Preamble

The Tasmanian Game Fishing Association oversees the sport of Game Fishing in Tasmanian waters conducted by four Clubs, The St. Helens Game Fishing Club, The Tuna Club of Tasmania, The Game Fishing Club of Northern Tasmania and The Southern Gamefish Club. Each conduct one or more Major Tournaments, either solely or as a joint effort with other Clubs. As these Tournaments grow in stature, and with new Tournaments being planned, there becomes a need to “standardise” the Rules and Entry conditions for all Tournaments.

The “sanctioning” of Tournaments allows each Entrant to a Tournament to see that the Tournament is authorised by the State Association (each Entry has a “sanctioning” logo on it), and is conducted under the Rules and Ethics as set down by the Game Fishing Association of Australia and the State Association as its local representative.

Guidelines

1. All Tournaments will be open to Members of Game Fishing Clubs affiliated with the Game Fishing Association of Australia.
   
2. The current Fishing Rules of the Game Fishing Association of Australia, the Tasmanian Game Fishing Association together with any conducting Club’s rules will be the only rules applicable. A minimum line class of 2kg and a minimum fish weight of 4kg for will apply. A maximum of 10 fish per boat per day may be weighed in, including a maximum of 4 Southern Bluefin or Yellowfin Tuna and 1 Billfish will apply. All current State bag limits will apply.
3. The current Tackle Regulations of the Game Fishing Association of Australia will be the only regulations applicable.
4. All Tournaments will incorporate a Point Score system which incorporates and encourages the Tag and Release of fish. Kill only Tournaments will not be sanctioned by the TGFA.
5. The current Tag and Release Pointscore values as agreed by the TGFA Executive will be the only Tag and Release Pointscore system used. Any vessel not returning Tags (used or unused) at the end of a Tournament will be banned form the remaining Tournaments for the Season. Tag and Release points values will be allocated as follows irrespective of line class used:
   
   Marlin 20000
   SBT/Yellowfin Tuna 5000
   Albacore 100
   Shark- Blue 500
   Shark- others 1000
   Other gamefish 50
   Striped Tuna will not attract points.
   
   
6. The Pointscore system for the Capture component of a Tournament will be as follows:
   
   Capture Points will be allocated using the following fighting factors and formula:
   Fish weight x 100 x fighting factor divided line class.
   All tuna 1.5
   All marlin 1.2
   Broadbill 2.2
   Shark- Blue 0.5
   Mako 1.0
   Hammerhead 1.0
   
   All fish will be weighed Gilled and Gutted, except Sharks, which will be gutted only.
   If in the opinion of the angler, the fish is a potential record, the fish will be weighed, then taken away for cleaning and then re-weighed for the Tournament. Any offal disposed of in an unacceptable manner will result in immediate disqualification of the offending Team.
   
   
7. The TGFA may sanction Tournaments providing an application to conduct a Tournament is tabled and approved at the Association’s meeting prior to the scheduled holding of the Tournament.
   Such applications will include the proposed dates, angling rules and regulations and details of any prizes or trophies to be awarded.
8. States wishing to conduct Tournaments within other State’s waters will notify that State of the details of the Tournament.
9. The Tasmanian Game Fishing Association and the Game Fishing Association of Australia will not accept any Record application generated from within a Tournament not sanctioned by the TGFA, other than in an internal Club event.
10. The following Minimum Weights will apply to ALL TGFA Sanctioned Tournaments and ALL TGFA affiliated Club events.
    Minimum Weights:
    All fish weighed must equal or exceed the line class being used.
    For all Marlins- 60kg minimum.
    For Sharks- Mako and Blue- 60kg minimum.

    Radio Procedures
    (a) It is recommended that all Tournaments and Fishing days operate radio Skeds on at least two radio frequencies ie: 27Mhz, VHF and HF.
    (b) Sked times: Radio skeds will be conducted EACH HOUR.
    (c) Grid maps: All Clubs are to use TGFA approved grid maps for their local areas for all Tournaments and fishing days.
    (d) Reporting procedures
    

    On the FIRST sked of EACH day boats will reort the following:
    • Vessel name and frequency/frequencies used
    • Number of persons aboard
    • Departure point
      
      On EACH subsequent sked:
    • Vessel name
    • Position as a grid reference
    • Number of fish Captured and type
    • Number of fish Tagged and type
      
      On the FINAL sked:
    • Vessel name
    • Position as a grid reference
    • Number of fish Captured and type
    • Number of fish Tagged and type
    • Estimated Time of Arrival in Port.
      
