2024 Tournament Rules & Calendar
Print: 24 TBFT Rules and Calendar
Print: 24 TBFT Entry Information
2024 Trailer Boat Fishing Tournament
– Rules & Calendar of Events –
Tournament Director – all correspondence to:
Tony Poole -Trailer Boat Fishing Tournaments Pty Ltd, PO Box 189, Toronto, NSW, 2283 / info@tbft.net.au
Tournament Base: Ferry Terminal Park, Victoria Pde, Nelson Bay, 2315.
Foul Weather alternative for Registration, BBQ, and Presentations: PCYC, 7 Austral St, Nelson Bay, 2315.
Entry, Angler & Fish Eligibility:
– Entry is open to members of the public agreeing to be bound by the Tournament Rules and is not restricted to members of fishing clubs or organizations.
– Only fish caught from entered eligible trailer boats by entered eligible anglers will be eligible for points and prizes.
– To be eligible for points, an Angler must hook, strike, fight, and bring the fish to the boat to be tagged, netted, or gaffed without assistance including anyone else touching the rod or reel.
– The fish must be caught during tournament time and within tournament boundaries.
Boat Eligibility:
Entry is restricted to trailer boats – defined as any vessel capable of being transported by a NSW registered trailer being towed by a conventional motor vehicle including 4WD upon NSW public roads up to a maximum beam of 2.6 meters.
Entry Fees 2024:
– $85 per senior angler
– $40 per junior angler (under 16 years old at the time of the Tournament).
– This fee may include food and refreshments as may be provided by the organisers.
– Online entries accepted up until 1700hrs Monday 1st April 2024.
– A Late Entry Fee may be charged for entries received after these dates. The late entry fee is $170 per Senior and $80 per Junior.
Insurance:
3rd Party Property insurance at a minimum is required for all competing boats. Insurance policy proof & valid current policy details must be provided as part of each entry.
Angler Identity:
– TBFT Angler ID cards (to be collected at registration) must be presented to any Tournament Official on request and prior to any fish weigh in or prize claim or for any other claim such as food or refreshments as may be provided.
– Anglers must be present and produce their own Angler ID card to be eligible for any Lucky Draw Prizes.
– Secondary proof of ID may be requested for any prize collections.
Safety:
– All boats must comply with the relevant NSW Maritime safety regulations current at Tournament time.
Details at www.maritime.nsw.gov.au .
– Boat and crew safety is the responsibility of the skipper of the vessel.
– The decision to enter, compete, and fish is the decision of the competitors.
Fishing Area & Marine Parks:
– Boats must be launched and retrieved within Port Stephens or within 12 kilometres by road from Tournament Base.
– Marine Park boundaries and usage regulations must be obeyed. Details at www.mpa.nsw.gov.au .
Fishing Licenses:
Anglers must hold relevant and current fishing licenses, permits, etc as may be required by NSW Laws. Details at www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries .
Registration:
Prior to starting fishing, intending entrants MUST check & register their attendance at the Official Tent at Tournament Base. Prepaid Tournament T-shirts and Caps will be available at Registration.
Official Tournament Calendar – 2024:
Thursday 4th April
– Official Tent Open 1730 – 2100
– Registrations & clothing pick-up commences 1800
– Competitor Briefing 2000 approx
– Lucky prize draw may be held before & immediately after the briefing.
Friday 5th April – Official Tent open 0600 – 2000.
– Start of fishing is after 0600
Saturday 6th April – Official Tent open 0800 – 2000.
– BBQ / Refreshments & Lucky Prize Draws: 1200 – 1500 (weigh station closed during this period)
– Lucky prize draws will be held immediately after most people are fed.
Sunday 7th April – Official Tent open 0800 – 1200.
– Close of fishing 1200. Anglers must be in the official Compound prior to 1200 sharp Sunday for their fish to be eligible for weigh in.
– The Official Award Ceremony will commence at approx 1330
– Lucky Prize Draws will be held before during & after the Awards.
– The final major Lucky Prize will be drawn immediately after the Awards.
Point Scoring & Species: –
Individual prizes will be awarded to the angler/s (Senior & Junior) who over the Tournament weighs in the heaviest of the following eligible species:
Bream – Live only (30cm) Cobia (65 cm) Drummer, Black (35cm) Flounder (25cm)
Luderick (30cm) Marlin / Billfish (t&r only) Morwong (30cm)
Mulloway (85cm) Tailor (35cm) Teraglin (45cm) Tuna inc. Bonito (40cm)
Snapper (30cm) Yellowtail Kingfish (65cm) Whiting (32cm)
Species may be added or deleted at the Organisers discretion.
Senior and Junior Anglers – only the top 3 fish in each species are eligible for points.
Competitors will be advised of any changes at the time of Registration.
For the purpose of this Tournament the Organisers may impose minimum species length eligibility above that set by NSW Fisheries. These lengths appear alongside the eligible species above. Please visit www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries
for the latest statutory species and bag limits.
Fish weighed in will have their tails docked. Live fish being released into the Bay or Big Tank for display and later release will not have their tails docked. Many anglers return their catch to the water alive after weigh-in, and this behaviour is encouraged and applauded by the Organisers.
Champion Angler & Species Prizes:
Titles will be awarded to the Senior & Junior Anglers who over the Tournament amass the most points counted as follows:
1st Heaviest of a species: 5 points
2nd Heaviest of a species: 3 points
3rd Heaviest of a species: 1 point
In the event of a tie, the winner will be the first person or boat to reach the winning points.
Junior Anglers – to spread the prize pool & encourage Juniors, species prizes will be limited to two per Junior angler. Where a Junior angler wins more than two species awards, their two highest placed fish will be awarded prizes. Their eligible catch points will still be allocated towards Champion Junior Angler (and Champion Boat if applicable) for any additional point scoring fish. However, the prizes for those additional fish will be awarded by way of a lucky draw involving all Junior anglers that are entered and present at the Sunday Awards Presentation.
Champion Boat
Titles & prizes will be awarded to the boat that amasses the most eligible points as detailed for Champion Angler above. Only the top 3 fish in each species (whether caught by a Senior or Junior Angler) will be awarded points for “Champion Boat”.
Failure to abide by any of the Tournament Rules may result in disqualification from the Tournament at the Officials discretion. Entries accepted or declined at the organiser’s discretion.
