GAMEX 2020 Tournament Rules
Please note that GAMEX 2020 has a revised set of rules.
Click here to download the GAMEX 2020 Tournament Rules.
Click here to see the event Cancellation Policy.
TOURNAMENT RULES
1. Regulations: All EGFC tournaments will be fished within current Game Fishing
Association of Australia (GFAA), Western Australia Game Fishing Association (WAGFA), WA Department of Transport, WA Department of Environment and Conservation, and WA Department of Fisheries rules and regulations.
2. Membership: All anglers must be a current member of Exmouth Game Fishing Club
or a club affiliated with the Game Fishing Association of Australia or International Game Fishing Association (IGFA) on registration. Failure to do so will require angler to join EGFC.
3. Registration: Only registered anglers may participate in any act which directly
contributes to the capture or tag of a fish during the tournament. They are, driving the boat, gaffing fish, tagging fish, running out lines, retrieving lines, clearing teasers or taking the leader. Anglers will fish only from the boat on which they registered. Permission to change boats once registered in the tournament must be applied for in writing to the EGFC Committee and each request will be adjudged on its merits. The Committee will meet ASAP after receipt of such application. The Committee's decision is final.
4. Fishing Area: All Tournament competitors must fish within 60 nautical miles of the
EGFC Clubhouse, from a boat at sea, with a minimum of two anglers on board. All other safety requirements apply.
5. Lines: All fish must be claimed on the line class on which they were captured. Backing can be used of an undetermined breaking strain in braid, dacron or monofilament. IT MUST HAVE A MINIMUM OF 5 METRES IGFA RATED LINE CLASS TOPSHOT. (For record purposes, 16m continuous of your line/backing, including the 5m of IGFA rated line is required).
6. Juniors & Small Fry Anglers: A Junior Angler is a person who has not attained the age of 16 years prior to the commencement of the tournament.
A Small Fry Angler is a person who has not attained the age of 11 years prior to the commencement of the tournament.
7. Weigh-In: Fish may only be weighed at the official weigh-in gantry during the times
stated in the program.
Fish must be presented at the gantry on the day of capture unless otherwise arranged with the tournament Weigh Master under extraordinary circumstances. Fish must be in an edible condition or will be disqualified by the Weigh Master. Frozen fish will not be weighed.
Anglers must present the fish, together with the rod and reel, at least 16m of line, and any double, leader, lure or hook arrangement used in the capture. All tackle must be removed from the fish by the angler before weighing. The angler or a witness must sign the capture receipt at the gantry recorders station.
Fish will not be accepted for the tournament after the close of weigh-in on the final day.
No points will be awarded for sharks weighed in during GAMEX.
Billfish may be weighed in for record purposes during GAMEX. Any billfish weighed in as a potential record will be awarded billfish section points (including tag & release sections), provided the fish weight is no more than 10% below the standing Western Australian record for the species and line class.
8. Tag & Release Digital Catch Reporting: GAMEX 2020 will use the ARFF Tackle Box phone app for all tag & release reporting. The ARFF Tackle Box app can be downloaded from Google Play or Apple App Store, and competitors are advised to download the app prior to the Tournament Briefing night.
All teams must log tagged fish on the ARFF Tackle Box app as soon as possible after the catch is completed for tournament points to apply.
Tagged fish are not to be logged with Radio Base.
Training on how to use the ARFF Tackle Box app will be provided at the Tournament Briefing, and instructional videos can be found at www.egfc.com.au.
9. Tag Cards: Billfish are to be tagged with NSW DPI tags. These tags have an orange tag card. Sharks must be tagged with NSW DPI tags. These tags have a yellow tag card. No other tags will be accepted.
Tags are available from EGFC Weigh Master on the Briefing Night and during weigh-in times.
Tag cards, FULLY COMPLETED, must be presented to the Weigh Station during the tournament weigh-in times. Tag cards for the first three days of the tournament must be lodged no later than 6pm Tuesday March 17th. Tag cards for the last three days of the tournament must be lodged no later than 8pm Friday March 20th (close of tournament). Failure to lodge fully completed tag cards will result in all points being forfeit.
One member of the team, or a representative, must sign the capture receipt at the recorders station when lodging a tag card(s).
