The Inaugural UK Bluefin Tuna Championship - 2024
Competition Rules and Regulations, operational protocols.
This competition is the inaugural catch-and-release bluefin tuna tournament for the UK operated within
the framework of the new English Catch and Release Recreational Fishery (CRRF).
It is being organised and supported by the UKBFTA, the SCBI, the Angling Trust, Angling Live, Huntress and Home, RBS Marine (Rodman), Falmouth Haven Marina and our generous sponsors include Shimano, Tuna Gear, Suzuki, Icey-Tek, AFW and Leadertec.
The competition is strictly catch-and-release and for Atlantic bluefin tuna (ABFT) only. No fish species other than ABFT will be recognised in this competition.
The event will take place on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th of September and the ‘home base’ will be Falmouth Haven marina, with the start/finish line in the mouth of the Fal river.
1. Fishery and associated regulations:
1.1 Fishery permit conditions adherence.
1.2 Code of Conduct.
1.3 Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972
(COLREGs)
2. Entry and eligibility.
2.1 Entry fee.
2.2 Eligibiity.
2.3 Who enters?
2.4 Single day/two day entry.
2.5 Numbers of anglers.
3. Scoring system.
3.1 Length based.
3.2 Number of submissible fish.
3.3 Measuring protocols.
3.4 Recording/reporting protocols.
3.5 Assessment of submissions.
3.6 ‘Winning’.
3.7 Weather curtailed event.
3.8 Biggest fish.
4. Recording/reporting requirements.
4.1 Permit mandated.
4.2 Additional data.
4.3 Reporting data.
5. Fishing Tackle.
5.1 Rods.
5.2 Reels.
5.3 Mainline.
5.4 Leaders.
5.5 Hooks.
5.6 Number of rods permitted.
6. Fishing techniques.
6.1 Generalities.
6.2 Trolling.
6.3 Drifting.
6.4 Anchoring.
6.5 Popping and/or jigging.
6.6 Kites, downriggers, planers.
6.7 Floats.
6.8 Baits/attractants.
6.9 Fighting fish.
6.10 ‘Assistance’.
7. Leadering, restraint, measuring, recovery and release.
7.1 Leadering.
7.2 Restraint.
7.3 Measuring.
7.4 Recovery.
7.5 Release.
7.6 Mortalities.
8. Miscellaneous, foul hooking, multiple hook-ups.
8.1 Foul Hooking.
8.2 Multiple hook-ups.
9. Timing and geographical restrictions of the event.
9.1 Timing.
9.2 Late hook-ups.
9.3 Geographical restrictions.
10. Reporting, results and prizes.
10.1 Reporting catches.
10.2 Results.
10.3 Prizes.
11. Social media considerations.
11.1 Considerations.
12. Safety.
12.1 Equipment.
12.2 Function, design, adequacy.
12.3 Injuries.
12.4 Interaction between vessels.
13. Risk statement.
13.1 Acknowledging risks.
13.2 Accepting responsibility.
13.3 Limits of responsibility of organisers.
13.4 Weather.
13.5 Insurance.
1. Fishery and associated regulations:
1.1 Compliance with fishery regulations:
Tournament entrants must adhere to the regulations governing the fishery and the conditions of their permit. These include, but are not limited to, no boarding of fish, mandatory reporting of trips, captures (including location and length) and mortalities to the MMO via the Qualtrics interface.
1.2 Code of Conduct:
Entrants are expected to be familiar with and adhere to the fishery Code of Conduct produced by the UKBFTA, Angling Trust and PBA and endorsed by DEFRA, the MMO, CEFAS and Natural England.
1.3 Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972:
Entrants are expected to be familiar with, and comply with the ‘COLREGs’
2. Entry fee and eligibility:
2.1 Entry fee:
An entry fee of £200/day/vessel is payable in advance.
2.2 Eligibility:
Eligibility conditions beyond possession of a valid CRRF permit have been set out and implemented in the registration/participation process.
2.3 Who enters?
The vessel ‘owner/operator’ is the tournament entrant, and solely responsible for arrangements with his anglers regarding entry fee, apportioning prizes etc.
2.4 Single day/two day entry:
The event comprises two standalone days of competition, Saturday and Sunday, AND an overall weekend competition, aggregating the scores of both days. Entrants may enter for one day (£200/vessel) or both days (£400/vessel). Only vessels entering for both days will be considered for the overall tournament placings and prizes, (with the exception of the ‘biggest fish’ prize, see below).
