Schedule of Events

We strongly encourage all anglers, their guests, and crew members to attend the awards ceremony out of respect for the winning anglers and teams, as well as all competitors.

Thursday, July 11, 2024
Registration & Tournament Bag Pick-Up

10 AM – 4 PM

Captains & Rules Meeting

5 PM – 7 PM

Kick-Off Party

8 PM – 11 PM

Friday, July 12, 2024
First Day of Fishing

Departure – 7 AM
Lines In – 8 AM
Lines Out – 4 PM
Weigh Station Closes – 6 PM

Saturday, July 13, 2024
Second Day of Fishing

Departure – 7 AM
Lines In – 8 AM
Lines Out – 4 PM
Weigh Station Closes – 6 PM

Sunday, July 14, 2024
Awards Ceremony

Appetizers & Cocktails – 2 PM
Awards Luncheon & Ceremony – 3 PM – 4 PM

 

Tournament Registration

The cost of registration for the 2024 IGFA Mediterranean Championship is $1,600.00 per team. You are permitted to have up to four anglers per team. 

Your registration fee covers your tournament angler bag, as well as food and beverages at the awards ceremony.

The tournament has secured a limited number of private vessels that will be made available for charter on a first-come, first-serve basis. 

Please click here to register you team today!

For any questions on registration, please contact IGFA at 954-927-2628 or email [email protected].

 

Tournament Rules

While all efforts are made to keep this information current, all rules published on this website shall be considered unofficial. Official rules will be distributed and announced at the registration check-in and captains meeting. All participants agree to the terms of these rules by participating in the tournament.

1. GENERAL REGULATIONS

Boats and anglers must comply with all state and regional fishing regulations and licensing requirements. Failure to do so may result in disqualification.

All boats must carry appropriate liability insurance. Participants fish at their own risk.

The captain’s meeting will be held on Thursday, July 11, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. at Yacht Club Porto Rotondo’s Clubhouse.

A team representative must be in attendance, and all participants are encouraged to join.

If they do not attend, they accept and agree to be bound by all instructions and/or rule changes made orally or in writing during that meeting.

2. FISHING DAYS & HOURS

Fishing days for the 2024 IGFA Mediterranean Championship are:

• Saturday, July 12, 2024
• Sunday, July 13, 2024

On both days of fishing, the tournament will begin with the call of “Lines In” at 8:00 a.m. and continue until will be called “Lines Out” at 4 p.m. 

The tournament committee reserves the privilege of changing the rules and starting and finishing times for any reason is deemed necessary.

3. BOUNDARIES & DEPARTURE

Northern Boundary: Caprera Island N 41° 13’ 00”

Southern Boundary: Porto Ottiolu  N 40° 43’ 00”

Eastern Boundary: 40 NM from the coast

All boats will depart from Porto Rotondo’s Harbor and must confirm on VHF Channel 73 their departure from the dock each morning before the start time.

The tournament committee reserves the privilege of changing the boundaries for any reason is deemed necessary. All changes will be communicated each morning before departure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. ANGLING RULES

All IGFA International Angling Rules apply.

Four anglers per team/boat, per day, are permitted, with no restrictions.  

All anglers are required to fish with the tournament-provided Momoi 24-kilogram (50-pound) monofilament line.

Boats will be sent bulk spools of line upon registration. 

Random line samples may be requested. 

• The use of backing is permissible per IGFA rules
• Top shots must be a minimum of 5 meters (16 feet, 4 inches) in length
• Leader (any material) is limited to 9.14 meters (30 feet) including floats/corks and is measured to the bend of the last hook
• The double line is limited to 9.14 meters (30 feet) and must be constructed of the mainline/top shot
• The combined length of the double line and leader shall not exceed 12.19 meters (40 feet)
• Teams may purchase and provide their own dead bait
• Fishing with live bait is allowed. Baits can be retained at the end of the fishing day
• Live baits cannot be given to another tournament boat
• No lines are permitted in the water prior to the start of fishing
• Chumming is not permitted
• Fighting fish from the rod holder is prohibited
• Resting the rod on the gunwale, covering board, or any part of the boat is prohibited
• Harpoons are prohibited
• Ratchet handle reels are prohibited
• Power-driven reels are acceptable under the following situation and configuration
     a) Reels that have power accessories (e.g., electric drill attachments, motors, or other power accessories specifically designed for a reel) that can be physically removed from the reel may be used strictly for the purpose of retrieving a deployed bait or lure at depth all the way to the boat.
     b) Power accessories may only be used to retrieve a bait or lure completely to the boat and are not permitted for adjusting the position of a bait or lure in the water column. Once a power accessory is attached to the reel, the bait or lure may no longer be legally used to catch a fish and the bait or lure must be retrieved all the way to the boat for manual redeployment before it may be legally used to hook or catch a fish. Power accessories may not be attached to the reel during the deployment of a bait or lure. 
    c) Power accessories must be physically removed from the reel before the act of hooking or fighting a fish. Any fish that strikes a bait or lure being fished with a reel with power accessories still attached- whether or not under electric operation- will not receive points.
    d) Electric reels that do not have removable electronic components that allow them to be completely manually driven are prohibited.

