Tournament Rules
All boats must depart from Nantucket Harbor.
Thursday: Arrive Nantucket. Captains Meeting at Cap’n Toby’s 7PM. Many boats pre-fish this day.
Friday : Lines cannot be in the water any earlier than 5:30 AM and lines must be out of the water by 4:00 PM. All boats must return to the dock by 9:00 PM. If the boat does not return to the dock by this time, all fish are disqualified for that day.
Saturday : Lines cannot be in the water any earlier than 5:30 AM and lines must be out of the water by 4:00 PM. All boats must return to the dock by 6:00 PM. If the boat does not return to the dock by this time, all fish are disqualified for that day.
- Any fish hooked prior to the lines out deadline may be played until boated or released, provided that said fish is reported hooked to another participating vessel before the deadline.
- All fish are the boat’s property and each boat is responsible for disposing of their own fish. All fish must be dressed on the vessel it was caught. This rule is imposed to insure the BGB maintains a positive status with the Boat Basin.
- For release purposes, a fish will be considered caught when the swivel touches the tip of the rod.
- Unlimited tackle (Everything goes, live, dead and artificial baits)
- No fishing boundaries, Canada to Hague Line to Bermuda.
- Maximum of seven lines in the water at any time.
- In the event of a tie, the proceeds will be equally distributed.
- There is NO weather committee. The decision to fish is left solely to participants who do so at their OWN risk.
- Each boat captain must fill out and submit a daily catch report. Reports to be submitted at Nantucket Boat Basin fuel dock, signed and put in envelope.
- Every vessel must have a digital camera in order to photograph fish that are not retained by the boat (at the discretion of the captain and according to NMFS regulations). These pictures will be reviewed at the Basin along with the accompanying submitted daily catch report.
- A formal protest must be in writing for any boat or angler violations on the day of the alleged infraction. Non-biased individuals will be randomly selected to determine/resolve this formal protest. This panels decision is final and can not be questioned
- The Tournament will monitor Channel 69. All boats should stay in communication with other boats during fishing hours for safety and fishing updates. Bermuda anglers you are on your own.
- Scores will be posted daily at the dock. Anyone not turning in a scoresheet for the day, they will be disqualified for that day’s points.
- This is an invitational tournament only. Please be responsible and courteous at all times, otherwise you will not be invited to participate in the future.
- All vessels must follow all Federal and local regulations.
- No liabilities will be assumed by any other vessel or party participating in the Tournament. Please proceed at your own risk and carry your own insurance.
- The Big Game Battle Invitational Tournament promotes the conservation of all species of fish and the release of billfish.
- Fishing for giant bluefin and points will be discussed at Captains meeting. All boats wishing to stay out overnight must turn in scoresheet or call in results to another participating boat, the first day of fishing.
Point System
| BLUEFIN | 100 POINTS (Less than 59″) 200 POINTS (Greater than 59″) |
Limit – 6 total bluefin per day Limit – 6 fish per day for points A maximum limit of 3 fish (Greater than 59”) can count towards the above total. Refer to NMFS for bag limit |
| YELLOWFIN TUNA | 100 POINTS | Limit – 6 fish per day for points. Refer to NMFS for bag limit |
| BIG EYE TUNA | 350 POINTS | Limit – 2 fish per day for points. Refer to NMFS for bag limit |
| ALBACORE TUNA | 50 POINTS | Limit – 6 fish per day for points. Refer to NMFS for bag limit |
| BLUE MARLIN | 600 POINTS | Limit - Unlimited for points Photo mandatory |
| WHITE MARLIN | 300 POINTS | Limit - 3 fish per day for points Photo mandatory |
| SWORDFISH | 800 POINTS | Limit – 1 fish per day for points. Refer to NMFS for bag limit |
| MAKO SHARK | 200 POINTS | Limit – 1 fish per day for points. Refer to NMFS for bag limit |
| MAHI | 10 POINTS | Limit – 10 fish per day for points. Refer to NMFS for bag limit |
| WAHOO | 200 POINTS | Limit – 3 fish per day for points. Refer to NMFS for bag limit |
*Overall winning score will be the combined total points of the two days fishing. Under no circumstances may a vessel exceed the daily bag limit and minimum size of a species as set forth by Federal regulations. Each vessel is solely responsible for acquiring the necessary permits and adhering to all regulations. All times of fish caught must be recorded on daily catch sheet.