2.5 Numbers of anglers:
Teams of anglers may comprise any number, BUT, be aware that any ‘switching of anglers’ on a fish will make that fish ineligible for inclusion.
3. Scoring system:
3.1 Length based:
Anglers will record and submit the Curved Fork Length (see below) of fish to the nearest inch.
3.2 Number of submissible fish:
They may catch and submit up to six fish measured each day, (the first six), from which the longest three will count to their total length of fish recorded for that day.
3.3 Measuring protocols:
Entrants will be provided with measuring equipment and detailed instructions as to the measurements they must take. These measurements are to be recorded on the cards provided and submitted as at 3.4.
This will be detailed in a separate notice issued before the event.
3.4 Recording/reporting protocols:
Entrants will be required to take photographs (and advised to take supporting video) as specified in the separate notice. They will be required to report via the ‘Angling Live’ App, in as real time a basis as possible. Delays in reporting fish may be grounds for disqualification of one or more fish recorded from consideration.
3.5 Assessment of submissions:
Fish submitted to the organisers via the App with the mandated details and photographic evidence will be assessed by a panel onshore, and will receive a response of: ACCEPTED, REJECTED, MORE INFORMATION REQUIRED.
3.6 ‘Winning’:
The ‘winner’ of each day will be the vessel with the largest total length recorded. Two fish totalling 200” will beat three fish totalling 190”. Placing down to at least third place will be recorded for each day. The overall tournament winner will be decided by the combined length of each days qualifying submissions.
e.g. 137” Saturday and 160” Sunday will be combined for an overall tournament score of 297”.
There will be no ‘carrying over’ or carry back of fish each day.
3.7 Weather curtailed event:
In the event of only one day being fishable, the overall tournament placings will be those of that one day.
In consultation with a number of experienced professional skippers the organising committee will be responsible for curtailing or cancelling the event due to adverse weather conditions deemed unsafe.
3.8 Biggest fish:
In addition to the team placings, there will be a prize for the longest fish of the tournament. This will record both the vessel and the angler. Prizes will be awarded to both the vessel skipper and the winning angler.
4. Recording/reporting requirements:
4.1 Permit mandated recording and reporting:
Participants must record and submit, in the normal manner, the information required by the MMO as a condition of their permit. Participants should note that the MMO requires a STRAIGHT FORKED LENGTH of fish to be submitted, whereas the Tournament will be judged on the CURVED FORK LENGTH of the fish.
4.2 Additional data:
Participants will be required to record the following information. A card will be provided and the Angling Live App will contain fields for some but not all of the information to be submitted in that manner.
Data required to be reported via the App are underlined.
a) Time of lines first in.
b) Time of each hookup, (multiple hook-ups will require the recording of data for each fish)
c) Time of leadering.
d) Time of release.
e) Time of lines back in, (respecting the 15 minute limit between leadering (of the last fish in the case of multiple hook-ups) and ‘lines back in’).
f) Length of each fish.
g) Time lines finally pulled each day.
These cards must be retained and submitted to the tournament organisers each day before 5.30pm.
4.3 Reporting data:
Participants must make every effort to report capture data in as real time a fashion as possible. Failure to do so compromises our ability to verify recorded captures and collate results in a timely fashion. Failure to provide timely updates may be considered negatively by the event organisers and could result in individual fish submissions being rejected or in the worst case all submissions being rejected. Participants struggling to record via the App must make best efforts to contact the organisers and inform them of such, whereupon submission MAY be considered via a different option.
5. Fishing Tackle:
Although the CRRF regulations do NOT mandate any minimum tackle requirements, in the interests of fish welfare, this tournament will do so.
5.1 Rods:
The tournament requirement is that rods must have sufficient power to handle BFT and avoid prolonged fights. Checks may be made on each day, before or after fishing.
In case of doubt, entrants are urged to consult the jury prior to commencing fishing. The tournament organisers decision will be final in this matter.
A general guide is that rods must be capable of lifting a 20lb weight BEFORE reaching an ‘optimally loaded’ position, i.e. a circa 90 degree line between the line of the butt and the line of the top 2 inches of the rod. This in practice mandates a minimum circa ‘50lb class’ rod to be used.
5.2 Reels:
Conventional ‘multiplier’ reels must be capable of holding at least 700 yards of 100lb breaking strain mainline and applying a minimum of 30lb of drag as per manufacturers specifications.