10. Tag & Release sections: Tag & Release section winners will be decided by:
a) Boat/Angler with the highest total of Tag & Release points;
b) In the event of a tie on points, the Boat/Angler with the lowest average line class;
c) If still tied, the Boat/Angler achieving the points first according to the time of TAGGING logged on the ARFF Tackle Box app.
Points will be awarded as follows:
T&R Whaler Shark 1-10kg line 200pts 15-24kg line 100pts 37-60kg line 50pts
T&R Other Shark 1-10kg line 300pts 15-24kg line 200pts 37-60kg line 100pts
T&R Sailfish/Spearfish 1-10kg line 500pts 15-24kg line 400pts 37-60kg line 300pts
T&R Marlin/Broadbill 1-10kg line 600pts 15-24kg line 500pts 37-60kg line 400pts
If a team/angler tags a fish, then captures (weighs) the same fish, only capture points will apply. Points accrued for Tag & Release sections are per tag, not per line class.
11. Champion Boat & Angler sections: The winner of these sections will be the highest point scoring Boat/Angler based on the following formula - Highest point scoring fish on each line class + Highest point scoring fish of each species = Total number of points.
Points will be awarded as follows:
T&R Whaler Shark 1-10kg line 200pts 15-24kg line 100pts 37-60kg line 50pts
T&R Other Shark 1-10kg line 300pts 15-24kg line 200pts 37-60kg line 100pts
T&R Sailfish/Spearfish 1-10kg line 500pts 15-24kg line 400pts 37-60kg line 300pts
T&R Marlin/Broadbill 1-10kg line 600pts 15-24kg line 500pts 37-60kg line 400pts
Weighed other Game Fish - weight of fish x 100 divided by line class = points.
No points will be awarded for sharks weighed in during GAMEX.
No Champion Boat & Angler points will be awarded for billfish weighed in during GAMEX.
Weighed Golden Trevally on 1kg line - weight of fish x 50 divided by line class = points.
12. Marlin point score: Black, Blue and Striped Marlin will be considered one single species for point scoring purposes for Champion Boat, Team and Champion Angler sections.
13. Top Tagging Captain: The George King Memorial perpetual trophy will be awarded to the Captain who has attained the most number of billfish tagged according to the tag cards submitted. Note: A captain is not deemed to be an angler and a captain at the same time. Fish tagged by the designated captain do not count towards this trophy.
14. Live Bait: When live bait fishing for billfish, anglers cannot use offset circle hooks or J
hooks. In-line circle hooks only are to be used.
15. Exmouth Gulf Tag & Release limits: Billfish can only be tagged on 1kg to 10kg inclusive line classes to accrue points if tagged inside Exmouth Gulf. Exmouth Gulf is defined as: All waters south and east of a line drawn from North West Cape to the south-west tip of South Muiron Island, to the north-west tip of South Muiron Island, to the south-west tip of North Muiron Island, to the north-west tip of North Muiron Island, to Peak Island, to Observation Island and to Tubridgi Point.
16. Radio Communications:
All boats must be fitted with an operational VHF radio system and are required to log on and off with Radio Base on each day of the tournament. Tournament radio coverage will be exclusively VHF. A non-functional radio must be repaired before the affected vessel goes to sea the following day. Vessels failing to comply will be disqualified for that day.
Sked sheets will be provided for each team in their tournament bag to record billfish raised, hooked and tagged. Each boat will be asked to give their sked over the radio three times per day (11am, 2pm and at log off). Each boat must report their approximate position using the GAMEX grid at each sked.
17. Lines In and Out: Lines in and out will be as printed in the tournament brochure and notified at the briefing.
No line is to be in the water 15mins prior to lines in, including bait jigs and teasers.
A radio call will be made at 15mins prior to lines out. At this time any vessel that is hooked up, or hooks up before lines out, must notify Radio Base and be acknowledged. A boat may continue to fight a fish after lines out if they have notified Radio Base. Weigh-in time restrictions still apply. All other boats are to observe radio silence during the last 15 minutes of lines in.
