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27^th Annual Bacardi Rum Billfish Tournament
Port Lucaya Marina-Grand Bahama Island
Rules of the Tournament  

1. I.G.F.A. angling rules will apply. All anglers and crewmembers are expected to be familiar with IGFA rules. The angler must hook, fight and bring the fish to gaff or point of release unaided by any other person. No one other than the angler may touch the rod.
2. Live, dead or artificial bait/rules OK.
3. Teasers. Any type. No hooks allowed on the teasers.
4. Hook Ups: Must be reported at once to the “Committee Boat” on VHF Channel 72. (Alternative Channel and Cellular and Satellite phone numbers will be discussed at the Captains Meeting). The Captain or designate must notify the Committee when a billfish is hooked up, the species and the name of the angler fighting the fish. The fish must be reported as “boated” in order to count. A billfish that is released, or tagged and released must be photographed with a digital camera in order to count. ALL qualifying billfish species must be reported to the Committee boat in order for the fish to count. Failure to call in a hook up, boating of a fish, release or disposition of the photograph will disqualify the catch. (You must bring your own digital camera with a date and time feature and all photographs must show a valid date and stamp)
5. Weather. This is a Captain’s choice tournament. Fish at your own risk.
6. Protests. Must be made to the Committee, in writing, and submitted prior to the close of the weigh in station on the same day as the alleged violation. Protests are not retroactive and will be dealt only on the day of the reported infraction.  The decision of the Committee is final and cannot be appealed. The response will be made in writing and delivered prior to the boats leaving the docks for the next day of fishing. On the last day of the tournament, the response will be verbal one hour after the closing of the weigh-in station.
7. Protest Committee. The tournament is run on the honor system. Should one boat wish to protest another boat, the protest committee will be Raul V Miranda, Bartow Rainey and one other person whose name will be announced at the Captains Meeting.
8. Minimum Sizes. 99” (inches) (Lower Jaw to Fork of the Tail)  LJFT  (over the curve of the body) for Blue Marlin.  All White Marlin and All Sailfish to be photographed, on digital cameras, and released.
9. Weigh-in. No early weigh-in will be allowed. The site of the weigh-in station will be announced at the Captains Meeting. The weigh-in station will open at 4:00 PM and CLOSE at 6:00 PM sharp. On the last day of fishing the weigh-in will close at 5:00 P.M.
10. Points: One point per pound of eligible Blue Marlin weighed-in. (Minimum length- 99” LJFT) 100 points for a verifiable Blue Marlin release. 75 points for a verifiable White Marlin release. 25 points for a verifiable Sailfish release. A verifiable release is a release supported by a digital photograph of the fish in the water. The digital photograph must show distinctively the species of the fish. In case of inconclusive evidence 25 points will be awarded for the release. If the digital photograph is inconclusive as to whether the fish is even a billfish there will be NO points awarded) RULE CHANGE Note: Sailfish releases: Daily limit of three (3) sailfish releases per boat .Total tournament limit of 4 (four) sailfish releases per boat) All boats will be required to bring their own digital camera with a date/time stamp feature.
11. A penalty of 100 points will be assessed for any Blue Marlin brought to the scale under the 99” LJFT measurement.
12. Release. All billfish will be released in the water. A billfish that is going to be released must never be boated. A Billfish will be considered released when the mate touches the leader.
13. Up to six rods and reels may be fished at one time.
14. If a fish has been reported hooked up prior to the 4:00 P.M. lines out of the water deadline, the angler will have unlimited time to fight the fish and report to the weigh-in station. On the last day of fishing, the angler will have until 5:00 PM to return to the scales. Digital photo releases on the last day must be brought to the weigh master also by 5:00 P.M.  
15. Local Rules. Double headers will be permitted. No inland waterway.  
16. Line Test; 130-pound (60 kg) maximum. Manufacturer’s stated line. Proof of purchase (brand and type) must be provided if requested by a tournament official. Boats fishing line less than 130-pound test will not be penalized nor will they receive any bonus points.
17. Boundaries: There will be no boundaries. All boats must observe strictly the times of “lines-in” the water and “lines-out”. Boats can return to the docks at a safe speed. The committee reserves the right to call a boat and inquire as to its whereabouts and estimated arrival back at the docks after “lines out”. All boats are expected to be docked at their slips during the evening and to check out with the Committee after they are allowed to leave the docks at 7:30 A.M.
18. The Tournament Committee will be land based at Port Lucaya Marina. However, due to communications shortcomings, the tournament committee will designate an “offshore” Committee boat with one Committee person on-board.  All “Committee Boat” communications will be made through the offshore committee boat (s). The Committee boat will utilize a high power VHF radio Channel 72. Cellular phones and satellite phones may be used to communicate with the Committee boat.  A malfunctioning radio is not an excuse for failure to communicate with the Committee Boat.  Use of radio relay is encouraged in case of poor reception. The issue of communicating with the Committee Boat will be addressed in a separate “Things You Need To Know” pamphlet as well as discussed at the Captain’s/Opening meeting.
19.  Backing. If the fishing line is attached to the backing, the catch shall be classified under the heavier of the two lines. If the backing exceeds 130 manufacturer’s stated line and is attached to the line, the fish will be disqualified.
20. Tiebreaker. In case of a tie, the fish, which was first boated or released, will be deemed the winner.
21. There will be no transfer of fish from one boat to another.
22. All anglers must be registered on the entry form that every boat must fill out and sign on the day of registration. Angler substitutions are allowed provided that the Committee Boat is notified prior to the start of the day’s fishing. Changes can be made over the radio to the Committee prior to the start of the days’ fishing.