Fixed spool reels must be capable of holding at least 400 yards of 80lb breaking strain mainline, and applying a minimum of 20lb of drag as per manufacturers specifications.
Any motorised or mechanically operated reel, whether electrically driven, hydraulically assisted or aided in any other way is prohibited.
5.3 Mainlines:
Lines may be of monofilament or multifilament, multi or single strand ‘braid’. A minimum breaking strain of 100lb is mandated for conventional ‘multiplier’ reels, 80lbs for fixed spool reels.
‘Backing’ or a ‘topshot’ may be used in addition to the mainline.
The line must have a minimum breaking strain of 100lb in the case of ‘conventional multipliers’, and 80lb in the case of fixed spool reels, throughout its entire length including any backing or topshot.
5.4 Leader or trace:
The use of a leader is not mandatory, hooks or lures may be joined directly to the main line or topshot.
Leaders may be of any strength provided they are equal to or greater than the mandated mainline strength for that class of reel. Metal leaders are prohibited, whether in part or as a whole leader.
The leader must not exceed 30 feet (9.14 metres) in length, measured from the top of the leader to the furthest point of the bend of the hook.
5.5 Hooks:
Only one single hook is permitted on a leader or fishing line, in a bait or lure. Double or treble hooks are prohibited. The use of two or more single hooks on a lure or leader is prohibited.
In the case of poppers, stickbaits, jigs or deep diving lures, only one hook may hold a point. Any second hooks fitted must either be removed or have their points removed.
Offset, reversed or kirbed hooks are prohibited; all hooks must be flat or ‘in line’.
For fishing with bait at anchor or drifting, the use of a circle hook is mandatory.
For fishing with lures or bait when trolling, the use of a circle hook is not mandatory.
5.6 Number of rods permitted:
A maximum of four rods are permitted to be deployed at any one time in the case of trolling, and three rods in the case of casting lures, dropping jigs, or fishing live/dead baits at drift or anchor.
In addition to the rods fishing for BFT, up to two additional rods may be in use solely for the purpose of obtaining bait.
A ‘kite rod’ or ’planer rod’ does NOT count as one of the ¾ rods as set out above.
‘Teasers’ or ‘dredges’ when deployed count as one of the four rods permitted.
6. Fishing/fighting techniques:
6.1 Generalities:
Fishing for bluefin is permitted only with a rod and reel. They may be fished for by trolling, at drift or at anchor. Artificial baits (lures) or natural baits (fish) or a combination of both are permitted.
Baits, whether natural or artificial, may be single or multiple (i.e. spreader bars, daisy chains or teaser or bird plus bait or lure are permitted). Note the hook requirements below.
6.2 Trolling:
Trolling means any angling taking place when the fishing line is in the water, the boat engine is running and the vessel is in motion.
6.3 Drifting:
Drifting means any angling taking place when the fishing line is in the water and the boat is not being propelled by the power of its engine(s)
6.4 Anchoring:
Anchoring means any angling taking place when the fishing line is in the water and the boat is held stationary (excluding ‘swinging’ on the anchor of course), by virtue of being tethered to the seabed by an anchor.
6.5 Popping and/or jigging:
Anglers may ‘pop’ or ‘jig’ under any of the three vessel conditions set out above.
6.6 Kites, downriggers, planers:
Fishing ‘kites’ suspending baits/lures may be used. ‘Downriggers/planers may be used but MUST be fitted with a release clip to detach them from the mainline upon a strike.
6.7 Floats:
Any flotation source added to lines (for e.g. when fishing baits at drift) MUST be attached to the line in such a way as to avoid detachment and pollution of the environment.
6.8 Baits/attractants:
The use of LIVE FISH as an attractant, (chumming), is not permitted.
The use of whole or cut DEAD fish as an attractant, (chunking) is permitted.
The use of LIVE or DEAD baits on hooks is permitted.
No part of any mammal may be used as bait or as an attractor in any form. This includes, for example, using blood as chum.
Entrants may secure bait, alive or dead, in advance of the tournament, and a window will be available Saturday and Sunday morning from 06:30 to 07:30 for this purpose. They MUST be assembled on the designated start line for 07:45 both mornings.
6.9 Fighting fish:
Fish may be fought from a harness/pad or a fighting chair. Whilst winding in fish from a rodholder is a valid technique to facilitate access to the fishery for a range of fitness levels, this is a competitive fishing tournament and as such winding in fish from a rod holder will NOT be an eligible technique.
‘Handlining’ of line onto the reel to aid winding in line is also NOT Permitted.
