1. All boats must depart from Nantucket unless the committee is notified prior to the start of the tournament. This is not an IGFA tournament; it is a group of boats and friends wishing to have a good time in Nantucket with some friendly competition.
   1. Please make note that there are two sides to the scoresheet.
   2. Both sides must be filled out in order for your points to count.
2. Friday: Lines cannot be in the water any earlier than 5:00 AM and the lines must be out of the water by 5:00 PM. All boats returning to Nantucket must turn in their score sheets by 9:00 PM to the score table at the John Jay Wharf Cottage with required time stamped photos.
3. All boats staying out overnight Friday must have their scores called in by 7:00 PM via satellite phone or relayed by another boat. Please call in with the numbers provided on the bottom right of your score sheets. Your score sheets will be time stamped. Required photos for boats staying out Friday night will be reviewed Saturday night. Please itemize each species totals on your call in.
4. Saturday: Lines cannot be in the water any earlier than 5:00 AM and lines must be out of the water by 3:00 PM.  All boats must turn in their score sheets by 7:00 PM at John Jay Wharf Cottage with required time stamped photos. If the boat does not turn in both sides of their score sheet by this time, all points are disqualified for that day. Boats must turn in their own scores on Saturday. Please be in the Boat Basin area 6:00 pm.
5. 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 lines out deadline. Both sides of the score sheets must be reported Day 1 by 7:00 PM and Day 2 by 7:00 PM. Score sheet must include times of each fish caught. In case of a tie at the end of the two (2) days of fishing, the boat that catches the most points first will be determined the winner.
6. All fish are the boats’ 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 ensure the Big Game Battle maintains a positive status with the Boat Basin. A $200 fine will be imposed on a boat for discarding fish carcasses in the Nantucket Boat Basin and is strictly enforced by their staff.
7.  For release purposes, a fish will be considered caught when the mate touches the leader or the leader touches the tip of the rod. Must have photo to verify.
8. Unlimited tackle (anything goes live, dead, and artificial baits.)
9. No fishing boundaries, Canada to Hague Line to Bermuda.
10. Maximum of seven (7) lines in the water at any time.
11. There is NO weather committee. The decision to fish is left solely to participants who do so at their OWN RISK. No boat changes are allowed unless approved by the committee.
12. Each boat captain must fill out both sides, sign, and submit a daily catch report.
13. Every vessel must have a digital photo or video of all Billfish or any other species released, including but not limited to Giant Blue Fin Tuna, Blue Fin Tuna and Yellowfin Tuna. These photos/videos will be reviewed at the Basin along with the submitted daily catch report.
14. Photos must be clear to distinguish Billfish species for the committee to review. If a Blue Marlin photo is not clear, it will count as a White Marlin for points.
15. Both sides of the score sheets must be turned into John Jay Wharf Cottage where scores will be posted.
16. A formal protest must be in writing for any boat or angler violations on the day of the alleged infraction with a non-refundable deposit of $3,500. Any protest must be submitted no later than 7:00 PM on Saturday. Non-Biased individuals will be randomly selected to resolve this formal protest. The panel’s decision is final and cannot be questioned. The deposit will go directly to the charity chosen that year.
17. This is an invitational (friends of friends) tournament. The committee retains the right to invite participant’s back the following year. Please be responsible and courteous at all times; otherwise you will not be invited to participate in the future.
18. All vessels must follow all Federal and Local regulations, including necessary permits.
19. 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.
20. The Big Game Battle Invitational Tournament promotes the conservation of all species of fish and the release of billfish. Use your best judgement and follow the NMFS rules and regulations.
21. Any fish that is kept – the length must be recorded on the score card that will be given to NMFS as required.
22. In the case of a tie between boats, the boat catching most points first will be determine the winner.
23. The Tournament will monitor Channel 72. All boats should stay in communication with other boats during fishing hours for safety and fishing updates.

POINTS SYSTEM

BLUEFIN ( greater than 73”) 350 POINTS Limit- 3 fish per day for points. Refer to NMFS for bag limit.

BLUEFIN ( under 73”) 175 POINTS Limit- 6 fish total per day for points. 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 250 POINTS Limit- 3 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 400 POINTS Limit- Unlimited for points.
Photo Mandatory.

WHITE MARLIN200 POINTS Limit- 3 fish per day for points. Photo Mandatory.

SAILFISH 200 POINTS Limit- 3 fish per day for points.
Photo Mandatory.

SWORDFISH 600 POINTS Limit- 1 fish per day for points. Refer to NMFS for bag limit.
Photo Mandatory.

MAKO SHARK 150 POINTS Limit- 1 fish per day for points. Refer to NMFS for bag limit.

MAHI 10 POINTS Limit- 3 fish per day for points. Refer to NMFS for bag limit.

WAHOO 150 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 circumstance 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.