Tournament Rules - 2025

Hervey Bay Game Fishing Club Classic - Hervey Bay, Queensland

1. G.F.A.A. angling rules apply.
2. Teams: Minimum 2, Maximum 5 Anglers.
3. In accordance with QGFA requirements all competitors Boat Skipper and assisting crew who are aiding in the event of catching a fish are required to be financial members of a QGFA or GFAA affiliated club. Angler fees include competing angler fees & RED levy.
4. Fishing times are as per program and will be signaled by game fish base.
5. Line classes and points as per score table for 8, 15, 24, 37 and 60kg.
6. A category is available for those fishing “inside” only. Fishing must take place South of latitude 24. 22.000S. and West of longitude 153. 12.000W. Light tackle (8 Kg.) only. Points as per points table except billfish 2000 points & no daily limit on other species.
Eligible for inside prize, first and last billfish prizes only.
7. Record fish which are eligible for tag points may be weighed and tag points will be given. Fish which do not come within 10% of the record will receive half points.
8. The first billfish caught each day must be called in after tagging.
9. A maximum of three fish per angler or six fish per team per day other than billfish are to be recorded. No points will be awarded for dead fish unless weighed.
10. Tied scores: if two or more teams or anglers finish with equal points the angler or team reaching the score first will be deemed winner.
11. Fish are considered captured/tagged at the times called in and recorded.
12. Late hook-ups may be played out providing that game fish base is notified prior to stop fishing (see note re Sunday).
13. For clarification “Boat Length” will be considered as the measured length of the boat in accordance with these QGFA guides and NOT the manufactures advertised boat length. Specified boat lengths will be measured from the transom where the motor or outdrive of the boat is bolted to the boat. Where the boat has a pod fitted, the transom of the pod where the motors are bolted will be counted in the boat length, to the forward most point of the boat, but will exclude any bowsprit or forward projecting anchor location as per the QGFA Guideline for determining boat length. Specified length to be determined by the Club Tournament committee and will be deemed to have been calculated in accordance with the QGFA Guidelines.
14. Other fish species may be added to the points list if bad weather occurs.
15. Anglers must supply their own tags.
16. Only GFAA approved tags are to be used. Use of any other tag will disqualify the catch
17. Weather: Any decision to cancel the tournament will be made by the committee. A strong wind warning will not necessarily stop the tournament. IN ALL CASES SKIPPERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SAFETY OF THEIR VESSELS AND CREWS.

18. All vessels must log on and off with Game Fish Base daily. This must include notification of intent to fish heavy or light tackle and if fishing inside. Changes from heavy to light or vice-versa must be notified to Game Fish base.ces for safety purposes).
19. All competing vessels must carry a VHF radio in good working order. All competing vessels must remain contactable at all times via radio or agreed alternative communication, by either Game Base or another vessel. Failure to maintain contact may result in team disqualification. A boat logging off from Game Base for the day (even before cease fishing) will be deemed as no longer fishing within the tournament for that day and thereby no longer be eligible to score points for fish caught after doing so. (This does in no way mean a boat may not log on with Marine Rescue Services for safety purposes).
20. Radio scheds are 1015hrs, 1315hrs, and 1615hrs daily (No 1615 sched. Sunday). All captures must be reported to game fish base at the next sched. or points will not be awarded for said captures. If out of range scheds must be relayed through another vessel.
21. Bar crossings. All Vessels are encouraged to log on with Marine Rescue Hervey Bay (VHF 22) to report bar crossings and overnight stays and log off on return to Urangan Harbour.
22. No lines are to be in the water prior to start fishing. This includes the catching of bait. Bait may be retained from the previous day.
23. The committee will run random checks to ensure tackle meets GFAA rules.
24. All vessels must have a representative attend the briefing or the entry will not be accepted.
25. All anglers are to receive equal opportunity to fish.
26. Crew or vessel changes during the tournament can only be made with the express approval of the committee.
27. All boats nominating to fish the tournament are required to have current boat insurance. Details of such insurance must be completed on the entry form supplied along with a photocopy of your insurance certificate. Should a boat not have insurance, nor be able to supply evidence of insurance and certificate prior to the commencement of the tournament, that boat shall be excluded from participating in the tournament. All onboard safety remains the responsibility of the owner / skipper.
28. The tournament committee reserves the right at any stage of the competition to eject, disqualify or deduct points from individuals or teams who are deemed to have conducted themselves in a disrespectful manner and are deemed to have brought the sport of Gamefishing or the tournament into disrepute. In the event that an angler, or a team of anglers/crew/skipper are ejected no result or refund of fees will be entered into.
29. Entry to the tournament is at the discretion of the HBGFC Tournament Committee. The Tournament Committee reserves the right to refuse any team or individual anglers entry, and shall not be required to give any reason for doing so.
30. T & R min length requirements as per GFAA/QGFA rules. List provided in skipper bag for reference.

DISPUTES
Should a team dispute another team’s activity, a Dispute Committee comprising members from a minimum of three clubs ( where possible the tournament club and two other clubs should form any protest committee and if possible, the clubs forming the protest committee should not include a club that the protested or protestor are members of) will hear any protest provided they are submitted in writing by 11pm on the Sunday of Tournament. The dispute committee’s decision will be final, and no further discussion will be entered into.