6.10 ‘Assistance’:
Upon the strike, other anglers/crew may assist the designated angler in fitting any harness where appropriate. Other anglers/crew may, when appropriate, remove the rod from the rod holder and place it in the pad/chair gimbal and assist in attaching clips, and then pass control to the angler.
From that point on ONLY the angler may touch the rod or reel until that fish is leadered and secured.
Other anglers/crew MAY assist the angler in adjusting a slipped pad/harness, clip and unclip safety lines to facilitate movement around the boat, or adjust the reel length straps on a harness. They MUST NOT touch the rod or reel.
In heavy seas, other anglers/crew may help stabilise an unsteady angler, but may NOT assist him in applying pressure to the rod.
Any infringement of the rules above will disqualify that fish from inclusion in the submitted captures.
7. Leadering, restraint, measuring, recovery and release:
7.1 Leadering:
The designated leaderman may ONLY grasp the line within the last 12 feet of the mainline/topshot, or beyond that (hook side) where a bar, leader, chain etc forms the next connection to the hook.
For the purpose of clarity this is intended to prohibit the ‘handlining’ of fish from far away from the vessel.
7.2 Restraint:
Participants may only use specially designed liphooks or boga style grips to secure/restrain fish.
7.3 Measuring:
A separate briefing will be provided regarding measuring protocols, tools, recording and reporting. Please note that you must STILL record and report the STRAIGHT FORK LENGTH of your fish to the MMO as per your permit conditions, BUT that you must record the CURVED FORK LENGTH of the fish for the purposes of the tournament. Other measurements of the fish may be required to be taken and submitted.
7.4 Recovery:
Consistent with the requirements of CHART and the guidance in the CRRF, every effort should be made to ensure a captured bluefin is in good condition, reoxygenated and recovered before release. Some fish may be released very quickly where they are ‘green’ and might damage themselves if held too long, others may require 10, 15, 20 minutes or more to fully recover.
Whilst tournament organisers are not mandating a minimum time spent recovering a fish, to encourage prioritising this process, A MINIMUM of 10 minutes must pass after ‘leadering’ and before fishing lines are placed back in the water and fishing resumed. Additionally Lines may not be put back in the water before any caught fish is released,
7.5 Release:
Engines must be put into neutral before any fish is released from restraint.
7.6 Mortalities:
Any fish mortalities must be dealt with in accordance with the conditions of the permit, AND notified to tournament HQ as soon as possible.
8. Miscellaneous, foul hooking, multiple hook-ups:
8.1 Foul Hooking:
Only fish that are hooked in the jaw, or inside the mouth, will be eligible for submission.
8.2 Multiple hook-ups:
Multiple hooks ups increase the risk of broken off fish and/or mortalities. Entrants should do their utmost to remove gear not hooked up as soon as possible after a strike. In big concentrations of fish, entrants may be advised to fish less than the 3-4 rods permitted (see above).
In the event of a multiple hook up, only one fish, the largest fish brought boatside will be eligible for measuring and submission. The others will not count towards the six ‘eligible’ fish pool for the day.
Furthermore, to remain eligible for consideration, all such fish, after the first run, must be transferred as per normal requirements of the event, to a harness or chair. Leaving such fish in a rodholder post the initial run will exclude them from consideration.
9. Timing and geographical restrictions of the event:
9.1 Timing:
All participating vessels must send a representative to a briefing Friday evening at 8pm in a venue to be advised, (in Falmouth).
All participating vessels must assemble by 7.45am each morning at the ‘start line’ (tba) in the mouth of the Fal river. Note regulation re obtaining bait between 6:30-7:30 am each morning.
Upon an agreed signal, at 8am, vessels may cross the start line and proceed to their chosen fishing
location.
Lines may only be deployed to start fishing from 8.30am.
All lines must be retrieved by 4pm at the latest.
All vessels must cross the start finish line by 4.30pm at the latest. Failure to do so may render catches ineligible, barring unforeseen circumstances (mechanical, assisting another vessel for e.g.) which are reported to the organisers at the time if possible.
9.2 Late hook-ups:
In the event of a ‘hook-up’ that is still being fought at the 4pm deadline, entrants must inform HQ of this fact and may be granted an additional 30 minutes to bring the fish boatside for measuring, recording etc, (i.e. 4.30pm). Any fish hooked prior to 4pm but leadered after 4.30pm will not be eligible for submission.