18. Protests: A verbal intention to protest must be made to the Weigh Master as soon as possible by the protestor. This is to enable the Weigh Master to preserve any evidence that may be needed by the Committee if the fish/tag card is presented before the protestor can attend the gantry. All protests must be lodged with the Weigh Master in writing with a $100 deposit which will be refunded if the protest is upheld. Protests must be lodged before the close of weigh-in at which the fish was weighed or tag card presented. No further protests will be accepted after completion of the weigh-in on the final day. The Committee will consider all protests as soon as possible after receipt. The Committee's decision is final and the affected parties will be notified ASAP.
19. Sanctuary Zones: If a competitor is charged by Fisheries WA or the Department of Biodiversity, Attractions and Conservation Parks & Wildlife with fishing in a sanctuary zone, they will be disqualified from the competition for that day. No other protests relating to sanctuary zones will be heard.
20. Boat Auction: There will be two Boat Auction categories:
A. Champion Boat Overall
B. Champion Boat Tag & Release Billfish.
The winner of category A will be the person who purchases the boat that places first in the Champion Boat Overall section. The winner of category B will be the person that purchases the boat that achieves the highest Tag & Release billfish points score based on the following formula:
The winner of each Boat Auction division will receive 50% of the relevant Boat Auction division pool. The runner-up will receive 30%. The EGFC will retain 20%.
In the event of a tie, each prize pool percentage will be divided evenly (example: if there is a tie for first place each winner will receive 40% and the EGFC will retain 20%. If there is an outright winner and a tie for runner-up the winner will receive 50%, each runner-up 15% and the EGFC will retain 20%).
Boat auction monies will not be refunded after the hammer fall. All boats are bought on an as-is basis.
Boat Auction buyers will be asked to sign for the amount reached at auction immediately after the hammer fall and must pay the money owing prior to the Wednesday of the event.
21. Conduct: All competitors will participate in a sporting manner and embrace the ethics of game fishing. All fish offal must be disposed of correctly. The Committee reserves the right to penalise any Boat or Angler by deduction of points or disqualification for part of, or the whole tournament for conduct they consider detrimental to the competition or the EGFC.
22. Cyclones: In the event that a cyclone approaches the Exmouth area during the
GAMEX tournament all fishing will be suspended once a ‘Yellow Alert’ has been declared or winds forecast exceed 26 knots. Fishing will recommence once the ‘All Clear’ has been given, provided sea conditions are deemed fishable by the committee. If no further fishing is possible, the leading boats/anglers at the time of the Yellow Alert will be declared the winners at the committee’s discretion. The EGFC advises all competitors to have appropriate insurance for the event, including travel, accident and boat. This is the responsibility of the skipper and team, not the EGFC.
23. Cancellation: Please refer to our weather matrix for possible daily cancellations. Please see our cancellation policy for further details via our website: www.egfc.com.au
24. Terms and Conditions: Please refer to our terms and conditions for the event located on our website: www.egfc.com.au
25. Disclaimer: The EGFC Committee reserves the right to change any rule, regulation or section which it believes will enhance the Tournament. The EGFC takes no responsibility for loss or damage to competitor’s person, personal effects or vessel and competitors fish the tournament at their own risk.
CANCELLATION POLICY
Participants
1. Regulations: All EGFC tournaments will be fished within current Game Fishing
Association of Australia (GFAA), Western Australia Game Fishing Association (WAGFA), WA Department of Transport, WA Department of Environment and Conservation, and WA Department of Fisheries rules and regulations.
2. Membership: All anglers must be a current member of Exmouth Game Fishing Club
or a club affiliated with the Game Fishing Association of Australia or International Game Fishing Association (IGFA) on registration. Failure to do so will require angler to join EGFC.
3. Registration: Only registered anglers may participate in any act which directly
contributes to the capture or tag of a fish during the tournament. They are, driving the boat, gaffing fish, tagging fish, running out lines, retrieving lines, clearing teasers or taking the leader. Anglers will fish only from the boat on which they registered. Permission to change boats once registered in the tournament must be applied for in writing to the EGFC Committee and each request will be adjudged on its merits. The Committee will meet ASAP after receipt of such application. The Committee's decision is final.
4. Fishing Area: All Tournament competitors must fish within 60 nautical miles of the
EGFC Clubhouse, from a boat at sea, with a minimum of two anglers on board. All other safety requirements apply.
