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 Biodiversity, Conservation & Attractions, and WA Department of Fisheries rules and regulations.
2. Membership: All competitors must be a current member of the Exmouth Game Fishing Club (EGFC) or a club affiliated with the Game Fishing Association of Australia (GFAA) or the International Game Fishing Association (IGFA) on registration.
3. Entry & Registration: Entries close 10pm, Friday March 14, 2025. All teams entered must register with at least one team member attending the GAMEX Briefing Night on Saturday March 15, 2025. Only registered competitors 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. Competitors 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 competitors on board. All other safety requirements and regulations 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, however, a MINIMUM TOPSHOT OF 16 METRES OF IGFA RATED LINE MUST BE USED (for record claim purposes, 16m continuous, single line is required). Random gear checks will be conducted throughout the tournament.
6. Juniors & Small Fry Anglers: A Junior Angler is a person who has not attained the age of 16 years prior to the conclusion of the tournament. A Small Fry Angler is a person who has not attained the age of 11 years prior to the conclusion of the tournament.
7. Tag & Release Digital Catch Reporting: GAMEX 2025 will use the Track My Fish for Tournaments phone app for all tag & release catch reporting. The Track My Fish app can be downloaded from Google Play or the 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 Track My Fish app as soon as possible after the catch is completed for tournament points to apply. Once the tagged fish is logged on the Track My Fish app, teams are required to announce the tagged fish to the tournament Radio Base reporting species, angler, line class and GAMEX grid location only. Teams have up to 15 minutes post-capture to report a tagged fish to Radio Base. Training on how to use the Track My Fish app will be provided at the GAMEX Tournament Prep Clinic & Social Night (Friday March 14), and instructional guides can be found at www.egfc.com.au.
8. Tag Cards: Billfish are to be tagged with NSW DPI Billfish tags only. These tags have an orange tag card. Sharks must be tagged with NSW DPI Shark tags only. These tags have a yellow or blue tag card. No other tags will be accepted. Tags are available from the tournament registration desk at the GAMEX Prep Clinic & Social Night (Friday March 14), on the Briefing Night (Saturday March 15), or from the tournament Weigh Station during weigh-in times throughout the rest of the tournament. Tag cards, FULLY COMPLETED, must be presented to the Weigh Station ON THE DAY OF CAPTURE during the tournament weigh-in times. Failure to lodge fully completed tag cards will result in all points being forfeit. One member of the team, or a representative, must sign a capture receipt at the Weigh Station when lodging a tag card(s). All unused tags must be returned to the Weigh Master by tournament close.
9. 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 the tag was logged on the Track My Fish app. Points will be awarded as follows:
Points accrued for tag & release sections are per tag, not per line class. Sharks tagged must be a minimum of 100cms in length to accrue tag & release points, as per GFAA regulations.
10. Minimum Line Class for Billfish: The minimum line class to be used for billfish during GAMEX 2025 is 15kg. This is to allow for faster tag and release of billfish in an effort to decrease the instance of shark depredation. Billfish caught on 1-10kg line classes during the tournament will still be awarded tournament points and are eligible to be weighed in for record purposes provided the fish exceeds a minimum length for the record section being claimed (see section 29). However, an eligible weighed in billfish or a billfish tagged on 1-10kg line classes will not receive any greater point score than as shown in the table above for 15-24kg line, regardless of the line class used.
11. Exmouth Gulf Tag & Release Limits: Billfish can only be tagged on 15kg or 24kg 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.
12. Hooks for Billfish: When fishing natural baits (either dead or live) for billfish, anglers cannot use J hooks or offset circle hooks. In-line circle hooks only are to be used. J hooks are still permitted when fishing lures for billfish.
13. Weigh-In: Fish may only be weighed at the official Weigh Station at the EGFC clubhouse during the times stated in the event program. Weigh Station staff will input details of weighed fish onto the Track My Fish app for tournament points to apply. Fish must be presented at the Weigh Station on the day of capture unless otherwise arranged with the tournament Weigh Master under extraordinary circumstances only. Fish must be in an edible condition or will be disqualified by the Weigh Master. Mutilated or frozen fish will be disqualified. 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 recorder’s station. Fish will not be accepted for the tournament after the close of weigh-in on the final day of fishing. No points will be awarded for sharks weighed in during GAMEX. Billfish may be weighed in for record purposes only during GAMEX. Any billfish weighed in as a potential record will be awarded tournament points, provided the fish exceeds a minimum length for the record section being claimed. See the tables in section 28 for minimum acceptable lengths for billfish weighed in.
14. 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:
15. Marlin/Swordfish and Sailfish/Spearfish Point Score: Black, blue and striped marlin and broadbill swordfish will be considered one single species for point scoring purposes for Champion Boat, Team and Champion Angler sections. Likewise, sailfish and spearfish (all species) will be considered one single species for point scoring purposes for Champion Boat, Team and Champion Angler sections.
16. Boats Under/Over 7m Sections: To be eligible for the Champion Boat (HPS) Tag & Release Billfish – Boats 7m and Under section, a team’s boat may not measure any greater than seven metres long as measured from the tip of the bow to the outside edge of the transom or outboard pod. To be eligible for the Champion Boat (HPS) Tag & Release Billfish – Boats Over 7m section, a team’s boat must measure greater than seven metres long as measured from the tip of the bow to the outside edge of the transom or outboard pod.
