ENTRY FEES
Entry fee for teams entered into the Avalon Billfish Classic is $832 for a team of four anglers. There is a $32 discount for those teams that pay in cash, making the cash entry $800. Additional anglers may be added for $130 each, or if paid in cash it’s $125 per angler. There is a maximum of six anglers per team. Entry fee for teams also entered into the Catalina Classic is $416, or $400 for those who take advantage of the cash discount.
OPTIONAL DAILY JACKPOTS
- Separate optional daily jackpots in the amounts of $250, $500, $1,000, and $2,000 per day are available for interested teams (add 4% for credit-card payment).
- Teams entering any daily jackpot level must enter for both days of the tournament.
- All daily jackpots pay back 85% in a winner-take-all format using the tournament point scoring rules.
- Daily jackpot prizes will roll forward or backward if there are no points scored on one or more days by a daily jackpot entrant.
- If any daily jackpot prize goes unclaimed, the tournament will refund those entry fees less the portion deemed earned by the tournament.
POINT SCORING AND STANDINGS
- The 2011 Avalon Billfish Classic will award 100 points for each qualifying released striped marlin.
- All awards and daily jackpot winners will be determined by the highest accumulated point total.
- In the event that two or more teams arrive at the same points total, the standings will be determined based on the chronological order the respective teams reach that point total, with the earliest team reaching that point total finishing higher.
- Awards will be given to first, second, and third place teams.
QUALIFYING RELEASE
- A qualifying release occurs when a team member grabs the leader or bill of the fish, or when the leader knot or swivel touches or passes through the rod tip.
- The qualifying release MUST be captured on the team’s video camera with the audio turned on and the volume set to an adequate level for subsequent playback. The fish must be included in the shot for the release to count.
- Immediately upon releasing the fish, call Tournament Control (VHF channel 71) to obtain your release code. Your release code will be a selected item, which must be captured on your video immediately following your release.
- The time that Tournament Control receives your call announcing your release constitutes the official time of release.
- The fish does not need to be tagged in order to count as a release.
- Any fish that dies during the fight and cannot be revived will count as a release if tournament control is notified and video proof confirms the fish could not be revived.
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 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.
FISHING TIMES
Monday, September 19
- Monday morning beginning at 6:40 a.m. Tournament Control will conduct a VHF Radio Roll Call on VHF channel 71. Teams are required to make radio contact with the Tournament Control Boat.
- Boats will then line up for the 7 a.m. Shotgun Start and “start fishing.” There is no fishing prior to 7 a.m. but bait fishing is permitted.
- Lines Out is at 5 p.m. Any fish hooked after 5 p.m. will not count in the tournament.
- Boats reporting releases must be back in Avalon Harbor by the 10 p.m. deadline. Video review will take place at the Green Pleasure Pier.
Tuesday, September 20
- Tuesday morning beginning at 6:15 a.m. Tournament Control will conduct a VHF Radio Roll Call on channel 71.
- Boats will then remain in Avalon Harbor vicinity until the 6:30 a.m. Lines In call to start fishing. There is no fishing prior to 6:30 a.m. but bait fishing is permitted.
- Lines Out is at 3 p.m. Any fish hooked after 3 p.m. will not count in the tournament.
- Boats reporting releases must be back in Avalon Harbor by 5 p.m. This is a firm deadline. Video review will take place at the Green Pleasure Pier.
- 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.
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 coordinates 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.
- Tournament Control reserves the right to make adjustments to the tournament Grid Map based on current conditions. Any changes will be announced at the mandatory captains briefing before fishing begins.
- 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.
- 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. The alternate channel will be VHF Channel 65.
- 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 an emergency or to report a hook up or release.
- Teams are required to immediately report their hookups, including grid location, angler, and whether it is a bait or lure fish.
- Teams are also required to immediately report the 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
- Each team is required to provide their own video camera to be used to document releases during this year’s tournament.
- The tournament will have equipment available onsite to play back your videotapes/disks. Each team is required to have at least two videocassettes/disks/smart cards for use during the event.
- Each team will be given a disposable camera to be used to photograph and document team releases as a 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 releases to qualify.
- It is the team captain’s responsibility to make sure his team’s camera and videocassette/disk/smart card 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 rules book can be obtained online at http://www.igfa.org/Fish/INTERNATIONAL-ANGLING-RULES.aspx or by calling 954-927-2628. 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 with a zero offset and not modified in any way. Hooks must be imbedded 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 an insufficient number of daily jackpot division fish are released 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 released during the tournament, or if weather causes cancellation, the tournament will be extended to include Wednesday the 21st of September.
- One day of fishing will constitute a tournament.
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 “Lines In” or after “Lines Out” will disqualify all fish caught that day (bait fishing is permitted).
- 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 Avalon Billfish Classic, with the exception of the Catalina 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 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 competitor’s 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 team 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 the California Billfish Series 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 Rules 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.
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