5. EQUIPMENT

• Any type of live, dead or artificial bait and combo can be used
•  There is no limit to the number of rods/reels with hooked baits that can be used                      
• An unlimited number of unhooked baits or teasers are allowed
• J” hooks may be used on artificial lures and combo only
• Natural baits (alive or dead) must be deployed with only a single, non-offset circle hook

6. TOURNAMENT SPECIES & MINIMUM WEIGHT/LENGTH

• Bluefin tuna and all billfish are eligible for catch and release only
• Bluefin tuna must measure at least 1.15 meters (fork length) to qualify
• Bluefin tuna must be measured in the water only with the official measurement stick device furnished by the Tournament Committee
• Dolphinfish, albacore, little tunny, skipjack tuna, yellowfin tuna, bigeye tuna, and Atlantic bonito are the eligible species for weight
• The minimum weight for all weighed fish is 10 pounds. Ounces will not count.

7. CHARTER BOATS

The tournament has secured a limited number of private vessels that will be made available for charter on a first-come, first-serve basis. For assistance with chartering a vessel for the tournament, please contact IGFA Marketing Director Jack Vitek at [email protected]. 

Teams can also charter their own vessels or fish on a private vessel. 

Anglers are permitted to bring their own rods and reels and fishing gear for any charter boat.

It is the responsibility of the team to check all tackle and boat accessories before the departure of each day.

8. REPORTING OF A CATCH OR A RELEASE

All hookups must be reported to the tournament’s officers on VHF Channel 73 or via the tournament’s official cell phone along with the boat’s name number, angler’s name and number, and position (coordinates).

The tournament’s officers will then give you a hook-up time.

Any fish boated or released must be reported to the tournament’s officers and will receive a time of catch/release.

All hook-ups, captures, and releases will be updated live via CatchStat.

Hook-up, boated, and released fish time must be recorded on your daily catch report and turned in at the end of the fishing day, along with video evidence.

If you lose your fish prior to boat or release (i.e. jump-off, pulled hook, etc.) please inform the tournament’s officers as soon as possible.

If a boat is out of range, the catch must be relayed via radio or cell phone as soon as possible to the tournament’s officer via another boat or cell phone.

The time of hook up/boating or release will be the time when the communication will be received by the tournament’s officer, without exception.

It is the responsibility of each boat to have a sufficient VHF radio and/or cellular phone.

Any game fish requiring a weigh-in must arrive at the scales prior to two hours from the lines out call. In case of boat failure, the fish can be transferred to another boat.

If fish are being fought at Lines Out time, the captain MUST report to the Tournament Committee the number of fish hooked up before lines out, and only those fish, if successfully released, will count.

There is no time limit on landing or releasing a fish that is hooked up before lines out. Any fish that is still hooked up at lines out must report.

The tournament officers’ time will act as the official time for lines in, catch, and lines out each day without exception.

The official tournament VHF channel and phone number will be confirmed at the captain’s meeting.

9. RELEASE VIDEO REQUIREMENTS

Bluefin tuna and all billfish must be released to qualify.

A fish is considered released when: a) the swivel between the mainline or double line and leader hits the rod tip, b) the mate grabs the leader or, c) the wind-on leader comes through the rod tip.

Releases on any billfish or bluefin tuna must provide continuous footage video evidence, clearly confirming that one of the above actions occurred, the identification of the fish, the angler, the daily catch device (Sticker or cards), the official rod sticker, and the full release of the fish.

Each team is responsible for providing their own video camera and the appropriate media to record video footage that documents the releases on their boat.

Video footage and photos submitted become the property of the IGFA and may be used for all promotional purposes.

All registered captains, anglers, and occupants of their boats consent that tournament officials may use all video content without payment or restriction.

Please release the fish in good condition by either removing the hook-set or cutting the leader as close to the hook-set as possible. “Popping” the leader or boating the fish are not good methods of healthy release, and we ask that you refrain from doing so.

