1.1 Overview

• The tournament will take place from Saturday, April 6, 2024, to Friday, April 19, 2024, spanning a 14-day period. Each team can choose up to 7 days for fishing within this timeframe.
• The Australian International Billfish Tournament (AIBT) prioritises conservation and responsible fishing practices. Our main focus is promoting safe and sustainable fishing by ensuring that any billfish caught during the tournament are safely released back into their natural habitat.

1.2. Briefing

• To collect a safety pack, it is mandatory for the team captain or designated delegate to attend the tournament briefing. The briefing is scheduled for Friday, April 5, 2024, from 2 pm to 8 pm at Spring Bay Mill, Triabunna. Bookings for the opening event tickets will be available soon, and participants can also arrange accommodation at Spring Bay Mill for the night of the event. Entered teams will receive a special booking link for their convenience.

2.1. Teams

• During registration, teams must provide a team name that will identify them throughout the tournament.

• A team should consist of two or more individuals for boats under 8 meters in size. For boats over 8 meters, teams must have a minimum of three members.

• There is no maximum team size.

• Every team member is required to hold an active membership with a game fishing club that is officially affiliated with the Game Fishing Association of Australia (GFAA). For individuals residing outside of Australia, membership with the International Game Fishing Association (IGFA) is acceptable. Members who do not meet these criteria are encouraged to consider joining a Tasmanian Game Fishing Association Club prior to participating in the tournament.

• Team registration is done under the team name rather than the boat name since multiple teams may share the same boat (taking into account 1.6). However, if only one team is using a particular boat, the boat name may be used.

• Throughout the entire designated fishing day, all team members are required to remain together on a singular boat. It is impermissible for teams to be divided among multiple boats. The nominated fishing day must encompass particulars regarding the departure port and the boat's designation. Each team is permitted to nominate only one boat for their designated fishing day.

2.2. Fees

• The team registration fee is a minimum of $500, covering the registration for two team members.

• All individuals on the boat, including the Charter Boat Driver/Skipper, film crew, deckhands, and observers, must be paid team members.

3.1 Tournament Grid

• The fishing boundaries of the tournament are defined by the perimeter of the grid map, which will be distributed to teams during the briefing session. This grid map replaces any previous versions. Fishing beyond the designated area will not be allowed and may result in disqualification.
• The fishing area may be adjusted or reduced based on weather conditions or other safety requirements.
• Teams must utilise the official grid map and references provided.

3.2. Boundaries

• Northern Boundary: Centre of Banks Strait. South 40 degrees, 40 minutes
• Southern Boundary: Bottom of TCT grid map, Cape Raoul. South 43 degrees, 25 minutes
• Eastern Boundary: Pink line on the 13nm east of the continental shelf drop off.

4.1. Nominated Fishing Days

• Teams are eligible to fish 7 days from the 14-day period (06-19 April 2024). Teams must log their intent to fish at 8 pm the night prior. The method of logging will be via the tournament portal or SMS.
• When nominating a fishing day, teams must advise their departure port or mooring location plus expected return port or location.
• A mooring location must be located within sheltered waters.
• Cancellation of fishing day can be made until 7 am on the morning of nominated fishing day.

4.2. Fishing Times

• Fishing activities can commence at 7:00 am each day and must conclude by 4:00 pm.
• Teams are required to return to their nominated port or mooring location within sheltered waters at the end of each fishing day.
• No lines or burley should be placed in the water before the designated starting time.
• If a team declares a hookup before 3:59 pm, they must have already informed the tournament committee via radio or phone about the "hook up" and seek approval to continue fighting the fish.
• For the fish to be eligible as part of the tournament, the team must receive approval to continue fishing.

5.1. Rules

• All fishing activities must adhere to the rules set forth by the Game Fishing Association of Australia (GFAA). Compliance with these rules will be monitored, and teams and anglers may be randomly requested to provide their gear and equipment for inspection.
• Leading up to the tournament, teams will receive information on swordfish fishing techniques, including recommendations for gear setup and techniques that prioritise the fish's survival.

