Description

Welcome to the 5th annual SUZUKI Top Ten Tuna Tournament! 

Thank you to our sponsors, Suzuki and Pacific Coast Marine.

The tournament will be run over 2 months, this will give anglers the opportunity to pick the best weather days and when the tuna are here in our club waters.

There is no briefing for this tournament, catch cards and sponsors grids are available at the clubrooms if you need any of these.

Prize allocation will be based on a percentage (see below) of the total pool of entries.  The more entries we get, the higher the prize pool will be.

$200 per boat entry fee

Prizes will be awarded to the anglers catching the ten heaviest eligible fish regardless of line weight and as per the rules -  ‘Only an angler’s heaviest fish per species will be eligible for angler prizes’

·         1^st prize =           25% of the pool

·         2^nd prize =          20% of the pool

·         3^rd prize =          12% of the pool

·         4^th prize =           10% of the pool

·         5^th prize =          8 % of the pool

·         6^th prize =            6 % of the pool

·         7^th prize =            5% of the pool

·         8^th prize =           4% of the pool

·         9^th prize =            3% of the pool

·        10^th prize =          2% of the pool

None of these 10 cash prizes will be drawn.

Spot Prizes  -  Due the generous sponsorship of Suzuki NZ and Pacific Coast Marine, there will still be the fantastic spot prizes of 5 x 2.5hp Suzuki outboard motors for all entrants to be in the draw for (must be at prizegiving to be eligible for the draw)

Prizegiving will be in the clubrooms on Sunday 1^st February 2025 at 7pm. 

Rules

WELCOME TO THE 5th

SUZUKI TOP TEN TUNA TOURNAMENT

1.    GENERAL

Please read your rules and make sure you understand them. If there are any matters that need clarification please ask the tournament convener.

Any matters not specifically covered by these rules will be covered by briefing notes, MBGFC Fishing Rules or NZSFC Rules.  In the event that there is any discrepancy between any rules/instructions, the order of priority will be:  Briefing notes, Tournament Rules, MBGFC Fishing Rules, NZSFC Rules.

ENTRY and registration in the tournament constitutes acceptance of the rules by ALL participants, and an agreement to abide by ALL judges decisions.

The Tournament Committee reserves the right to amend the rules, should it be deemed necessary in the interest of the Tournament.

Competitors participate in the tournament at their own risk. MBGFC does not accept any liability for material damage or personal injury sustained in conjunction with or prior to, during, or after the tournament. Leaving port is at the sole discretion of the skipper and crew at all times.

2.  ELIGIBILTY

All anglers must be current financial members of Mercury Bay Game Fishing Club Inc (MBGFC) or an affiliated NZSFC club. Day membership for any days of the tournament will suffice, provided that this is arranged and paid for prior fishing.

It is the skipper’s and/or angler’s responsibility to ensure that any membership is up to date and paid for. MBGFC will not be checking this prior to the tournament, and any fish caught by anglers not meeting this eligibility requirement will be disqualified from the tournament.

NOTE:  A commercial vessel must provide a particular approval form under Section 111(1)(a) of the Fisheries Act to the Club office before going fishing.

3.     TACKLE

All tackle used MUST comply with NZSFC regulations.

It is the angler’s responsibility to be conversant with these regulations.

4.    FISHING AREA

The area covered by our Sponsors Grid:

5.     FISHING TIMES:

Fishing must not commence until midnight on 1^st December 2024 and all catch cards must be in the weighmasters hands by 1730 on 31^st January 2025.

6.     ELIGIBLE SPECIES :

         Northern Bluefin Tuna

         Pacific Bluefin Tuna

         Southern Bluefin Tuna

        Bigeye Tuna

         Yellowfin Tuna

         Albacore

        Slender Tuna

         Skipjack

One of each species per angler per day. This applies to the date of catch (as per the catch card), not the date of weighing.

Only an angler’s heaviest fish per species will be eligible for the top ten prizes

7.     MINIMUM WEIGHTS

         All Species – 5kgs

8. RADIO

For safety reasons it is the responsibility of all skippers to ensure that their vessels have operational VHF radios.