5. Lines: All fish must be claimed on the line class on which they were captured. Backing can be used of an undetermined breaking strain in braid, dacron or monofilament. IT MUST HAVE A MINIMUM OF 5 METRES IGFA RATED LINE CLASS TOPSHOT. (For record purposes, 16m continuous of your line/backing, including the 5m of IGFA rated line is required).
6. Juniors & Small Fry Anglers: A Junior Angler is a person who has not attained the age of 16 years prior to the commencement of the tournament.
A Small Fry Angler is a person who has not attained the age of 11 years prior to the commencement of the tournament.
7. Weigh-In: Fish may only be weighed at the official weigh-in gantry during the times
stated in the program.
Fish must be presented at the gantry on the day of capture unless otherwise arranged with the tournament Weigh Master under extraordinary circumstances. Fish must be in an edible condition or will be disqualified by the Weigh Master. Frozen fish will not be weighed.
Anglers must present the fish, together with the rod and reel, at least 16m of line, and any double, leader, lure or hook arrangement used in the capture. All tackle must be removed from the fish by the angler before weighing. The angler or a witness must sign the capture receipt at the gantry recorders station.
Fish will not be accepted for the tournament after the close of weigh-in on the final day.
No points will be awarded for sharks weighed in during GAMEX.
Billfish may be weighed in for record purposes during GAMEX. Any billfish weighed in as a potential record will be awarded billfish section points (including tag & release sections), provided the fish weight is no more than 10% below the standing Western Australian record for the species and line class.
8. Tag & Release Digital Catch Reporting: GAMEX 2020 will use the ARFF Tackle Box phone app for all tag & release reporting. The ARFF Tackle Box app can be downloaded from Google Play or Apple App Store, and competitors are advised to download the app prior to the Tournament Briefing night.
All teams must log tagged fish on the ARFF Tackle Box app as soon as possible after the catch is completed for tournament points to apply.
Tagged fish are not to be logged with Radio Base.
Training on how to use the ARFF Tackle Box app will be provided at the Tournament Briefing, and instructional videos can be found at www.egfc.com.au.
9. Tag Cards: Billfish are to be tagged with NSW DPI tags. These tags have an orange tag card. Sharks must be tagged with NSW DPI tags. These tags have a yellow tag card. No other tags will be accepted.
Tags are available from EGFC Weigh Master on the Briefing Night and during weigh-in times.
Tag cards, FULLY COMPLETED, must be presented to the Weigh Station during the tournament weigh-in times. Tag cards for the first three days of the tournament must be lodged no later than 6pm Tuesday March 17th. Tag cards for the last three days of the tournament must be lodged no later than 8pm Friday March 20th (close of tournament). Failure to lodge fully completed tag cards will result in all points being forfeit.
One member of the team, or a representative, must sign the capture receipt at the recorders station when lodging a tag card(s).
10. Tag & Release sections: Tag & Release section winners will be decided by:
a) Boat/Angler with the highest total of Tag & Release points;
b) In the event of a tie on points, the Boat/Angler with the lowest average line class;
c) If still tied, the Boat/Angler achieving the points first according to the time of TAGGING logged on the ARFF Tackle Box app.
Points will be awarded as follows:
T&R Whaler Shark 1-10kg line 200pts 15-24kg line 100pts 37-60kg line 50pts
T&R Other Shark 1-10kg line 300pts 15-24kg line 200pts 37-60kg line 100pts
T&R Sailfish/Spearfish 1-10kg line 500pts 15-24kg line 400pts 37-60kg line 300pts
T&R Marlin/Broadbill 1-10kg line 600pts 15-24kg line 500pts 37-60kg line 400pts
If a team/angler tags a fish, then captures (weighs) the same fish, only capture points will apply. Points accrued for Tag & Release sections are per tag, not per line class.
11. Champion Boat & Angler sections: The winner of these sections will be the highest point scoring Boat/Angler based on the following formula - Highest point scoring fish on each line class + Highest point scoring fish of each species = Total number of points.
