Download the Port Douglas Marlin Challenge Rules and Regulations. 

Tournament Information and Rules

1. All participants & associated parties in the Port Douglas Marlin Challenge Indemnify The Tournament Directors & the Port Douglas Fishing Club, its officers, employees, servants & agents against all claims for any loss, damage, or injury to any person or property whether caused by the negligent act or wilful act or omission, breach of contract, breach of statutory duty or otherwise of the Port Douglas Fishing Club, its officers, employees, servant & agents.
2. Tournament Fishing Dates: Thursday 3rd  & Friday 4th November, back in Port Douglas 5th November (Lay Day or Golf Day). Fishing 6th & 7th of November.
3. Registration & Briefing: It is mandatory for at least one Team Angler and the Captain of the boat to attend the Cocktail Party and Calcutta Auction of entered boats to be held an address in 15 Wharf St., commencing at 1930 hours on Wednesday, 2nd November 2011. Ten percent (10%) of the Calcutta Pool is retained by Port Douglas Fishing Club for logistics & admin costs, 90% to winning boat.
4. Presentation Dinner: Monday 7th November at Venue TBA at 1900 for 2000 hours. To be eligible to receive trophies attendance is compulsory.
5. Late Team Changes: Tournament Officials will be in attendance at the Marlin Centre from 1800 hours on Saturday 16th October 2010, for final Team's Registration and any late changes to Anglers. No changes to Anglers may be made after 1930 hours that day.
6. Sailpast: The Official Tournament opening and compulsory Sailpast will commence at 0800 hours on Thursday, 3rd November, followed by start fishing at 1100 hours.
   1. a.  NOTE: THE TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE AT ITS SOLE DESCRETION MAY GRANT A DISPENSATION FOR ATTENDANCE AT THE BRIEFING AND SAILPAST AFTER RECEIVING A WRITTEN SUBMISSION.
   2. b. A condition of such dispensation will be that the team given the dispensation must not commence fishing on the first day after start of fishing at 1100 hrs. The boat captain must report by radio to tournament base their position and time before commencing fishing. failure to observe this rule will result in disqualification.
7. Fishing Days & Hours: 4 days of fishing, Thurs 3rd/Fri 4th. November, Sun 6th/Mon 7th. November 2011 from 1100 to 1830 hours each day, except on the last day when fishing will cease at 1600 hours. On the last day all tag cards must be returned to a Tournament Official by 1900 hours to be eligible.
8. Tournament Fishing Zone: Open. Teams may elect to stay out on the Reef after "Stop Fishing" on days 2 (Saturday 5th) but MUST return to Port Douglas on day 5 to be eligible for competition.
9. Eligibility: Open to all Members of Clubs affiliated with GFAA or IGFA. Club membership details must be provided on entry form. If not already a financial member of a qualifying Club, Anglers may join Port Douglas Fishing Club.
10. Eligible Species: Black Marlin (ISTIOMPAX indica); Blue Marlin (Makaira nigricans); Striped Marlin (Tetrapturus audax).
11. Eligible Tackle: As published in GFAA angling rules and equipment regulations.
12. Eligible Line Class: This is a heavy tackle Tournament and only 37kg and 60kg line may be used.
13. TAG & RELEASE ONLY EVENT: No fish will be weighed in the Tournament and Fishing and Tag & Release Rules are as published in the GFAA Angling Rules & Equipment Regulations.
14. Point Score: One (1) point per live marlin tagged & released in accordance with the Rules, irrespective of whether 37 or 60kg line was used.
15. Number of Days Fished: Competitors may elect to fish all or any number of competition days within the Tournament dates. There is no reduction in fees for fishing less than 4 days.
16. Judges: Port Douglas Fishing Club shall appoint Tournament Judges whose decision shall be final and binding and no correspondence will be entered into relating to the Judges decisions.
17. Start Fishing: No Tournament fishing or chumming shall commence before starting time each day. Any fish hooked after the final radio sched but before stop fishing MUST be reported to the Radio Boat and acknowledged to be eligible. The fish may then be played out subject to the conditions of Rule 6.
18. Radio Scheds: All hook-ups, fish lost, tags & releases must be immediately reported to the Radio Ship. The time of the tag & release is deemed to be the time at which the tag & release is reported to the Radio Ship. Details of Radio Scheds will be given at the Calcutta Briefing.
19. Tags: GFAA only recognises NSW Fisheries Billfish Tags in Australian waters. ONLY THESE GFAA RECOGNISED TAGS WILL BE ELIGIBLE IN THIS TOURNAMENT. Tags are available from your local GFAA or QGFA Clubs or contact Terry Murphy at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
20. Protests: A Protest must be submitted in writing to the Judges by 1900 hours on the last day.
21. Tackle Inspection: Equipment and tackle used by competitors may be inspected at random by the Tournament Judges.
22. Liability: Port Douglas Fishing Club will not accept liability for any claims for damages or injury by or to any person or persons in regard to this Tournament.

MEDIA CONDITIONS OF ENTRY

1. Port Douglas Fishing Club ("the Club") may enter into an agreement with our sponsors which grants our sponsors exclusive rights to naming of the Tournament, sponsoring of the tournament and electronic media production rights, which includes the right to commercial production of DVDs and videos for use in filming television and DVD distribution.
2. It is a condition of entry to the Tournament that a competitor may not:-
   1. a. Conduct or permit to be conducted any activity during the Tournament including filming, videoing, photography or interviewing, of the activities of the competitor, the competitor’s boat, crew or visitors during the Tournament or relating to the competitor’s participation in the Tournament or to the activities of the Tournament which is used for or may be used for the production of any commercial electronic media release whether before, during or after the Tournament without written permission of the club.
   2. b. Conduct or permit any activities to be conducted either during before or after the Tournament which uses or refers to the Club, its logo, the Tournament name or relating to the participation in the Tournament which is used for or may be used for the production of any commercial electronic media release without written permission of the club.
3. If in the opinion of the Tournament Committee, a competitor breaches this rule the competitor may be immediately disqualified from the Tournament and further action may be taken against you for damages suffered by the Club.