If you wish to be monitored by Coastguard for reasons of safety at sea you should log a trip report on Ch 63.

9.     WEATHER

The tournament will not be cancelled due to weather.  Whether or not to fish is not the responsibility of MBGFC, and must be based solely on the teams own judgement, taking into consideration the prevailing conditions, the seaworthiness of their vessel, the status of safety equipment on board, and the crews seamanship skills.

This tournament is a 2 month event, Teams should consider weather conditions as a major factor when deciding whether or not to go fishing.

10. STRIKES (SINGLE AND MULTIPLE):

(i) When a strike occurs, the angler(s) must immediately remove the rod(s) from the rod holder(s), while the crew clear the rest of the gear.

(ii) If the number of fish in a multiple strike equals or exceeds the number of people on the boat, gear may be cleared prior to fighting the fish.

(iii) Once an angler has fought one fish from a multiple strike, whether that fish is caught or lost, they must not present a subsequent fish

from the same multiple strike. Fish left on rod holders while others are fought must be self-disqualified.

11.   WEIGH IN

Weighstation is open by appointment only, please call the weighmaster on 02102562849 to organise a time to weigh your fish.

a)    Catch cards

  ALL sections MUST be filled in BEFORE fish are brought to the Mercury Bay  weighstation. First and last name must be written in full, not initials.

     Latitude & Longitude must be entered on tag cards.

      PROVIDING FALSE INFORMATION ON CATCH CARDS WILL RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION FROM THE TOURNAMENT

b)  Along with the FULLY COMPLETED catch card each angler must present the rod, reel, lure and or terminal tackle which the fish was caught on, and anything else required by the weighmasters such as gaffs, tailropes, any securing ropes used to transport the fish to the weighstation.

   A FISH IS NOT DEEMED TO BE CAUGHT UNTIL IT HAS BEEN WEIGHED.

c)    Weighmasters Indemnity

      It is the anglers responsibility to present all cards and equipment when weighing in, NOT the weighmasters. If any of the required equipment is not in the hands of the weighmasters along with the completed catch card and fish no responsibility will be accepted by MBGFC or its weighmasters for any failure to do so.

d)  On the last day (Jan 31), fish, catchcards and tackle must be in the weighmasters hands by 1730.

 12. DISPUTES

The MBGFC will appoint a disputes committee to investigate any disputes. Any disputes must be received in writing by 1900 on 31^st January 2025.

The disputes committee decision shall be final and binding.

13.   PRIZEGIVING:

Will be held in the club rooms on Saturday 1^st February 2025 at 1900hr

14.   PRIZE ALLOCATION :

Prizes will be awarded to the anglers catching the ten heaviest eligible fish regardless of line weight as follows:

None of these 10 cash prizes will be drawn. There will be other drawn prizes at prize giving.

 If two or more anglers catch fish of equal weight they will each receive the average of the relevant prizes.

         N.B Prizes presented in error at prize giving remain the property of the Club and must be returned for correct allocation upon notification within seven days. 

        IT IS IMPORTANT FOR TEAMS TO DECIDE BEFORE YOU GO FISHING HOW PRIZE MONEY WILL BE SHARED.  MERCURY BAY GAME FISHING CLUB INC WILL NOT GET INVOLVED WITH YOUR DOMESTIC DIFFERENCES!

15. WHARF

Mercury Bay Game Fishing Club Inc will not be responsible for any harbour, wharf or berthage charges.

16. TERM DEFINITIONS

“TAIL ROPES” - A tail rope is any rope used in either or both the capture of the fish and securing the fish for transport to the weighstation.  NO “Tail rope” may exceed 9.14m in length.

“RULES” - Includes all rules written herein, IGFA Rules, NZSFC Rules, MBGFC Fishing Rules and/or any changes and additions made by MBGFC during the Tournament.

“WEIGHT” - The weight of a fish as deemed correct by both the weighmasters and the angler signed off on the catch card.

“ANCHORAGE” – Vessels must be attached to the seabed by an anchor or mooring, in a depth of not more than 20m.