INTRA-CLUB ANGLING RULES

Membership Classification

  1. All members whose dues are paid in good standing shall be deemed Regular
  2. Regular Members-For a member to be considered in good standing, annual dues must be paid no later than January 15th unless prior arrangements have been made with the finance committee.
  3. New Members-All new members shall be sponsored by an existing member, present at 2 PBGFC functions, accepted by the Board, General Membership, annual dues and initiation dues paid to be made eligible.
  4. Members-As defined in the By-Laws: Male and Female members who have not reached their 19th birthday on 1 January of the competition year.
  5. Annual Competition

The Club’s Annual Fishing Competition will begin January 1 and extend through December 31. The Annual Competition will not interfere with or be a substitute for any special competitions. Any special competitions will be governed by angling rules identical to the annual competition. All angling activity, including major tournaments and special competitions, will be included for awards consideration in the club’s annual competition.

  1. Angling Rules Applicable to all Fishing Competitions
  2. The Pensacola Big Game Fishing Club will follow and adhere strictly to all state and federal regulations.
  3. There will be four (4) line divisions.
  4. These four classes are:
  5. S. Customary 30 pounds 50 pounds

80 pounds

130 pounds

  1. Scales and Weighing

Entries must be weighed on land on any certified scales.  See Section 7 for rules pertaining to witnesses and forms to be used in weighing

fish.

  1. Eligible Fish and Minimum Weights

The following species caught in accordance to the club angling rules will be considered eligible fish in competition for members or guests. No fish weighing less than the listed minimum weight will be eligible for any competition.

Species Minimum Weight Minimum Length

Blue Marlin-Qualifying length for the Tournament the angler is fishing

White Marlin-None Catch and Release only

Sailfish-None Catch and Release only

Spearfish-None Catch and Release only

Swordfish-state & federal regulation

Bluefin Tuna- state & federal regulation

Yellowfin Tuna-20 lbs

Bigeye Tuna-20 lbs

Blackfin Tuna-20

Wahoo-20 lbs

Dolphin-20 lbs

There shall be no limit to the number of entries by any angler in each class. Current federal and state possession or bag limit regulations apply.  There are NO minimum weights on tuna, dolphin, or wahoo for Ladies an Jr angler categories.

  1. Fishing In Territory

In order to be eligible, a fish must be caught in the Gulf of Mexico waters, between 85 and 90 degrees West Longitude (area extends from approximately Cape San Blas, FL to

Grande Isle, LA) and north of 23 degrees North latitude

  1. Catch Cards

Catch cards shall be submitted electronically through the club’s website portal within 30 days after a catch has been made. A witness must sign the catch card. The location and type of scale used to weigh the catch should also be recorded on the catch card. Weighing of a catch must be witnessed for consideration of Annual Competition.

No entry shall be considered unless catch card is properly submitted. Member’s electronic signature shall serve as a guarantee to these facts. Members are urged, but not required to submit good photos of potential Club Record fish. Paper catch cards may be given to any club officer or the Club Statistical during any general membership meeting if a member cannot submit their catch via the website portal. The catch card must be received by the officer or Statistician within 30-days after the catch was made. The date the catch card was received will be written on the back of the card.

  1. Annual Awards

Annual awards shall be determined by the Board of Directors each season. Awards will be presented to members for eligible fish caught during the Annual Competition as follows:

  1. First/Second/Third Place Meat Fish – by weight in each of the following species Wahoo, Dolphin, and Tuna (Bluefin, Yellowfin, Bigeye, or Blackfin).
  2. Grand Champion – To the member who accumulates the greatest number of points for eligible Billfish boated, released, or tagged during the angler year, based on the following point system:

Boated or Released

Blue Marlin-101 points

White Marlin-50 points

Sailfish-50 points

Spearfish-50 points

Swordfish-25 points

The winner shall have their name inscribed upon the Club’s Grand Champion trophy, which he/she will keep for one (1) year. Additionally, they shall receive a trophy for Top Angler, which he/she shall keep permanently.