Points will be awarded as follows:
T&R Whaler Shark 1-10kg line 200pts 15-24kg line 100pts 37-60kg line 50pts
T&R Other Shark 1-10kg line 300pts 15-24kg line 200pts 37-60kg line 100pts
T&R Sailfish/Spearfish 1-10kg line 500pts 15-24kg line 400pts 37-60kg line 300pts
T&R Marlin/Broadbill 1-10kg line 600pts 15-24kg line 500pts 37-60kg line 400pts
Weighed other Game Fish - weight of fish x 100 divided by line class = points.
No points will be awarded for sharks weighed in during GAMEX.
No Champion Boat & Angler points will be awarded for billfish weighed in during GAMEX.
Weighed Golden Trevally on 1kg line - weight of fish x 50 divided by line class = points.
12. Marlin point score: Black, Blue and Striped Marlin will be considered one single species for point scoring purposes for Champion Boat, Team and Champion Angler sections.
13. Top Tagging Captain: The George King Memorial perpetual trophy will be awarded to the Captain who has attained the most number of billfish tagged according to the tag cards submitted. Note: A captain is not deemed to be an angler and a captain at the same time. Fish tagged by the designated captain do not count towards this trophy.
14. Live Bait: When live bait fishing for billfish, anglers cannot use offset circle hooks or J
hooks. In-line circle hooks only are to be used.
15. Exmouth Gulf Tag & Release limits: Billfish can only be tagged on 1kg to 10kg inclusive line classes to accrue points if tagged inside Exmouth Gulf. Exmouth Gulf is defined as: All waters south and east of a line drawn from North West Cape to the south-west tip of South Muiron Island, to the north-west tip of South Muiron Island, to the south-west tip of North Muiron Island, to the north-west tip of North Muiron Island, to Peak Island, to Observation Island and to Tubridgi Point.
16. Radio Communications:
All boats must be fitted with an operational VHF radio system and are required to log on and off with Radio Base on each day of the tournament. Tournament radio coverage will be exclusively VHF. A non-functional radio must be repaired before the affected vessel goes to sea the following day. Vessels failing to comply will be disqualified for that day.
Sked sheets will be provided for each team in their tournament bag to record billfish raised, hooked and tagged. Each boat will be asked to give their sked over the radio three times per day (11am, 2pm and at log off). Each boat must report their approximate position using the GAMEX grid at each sked.
17. Lines In and Out: Lines in and out will be as printed in the tournament brochure and notified at the briefing.
No line is to be in the water 15mins prior to lines in, including bait jigs and teasers.
A radio call will be made at 15mins prior to lines out. At this time any vessel that is hooked up, or hooks up before lines out, must notify Radio Base and be acknowledged. A boat may continue to fight a fish after lines out if they have notified Radio Base. Weigh-in time restrictions still apply. All other boats are to observe radio silence during the last 15 minutes of lines in.
18. Protests: A verbal intention to protest must be made to the Weigh Master as soon as possible by the protestor. This is to enable the Weigh Master to preserve any evidence that may be needed by the Committee if the fish/tag card is presented before the protestor can attend the gantry. All protests must be lodged with the Weigh Master in writing with a $100 deposit which will be refunded if the protest is upheld. Protests must be lodged before the close of weigh-in at which the fish was weighed or tag card presented. No further protests will be accepted after completion of the weigh-in on the final day. The Committee will consider all protests as soon as possible after receipt. The Committee's decision is final and the affected parties will be notified ASAP.
19. Sanctuary Zones: If a competitor is charged by Fisheries WA or the Department of Biodiversity, Attractions and Conservation Parks & Wildlife with fishing in a sanctuary zone, they will be disqualified from the competition for that day. No other protests relating to sanctuary zones will be heard.
20. Boat Auction: There will be two Boat Auction categories:
A. Champion Boat Overall
B. Champion Boat Tag & Release Billfish.
The winner of category A will be the person who purchases the boat that places first in the Champion Boat Overall section. The winner of category B will be the person that purchases the boat that achieves the highest Tag & Release billfish points score based on the following formula:
- Marlin/Broadbill - 500 points
- Sailfish/Spearfish - 400 points
The winner of each Boat Auction division will receive 50% of the relevant Boat Auction division pool. The runner-up will receive 30%. The EGFC will retain 20%.
