[The downloadable rules relate to the 2019 event; the 2020 rules will be available soon. Some but not all of the material that appears below has been updated for the 2020 tournament]

DOWNLOAD THE 2019 ILTT RULES

Introduction

This document contains the tournament rules and terms and conditions of entry for the Bermuda Anglers Club International Light Tackle Tournament. All participants in the tournament (whether a registered angler or a member of crew) agree to be bound by these rules and the terms and conditions of entry.

This event is fished under IGFA rules and the rules set out in this document (collectively, the governing rules). In the event of any conflict between the elements of the governing rules, the rules set out in this document are binding.

Eligible Species

All game fish specified by the IGFA (other than sharks) shall be eligible for this tournament.

Teams

Teams may comprise of up to four anglers. One alternate team member is permitted provided such alternate is registered at or before the close of the Captains’ meeting.

Dates and Times

Captains’ meeting: Friday 26 June, 5:30 – 7:30pm (at Royal Bermuda Yacht Club)

Fishing days: Saturday 27, Sunday 28 June and Monday 29 June.

Prize giving: Tuesday 30 June, from 6:30pm (TBD)

Each team must have at least one team representative attend the Captains’ meeting.

Lines in will be 0800hrs.  

Lines out will be 1530hrs with boats having to be at the Barr’s Bay Park weigh station by 1830hrs. At the weigh station means past the PW marina seawall and inside Barr’s Bay (waiting to weigh in, if applicable). A team may attend the weigh station by land if submitting releases only.

Lines in/lines out will be called by the captain of the team representing the Bermuda Anglers Club and announced by him or her (or any person on the boat on which the captain is fishing) on VHF channel 8.

Fishing times may be changed at the discretion of the Tournament Committee.

Any team that is hooked up at lines out must notify the Tournament Director either by VHF or by cell phone. If that team cannot reach the Tournament Director by VHF or cell it must notify the closest tournament boat that said team is hooked up at lines out.

The team that is hooked up at lines out has until 1630hrs to boat or release their fish.

Should the fish require more than 1 hour beyond the stop fishing time then the team must notify the Tournament Director either by VHF or by cell phone of their intention to continue to fight the fish or to cut it away. If that team cannot reach the Tournament Director by VHF or cell it must notify the closest tournament boat of their intentions. The team is still required to be at the weigh station by 1830hrs if they have fish to weigh or to submit releases.

Any boat that does not comply with the above rules will have its entire catch for that day disqualified with respect to this tournament.

Tackle and Line Requirements

All tackle used must be in compliance with the IGFA rules, which now permit using a multifilament (braid) or other backing of greater strength with a monofilament topshot of at least 16.5 feet (5 meters).

For 12lb line, anglers are required to use stated 12lb monofilament (as topshot or without backing) from Maxima, Momoi, Ande, Sufix or Yo-Zuri, that also does not exceed .35mm/0.014” in diameter.

For 30lb line for billfish, anglers may use any brand of stated 30lb monofilament (as topshot or without backing).

Only 12lb line is to be used when chumming, live baiting or trolling for gamefish; and 12lb and/or 30lb line may be used when trolling for billfish. The exception to this rule is that however a billfish is encountered (e.g. enters the chum slick or the live bait pattern) then either 12lb or 30lb line can be offered to it at the angler’s discretion.

All anglers are responsible for the supply of their own tackle (rods, reels, line, hooks, leaders etc), unless they have made arrangements for that tackle to be supplied by their charter vessel.

Each team is responsible for organising their bait, kites and live wells either amongst the team (for those competing on private boats) or with their charter captain (for those competing on charter boats).

Tournament Points

Points awarded in this tournament comprise weigh points and release points.

Weighed Fish Points

Each angler may weigh up to 6 fish per day consisting of: (i) tuna and/or wahoo 18lbs and over and/or (ii) other species (no sharks or billfish) 12lbs and over.

Tournament weigh points for 12lb line are awarded under a factor system according to the following formula: (fish weight / 12)² X 100.

If an angler lands a wahoo, tuna, barracuda or dolphin 40lbs and over on 30lb line when trolling for billfish then such angler shall be awarded tournament weigh points under the factor system according to the following formula: (fish weight / 30)² X 100. Any incidental gamefish 40lbs and over caught on 30lb line count towards an angler’s maximum of 6 weighed fish per day.

To be clear, anglers may land and keep more than 6 fish per day but they can only present up to 6 fish per day to the weigh station for the award of tournament weigh points.

Releases and Release Points

Eligibility for release points and release value per species is set out in the table below. Each angler may record on their fish entry form up to 10 gamefish releases per day per angler. There will be no cap on the number of billfish releases per day (in other words an angler can have as many billfish releases as s/he achieves) though video footage of each billfish release will be required.

