1. Anglers, boats, or teams must abide by all state and federal regulations.
2. All boats must be registered with the Tournament Committee and entry fee ($800.00) paid to qualify for trophies. Any boat may be substituted during the tournament, but must be registered with the Tournament Committee prior to fishing.
3. All boats fishing the tournament must depart from Barden, Beaufort or Bogue Inlets on the second day of fishing. All boats must fish within a 60 nautical mile radius of the Beaufort Inlet on both fishing days of the tournament.
4. Fishing hours are Friday, 8:00am to 2:00pm and Saturday, 8:00am to 2:00pm. Fish hooked prior to or after fishing hours are not eligible.
5. All billfish must be reported to the committee boat when hooked, lost or released. Radio frequency shall be VHF Channel 72. No billfish will be intentionally killed or brought back to the dock under any conditions. Tagging is recommended but not mandatory.
6. Release score sheets must be turned into the Rules/Tournament Committee at the weigh station for the catch to be officially entered into tournament scoring. No release will be counted until a signed score sheet is turned in
7. Billfish release points are the same for all species (400 points). This includes Blue Marlin, White Marlin, Sailfish, Spearfish and Hatchet Marlin. In the event of a tie, the winner will be determined by the first boat to achieve the winning total. In order for a billfish to be counted as a release, a member of the fishing team or crew member must touch the leader or the leader, swivel or the knot must touch the rod tip. All gamefish must be weighed in at the official Tournament weigh station. Gamefish can be brought to the scales by boat or by car. Gamefish scales will close daily at 6:00pm.
8. Winning game fish will be determined by weight. In case of a tie, the first fish weighed-in will determine the winner. Gamefish hookups do not need to be called into the committee boat.
9. Tuna that qualify for trophies are yellow fin and black fin only.
10. Double line and leader combined may not exceed 40ft; neither of which may exceed 30ft.
11. Dead bait; single hook rigs only except live bait may be used for King Mackerel. Any other species caught on live bait are not eligible for tournament awards.
12. No plastic enhancements devices, skirts or birds allowed. This is a classic clean, dead bait only trolling tournament.
13. Six (6) rods may be trolled and a seventh (7th) rod may be used but it must be a pitch bait.
14. Three teasers may be used; they can be artificial, daisy chains, or dredges (hookless).
15. There is no limit to the number of anglers on board as long as only six rods are being trolled. Anyone may qualify as an angler including professional mates and captains.
16. Any protest must be made immediately at the end of the day’s fishing in writing to the Tournament Committee. ALL TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE DECISIONS ARE FINAL.
17. No kites or wire lines allowed. Release clip downriggers and planers may be used. No apparatus may stay on lines to inhibit fight of the fish.
18. Weighted rigging attached to bait may be used to assist swimming baits.
19. No juicing or coloring baits.
20. No spinning rods allowed. Only conventional rods and reels. Short stand-up rods are allowed.
21. Junior Anglers may be assisted as needed as long as they are committed to fight and DON’T GIVE UP!
22. A rod may be passed from one angler to another angler as long as it is somewhat immediate and that the receiver fights the fish – a rod may not be handed off to more than two anglers.