There will also be a trophy presented for the Top Angler in the categories not filled by the grand champion. For example, should a woman be designated Grand Champion an award for Top Men’s Angler and Top Junior Angler would be awarded.

  1. Top Boat Award – Awarded to the member whose boat earned the most points during the Annual Competition for eligible Billfish boated, tagged, or released by a member or their guest in accordance with Club rules and based on the following point system:

Blue Marlin-101 points

White Marlin-50 points

Sailfish-50 points

Spearfish-50 points

Sworfish-50 points

Points are not transferable.

In the case of a member-owned charter boat, only fish caught when the boat is fished by the member-owner and/or their non-chartering guests are to be considered for this award.

  1. Catch and Release Champion – The Catch and Release Trophy will be awarded to the member who accumulates the greatest total of points for billfish caught and released in accordance with these rules during each annual competition. Trophies or plaques shall be awarded for second and third place Catch and Release as well. Catch and Release points are awarded for eligible billfish properly caught and released. In order to qualify, the leader must be in hand, or swivel to rod tip, and cut as close to the fish as is practical, or the hook removed without gaffing or otherwise permanently injuring the fish.

The number of catch and release points for each type of fish are:

Blue Marlin 300 points

White Marlin 100 points

Sailfish 100 points

Spearfish 100 points

Swordfish 50 points

The above points are to be multiplied by line bonus points percentages, which are awarded for the use of light tackle, as follows:

130 pound class line 100%

80 pound class line 130%

50 pound class line 150%

30 pound class line 200%

The above formula will determine the total number of catch and release points awarded. In cases where line class falls between categories the higher line’s bonus points will be used. For example, if a White Marlin is caught on 25 pound class line, the line bonus percentage for 30 pound class line will be used. Thus in this example 200 catch and release points would be awarded; 100 points (White Marlin) X 200% (30 pound class) =

200 points.

  1. Top Catch and Release Boat – Awarded to the member whose boat accumulated the most points for billfish caught and released including line bonus points (same points outlined in section 8.D.)
  2. Big Blue Award – Special trophy awarded to the member or club boat who lands the largest qualifying Blue Marlin caught in a tournament.
  3. Top Boat Awards for Meat Fish
  4. Top Boat Wahoo Award – This will be awarded for the heaviest Wahoo caught on a club member’s boat by any angler.
  5. Top Boat Dolphin Award – This will be awarded for the heaviest Dolphin caught on a club member’s boat by any angler.
  6. Top Boat Tuna Award – This will be awarded for the heaviest Tuna caught on a club member’s boat by any angler.
  7. Special Awards – The Board of Directors may give special awards for the following categories:
  8. Broadbill Swordfish – Awarded to the boat or angler who catches the largest eligible fish.
  9. October Award- Awarded to the member whose boat accumulates the most points for billfish caught and released including line class bonus points inside the 200 fathom curve.
  10. Any other notable achievement or occurrences involving club members or club boats may be recognized in a manner as deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors.
  11. Out of Territory Award – Awarded to the club member who accumulates the most points for billfish caught and released or boated in any water outside of the club fishing territory based on the following point system:

Atlantic Blue Marlin 101 points

Pacific Blue Marlin 101 points

Black Marlin 101 points

Striped Marlin 75 points

White Marlin 50 points

Atlantic Sailfish 50 points

Pacific Sailfish 50 points

Spearfish 50 points

Ties – In the event of a tie, the angler or boat that is first to accumulate the total points or catch the largest fish is the winner.

Lady members of the Pensacola Big Game Fishing Club shall have their own annual competition and their own awards. The will adhere to the same rules and point system and be given the same awards as outlined in the above rules, with the exception of top boat and top catch and release boat where they will compete for the overall club championship.

Junior members of the Pensacola Big Game Fishing Club shall have a separate annual competition and awards. They will adhere to the same rules and point system and be given the same awards as outlined in the above rules, with the exception of top boat and top catch and release boat where they will compete for the overall club championship.