CATCH & RELEASE POINTS

 RELEASE POINTS

• Billfish (except spearfish): 400 points
• Spearfish: 200 points
• Bluefin tuna (minimum length 1.15 meters): 150 points

10. WEIGHT CATEGORY POINTS

Eligible species

• Dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus)
• Albacore (Thunnus alalunga)
• Little tunny (Katsuwonus pelamis)
• Skipjack tuna (Euthynnus alletteratus)
• Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus)
• Atlantic bonito (Sarda sarda)
• Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares)

One (1) point per pound with a maximum of five (5) fishes x day x team. Ounces will not count (Example: a 13-lb, 4-oz fish will count as 13 points).

It is the responsibility of each team to provide the tournament officials with the completed and signed daily catch report, which is supplied by the tournament committee.

The daily catch report must be turned in along with the weight fish at the IGFA Official Weigh Station at the Yacht Club Porto Rotondo no later than 120 minutes (2 hours) after lines out on each day of fishing. No form, no points!

The angler must furnish, upon request, the lure, leader, line, hook, rod, reel, and terminal tackle with which the fish was caught.

11. CATEGORIES & AWARDS

TEAM CATEGORY

• First Place Team – The team that compiles the most points between released fish and weighed fish.
• Second Place Team – The team that compiles the second most points between released fish and weighed fish.
• Third Place Team – The team that compiles the third most points between released fish and weighed fish.

In case of a tie, the winner will be determined by which angler/team release the last fish first

ANGLER CATEGORY

• First Place Angler – The angler that compiles the most points between released fish and weighed fish.
• Second Place Angler – The angler that compiles the second most points between released fish and weighed fish.
• Third Place Angler – The angler that compiles the third most points between released fish and weighed fish.

In case of a tie, the winner will be determined by which angler/team release the last fish first

12. DISPUTES & PROTEST

The rules committee has the right to investigate and act upon any incident occurring during the tournament and it shall have the right to disqualify any capture following examination.
Refusal to allow the rules committee to examine any tackle, line and/or leaders will result in immediate disqualification from the event without a refund of any registration fees.

All disputes and protests must be received by the Tournament Officers no later than 8:00 p.m. of the day when the incident occurred. All disputes will be settled by the Tournament’s Officers on the day of the incident unless the tournament judges feel more time is necessary.

Decisions of the Tournament Officers with regard to protests are final and not appealable.

13. TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE

Tournament’s Officers:

• Sandro Onofaro Phone +39 333 565 8428
• Massimo Brogna Phone +39 335 527 5531

Rules Committee: Jason Schratwieser, Jack Vitek,

Weighmaster: Enrico De Rosas

Tournament Official VHF Channel: Channel 73

14. TOURNAMENT HEADQUARTERS

The Tournament’s headquarters will be located at Yacht Club Porto Rotondo, Molo di Levante – Porto Rotondo, Olbia (SS) – Phone +39 0789 34010 Email: [email protected]. Website: ycpr.it

Video General Instructions & Suggestions

• Be sure that your camera meets tournament requirements prior to its start.
  • Be sure to possess the appropriate cables, adapters, cards, readers, etc. to allow the tournament officials to download your evidence if needed.
  • Designate a qualified team member familiar with your camera operation to bring the evidence (and daily report form) to the tournament officials.
  • Have two cameras recording during the fight. Back up is never a bad idea.
  • Be sure to have batteries fully charged and extra batteries, SD cards, etc. on hand.
  • Recordings should be cued up for tournament official review.
  • Be familiar with your equipment.
  • Test your equipment prior to the tournament start.
  • Designate someone to record the release evidence, be familiar with the equipment and the tournament rules.
  • Do not store the equipment in an air-conditioned environment to avoid fogging.
  • Underwater video (i.e. use of a GoPro or other underwater device) is the best way to positively identify your billfish species.
  • Be sure you have captured all the evidence necessary for qualification prior to submission.
  • The organization will provide all tournament anglers with a phone number to be used for the official championship WhatsApp chat that can be used to send all footage and photos.
  • Tipping of charter’s boat captains and mates (15%) is the responsibility of the team and must be handled directly through the Captain.

  Online Auction

The IGFA will host an online auction to coincide with the IGFA Mediterranean Championship. Angling enthusiasts from around the world can bid on world-class fishing trips, tackle, artwork, and more! All proceeds from the IGFA Mediterranean Championship and the online auction go directly to support the IGFA’s conservation programs. 

The online auction begins on Sunday, June 25, 2023, and ends on Sunday, July 2, 2023. Register and place your bids by clicking here or the image below. 

For information on how to donate to the online auction, please contact IGFA at [email protected] or 954-924-4315. 

Thank You to Our Tournament Sponsors!

We greatly appreciate the support of all our tournament sponsors! Whether they support the tournament, the corresponding online auction, or both, we couldn’t do it without their help.

For more information on tournament sponsorship packages, please click here. You can also reach us directly by contacting IGFA Development Coordinator at [email protected] or 954-924-4315.