2000 GENE GRIMES MEMORIAL
INVITATIONAL LIGHT TACKLE TOURNAMENT
Friday September 22 and Saturday September 23

Entry Form      Official Rules

These rules will be discussed at the Captains’ meeting to be held on Thursday, Sept. 21^st, at Southwestern Yacht Club, (619-222-0438). Any changes will be announced at that time.

GENERAL RULES

1. Teams will consist of four (4) anglers with the exception of boats of 35’ or less in which case teams may consist of three (3) or four (4) anglers at their discretion. Substitutions are to be announced at the Captains’ Meeting or to Tournament Control At the start of fishing each day.

2. This tournament is for Marlin and Broadbill Swordfish. Any changes will be announced at the Captains’ Meeting.

3. The tournament fishing area is a 50 mile radius from the San Diego Harbor #l buoy. The tournament committee reserves the right to change this radius based on fishing conditions at the time of the tournament. (May go to 70 at Captains Meeting.)

4. Participating boats may depart from and return to any port.

5. Official tournament time will be maintained by "Tournament Control." The official Tournament Control VHF Channel will be Channel 69.

6. Fishing hours will be from 6:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Friday, Sept. 22^nd. and Saturday Sept. 23^rd.

7. Roll calls will be held at 12:00 PM and at the end of fishing on Friday and at 12:00pm and at the end of fishing on Saturday. All participants will be asked to report the grid in which they have been fishing and their angling activities (i.e. encounters –hook ups fish caught ; e.g. "0-0-0")

8. All hook-ups must be announced by VHF radio to Tournament Control within five (5) minutes of hook-up. If necessary, relays will be accepted. Upon contacting Tournament Control the following information must be transmitted:

1. Boat Name
2. Grid Location
3. Angler’s Name
4. Time of Hook-up
5. Intention: the decision to either Release or Take the fish must be declared to Tournament Control prior to taking the leader in hand.

9. Fish released within 10 minutes of hook-up must be tagged!

10. Should a Marlin declared to Tournament Control for Release come up dead or appear to be of such condition that survival is unlikely, the team is encouraged to keep the fish and notify Tournament Control. The fish will be scored as a Release.

11. Tournament Control is to be notified once the fish is released, taken, or lost. In case of a "caught" fish, the time is to be reported.

12.   Release slips, signed by all team members, must be turned in at the Marlin Club by 7:00 PM on Saturday, September 23^rd. For convenience, release slips may be turned in by any of the participating teams. Slips will be available at the Captain meeting.

13. Boated fish must be weighed at any certified weigh station on the day of the catch. The weight slips must be received at the Marlin Club by 7:00 PM on Saturday September 23^rd and, for convenience, may be turned in by any of the participating teams. If necessary (i.e. boat break-down, late catch, etc) boated fish and the angler(s) may be transferred to another boat in order to arrive by 7:00 PM.

14. Scoring: Boated fish will be scored at one (1) point per pound. Released fish will be scored at 130 points. Ties will be broken based on time (from time of hook-up to time of release or gaff). Any Protest must be filed in writing with the protest committee prior to 7:00 PM on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2000. (Please note: any protest will be protested by the Protest Committee.)

16. Boats that are hooked up at the end of fishing hours must so indicate to Tournament Control during the period of radio silence prior to "lines out."

17. Anglers are limited to one fish per day, released or taken. Once an angler has released or taken a Marlin he (or she) may NOT cast or drop back baits, but may assist in leadering and/or boating fish or deploying lines.

18. Teams taking fish will be responsible for the utilization of these fish.

19. Any unclaimed prize, will be raffled off to participants not winning any other prize.  (Based on minimum 20 boat participation.)

 ANGLING RULES

1. 20 pound line will be used for Marlin fishing. Broadbill will be fished on a maximum of 50 pound line. There will be no bonus for fish taken on lighter lines.
   
2. I.G.F.A. rules will apply, with the exception of the Marlin Club rule permitting gaff lengths not exceeding 10 feet.
   
3. Teasers (including "Birds") may be used.
   
4. Tagging Sticks may not exceed 10 feet in length.
   
5. A proper release must include all or part of the leader remaining in the hands of a team member.
   
6. Only team members may handle tackle or deploy lines. Anglers may handle tackle, bait hooks, deploy lines and cast baits regardless of whether or not they have caught fish that day. If one angler casts a bait for another, the rod must be passed before the fish has taken the bait.
   
7. Again – fish released within 10 minutes must be tagged!