5.2. Fishing Gear and Angling Rules

• Fishing gear and angling rules are in accordance with the GFAA rules and the AIBT tournament regulations.

5.3. Line Class

• The minimum line class for all sections of the contest is 37 kg. Multifilament lines (Braid) can only be used in sanctioned contests if they have a minimum of sixteen (16) metres of homogeneous line (monofilament) directly preceding the double, leader, and hook.

5.4. Hookup

• A team collectively decides when a hookup occurs. The majority of the team must verbally declare the hookup, after which the angler can commence their angling. The hookup must be immediately notified to the radio room. Failure to notify a hookup may result in the tag not being deemed eligible by the tournament committee.

5.5. Protests

• An online form will be available throughout the tournament for teams to raise a protest. Protests must be accompanied by evidence to be presented to the tournament committee for review. The tournament committee may request the team being accused to provide footage to resolve the dispute.

5.6. Disqualification

• If a team or angler is found to breach the GFAA and AIBT regulations, the tournament committee holds the authority to disqualify the angler, the tagged fish, the team, or any combination thereof. Disqualification may apply to the nominated fishing day or the entire tournament.

5.7. Safety Regulations

• All participating vessels must comply with the safety and equipment regulations outlined by Marine and Safety Tasmania (MAST). Tasmania Police may be present to check safety equipment and ensure compliance with regulations. It is mandatory for all teams to submit a vessel detail form, which includes the team captain's signature to affirm that the team's vessel complies with the MAST safety checklist.

6.1. Awards

The Australian International Billfish Tournament presents four prestigious GFAA tag and release awards:

• Champion Team Overall (EW Palmer Perpetual trophy donated by Mr Ern Palmer AO, GFFAA President 1962 – 63)
• Champion Team Runner up (Moreton Bay Perpetual Trophy donated by Moreton Bay Game Fishing Club, Brisbane in 2003)
• Champion Angler (Mal Ramsay Perpetual Trophy donated by Mr Malcolm Ramsay GFAA President 1984)
• Champion Overseas Angler (AIBT Trophy donated by GFAA)

Conditions: One fish, one prize.

6.2. Presentations

• The category winners will be presented with their awards at the end of the tournament presentation dinner, scheduled for Saturday, April 20, 2024, at Spring Bay Mill, Triabunna, from 5:30 pm to 11 pm. Bookings for the presentation dinner will be available soon, and participants can also arrange accommodation at Spring Bay Mill for the night prior to and the night of the event. Entered teams will receive a special booking link for their convenience.

• By participating in this game fishing tournament, you acknowledge and accept the associated risks. The tournament organisers want to emphasise that this event serves as something other than an invitation to venture into sea conditions that surpass the capabilities of your craft and crew.
• The tournament will be overseen by three weather committees, each responsible for a specific region: North East, East, and South East. These committees will thoroughly evaluate the weather conditions in their respective areas and make a decision regarding the opening of the entire fishing grid for the following day's activities.
• To keep teams informed, the team captain will receive an SMS notification at 7 pm on the evening prior to each scheduled fishing day. This message will indicate whether the fishing grid is open and outline any applicable restrictions.
• In case the weather conditions are deemed unsuitable for fishing, the tournament committee reserves the right to cancel a fishing day based on their discretion.
• If a "Gale Warning" or a higher level of warning is issued by the Bureau of Meteorology after the start of a fishing day, only the fish that were tagged prior to or at the time fishing was officially cancelled will be counted towards the tournament. Any fish that are still being played (hooked or in the process of being landed) after the cancellation will not be considered for this tournament.
• If the entire fishing grid is cancelled after 1 pm, the day will be considered a fishing day. However, if the cancellation occurs before 12:59 pm, the day will not be counted as one of the team's designated fishing days.
• In the event that only a section of the grid is closed, the above rules will still apply. However, the team will have the option to move to the open part of the grid and continue their designated fishing day.

