Hatteras Grand Slam 2008
4th Annual Tournament Official Rules
Rules will be discussed at Captain's Meeting.
IGFA Rules Apply, with the exception that anyone may hook-up the billfish.
Entry Fees:
REGISTRATION- All boats must be registered with the Tournament committee and entry fee paid prior to fishing, to Qualify for prizes and trophies. Any boat may be withdrawn or substituted prior to 6:00 PM before the first fishing day. A full refund will be given to boats withdrawn prior to that time. Any substitute boat must be registered with the Tournament committee and entry fee paid. Any boat paid and entered and suffers mechanical or other issues that render the boat inoperable may fish on a substitute boat provided the Hatteras Grand Slam Rules Committee approves the substitution prior to fishing. Refunds will be issued if some unforeseen weather conditions occur, which will be determined by the Hatteras Grand Slam Rules Committee.
FISHING TIME - No lines or teasers in the water before official fishing hours each day. Available fishing days and hours: July 11th 2008, 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM, and July 12th 2008, 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM. In the event that a boat is hooked up prior to 3pm, they will have until 5pm to bring the fish to leader.
BOUNDARIES- All boats fishing in the Hatteras Grand Slam must fish between LORAN coordinates East 26750, North 40500, and South 39800. All boats fishing the Hatteras Grand Slam must return through Hatteras Inlet Friday July 11th 2007, and depart from Hatteras Inlet Saturday July 12th 2008.
FEDERAL AND STATE REGULATIONS- All boats entered must be in full compliance with all State and Federal Fisheries Regulations. NMFS Highly Migratory Species permits are required. All boats must also conform to state and federal regulations with regards to bait, tackle, size limits & possession limits. The use of any natural bait requires the use of circle hooks. J-hooks may be used with artificial lures only.
REPORTING- All billfish (blue marlin, white marlin, sailfish, Hatchet Marlin, Swordfish and Spearfish) must be reported to the committee boat when hooked, lost, or released. Radio frequency shall be VHF channel 74. No hookup reporting is required for game fish.
MANDATORY ENTRY- You must enter Level I before you can enter any other level.
Billfish Points- Winners of level I & 11 will be determined by release points, In the event of a Level I and II tie, winner will be determined by the first boat to reach the most points. All species of billfish (Blue Marlin, White Marlin, Sailfish, Hatchet Marlin, Swordfish, and Spearfish) are worth 200 points for each release.
Tuna, Dolphin, Wahoo – Level III largest Tuna, Dolphin, Wahoo, will win the price money, one for each species, determined by weight at the Official weight station, Hatteras Harbor. Eligible Tuna species include Bluefin, Big Eye and Yellowfin. All Gamefish must be in fresh edible condition and weighed the day they are caught. Gamefish may be brought to the weigh station by boat or vehicle. Weight station opens at 4pm and closes at 6pm July 11th and 12th 2008.
LEVEL IV – Grand Slam Jackpot
Grand Slam Jackpot – To win the Grand Slam Jackpot, the boat must be the first to catch one Blue Marlin, one White Marlin and one Sailfish on the same day during the tournament. If no boat does this, then all eligible funds will be carried forward to the 2009 tournament and tournaments thereafter until we have a winner for this level. Winner will be determined by the time of release for the final of the three fish. Polygraph tests may be administered to the Grand Slam Jackpot winners and others as necessary. (Angler, Captain and mate)
RELEASE DOCUMENTATION - Released billfish must be attested to by signature of the angler, boat captain and one crewmember on board the boat at the time of the release on the Official Release Form provided by the Tournament Committee. This form shall be turned in to the official tournament desk at Hatteras Harbor Marina by 7PM each day. Release forms must be turned in the day the fish is released to qualify. To be considered a release, the mate must touch the leader before the fish is released. All leaders must not exceed 30 feet. In the event of a tie, the first boat to achieve the winning total shall be declared the winner. Polygraph tests may be administered to the top money winners and others as necessary. (Angler, Captain and mate)
GENERAL RULES – IGFA rules apply, except that anyone other than the angler may hook a fish, however, once the angler is in possession of the rod, it must be brought to leader or gaff by that angler. No Greensticks or use of hydraulic reels. Kites, Planers and Spreader Bars are allowed.
RULES MEETING- At least one person from each boat should be represented and is responsible for knowing the rules, including any changes that may take place at the Captains Meeting on Thursday July 10th 2008, from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM at Village Marina.
PRIZE MONEY- Prize money checks will be made payable to the person or entity so indicated on the registration form of the winning boat. Social security number or Taxpayer ID number of the recipient must be provided on the entry from.
PROTEST- Any dispute must be submitted in writing to the Tournament Rules Committee by 6:00 PM on the last fishing day. All decisions by the Hatteras Grand Slam Rules Committee will be final.
REFUNDS- In the event that no qualifying fish are caught, all prize money will be retained and added to the following year’s purse to the established prize schedule.
DISQUALIFICATION- Any boat breaching any of the above Tournament Rules will be disqualified, except as previously stated. Decisions of the Rules committee and Board of Directors are final.
MAJOR PRIZES- Boats entered will be eligible for only one major prize in each category.
FORUM SELECTION/INDEMNIFICATION- All participants, owners of vessels or pro hoc owners of vessels, consent and agree that the federal and state courts for Dare County, North Carolina, shall serve as the sole venue for all litigation and disputes arising out of a person or vessel’s participation in the tournament. If a participant does not secure the signature of the vessel’s owner and/or pro hoc owner for this agreement, the participant(s) agrees to indemnify the tournament against all claims brought by the owner and or pro hoc owners of the vessel(s).
Attest:
_________________________________________ Tournament Participant
_________________________________________ Boat Name