1.       Monthly club competitions - will be held over the weekend following the monthly meeting (see fishing calendar), at times there may be exceptions to this.  The monthly competition will now only be cancelled due lack of boat numbers and will not be rescheduled to the following weekend.  The money and voucher prizes for monthly competitions will be awarded only when a minimum of  five (5) boats take to the water to fish the competition for at least 1 day of the weekend. 

There are now no wind restriction rules on monthly competitions, it is entirely the skipper’s decision whether he goes to sea, however safety is utmost at all times and TGFC promote safe boating.

2.       Non-Comp Fishing Weekends – Anglers may now fish any weekend of the month and win full club points.

3.       Fishing Away - Anglers may nominate a tournament fished away from home as a substitute for that month's club competition, with the first two days fishing from that tournament to count.  Anglers wishing to 'fish away' must notify the Weighmaster prior to that month.  In this case the Angler will accumulate club points for that fishing but will not be eligible for cash or voucher prizes for that monthly competition. Substitute tournament days are only valid if the angler does not fish normal monthly competition.

4.    Tag Points & B oat Activity Books

All fish tagged for all weekends fishing, including non-monthly comp weekends will be awarded full points.  All anglers when fishing must complete Boat Activity Books for all trips.  This information is sent to QGFA and statistics are compiled from it so it is important that our club loge all records of activity. 

5.       Tag & Weighed Fish Numbers

A maximum of three fish of any species can be weighed for monthly comps and a maximum of five fish can be tagged or tagged & captured) per person at monthly comps.

6.    Cancelling of Monthly Competitions - It is the skipper’s discretion to decide if they take to sea nor not.  The monthly competitions do not carry the 15 knots rule any longer.  If the monthly competition is cancelled because there are less than five (5) boats choosing to fish then club points will be awarded and prizes will not be awarded.  If the monthly competition is cancelled due to lack of boats then it will not be rescheduled.

NOTE:  In this case of high wind warnings, the Skipper should check the weather forecast to ensure the safety of his vessel and passengers.

7.       GFAA Rules - will apply at all times unless specifically amended.

8.       Fishing Times - Start fishing a 6am Saturday and cease fishing in time to attend the weigh in or as otherwise designated.

9.       Attendance at Weigh-In - to be eligible for points & prizes in monthly competitions, at least one member from the team must attend the designated weigh-in, except in the case of a team assisting another boat in distress.

10.    Non-TGFC Members - only financial members of the Townsville Gamefishing Club will be eligible to fish monthly competitions.  A temporary (one weekend only) membership of $30 is available to prospective club members who wish to fish in the monthly competition.  Temporary memberships must be nominated and paid prior to the monthly comp.  Anglers who have paid an Temporary Membership may join the club as a full member but are required to pay the difference within one month of the Temporary Membership. Any points accumulated while fishing as a Temporary Member only count towards the boat score & not to their future individual score if the Temporary Member decides to become a full financial member of the club. Monthly Comp prizes can be won while a Temporary Member however these points do not count to their yearly individual score.

11.    Non-TGFC Members tagged billfish – all marlin tagged by non-TGFC members may be counted in club billfish scores only for GFAA & QGFA purposes and in boat scores only for Gill & Guts newsletter info.  The tag must have occurred on a non-commercial charter trip.

12.    Weigh Ins – these are held from 5.30pm to 6.45pm Sunday at the designated venue. Strict Ruling - late arrivals are not considered.

13.    Fish must be equal or better than line class -    Juniors are an exception to this and they may weigh fish provided the weight is equal to half line class or higher.  In both cases a maximum of three fish of the same species may be weighed, see Note in 16. Sharks must weigh line class to be eligible for half points.

14.    Circle hooks must be used - when live bait fishing for Billfish in TGFC competitions only traditional circle hooks are permitted to be used.  Any billfish captured while live baiting using J-hooks or offset circle hooks are to be disqualified for competition and point purposes.

15.    Fish must be gilled & gutted - all fish presented to the WeighMaster for weighing should be gilled & gutted.  If presenting a fish for record purposes the fish may be presented whole, then gilled and gutted if appropriate.  No mutilated fish will be weighed for points. NOTE : A maximum of three fish of any one species may be weighed.

16.    Scoring - Points for all other gamefish species (except sharks) have an equal multiplication factor of 100 divided by line class (see example below).

Formula for calculating points

              ( Fish Weight (kg) + 10%) X 100  =  Points

                                    Line Class (kg)

17.    Tag Points for Billlfish -  1,000 points will be awarded to all Billfish tagged during monthly competitions regardless of line class.

18.    Tag Points for Other Gamefish -  the following points will be allocated for the tagging of 'Other Gamefish'.  Note:  A  maximum of five (5) fish of any one species may be tagged, see note.

 Please note : The additional Extra Points Table below for Cobia & Yellowfin Tuna.

