22nd Annual MONSTER SHARK® Tournament

July 17th - July 19th, 2008, Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts

 

                Welcome to the 22nd Annual Monster Shark Tournament, the preeminent sport fishing event in New England.  As always, expect world-class sport fishing, fine dining and excitement for all.  The top five finishers will be awarded with a variety of highly valuable prizes and awards.  Whether you’re a prominent angler with a top placing boat from a previous year or just getting started in tournament fishing, you will want to be part of the excitement.  Please join the Boston Big Game Fishing Club with your friends and family.  Send your application and entry fee as soon as possible as slip and mooring space is very limited.

 

TOURNAMENT RULES

1.                    IGFA rules.  Official tournament time is local GPS time.

2.                    Unlimited tackle, 130 lb. Line test maximum.

3.                    Only one shark may be brought to the dock for weighing per day.

4.                    Only Thresher, Porbeagle and Mako count for score.  Minimum weight for Thresher and Porbeagle is 250 lb. Minimum weight for Mako is 200 lb. No other shark species count for score.  Boats weighing in Thresher or Porbeagle sharks less than 225 lb. will be penalized 100 points.  Boats weighing in Mako sharks less than 175 lb. will be penalized 100 points.

5.                    Fishing hours for July 18th and 19th:  Lines in at 7:00 AM - Lines out at 3:30 PM.

6.                    All boats must be in position to weigh their fish no later than 7:00 PM on July 18th (exception: rule 7) and no later than 6:30 PM on July 19th.

7.                    July 18th - First Day Fishing - a boat hooked up prior to lines out time has unlimited time to fight that fish and return to the weigh station.  The boat hooked up prior to the lines out time must announce on the designated VHF tournament channel that they have hooked up prior to the lines out time.

July 19th - Second Day Fishing - a boat hooked up prior to lines out time must be in position to weigh their fish no later than 6:30 PM.  The boat hooked up prior to the lines out time must announce on the designated VHF tournament channel that they have hooked up prior to the lines out time.

8.                    Weigh station hours are 3:30 PM - 7:00 PM on July 18th and 3:30 PM - 6:30 PM on July 19th.

9.                    Selection of VHF Tournament channel at Captain’s Meeting.

10.                 All sharks are the boat’s property and are subject to inspection by the Tournament Biologist.

11.                 Bang sticks, guns and cockpit harpoons are not allowed to be used per IGFA rules.

12.                 There is no weather committee. The decision to fish is left solely to participants who do so at their own risk.

13.                 Any protest must be made in writing and presented to the Tournament Committee by 7:00 PM each day.

14.                 All Tournament Committee decisions are final.  There are no refunds.

15.                 All fish weighed in for prize consideration must be caught from a registered boat. This is a boat tournament, in the event of a mechanical failure participants may fish from another vessel.  The Tournament Committee must be advised in writing prior to a vessel change.

16.                 There is no limit to the number of fishing rods.

17.                 All participants are responsible for the information and rules reviewed at the Captains Meeting.

18.                 All boats are required to submit daily Release Affidavits and Tag Cards to the Tournament Biologist during weigh station hours. 

19.                 A sportsman like conduct ashore and afloat is required of all participants and their guests.

20.                 All boats participating in the tournament must fly the Boston Big Game Fishing Club burgee.

21.                 Only one angler may hook and fight a fish (NO passing the rod).  The angler must remove the rod from the rod holder as quickly as possible (NO fighting from the rod holder).

 

SCORING

One point per pound will be awarded for Thresher and Porbeagle - 250 lb. or greater. One point per pound will be awarded for Mako, 200 lb. or greater.  Overall winning score will be the combined total points of the two days.

Thresher Award:  the heaviest Thresher with a minimum weight of 250 lb.

Porbeagle Award:  the heaviest Porbeagle with a minimum weight of 250 lb.

Mako Award:  the heaviest Mako with a minimum weight of 200 lb.

All species of sharks (except dog fish) count for the following awards

Release Award:  all releases must be properly recorded on Release Affidavits supplied in the Tournament Package.

Tag Award*:  all Tag Cards must be properly filled out and turned in during weigh station hours.

Fly Fishing Award:  20-pound (10 kg) tippet class maximum.  Any releases must be properly recorded on Release Affidavits.

Junior Angler Award:  (16 yrs or younger) Releases must be properly recorded on Release Affidavits.

Female Release Award:  all releases must be properly recorded on Release Affidavits supplied in the Tournament Package.

 

      *For Tags Write To: NMFS, Apex Predators Program, 28 Tarzwell Drive, Narragansett, RI 02882 Tel. 401-782-3320.

