Australian International Billfish Tournament

The tournament will be conducted under the auspices of GFAA.

The three (3) GFAA Trophies are mandatory to be issued for this tournament.

The tournament is a Tag & Release ONLY tournament.

Must comply in all respects to GFAA rules, regulations & policies.

GFAA representative must be on the tournament committee.

GFAA must receive tournament rules for approval a minimum of three (3) months prior to event.

AIBT to be applied for by a State Association every two (2) years however it will normally be awarded to NSW & QLD if applied for on a two (2) year rotational basis.

Note: This will allow other States the right to host this tournament if they wish.

The tournament may be run by the State Association or they may with the approval of GFAA pass it onto one of the Member Clubs to host the event.

Cash/Major Prize Tournaments

When an award above $10,000 is specifically offered for an Australian record catch, only a claim for an All Tackle record will be considered. Note: GFAA does not allow the offering of rewards for any one prize above $10,000 either in cash, trophy or combination of both for the capture or tagging of fish. This practice is not in the best interests of the sport of angling or the conservation of gamefish.

Free Release

No tournament shall be approved by a State Association that awards points for free release for GFAA tag species.

Measure & Release

"Measure & Release" is allowed for species that have been determined by GFAA from time

to time (for current species list go to www.gfaa.asn.au).

Note:    (i)         All GFAA Angling & Equipment regulations shall apply.

(ii)       All applicable tag & release rules shall apply i.e. items 1,2 & 3 of the acts that disqualify a tag & release.             

                        (iii)       No fish can be released after measurement unless it is in a healthy and                                                 vigorous state.

(iv)       A GFAA designed "Measure & Release" card is to be used to record                                         species release information.

Guidelines for Measure & Release

1. Only gamefish species as listed for measure & release are to be considered by this guideline.

2. All GFAA Angling Rules & Equipment Regulation & Codes of Practice to apply until fish is landed and returned to the water in a healthy and vigorous state.

3. The use of knotless, rubber coated nets or similarly designed nets that minimize slime and scale removal are to be used, the use of gaffs (other than release/jaw gaff) is prohibited.

4. The fish is to be measured using an approved or recognized measuring mat. The measurements between centimetre increments shall be measured at the lower of the two increments i.e. 45 – 46 cm will be recorded as 45 cm.

5. Once measured the fish is to be returned to the water as quickly as possible & supported until it is able to swim away in a healthy & vigorous state. If the fish dies during this process it is the skipper & anglers responsibility to disqualify the catch.

6. All measurements & data must be recorded on an approved GFAA Measure & Release card that is to be returned to the anglers club for processing.

7. Fish caught & released under these guidelines may be eligible for club or state points. (Check with your club or state for this.)

Journal Distribution & Mailing format

One (1) copy of the GFAA Journal will be sent to the address of affiliated members as supplied by the State Member Clubs by direct mail.

Mail lists are to be supplied in the GFAA required format. If the correct mailing format is not provided no journals will be dispatched from that list.

Minimum Weights – for GFAA Records

The weight of Gamefish must equal line class used.  Sharks and Rays must be double the line class used.

Reciprocal Penalties/Expulsion/Fines

If any affiliated member of any member Club of a State Association receives any penalty or ban, that decision will be forwarded onto GFAA who will in-turn forward the information to all other State bodies for their consideration of a Reciprocal Penalty.

Regulations governing record catches

1. Protest applications on disputed existing records will be referred to the GFAA Executive for review. Its decision will be final. All GFAA decisions will be based upon the intent of the regulations.

2. When an award above $10,000 is specifically offered for an Australian record catch, only a claim for an All Tackle record will be considered. Note: GFAA does not allow the offering of rewards for any one prize above $10,000 either in cash, trophy or combination of both for the capture or tagging of fish. This practice is not in the best interests of the sport of angling or the conservation of gamefish.

3. In some instances an official (as defined in “Weighing of Fish”- see Australian Record Requirements – GFAA Official Journal or GFAA website www.gfaa.asn.au ) or a member of the GFAA Executive may request that the information supplied on a claim be rechecked. Such action is not to be regarded as doubt of the formal application, but rather as evidence of the extreme care with which GFAA investigates and maintains records.

4. GFAA reserves the right to reject an application for either record or award and its decision shall be final.

5. Rejected applicants in relation to subsections 1 and 4 above will not be informed by the GFAA Executive of the reason(s) for the rejection of their application.

6. The GFAA Executive reserves the right to alter the regulations governing record catch and/or award applications as is required from time to time and in accordance with the requirements of the GFAA constitution.

Right to take a fish

Anglers retain the right to capture a fish within the bounds of legislation, bag limits etc.

Sanctioned Tournaments

The Executive of the State Association must be consulted by member clubs wishing to conduct ‘Open’ or ‘Invitation’ Tournaments to gain approval for such tournaments. The Executive shall also have the power to insist that any such tournaments hosted by member clubs be conducted in such fashion as is befitting the ethics of gamefishing, and for the maximum enjoyment of all participants.

The application for such tournaments MUST be in the hands of the Secretary of the Association a minimum of three (3) months prior to the tournament date.

A complete list of rules must accompany the application.

A complete list of trophies should be advised to competitors prior to the tournament.

Note 1: GFAA does not allow State Associations to sanction tournaments when any one award greater than $10,000 either in cash, trophy or combination of both is offered for the capture or tagging of fish.

This practice is not in the best interests of the sport of angling or the conservation of gamefish.

Note 2: GFAA will not accept any record applications generated from within a non-sanctioned tournament other than an internal club competition.

Trophies - GFAA

Tag & Release Trophies – for all eligible species including minimum length & state only eligible species refer to the current GFAA Eligible Tag & Release species list in the Official GFAA Journal and GFAA website – www.gfaa.asn.au

Tags – types

Billfish Only Tag – the use of the “billfish only” tag is mandatory to be eligible to win any GFAA trophies and awards.

The billfish tag applicator measures 76mm, when tagging small billfish it is suggested that a 30cm stopper or cork is used on the 76mm applicator to ensure that the fish is not harmed whilst being tagged.

Note: If you wish to use another type of tag e.g. Billfish Foundation tag, GFAA strongly suggests to “double” tag the fish with the other tag and the GFAA Billfish Tag as well, this will then make the fish eligible for GFAA trophies and pointscore.