 19.     

Note:  5 fish of any one Species include the total of weighed and tagged fish.  Applies to rule 11, 13 & 16.

Please ensure tag cards are handed in with scoresheet.

1.       Final decision – the Weighmasters and Judges decision will be final.

 2.       Tags to be receipted - all billfish tags will be receipted when handed to Weighmasters.

 3.       Metal tags are no longer applicable - for tagging billfish and points will not be counted.  These tags may be used for tagging sharks only.

4.       Teams size for Monthly Competitions to accumulate boat score in other gamefish category -  the team size for scheduled monthly competitions is limited to 2 to 4 Anglers.  4 Angler’s Scores in any one month will count toward the boat score for both that competition and yearly total.  Where more than 4 people fish in a weekend team the scores excluded from the Boat Score will count towards the Angler’s Individual scores.  This does not apply to Bill Fish captured.  All Bill Fish Captured will count towards boat score.

5.       Club Records -  the WeighMasters will maintain club records and these records will be categorised according to species and line class.  The rules stated in the Australian Gamefishing Journal will apply to capture.

6.       Shark Records – sharks & all other gamefish are now counted in TGFC Records.

7.       Second Prizes - In monthly competitions that are well attended a second prize will be awarded in the first five categories of the following list. If prize is unclaimed the prize will jackpot & remain jackpotted until claimed at a future well attended competition.

8.       In competitions where second prizes are to be awarded, anglers will be advised prior to start fishing.

PRIZE CATEGORIES FOR MONTHLY COMPS

1st Billfish Tagged on Saturday............. $150 Cash

1st Billfish Tagged on Sunday............... $150 Cash

Highest Point Scoring Mackerel............ $150 Cash

Highest Point Scoring Tuna.................... $150 Voucher

Highest Point Scoring Other Gamefish   $150 Voucher

Highest Point Scoring Team.................... 1 pair Mako sunglasses each

Junior Encouragement Award................ Weighmaster to decide where applicable

Small Fry Award …………………………….TBA

NOTE : Any prize not awarded for any reason will jackpot to $300 and will remain at  $300 until claimed.

TROPHY LIST - PERPETUAL TROPHIES

1.       Club Champion Overall -  Awarded to the angler (either male or female) who has accumulated the most points from our designated monthly competitions.

2.       Club Champion Male -  Awarded to the male angler who has accumulated the most points from our designated monthly competitions.

3.       Club Champion Female -  Awarded to the female angler who has accumulated the most points from our designated monthly competitions.

4.       JUNIOR CHAMPION -  Awarded to the Junior angler (either male or female) who has accumulated the most points from our designated monthly competitions.

5.       CHAMPION BOAT -  Awarded to the boat that tallies the most points from our designated monthly competitions.

6.       CHAMPION ANGLER (Bill Fish Only) -  Awarded to the angler who captures or tags and releases the most Bill Fish through our Financial Club Year regardless of monthly competitions.

7.       CHAMPION OF OTHER GAME FISH -  Awarded to the angler who accumulates the most points from tagging other GameFish during designated monthly competitions. 

8.       CLUBMAN OF THE YEAR -  Awarded to the member who has made the most effort for the club throughout the fishing year and as voted by club members

9.       MOST MERITORIOUS CAPTURE

10.    BALLS UP AWARD

OTHER TROPHIES

1.         Runner up Club Champion Male

Awarded to the male angler who has accumulated the second highest points from our designated monthly competitions.

2.         Runner Up Club Champion Female 

 Awarded to the female angler who has accumulated the second highest points from our designated monthly competitions.

3.     RUNNER UP JUNIOR CHAMPION   

Awarded to the Junior angler (either male or female) who has accumulated the second highest points from our designated monthly competitions.

4.     RUNNER UP CHAMPION BOAT

Awarded to the boat that tallies the second highest points from our designated monthly competitions.

5.     HEAVIEST MACKEREL

Awarded to the angler who weighs the heaviest mackerel captured during designated monthly competitions.  The fish must be line class to be eligible to weigh.

6.     HEAVIEST TUNA

Awarded to the angler who weighs the heaviest Tuna captured during designated monthly competitions.  The fish must be line class to be eligible to weigh.

7.      HEAVIEST OTHER GAME FISH

Awarded to the angler who weighs the heaviest OTHER GAME FISH captured during designated monthly competitions.  The fish must be line class to be eligible to weigh.

8.     FIRST BILL FISH TAGGED FOR THE YEAR

Awarded to the angler who tagged the first Bill Fish for the Calendar year.  The fish must have been tagged during designated monthly competitions and have been caught in waters local to Townsville.

9.      LAST BILL FISH TAGGED FOR THE YEAR - 

Awarded to the angler who tagged the last Bill Fish for the Calendar year.  The fish must have been tagged during designated monthly competitions and have been caught in waters local to Townsville.