In the event of a tie, each prize pool percentage will be divided evenly (example: if there is a tie for first place each winner will receive 40% and the EGFC will retain 20%. If there is an outright winner and a tie for runner-up the winner will receive 50%, each runner-up 15% and the EGFC will retain 20%).
Boat auction monies will not be refunded after the hammer fall. All boats are bought on an as-is basis.
Boat Auction buyers will be asked to sign for the amount reached at auction immediately after the hammer fall and must pay the money owing prior to the Wednesday of the event.
21. Conduct: All competitors will participate in a sporting manner and embrace the ethics of game fishing. All fish offal must be disposed of correctly. The Committee reserves the right to penalise any Boat or Angler by deduction of points or disqualification for part of, or the whole tournament for conduct they consider detrimental to the competition or the EGFC.
22. Cyclones: In the event that a cyclone approaches the Exmouth area during the
GAMEX tournament all fishing will be suspended once a ‘Yellow Alert’ has been declared or winds forecast exceed 26 knots. Fishing will recommence once the ‘All Clear’ has been given, provided sea conditions are deemed fishable by the committee. If no further fishing is possible, the leading boats/anglers at the time of the Yellow Alert will be declared the winners at the committee’s discretion. The EGFC advises all competitors to have appropriate insurance for the event, including travel, accident and boat. This is the responsibility of the skipper and team, not the EGFC.
23. Cancellation: Please refer to our weather matrix for possible daily cancellations. Please see our cancellation policy for further details via our website: www.egfc.com.au
24. Terms and Conditions: Please refer to our terms and conditions for the event located on our website: www.egfc.com.au
25. Disclaimer: The EGFC Committee reserves the right to change any rule, regulation or section which it believes will enhance the Tournament. The EGFC takes no responsibility for loss or damage to competitor’s person, personal effects or vessel and competitors fish the tournament at their own risk.
CANCELLATION POLICY
Participants
- If the entire GAMEX 2020 event is cancelled due to actual or forecasted weather, an order, direction or notice issued by the Australian, Western Australian or Exmouth government or one of their agencies or departments, or an event or omission that is not within Exmouth Game Fishing Club’s (EGFC) control, then each person who:
- intended to be a participant in the cancelled fishing tournament; and
- had prior to the event commencement date correctly completed and submitted to EGFC the applicable Entry Form and paid the applicable entry fee:
- may collect his/her tournament bag and t-shirt from the EGFC clubhouse – at times specified by EGFC; and
- subject to paragraph 3 below, will be refunded 50% of his/her paid entry fee. The remainder of his/her entry fee will be retained by and forfeited to EGFC.
- If any portion of the GAMEX 2020 event is cancelled or has restrictions imposed on it due to actual or forecasted weather, an order, direction or notice issued by the Australian, Western Australian or Exmouth government or one of their agencies or departments, or an event or omission that is not within EGFC’s control, then any paid entry fees will not be refunded. All entry fees will be retained by and forfeited to EGFC.
- A person is not entitled to a refund of any paid entry fee by reason of the GAMEX 2020 event being cancelled unless she/he requests the refund from EGFC in writing by email sent to events@egfc.com.au and that request is received by EGFC within 7 days of the EGFC determining that the event is cancelled.
- A person who has completed and submitted to EGFC the applicable Entry Form and paid the applicable entry fee may by email sent to events@egfc.com.au deregister from the GAMEX 2020 event. However, she/he is not entitled to a refund of his/her entry fee unless:
- the email giving notice of such deregistration is received by EGFC prior to 13 February 2020; and
- prior to 13 February 2020, she/he pays to EGFC a $50 administration fee.
- Any person who deregisters from the GAMEX 2020 event must not participate in the GAMEX 2020 event.
- Save for in the circumstances expressed in paragraphs 1, 3 and 4 above, no person is entitled to a refund of his/her paid entry fee.
- If the entire or any portion of the GAMEX 2020 event is cancelled or has restrictions imposed on it due to actual or forecasted weather, an order, direction or notice issued by the Australian, Western Australian or Exmouth government or one of their agencies or departments, or an event or omission that is not within EGFC’s control, then any funds paid or granted, services provided or goods given to EGFC by any of its sponsors, donors or partners in respect of the GAMEX 2020 event will be retained by and forfeited to EGFC.