Subject to the additional video footage requirements for billfish releases (outlined below), a release consists of the angler or crew touching the leader while the fish is still hooked (where “touching the leader” means (a) touching it by hand, or (b) the angler touching it via the rod tip by having the swivel hit the rod tip or the connection between the main or double line (if any) and the leader passing through the rod tip). When released, the fish must be in good condition and able to be revived or immediately swim away thus ensuring that fish's survival.

Any fish boated for removal of the hook and then returned to the water dead, or without being able to swim away in good condition, must not be recorded as a released fish.

To be awarded billfish release points, the video footage must include sufficient continuous footage to (1) clearly identify the species; (2) show a team member, the angler or crew touching the leader (as described above) while the fish is still hooked; (3) identify the time and date of the catch; and (4) show the catch and full release of the fish. The video must be continuous, with no breaks in recording, and identify all of these elements.

Junior Angler Points Uplift

Each Junior Angler will have their weighed fish and release points uplifted by 20%. For example a Junior Angler will receive 84 points for a blackfin release on 12lb line or 600 points for a white marlin release on 30lb line. “Junior Angler” means an angler whose 17th birthday falls after 29 June 2020.

Weigh Station Requirements

Fish entry forms for each day must be completed in full and all fish that are going to be weighed must be properly tagged/identified before any fish are put on the dock. Any confusion in this respect apparent to the Weighmaster or the Tournament Committee members will result in disqualification of the fish in question. The fish entry forms are included with the tournament booklet to be distributed at the Captains’ meeting.

Use of Live Bait

Live bait may be caught at any time (including before 0800hrs) and be held overnight.

Moorings and Anchors

Moorings or anchors left on station are permitted.

No boat may anchor in the vicinity of another boat’s mooring or anchor in such a way as to restrict the fishing activities of the occupier of that mooring during the tournament. The Tournament Committee does not have control over parties outside of the tournament with regards to moorings. A mooring belonging to a party outside of the tournament is available on a first come, first serve basis. Only the instructions expressed by the owner of such mooring need be respected by the tournament boat provided such owner intends to occupy the mooring.

Boats

Each team is responsible for arranging their tournament boat.

Those teams competing on a charter boat will be responsible for chartering that boat for the event. Such teams are free to change to an alternative boat during the tournament.

Those teams competing on a private boat will be responsible for making all necessary arrangements in relation to that boat. Private boats are free to engage professional crew to assist with the running of the boat. Those teams competing on a private boat are free to change boats during the tournament.

Where a boat change is made during the tournament, the team concerned must notify the Tournament Director before the change occurs.

Because the Bermuda Anglers Club is no longer arranging charter boats on behalf of teams no backup boat will be available, though it is open to teams to separately arrange this.

Weather

There will be no weather committee. This is a fish at your own risk event. However, the Tournament Committee reserves the right to call off the event (in whole or in part) in the advent of adverse weather conditions. If your team decides not to fish on any particular day then please inform Cindi Pearman on 335-3655.

Disputes

Any dispute or query concerning the eligibility of a fish, tackle or contestants shall be submitted in writing to Cindi Pearman by 7.30 PM on the day in question who will then consult with the Tournament Committee. Disputes and complaints received after that time will not be considered. All rulings on disputes and complaints are final.

Adherence to Rules and Unsporting Conduct

It is the responsibility of each registered angler and crew member to know, understand and abide by the rules governing this tournament. Any angler, captain or mate who breaks any rule will be deemed ineligible for any prize, award, honor, or recognition and that individual and his or her team may be immediately expelled and disqualified from this and future tournaments without a refund of any entry fee or compensation of any form. Decisions of the Tournament Committee with regard to these matters are final and cannot be appealed.

Further, any angler or crew member who engages in unsporting conduct or who acts in any manner that, in the opinion of the Tournament Committee, could bring the tournament into disrepute will be deemed ineligible for any prize, award, honor, or recognition and that individual and his or her team may be immediately expelled and disqualified from this and future tournaments without a refund of any entry fee or compensation of any form. Decisions of the Tournament Committee with regard to these matters are final and cannot be appealed.

Refunds

The Bermuda Anglers Club is not liable to make any refund of tournament entry fees in the event of a team deciding not to compete because of weather, failure of a boat’s mechanical or electrical systems or for any other reason.

Prizes

• High Point Team, Second Place Team and Third Place Team
• High Point Angler, Second Place Angler and Third Place Angler
• High Point Lady Angler
• High Point Junior Angler
• Duval High Point Fish on 12lb Line Award (if points equal then based on the time of catch or release)
• Most released fish by a team (if same number of releases then goes to the team with the most releases on day one and if that’s equal then goes to team with more yellowfin releases)
• Top Billfish Team Award for most billfish releases by a team (if same number of billfish releases then based on the time of the first billfish released)

DOWNLOAD THE 2019 ILTT RULES