17. Top Tagging Captain: The George King Memorial perpetual trophy will be awarded to the captain who has attained the most number of billfish (sailfish, spearfish, marlin and swordfish) 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.
18. Qualifying for the Daily Prize Draw: GAMEX 2025 will feature a new daily prize draw. To qualify for each of the six daily prize draws, a registered team must:
Score points (capture or tag & release) during the course of that day’s tournament fishing.
A qualifying team will receive one entry only into that day’s prize draw, regardless of the number of fish they have tagged or weighed in on that day. Each of the daily prizes will be awarded via random draw of all qualifying teams at the GAMEX Presentation Night. At least one member of the winning team must be in attendance at the GAMEX Presentation Night to claim the prize. In the event that a team is drawn but at least one member of that team is not in attendance at the GAMEX Presentation Night to claim the prize, the Draw Master will allow 2 minutes for a member of that team to come forward. If, after the 2 minute period a member of that team does not come forward to claim the prize, it will be redrawn.
19. 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. Radio Base opens 1 hour prior to lines in each day. Tournament radio coverage will be exclusively VHF channel 21. The tournament Radio Base call sign will be announced at the GAMEX Tournament Briefing. 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. Each boat will be asked to give their sked of billfish raised, hooked and tagged, and how many fish lost to sharks over the radio at log off each day. FAILURE TO LOG ON AND OFF WITH TOURNAMENT RADIO BASE EACH DAY MAY RESULT IN POINTS BEING FORFEIT.
20. Lines In and Out: Lines in and out times will be as printed in the tournament booklet and notified at the Tournament Briefing. Lines for collecting bait may be fished before lines in each day, however, no line is to be in the water from 15 minutes prior to lines in, including bait jigs and teasers. A radio call will be made at 15 minutes 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.
21. 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 Weigh Station. 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 on the day the fish was weighed or tag card presented. No further protests will be accepted after completion of the tournament Presentation Night. 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.
22. Sanctuary Zones & Exclusion 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 and/or confirmed by the EGFC Committee to have been fishing in a sanctuary zone, they will be disqualified from the competition for that day. If a competitor is sighted and/or confirmed by the EGFC Committee to be fishing within an oil & gas exclusion zone (500m radius of any offshore oil & gas structure), they will be disqualified from the competition for that day. No other protests relating to sanctuary zones and exclusion zones will be heard.
23. Boat Auction: There will be two Boat Auction categories: A. Champion Boat Overall B. Champion Boat Tag & Release Marlin. The winner of category A will be the person who purchases the boat during the boat auction on the tournament Briefing Night that places first in the Champion Boat Overall section. The winner of category B will be the person that purchases the boat that wins the Champion Boat Tag & Release Marlin section. 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 immediately via cash or EFTPOS.
24. 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 tournament or the EGFC.
25. Cyclones: In the event of a cyclone approaching the Exmouth area during the GAMEX tournament, all fishing will be suspended once a ‘Watch & Act’ (Orange) 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 acceptable by the committee, as per the tournament weather matrix. If no further fishing is possible, the leading boats/anglers at the time of the Watch & Act (Orange) Alert will be declared the winners at the committee’s discretion. The EGFC recommends all competitors have appropriate insurance for the event, including travel, accident and boat. This is the responsibility of the skipper and team, not the EGFC or its event organisers.
26. Cancellation: Please refer to the tournament weather matrix for possible daily cancellations. Please see the tournament cancellation policy for further details via: www.egfc.com.au
27. Terms and Conditions: Please refer to the tournament terms and conditions for the event via: www.egfc.com.au
28. 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. 29. Minimum Billfish Weigh-in Lengths for Record Claim: Any billfish weighed in as a potential record during GAMEX will be awarded tournament points, provided the fish exceeds a minimum length for the record section being claimed. The charts on the following pages show minimum acceptable weigh-in lengths for all billfish species for line class record claim purposes. All figures are short length (tip of the lower jaw to the fork of the tail) in centimetres.
*Denotes Western Australian record sections which are vacant at time of publication. In these cases, the fish weight must only exceed that of the line class in use to be eligible for record claim and tournament points.
CANCELLATION POLICY Participants
If the entire GAMEX 2025 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: a.intended to be a participant in the cancelled fishing tournament; and b.had prior to the event commencement date correctly completed and submitted to EGFC the applicable Entry Form and paid the applicable entry fee: i.may collect his/her tournament bag and tournament shirt from the EGFC clubhouse – at times specified by EGFC; and ii.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 2025 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 2025 event being cancelled unless she/he requests the refund from EGFC in writing by email sent to [email protected] 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 [email protected] deregister from the GAMEX 2025 event. However, she/he is not entitled to a refund of his/her entry fee unless: a.the email giving notice of such deregistration is received by EGFC prior to 13 February 2025; and b.prior to 13 February 2025, she/he pays to EGFC a $50 administration fee.
Any person who deregisters from the GAMEX 2025 event must not participate in the GAMEX 2025 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. Sponsors and Partners
If the entire or any portion of the GAMEX 2025 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 2025 event will be retained by and forfeited to EGFC. Please contact the GAMEX 2025 Event Coordinator via: [email protected] for any cancellation and transfer requests.