The Tournament committee also reserves the right to begin investigations of any acts and practices that are against GFAA and Tournament rules for a period of 3 months after the tournament has concluded. If these investigations are upheld, nil points will be awarded for the fish under review and prizes and prize money will be redistributed. The conclusion of the Tournament Committee will be final and no further discussion will be entered into.

Program
Thursday 30th October: 1100 Hrs. Briefing and Calcutta at Hervey Bay Boat Club

Friday 31st Oct:
0700 Commence fishing
1600 Stop fishing
Saturday 1st Nov:
0700 Commence fishing
1600 Stop Fishing
Sunday 2nd Nov:
0700 Commence fishing
1200 Stop Fishing.
1800 Presentation Dinner – Hervey Bay Boat Club.

Potential record fish may be weighed on Friday or Saturday by arrangement with game fish base.

Tag Cards and Score Sheets
Tag cards and score sheets for each day must be placed in the appropriate collection box on the mothership by 8.00pm both Friday and Saturday and handed to a club officer on the Tasman Venture mothership by 5.00pm Sunday. Failure to do so may result in the missing cards being excluded from scoring.

Prize categories
Champion Team T&R Over 7.5
Champion Team T&R Under 7.5
Champion Heavy Tackle Angler
Champion Light Tackle Angler
Champion Female Angler
Champion Junior
Runner Up Junior
Champion Angler Capture (other game fish species)(Fish must go line class to be eligible)
Champion Hervey Bay Club Angler
First Bill Fish Tagged/Captured
Last Bill Fish Tagged/Captured

Champion Insider Boat – (Rule 6 Applies)
Champion Insider Junior – (Rule 6 Applies)
First Bill Fish Tagged/Captured Insider (Rule 6 Applies)
Last Bill Fish Tagged/Captured Insider (Rule 6 Applies)

Captured Heaviest Marlin min 200kg $10,000 Cash Prize – must be pre entered in to this prize category by briefing.

(Fish weighed in categories are not eligible for tag points unless meeting point 7 in rules.)

WEIGHED FISH PRIZE
– The weighed fish prize is subject to the Committees decision at all times and is subject to satisfactory number of entries.
– Weighed fish will need to attain the minimum length of: 2700 Blue Marlin minimum short length, 2700 Black Marlin minimum short length
-Immediately upon boating a qualifying fish Game Base will be advised of a measured short length
– Adjusted Minimum Short Length. Upon notification of the measured short length the qualifying fish length as advised will then become the minimum required qualifying short length from that point onwards
– Any fish that does not attain the minimum length/weight or THE ADJUSTED MINIMUM SHORT LENGTH (as advised in accordance with above) will be deemed disqualified and will not count towards a TEAM final point score. The Committee also reserves the right to apply a points penalty for any non qualifying fish.
– Any fish weighed may be subject to a scientific examination including internal organ inspection so competitors are required to return to the club game base for weighing and inspection of the fish within the weigh station hours on the day that the fish is caught. Disposal of any weighed fish will be subject to the direction of the weigh master in consultation with the crew for the capture. (ie disposed at sea or distributed for food collection etc.)
– No competitor is authorised to photograph or publicise the capture and weighing of any marlin for the duration of the tournament or thereafter without the prior authorisation or consent of Hervey Bay Game Fish Club.
– Any weighed fish will be required to comply with the requirements of the fish being presented in accordance with the normal requirements of the GFAA for weighing of a record. (i.e damage or mutilation not directly related to boating the fish will be disqualified)
– Strict compliance with these rules is required to ensure awarding and payment of any prize

Points

Light Tackle 8kg only
Heavy Tackle 15, 24, 37, 60 kg to be fished in over100m depth only.

Line Class kg	8	15	24	37	60
Billfish	2000	6000	5000	4000	3000
Y/F Tuna	500	500	500	500	500
Long Tail Tuna	500	250	250	250	250
Other Tuna	150	100	100	100	100
Wahoo	500	250	250	250	250
Cobia	500	250	250	250	250
Spanish Mack	500	250	250	250	250

Mothership

The mothership will anchor in the Rooney’s Point – Sandy Cape area. The exact location will depend on weather conditions.
Mother-shipping must be paid by 5.00 pm on 23rd October 2025 or availability is not guaranteed.

Late Entries

Entries not received and paid for by 5.00pm on 27th October 2025 will attract a late fee of $100.00 per angler. All entries received after 5.01pm today 27th October 2025 will incur a $100 late fee.

Fuel Barge

A fuel barge will be available to refuel between 1500hrs and 1900hrs Friday only. All fuel must be ordered and paid for by 5.00 pm Thursday 23rd October Fuel prices will be Fraser Island prices (Diesel is $TBA per litre. Petrol is $ TBA per litre). Refueling location will depend on weather.

Enquiries

info@hbgfc.org.au
Paul Bambury 0421 800 121
Submit entry forms from our website www.hbgfc.org.au