Rulespage2

Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic (Rules) Page 2

June 04 thru 08, 2008

ACCEPTABLE FISH: The following species are eligible for competition when caught by properly registered anglers
in accordance with tournament rules. The Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic Tournament uses the rules of
the International Game Fish Association as a guidline.

ELIGIBLE FISH:

SPECIES TAG & RELEASE AWARDS WEIGHED FISH AWARDS

Blue Marlin Yes Yes – 100 “ minimum

White Marlin Yes No

Sailfish Yes No

Spearfish Yes No

Tuna No Yes – 20 lb minimum

Wahoo No Yes – 20 lb minimum

Dolphin No Yes – 20 lb minimum

NOTE: Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling Permit required for all vessels possessing tunas and billfish.
Permit must be presented before weigh-in of any Bluefin, Yellowfin, Bigeye, Skipjack tunas or Billfish (boated or tagged
and released) Federal minimum length of Yellowfin, Bluefin or Bigeye Tuna is 27" curved fork length. Billfish
lengths are measured from the tip of the lower jaw to the fork of the tail (LJFT).

All Blue Marlin less than 100” in length must be tagged or released.

No Fish will be weighed in unless they meet the above Tournament Specifications. No angler may have in his/her
possession more than one Blue Marlin per day. Any angler in violation of this rule will be banned from further
participation in the tournament without refund.

The tournament committee reserves the right to reject any fish entry because of poor condition or one that does not
meet the eligible requirements set by this tournament. The condition of the fish will be left to the scrutiny of the
tournament committee. THEIR DECISION IS FINAL.

A MISSISSIPPI STATE FISHING LICENSE IS NOT REQUIRED!!!!!

AN ATLANTIC HIGHLY MIGRATORY SPECIES (HMS) ANGLING PERMIT IS REQUIRED!!!!!

HMS PERMITS MUST BE CERTIFIED PRIOR TO:

THE WEIGHING OF TUNA OR BLUE MARLIN) or TURNING IN A TAG AND RELEASE CARD FOR BILLFISH.

WEIGH-IN: Tournament scales will be located at the weigh-in dock at Point Cadet Marina. The scale will be open
Friday, June 06^th, 2008 from 4:00 pm until 11:00 pm. Saturday, June 07^th, 2008, the scales will be open from 4:00 pm
until 11:00 pm. Boats having fish to weigh must be inside the Mississippi Sound Waters (specifically, inside channel
marker #34 to the East, and inside channel marker #2 to the West) by the designated closing hour for the scales.
ALL FISH MUST BE BROUGHT TO THE SCALES BY THE BOAT FROM WHICH IT WAS CAUGHT.
A winning fish in any of the categories must be caught and presented at the weigh-in by the officially registered and
qualified angler with tail tag attached to the fish. The angler must remain with the fish until completion of the weigh-in
procedure. A committee boat confirmation number must be presented at weigh-in for the Blue Marlin being weighed.
The angler must sign the weigh-in stat sheet to verify the weight, which will then becomes official. Please note that
in the event of a tie, the first fish weighed at the scales, wins. A tail tag with the boat name and angler’s name must be
attached to each fish before unloading at the weigh scales.
Each angler can weigh a maximum of 3 wahoo, dolphin and tuna per day.

AWARDS; Awards will be presented to the angler/boat for the heaviest fish caught in the following categories:

                                     BLUE MARLIN                1st      2nd     3rd
                                     WAHOO                           1st      2nd     3rd
                                     DOLPHIN                         1st      2nd     3rd
                                     TUNA                               1st      2nd     3rd

                                  In case of a tie the first fish weighed at the scales wins.