavit, signed weigh master certificate or violation of any Tournament rule will be cause for disqualification and forfeiture of any prize money and merchandise won in the tournament.
• Non team member deckhands or mates can handle all equipment and tackle but they cannot set the hook or engage the drag on a fish and then hand the rod off to a team member.
• Any fish hooked while a deckhand or mate, who are not team members, is bringing in or letting out a line is a non-qualifying catch.

Fishing Times

Monday, September 20

• Monday morning beginning at 6:40 a.m. tournament control will conduct a V.H.F. Radio Roll Call on channel 71. Teams are required to make radio contact with tournament control.
• Boats will then line up for the 7 a.m. shotgun start and “start fishing”. There is no fishing prior to 7 a.m. (bait fishing permitted).
• “Stop fishing” is at 5 p.m. and lines out is at 5:05 p.m.
• Deadline to enter harbor with boated and/or release fish is 7:00 p.m. firm.
• Weigh in/video review at the green pleasure pier.

Tuesday, September 21

• Tuesday morning beginning at 6:15 a.m. tournament control will conduct a V.H.F. Radio Roll Call on channel 71.
• Boats will then remain in Avalon Harbor vicinity until the 6:30 a.m. “start fishing”. There is no fishing prior to 6:30 a.m. (bait fishing permitted).
• “Stop fishing” is at 3 p.m. and lines out is at 3:05 p.m.
• Weigh in/video review at the green pleasure pier.
• Any fish hooked after stop fishing but before lines out must immediately be reported to tournament control. The fish will not count, but may be played until caught or released. Failure to report any fish hooked between stop fishing and lines out will disqualify any catch/release points previously earned that day.
• There is no fishing permitted after lines out (bait fishing permitted).
• Boats weighing fish must be back in Avalon Harbor by the 7:00 p.m. deadline on Monday and Tuesday, and 5:00 p.m. deadline on Tuesday to weigh.
• A boat is considered inside the harbor when they cross the imaginary line between the red and green harbor lights.
• Failure to enter the harbor before the deadline will disqualify all fish for that day.
• If you are late, we still must weigh any fish on board to determine if any penalty points may accrue for any undersized fish.

FISHING AREA

• Each team will be given a grid map. Fishing outside the designated grid area will disqualify all fish caught that day.
• Tournament Control may request any team to give their immediate Lat/Lon at any time.
• Teams are required to report their approximate location of all hook ups according to the grid map within 10 minutes of the hookup, whether or not the fish is still hooked.
• All boats must fly the official tournament flag during tournament hours.

VHF AND TOURNAMENT CONTROL

• All boats are required to have a functioning VHF radio.
• The official tournament channel is VHF Channel 71. The alternate channel will be VHF Channel 65.
• Each morning at roll call, the tournament may announce an alternate channel for communication for the day.
• Channel 71 will be the default channel if an alternate channel is not available.
• VHF communications between tournament boats is permitted, but please switch to a different channel for conversation.
• Radio silence is to be observed during the final 30 minutes of fishing each day, with the exception of emergency or to report a hook up or boating or release.
• Teams are required to immediately report their hookups, including grid, angler, and whether it is a bait or lure fish.
• Teams are also required to immediately report the catch, release or loss of any hookup.
• In the event that radio communication is difficult, please assist tournament control by relaying communication if possible.
• The use of profanity on the radio is strictly prohibited.

CAMERA POLICY

• It is highly recommended that teams provide their own video camera to be used to document catches during this years’ tournament. The tournament will have equipment available onsite to play back your videotapes/disks.
• Each team will be given a disposable camera to be used to photograph and document team catches as back up and to supplement their video camera.
• A set of sealed instructions will be given to each team. All teams must follow the instructions included in their package in order for their catches to qualify.
• It is the team captains’ responsibility to make sure his teams’ camera and videocassette/disc is submitted to the proper tournament official.

TACKLE

• IGFA Rules apply in the tournament unless specifically modified in this document or at the tournament check in. Copies of the IGFA rule book can be obtained by calling (714) 258-0445 and requesting a copy to be mailed. They will also be available at tournament registration.
• All fishing is to be done using rod and reel.
• Leaders are limited to 30 feet overall length, including all terminal tackle.
• Double line may be used, but the total combined length of double line and leader must not exceed 40 feet.
• There is no restriction to the breaking strength of the leader or double line.
• There are no limits as to the number of lines that may be in the water at one time.
• Fishing line must not exceed 80 pound breaking strength as indicated by the line manufacturer.
• Artificial Lures with skirts or trailing material shall not have more than two single hooks attached to the line or leader and must conform to IGFA rules.
• For live or dead bait fishing, circle hooks must be used and must be manufactured zero offset and not modified in any way. Hooks must be embedded in or securely attached to the bait and conform to IGFA rules.
• If requested by tournament officials, rods, reels, line, lures, leaders and hooks must be presented to tournament officials for inspection.