      Upon arrival in PORT:
    • Vessel name and officially sign off. The Skipper MUST receive acknowledgement that they have made contact with the radio Operator. If radio contact is not made, the Skipper is to report in person to the Radio Room and sign off.
      
      Failure to report on skeds
      It is mandatory for ALL vessels to report on each sked. Failure to report on two consecutive skeds WILL result in an Emergency Procedure being instigated.
      It is recommended that a suitable points deduction penalty/ and or disqualification from the Tournament if a satisfactory explanation is not given.
      

EMERGENCY PROCEDURE

In the event that a vessel fails to report for TWO skeds the Radio Operator will start theEmergency Procedure.

1. Issue a detailed description of the vessel to all other Competitors. The Tournament/Fishing day is to cease until the vessel is located.
2. Instruct all vessels near the last known grid position to start a search of the area.
3. After 30 minutes of searching without locating the vessel the Tournament Committee/ Club President WILL notify Tasmania Police or Coastal Patrol of the missing vessel, AND all actions undertaken to that time. All actions after this point in time will be at the direction of the Marine Police/Coastal Patrol. The Contest/ Fishing day will not re-commence until authorisation is given by Tasmania Police or Coastal Patrol.

Vessel Responsibility

1. Vessels MUST answer EACH sked with the required details.
   If a vessel has radio failure and cannot contact the Radio Operator, attempts should be made by Mobile Phone, (if coverage is available). If this is not possible, the vessel must return to Port.
   Remember, failure to answer TWO skeds, WILL result in an Emergency Procedure
   being instigated.
2. It is a boat Skipper’s responsibility to notify the Radio Operator of their intention NOT to fish on any given day of a multi day Tournament. If no notification is received by the Radio Operator, and the vessel fails to make contact for two skeds, the Emergency Procedure WILL be instigated. If a vessel’s entry is accepted by a host Club, and that vessel is not fitted with the required Radio frequencies, it is the Club’s responsibility to have a sked report taken before the sked (by a pre-arranged vessel at sea), then relay the report on the end of the sked.

Radio Operator responsibility

1. It is essential that the Radio Operator (be it on land or sea) has a copy of the details of each and every vessel at sea on each day’s fishing.
2. It is the Club’s responsibility to have the appropriate radio licences.
3. The Radio Base MUST remain operational until ALL vessels have returned to Port AND signed off.
4. If a vessel is granted permission to continue to fight a fish hooked up before the time of fishing ceasing, the Radio Operator MUST maintain contact with the vessel until its return to Port and signing off.

11. A standardised form of Indemnity will be included in each Tournament Entry Form:

"Please accept our entry for the (name of Tournament). I/We agree to the Rules as published. In consideration of your accepting Me/Us as a Competitor/s or Guests, I/We absolve the (Name of Tournament) Organiser, Tournament Committee, Officers and Members, their Staff, Executive, Volunteers, Assistants and Concessionaires, the (Name of Club), their Officers and Members, its Staff, Executive, Assistants, Volunteers and Concessionaires, any Sponsors, their Officers and Members, Staff, Executive, Volunteers and Concessionaires as such from any liability whatsoever and howsoever arising from my/our involvement (whether on-shore or out at sea and including any liability resulting from the acts or omissions of my/our boat owner/skipper/deckhand or other employees) in the Tournament, and I/We indemnify you and
agree to keep you indemnified against all claims, damages, costs and losses that may be claimed or awarded against you or that you may suffer resulting from injury or loss to us or my property of mine/ours invites, or licensees or guests. No nomination form will be accepted until all team participants have signed this indemnity and complete such details on the nomination form. Should any nomination form be accepted prior to such completion and signature, the nomination
is subjected to signature of this indemnity and completion of the details on this nomination form as and when requested by the (Name of Club). All Teams, by their signature, declare that they have the appropriate Insurance cover. I/We give consent to Clubs verifying my membership status."

12. A standard clause to be included in all Sanctioned Tournament Entry Forms worded as follows-

“ Copies of Insurance Policies must be attached to all Tournament Entry Forms”.