The 4:30pm ‘across the line’ deadline will be extended in such circumstances by a period at the organisers discretion.
9.3 Geographical restrictions:
All vessels must fish within the 12 mile limit of shore. They may range East or West of Falmouth with no restrictions on distance.
10. Reporting, results and prizes:
10.1 Reporting catches:
Participants agree to provide real-time capture records via the App provided, or if required via radio/mobile phone contact with the organisers. Failure to do so without good excuse, (as concluded by the event organisers) may result in the disqualification of individual fish, or in the case of persistent breaches, from the event itself. All such catch reports must be received by the tournament organisers by 4.30pm at the latest each day.
10.2 Results:
Subject to receipt of catch reports, the organisers will run a ‘real time’ scoreboard, and may at their discretion make standings availably publicly vi the Angling Live website during the day. The organisers will endeavour to finalise placings each day by 7pm and to announce them at the prize-giving event in the marquee at Falmouth Haven between 7pm and 8pm each evening.
10.3 Prizes:
The tournament organisers have secured a range of prizes from sponsors that will be distributed to a number of placings, for each of the two days and for the overall placings.
11. Social media considerations:
11.1 Appropriate posting:
Participants may of course wish to post real time updates as to their progress during the event. The
organisers support this but would ask that:
1) They do not show fish in distress, wrapped, bloodied, mortalities or close up shots of lip gaffed fish.
2) That no-one enters the water for a photo opportunity with caught fish, (this will be grounds for disqualification)
3) They do not publicly denigrate or complain about the behaviour or performance of other competitors.
12. Safety:
12.1 Equipment:
All participants should carry adequate safety equipment including but not limited to: anchor and cable, bilge pump, personal buoyancy for each crew member, two red flares and two orange smoke flares, VHF radio, mobile phone, first aid kit and any other additional equipment required by coding/licensing of their vessel.
12.2 Function, design, adequacy:
Each of the items listed above should function properly and be suitable for its intended purpose. It shall be of the type, size, capacity and design adequate for its intended use, taking account of the type and size of boat on which it is carried. All equipment should be within the manufacturer’s expiry date.
12.3 Injuries:
All injuries should be notified to the event organisers on the VHF event channel and where necessary the owner/skipper should contact the emergency services directly, or request that the event organisers do so on their behalf.
12.4 Interaction between vessels:
Participants should be aware of the COLREGS and adhere to them unless they have agreed directly with another participating vessel to act in a clear, specified alternative manner. Vessels may be required to work closely together when in proximity to and pursuing shoals of tuna, and it is imperative that the skippers concerned talk to each other and agree approaches, distances etc. Vessels hooked up to fish should be given due consideration and distance.
Cutting in on vessels lined up on a bust, sitting in chunking slicks of another vessel, shadowing vessels at close range are all unsportsmanlike behaviour and may result in sanctions up to and including disqualification.
The skippers briefing on Friday evening will provide details of the VHF channel designated for tournament vessel and organiser use.
13. Risk statement:
13.1 Acknowledging risks:
Competitors are reminded that fishing for large, powerful fish offshore inherently involves an element of risk. By taking part in the tournament each competitor agrees and acknowledges that:
13.2 Accepting responsibility:
They are responsible for the safety of themselves, their crew their boat and their other property whether afloat or ashore. They accept responsibility for any injury, damage or loss to the extent caused by their own actions or omissions. Their boat is in good order, equipped to take part in the event and both they and their crew are fit to participate.
13.3 Limits of responsibility of organisers:
The provision by the organisers, or any associated organisations of a tournament committee, patrol boat and other officials and volunteers does not relieve them of their own responsibilities.
The provision of patrol boat cover is limited to such assistance, particularly in extreme weather conditions, as can be practically provided in the circumstances.
13.4 Weather:
They are responsible for ensuring that they have obtained an up-to-date weather forecast; that their boat is equipped and seaworthy so as to be able to face extremes of weather; that there is a crew sufficient in number, experience and fitness to withstand such weather; and that the safety equipment is properly maintained, stowed and in date, and is familiar to the crew.
13.5 Insurance:
Each participating boat shall be insured with valid third-party liability insurance with a minimum cover of £1,000,000 per event.
Contact details and further information.
www.theukbluefintunachampionship.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/theukbluefintunachampionship/
https://falmouthhaven.co.uk
info@ukbfta.co.uk
For queries regarding mooring, launch and recovery, please contact Falmouth Harbour:
tristanrowe@falmouthharbour.co.uk