SPECIAL RULES

• If there are not enough qualifying fish caught to claim first through third place regular cash prizes, the unclaimed cash prizes will be added to the daily cash prizes on a pro-rata basis.
• If an insufficient number of qualifying daily jackpot division fish are caught to claim all daily jackpot prizes, the tournament will refund those entry fees less the portion deemed earned by the tournament.
• If no qualifying fish are weighed in during the tournament, or if weather causes cancellation, the tournament will be extended to include Wednesday the 23^rd of September.
• One day of fishing will constitute a tournament.
• If, after Wednesday there are any unclaimed cash prizes, they will be added to and carried forward to next year’s respective cash prizes.

DISQUALIFICATION
The following acts or situations will disqualify a team or its catch:

• Fishing outside the designated grid area will disqualify all fish caught that day.
• Fishing before “Start Fishing” or after “Stop Fishing” will disqualify all fish caught that day (bait fishing permitted).
• Failure to weigh a boated fish will result in disqualification of the team.
• Mutilation of the fish by sharks or propellers will disqualify the fish.
• Coming into contact or passing any item to or from any other vessel without expressed permission from tournament officials will disqualify all fish caught that day.
• Habitually abusing FCC regulations or tournament regulations regarding radio communications are subject to disqualification.
• Illegal radio or electronic gear found on a team’s boat will subject that team to disqualification.
• Teams caught communicating with spotter planes, spotter boats, or commercial fishing boats during tournament hours are subject to disqualification.
• The use of firearms, harpoons, or entangling devices is prohibited and will result in disqualification of fish.
• Any misrepresentation on the teams signed entry forms, signed release affidavits will be cause for disqualification.
• Teams are not permitted to be entered in and fish in a second tournament that overlaps in any manner the fishing times of the Catalina Classic, with the exception of the Avalon Billfish Classic.
• Any other act not in strict compliance with the rules or intent may be cause for disqualification.

RULE CHANGE AND PROTEST POLICY

• Any amendments or additions to the tournament rules will be announced at the mandatory team captain’s check-in.
• If there is any disagreement, controversy, or necessary clarification of any tournament rule or result, the final irrevocable decision will be made by the tournament rules committee.
• The violation of any tournament rule may result in the disqualification of both the angler and the team unless otherwise noted.
• All competitors’ protests, if any, must be submitted in writing by a team captain on the same day the situation generating the protest occurred. Any protest on the last day of fishing must be received by 6:30 p.m.
• The protesting team must submit a $500 cash deposit with the written protest. Deposits will not be returned for protests subsequently determined to be without merit or substance.
• It is expressly understood that these protest rules relate to teams protests and do not limit the time the tournament has to enforce tournament rules and regulations.
• Any misrepresentation on the team’s signed entry form or signed release affidavit discovered at a later date will be cause for disqualification, forfeiture and the return of any prize money and merchandise won in the tournament. The tournament reserves the right to pursue such misrepresentations without regard to any time limit that all tournament team’s protest is bound by.
• Decisions by the rules committee of Catalina Classic, Inc. on any question of tournament rules or interpretation shall be final. Any disputes arising between the tournament and a team captain or any team member may be settled by binding arbitration at the sole discretion of the tournament’s rule committee.

POLYGRAPH POLICY

• At the sole discretion of tournament officials, all team captains, team members, and observers may be required to take a polygraph test administered by the tournament’s independent polygraph contractor. All team captains and team members agree to be bound by this provision and to abide by the results thereof.

BOAT INSPECTIONS AND OBSERVATIONS

• All tournament boats are subject to inspection at any time by tournament officials. Helicopters, fixed wing aircraft, official observers, and marine biologists may be utilized by tournament officials to aid in enforcement of all tournament rules.
Catalina Classic
Schedule of Events

Sunday, September 19, 2010
1 p.m. - 5 p.m. - Tournament registration at Descanso Beach Club in Avalon.

Monday, September 20, 2010
Roll call at 6:40 a.m. with Shot Gun start and start fishing at 7 a.m.

Stop fishing at 5 p.m.

Deadline to enter harbor with boated and/or release fish is 7:00 p.m. firm.
Weigh in/video review at the green pleasure pier.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Roll call beginning 6:15 with start fishing 6:30 a.m.

Stop fishing at 3 p.m.

Deadline to enter harbor with boated and/or release fish is 5:00 p.m. firm.
Weigh in/video review at the green pleasure pier.

6:30 p.m. – 10 p.m. Awards banquet, no host cocktail party. Awards Ceremony begins at 8 p.m.

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