Bahamas White Marlin Open Angling Rules
All anglers and crewmembers are expected to be familiar with the IGFA Salt Water Angling Rules. The angler must hook, fight and bring the fish to gaff or the point of release unaided by any other person. No one other than the angler may touch the rod. IGFA Salt Water Angling Rules apply to the Bahamas White Marlin Open with the following exceptions:
- Maximum line strength shall not exceed that of manufacturer’s stated, thirty-pound (30-pound) test. The tournament committee reserves the right to take line samples for testing or request labels from line spools. No bonus points are awarded for using line lighter than 30-pound test.
- All boats participating in the Bahamas White Marlin Open will use only non-offset circle hooks when deploying natural bait or natural bait/artificial lures.
- A maximum of six rods per boat may be fished.
- No live bait permitted. Should a non-qualifying species take a lure and/or bait, and subsequently be itself taken by a qualifying species, the hook-up would not be considered as using "live bait."
- All boats participating in the Bahamas White Marlin Open will depart from and fish within a 60-mile radius of Treasure Cay Marina.
- Lines in the water at 8:00 am. – Lines out of the water at 4:00 pm. Lines out at 3:00 pm on the last fishing day.
- All billfish, regardless of size, are to be released.
- An angler may fight a fish until it is lost or released, as long as it was hooked and reported to the Committee Boat prior to "lines out of the water;" however, digital images and release affidavits verifying release points will be reviewed by the Committee Boat during the hours of 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm (5:00 pm deadline on last fishing day).
- Fish must be hooked, fought and off loaded at Treasure Cay Marina on the same boat.
- To qualify as a "released billfish," the leader must be brought within the grasp of the mate or the end of the leader must be wound to the rod tip. The ‘Billfish Release Affidavit’ must be accompanied by a time and date-stamped digital image (still image or video) of the fish that clearly shows the billfish species. The billfish must be photographed within thirty (30) feet (leader length) from the boat. The digital image verifies the Affidavit; therefore, no points
will be awarded if the species shown in the digital image does not match the species reported on the Affidavit. The time stamp of the digital image is the official release time.
- The weigh-in station will be open from 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm (3:00 - 5:00 pm on last day). Digital images and release affidavits verifying release points will be reviewed by the Committee Boat during these hours ONLY. Fun fish catches should be brought to the weigh station after the vessel has docked in the slip at the marina. There will be no early weigh-ins.
- Protests must be filed in writing by the Team Captain and presented to the weigh master by 6:00 pm on the same day as the alleged violation.
- Flagrant disregard for the Bahamas White Marlin Open angling rules will result in disqualification of the angler and/or team and removal from the tournament.
Points & Scoring
Points are awarded for released billfish and captured tuna, dolphin, and wahoo in the Fun Fish Division
White Marlin releases – 300 points per release
Blue Marlin releases – 100 points per release
Sailfish releases – 50 points per release
Spearfish releases – 50 points per release
Grand Slam Bonus – 200 points *
* Grand Slam Bonus is awarded for a qualified White Marlin, Blue Marlin and Sailfish released by a team on a single day.
Fun Fish Division: Minimum weight limit to be awarded points for tuna, dolphin and wahoo is 25 pounds. Points are awarded 1 point per pound for fish equal to or over the minimum weight. Prizes will be awarded for the largest tuna, dolphin and wahoo caught in the Fun Fish Division - not overall total weight.