8.1. Radio Requirements

• All vessels are required to have a VHF Marine radio on board.
• In accordance with Tasmanian Game Fishing regulations, radio schedules will be conducted hourly. This safety measure is in response to past incidents and the local water conditions.
• The Marine Radio will conduct the schedules, and the boat's skipper must respond to all schedules and provide the boat's position based on the grid map provided during the briefing.
• If two schedules are missed, the competition will be called off, and a search for the boat will be initiated.

8.2. Logging on

• For each nominated fishing day, teams must log on upon departure. This can be done via SMS (using the AIBT number to be obtained) or through the designated radio room (to be determined). Teams must make contact to inform if they choose not to fish on their nominated fishing day.
• Vessels are to log on to Marine Radio (Refer to Grid Map for Channel) and provide the following information: Vessel Name, Departure Boat Ramp, and Persons on Board (POB).

8.3. Reporting Procedure for Scheds

• On the FIRST and each subsequent HOURLY sched vessels will report the following:
• Team Name
• Position as a grid reference, using the phonetic alphabet
• Number tagged and released or if currently hooked up.
• On the FINAL sched vessels will report the following:
• Team Name
• Number tagged and released.
• Estimated time of arrival at Port or mooring location

8.4. Logging off

• For each nominated fishing day, teams must log off via the radio room or SMS.
• Upon returning to the boat ramp, vessels will report the Team Name and sign off time. The Skipper MUST receive acknowledgement from the Radio Operator that contact has been made. If radio contact is not established, the Skipper must report in person to the Radio Room and sign off.
• Failure to log off upon return to the boat ramp will result in disqualification

8.5. Emergency Plan

• In the event that a vessel fails to report for two consecutive radio schedules, the tournament committee will follow the following procedure:
• Request Search: The committee will request all vessels, especially those near the last known grid position of the missing vessel, to commence a search of the area. Safety is paramount, so only vessels capable of safely handling the prevailing weather conditions should undertake the search. The decision to participate in the search lies with the individual skipper, who bears the responsibility for the safety of their vessel and crew.
• Cease Fishing: The committee will instruct all other competitors who are not involved in the search and are not within a reasonable range to cease competition fishing until the situation is resolved.
• Notify Authorities: If the missing vessel is not located within 1 hour of searching, the committee, relay boat, or base station operator will notify the Marine Police and the St. Helens Coast Guard about the situation. All subsequent actions will be directed by the Marine Police, Coast Guard, or, in their absence, the tournament committee.
• Continue Search: All boats engaged in the search for the missing vessel will be requested to continue searching until the situation is resolved.
• Restart Fishing: Competition fishing will not resume until the situation is resolved and the tournament committee, through the radio base or relay boat, announces the restarting of fishing in the tournament.
• Emergency Situations: In the event of an emergency call, such as a "May Day" direct call or flare, all fishing activities will immediately cease upon the direction of the committee. Fishing will only resume when announced by the committee. All available vessels should assist in any way possible in the event of an emergency.

9.1 Overview

• The Australian International Billfish Tournament adheres to the guidelines and regulations set forth by the Game Fishing Association of Australia (GFAA) for tag and release as well as angling rules and equipment regulations. These GFAA guidelines serve as the foundation for the tournament's fishing practices, and the additional guidelines specific to the tournament further complement and enhance the overall fishing experience.
• By combining the GFAA guidelines with the additional guidelines specific to the Australian International Billfish Tournament, the tournament organisers aim to create a comprehensive and well-regulated fishing event that upholds conservation principles, maintains angling standards, and provides a fair and enjoyable experience for all participants.

9.2. Tournament Tags

• Only official contest tags provided by the tournament organisers should be used. Contest tags can be collected from the Tag Master during the tournament briefing.
• A $50 deposit is required for the tags. This deposit will be refunded upon the return of all tags at the end of the tournament.
• Failure to return the tags (used or unused) will result in the forfeiture of the deposit.
• Each team is allowed a maximum of 10 tags for the tournament.
• If a tie occurs, the victor will be decided through a countback procedure. This countback involves comparing the time recorded on the tag card against the corresponding photographic proof, and it is based on the nominated fishing day, not the actual date. To illustrate, if Team A places 10 tags during their third designated fishing day at 1pm, while Team B achieves the same on their fourth designated fishing day at 1pm, Team A will secure the win.

