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.

Wednesday, February 14, 2024
Captains Meeting & Kick-Off Party

7 PM – 10 PM

Thursday, February 15, 2024
First Day of Fishing

Departure – 8 AM
Start Fishing – 10 AM

Friday, February 16, 2024
Second Day of Fishing

Saturday, February 17, 2024
Third & Final Day of Fishing

Boats Return to El Gouna – 12 PM
Weighing Event – 2 – 3 PM
Celebration Lunch – 3 – 5 PM
Awards Ceremony – 5 PM

 

 

Tournament Rules

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

1. PERMITS & LICENSES

All participants must have valid boating and recreational angling requirements.

2. FISHING DAYS & HOURS

Fishing days for the 2024 El Gouna IGFA Red Sea Championship are Thursday, February 15, 2024, to Saturday, February 17, 2024.

Fishing for all teams will begin at approximately 10 AM on Thursday, February 15, 2024, in a “shotgun start” from a predetermined location outside of Aurora Marina. All boats must be within Aurora Marina by 12 PM on Saturday, February 17, 2024. There are no “lines in” or “lines out” throughout the duration of the fishing times, and anglers are free to fish at any point. 

There are no lay days or weather days, unless determined by the tournament. Fish at your own risk.

3.BOUNDARIES & DEPARTURE

Please see the map below for the tournament boundaries for the El Gouna IGFA Red Sea Championship.

 

 

4. ANGLING & EQUIPMENT

All IGFA International Angling Rules apply. 

• Anglers are required to fish with one of the following lines:
  • 15 kg (30 lb) monofilament (provided by tournament)
  • 24kg (50 lb) monofilament (provided by tournament)
  • The tournament committee reserves the right to request line samples for any catches submitted to the tournament.
• The use of backing is permissible per IGFA rules.
• Top shots must be a minimum of 5 meters (16.5 meters) in length.
• Leader length is limited to 9.14 meters (30 feet) including floats/corks and is measured to the bend of the last hook.
• Double line length is limited to 9.14 meters (30 feet).
• The combined length of the double line and leader shall not exceed 12.19 meters (40 feet).
• Any type of live, dead or artificial bait can be used.
• Four anglers per team/boat, per day are permitted, with no restrictions.
• A maximum of six lines (with hooks) are permitted at any one time. An unlimited amount of hookless baits or teasers are allowed.
• “J” hooks may be used on artificial lures only.
• Natural baits (live or dead) must be deployed with non-offset circle hooks.
• Live chumming is prohibited (meaning throwing live fish school for attracting game fish).
• Harpoons are prohibited. 
• The use of diving boards are NOT permitted, only diving planers and downriggers are allowed. 

5. TOURNAMENT CATCH LIMITS, SPECIES & SCORING

Catch Limits
Teams are permitted to weigh a maximum of two fish, per eligible species, in this tournament. 

The minimum weigh of any fish to be eligible for the weight category is 3 kg. 

Weight Category
The following species listed below are eligible for weighing only. Each species has a pre-determined “base” number of points that are awarded regardless of size. The weight of each fish will be added to the base points per species. For example: A dogtooth tuna weighing 10 kg will be a total of 40 points.

For scoring purposes, each kilogram counts as a point. Scores will be recorded in whole integers. For example, a fish weighing 18.6 kilograms will count as 18 points.

Eligible Weight Species with Base Points

• Dogtooth tuna (30 base points + weight of fish in KG)
• Amberjack (30 base points + weight of fish in KG)
• Dolphinfish (mahi-mahi) (20 base points + weight of fish in KG )
• Great barracuda (20 base points + weight of fish in KG)
• Yellow-spotted trevally (20 base points + weight of fish in KG)

Catches made on the tournament provided 15 kg (30 lb) line will receive an additional 10 points for each fish caught using the line. The 10 points, in case of the release category, are added after the multiplication of the species (base points X length in meters). Only catches made on the tournament provided 15 kg (30 lb) monofilament will qualify.

Other species caught not mentioned above will only get the weight points. Those eligible species are listed in the species guide above. 

Release Category
The following species listed below are eligible for length only and must be released alive to qualify. Each species has a pre-determined “base” number of points that are awarded regardless of size. The total number of points will be determined by adding the base points to the total length of the fish, multiplied by the length of the fish in meters. For example: A giant trevally measuring 70 centimeters would have a score of 35 points (50 base points X 0.7 = 35 points).

Teams are permitted to measure a maximum of five fish, per species, in the tournament to count towards their total points. 

All eligible species for the release category (except for sailfish – see below for additional information) must be measured and documented on the measuring device provided by the tournament. 

Eligible Release Species

• Golden trevally (30 base points x length in meters)
• African pompano (40 base points x length in meters)
• Giant trevally (50 base points x length in meters)
• Sailfish (60 base points, regardless of size, no measurement required)

Catches made on the tournament provided 15 kg (30 lb) line will receive an additional 10 points for each fish caught using the line. The 10 points, in case of the release category, are added after the multiplication of the species (base points X length in meters). Only catches made on the tournament provided 15 kg (30 lb) monofilament will qualify.

6. REPORTING OF CATCHES

All catches and supporting documentation must be reported via the dedicated WhatsApp group that will be open to all tournament participants. Details of this WhatsApp group will be finalized during the Captain’s Meeting. 

7. CATCH & RELEASE RULES

All sailfish must be released to qualify. A sailfish is considered released when: a) the swivel between the main line 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.

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

8. CATEGORIES & AWARDS

LONGEST FISH CATEGORY (release only)

• First Place – Angler that recorded the longest fish of the eligible species caught in the tournament.
• Second Place – Angler that recorded the second longest fish of the eligible species caught in the tournament.
• Third Place – Angler that recorded the third longest fish of the eligible species caught in the tournament.

BIGGEST FISH CATEGORY (weight only)

• First Place – Angler that recorded the heaviest fish of the eligible species caught in the tournament.
• Second Place – Angler that recorded the second heaviest fish of the eligible species caught in the tournament.
• Third Place – Angler that recorded the third heaviest fish of the eligible species caught in the tournament.

TOP ANGLER CATEGORY (total points based on releases and weighed fish)

• First Place Angler – Angler with the most total points.
• Second Place Angler – Angler with the second most total points
• Third Place Angler – Angler with the third most total points

TOP TEAM CATEGORY (total points based on released and weighed fish)

• First Place Team – Team with the most total points.
• Second Place Angler – Team with the second most total points
• Third Place Angler – Team with the third most total points

9. DISPUTES & PROTESTS

All disputes will be settled by the tournament committee. All decisions are final. The tournament committee consists of the following individuals:

• Mohamed Kaddah (IGFA Trustee, President of Egyptian Angling Federation)
• Omar Khalifa (IGFA Representative)
• Karim Sherif (IGFA Representative)
• Ahmed Mitkees (IGFA Representative)
• Jack Vitek (IGFA Marketing Director)
• Jason Schratwieser (IGFA President)

 Tournament Registration

The cost of registration for the 2024 IGFA Red Sea Championship is $4,000 USD per team. You are permitted to have up to four anglers per team. Your team registration fee includes:

• Three-day boat charter for the duration of the tournament. The charter includes all food and beverages, bait, ice, and fuel.  
• Three nights of accommodations (February 13, 14, 17) in El Gouna at one of the sponsor hotels (breakfast included). 
• Tournament team “SWAG” bags. 
• Roundtrip transportation between Hurghada International Airport and hotel. 
• Entry into all tournament events, including free food and beverage. 

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

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

 

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.