ENTRY FORM

22nd Annual MONSTER SHARK® Tournament

JULY 17th to the 19th, Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts

 

Name: __________________________________________________________________

Address: ________________________________________________________________

City: ________________________ State: _________________ Zip Code: ___________

Home: ____________________Work: __________________ email: ________________

Boat Name: ________________Boat Make: _____________ Length: _____ Beam: ____

 

Have you fished this tournament before?            Yes: ___  No: ___

Do you need help finding dockage?                   Yes: ___  No: ___

Will any Junior Anglers fish with you?    Yes: ___ How many: ___ No: ___

Will any Female Anglers fish with you?  Yes:___  How many: ___ No:___

 

ENTRY FEE:   $1,375 if postmarked by May 31, 2008

                        $1,475 if postmarked after May 31, 2008

                       

Entry Fee includes 4 people for ALL ACTIVITIES.  Additional guest bracelets for the Reception Party and Awards Banquet: $85.00 *Please register additional guests before the event.

 

BAIT & CHUM:  Must be ordered in advance and will be delivered to your boat each morning.

Chum               5 Gallon fresh frozen bucket                   $35.00 each

Mackerel          25 lb. Flat                                              $30.00 each

Fish Oil             1 Gallon Jug                                          $25.00 each

 

Entry Fee          $                                                          subtotal: $ __________                      

Guests              #: ________ @ $85 each                      subtotal: $ __________

Chum               #: ________ @ $35 each                      subtotal: $ __________

Mackerel          #: ________ @ $30 each                      subtotal: $ __________

Fish Oil             #: ________ @ $25 each                      subtotal: $ __________

                                                                                    TOTAL: $ __________

Please make check payable to: Boston Big Game Fishing Club

(Credit card checks are acceptable but NO credit cards please!)

 

Mail this Entry Form, the Indemnification Agreement and your Entry Fee check to:

 

Boston Big Game Fishing Club

57 Calypso Lane

Marshfield, MA 02050

 


IMPORTANT

READ CAREFULLY BEFORE SIGNING

YOUR SIGNATURE INDICATES YOU AGREE TO THESE TERMS

 

22nd Annual MONSTER SHARK® Tournament

RELEASE AND INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

I and my team and crew agree and understand that the Boston Big Game Fishing Club is a division of Sharks Unlimited, Inc., (hereinafter the Corporation) a Massachusetts business corporation.

 

I and my team and crew agree and understand that the Corporation, its directors, employees and agents shall not be liable under any circumstances for any injuries or damages to person or property, arising out of, resulting from or in any way connected with my, or my crews participation in any tournament whether caused by negligent act or negligent omission of the Corporation, or by any other reason or cause whatsoever.  In consideration of the acceptance of me and my team and crew entry and for other good and valuable consideration received, we hereby remise, release and forever discharge the Corporation and its respective heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives, successors and assigns of and from all claims, suits, obligations, liabilities, losses, damages, costs or expenses which our team or our heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives, successors and assigns may have against the Corporation, arising out of, resulting from, or in any way connected with my participation in the above described Tournament.  We understand that this release includes any claims based on any negligent act or negligent omission of the Corporation.

 

To the fullest extent permitted by the law, I and my team and crew hereby agree to indemnify, to defend with counsel acceptable to the Corporation and to hold harmless the Corporation, from and against any and all claims, suits, obligations, liabilities, losses, damages, costs or expenses including but not limited to reasonable attorney fees, suffered by the Corporation or by any other person or persons, whatsoever, arising out of, resulting from or in any way connected with my participation in any Tournament including any and all claims, suits, obligations, liabilities, losses damages, costs or expenses caused in whole or in part by any negligent act or negligent omission of the Corporation, or anyone for whose acts the Corporation may be liable regardless of whether it is caused in part by a party indemnified hereunder.

 

This agreement shall take effect as an instrument under seal and be binding upon insure to the benefit of my, and my team’s and crew’s, heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns.

 

 

 

Signature                                                       Print Name                                                            Date


Dear Monster Shark Tournament Participant:

 

            The logistics of purchasing, transportation, storage and distribution of bait and chum is a big problem.  Even if you have been bringing your own, you know the attendant costs and risks.  It can be a time consuming, laborious and smelly endeavor (especially in the dog days of summer).

 

            We provide bait and chum to help “fuel” the events and activities of the Boston Big Game Fishing Club.  This year we ask that you direct all or at least most of you bait and chum purchases to the Boston Big Game Fishing Club.  This year we will provide "food quality" mackerel from a frozen fish supplier which will ensure the best quality hook baits.  Our chum will be frozen in a blast freezer this year to help ensure that it arrives fresh and with minimal odor.

 

            Our bait suppliers insist on payment in advance and they won’t accept returns, therefore we need accurate counts on chum, mackerel and fish oil several weeks prior to the tournament date. 

 

Suggested Bait & Chum for

2 Days of Fishing

 

Monster Shark

6 buckets chum

4 flats mackerel

2 gallons menhaden oil

 

            Remember, when you buy from the Club you help support our events.  Your bait and chum is delivered to your boat in the early morning hours (between 3:00 AM and 4:30 AM) and it arrives frozen!  All this for one fair price.

 

            Your help in this matter is greatly appreciated!

 

 

                                                                                    Boston Big Game Fishing Club