9.3. Tagging

• To have a tag recorded, the tagging process must be accompanied by video evidence. The video evidence should clearly show the tagging ribbon and provide proof of life for the tagged fish.
• These rules ensure the accuracy and integrity of the tagging process and provide evidence for the tournament committee to validate tag entries.

9.4. Tagging Ribbon

• In the Australian International Billfish Tournament, the tagging ribbon system is used to ensure that the teams properly document and display the correct coloured ribbon associated with each nominated fishing day. Here are the details regarding the tagging ribbon:
• Unique Coloured Ribbon: Each team will be provided with seven different coloured ribbons, with a unique colour allocated to each nominated fishing day. These colours will help differentiate and identify the fishing day for which the footage is being recorded.
• Attachment and Visibility: The team is responsible for attaching the designated coloured ribbon to the tag pole and fishing rod used during the fishing activity. It is important to ensure that the ribbon is clearly visible in the video and photo evidence.
• Date and Time Information: The video and photo evidence should clearly display the coloured ribbon along with accurate date and time information. This helps in verifying that the footage corresponds to the correct nominated fishing day.
• Cross-Checking by Tournament Committee: The tournament committee will review the team's footage and cross-check that the displayed coloured ribbon matches the designated colour for the respective fishing day. This step ensures the accuracy and compliance of the tagging process.
• By implementing the tagging ribbon system and requiring its visibility in the evidence, the tournament committee can easily confirm that the correct coloured ribbon was used for each fishing day, maintaining fairness and adherence to the tournament regulations.

9.5. Proof of Life

• To provide proof of life for a tagged swordfish, teams can employ several methods to capture video evidence that demonstrates the fish's vitality after being tagged. Here are some suggested approaches:
• Clear Video Footage: Teams should ensure that the video footage clearly shows the tagged swordfish swimming away strongly and exhibiting signs of good health and vigour. This can include capturing the fish swimming actively, displaying strong movements of its tail and fins, and maintaining an upright position in the water.
• Surface Behaviour: Teams can focus on capturing surface behaviour of the fish, such as breaching, or tail-slapping. These actions indicate an energetic and lively fish.
• Controlled Release: Teams should handle the swordfish with care during the tagging process to minimise stress and injury. Gentle and prompt release of the fish back into the water increases its chances of survival. The video can document the controlled release, ensuring the fish swims away smoothly.
• Time Stamp: It is essential to include a visible time stamp or date on the video footage to indicate that it was recorded during the tournament and aligns with the tagging event.
• Commentary or Verbal Confirmation: Teams can provide verbal commentary in the video, explaining the successful tag and release process and confirming the fish's vitality and well-being.
• By incorporating these elements into their video evidence, teams can effectively demonstrate the proof of life for the tagged swordfish, satisfying the requirements of the tournament rules.

9.6. Recording Tags

• Teams must photograph the tag card and upload it before 11:59 pm on each nominated fishing day. The upload should include the following:
• A photo of the tag card clearly showing the correct tag placement.
• A photo of the team ribbon assigned for the nominated fishing day.
• Video evidence demonstrating that the fish swam off alive.
• It is important to note that if a team has not reported the hook-up via a radio call, the tag card will not be eligible for recording. Additionally, if the four required items (tag card photo, ribbon photo, video evidence, hook-up report) are not uploaded to the tournament portal by 11:59 pm, the tag will not be recorded against the team. It is not acceptable to log a tag on the following day.

9.7. Points Score

• The tournament follows the current Tag and Release Point Score values as determined by the TGFA Executive. For billfish, a point value of 20,000 will be allocated regardless of the line class used.

9.8. Tag Applicators

• Appropriate tag applicators should be used as shown below.