Members are eligible to participate in and compete for the Club Champion and individual awards as listed herein. A one-year membership is $150.00 per individual ($100.00 per junior members—persons 15 years of age and younger). Membership dues must be received by the Club Treasurer, Chris Fox at 203 W. Cotter, Port Aransas, TX 78373 before the first tournament of the year in order to accumulate points beginning with the first tournament. Memberships will be accepted throughout the tournament season and must be received by the Treasurer by 12:00 noon the day before the tournament; however, late entrants will start accumulating points after their effective date of membership. Prospective club members may also hand deliver their registration forms to the Treasurer.

 

 

Points will be accumulated throughout the season during sanctioned Club Tournaments on a per tournament basis. Members age 16 or older will accumulate angler points in the adult division. Members age 15 or younger will accumulate points in the junior division. All members may accumulate points in the International division.

 

In the billfish categories, a fixed number of points will be awarded per released fish. No points will be awarded for any billfish brought to the dock. In keeping with conservation and good sportsmanship, members will make every effort to release the fish unharmed. Points are as follows: Blue Marlin—400 points, Swordfish– 400 points, White Marlin—250 points, Sailfish - 200 points. Billfish being released by Club members will be awarded angler points (either adult or junior) and boat points. Billfish being released by non-members will be awarded boat points only. It is the responsibility of the member to know and identify the billfish species released. In the event an angler/boat is unable to positively identify his/her billfish during the release, the minimum billfish points (200) will be awarded.

 

In the non-billfish category, the three heaviest fish (of each recognized species) scored are eligible for 1 point per pound, per tournament. Members having more than three fish in the same species should weigh only their three largest fish.

 

· Boat and boat team points will be awarded to the boats having the three heaviest fishing of each recognized species in the adult and junior angler categories, regardless of who the angler is (adult/junior) or (member/non-member).

· Adult members will be awarded angler points for the three heaviest fish of each recognized species in the adult division.

· Junior members will be awarded angler points for the three heaviest fish of each recognized species in the junior division.

 

There will be a running total published after each tournament listing those boats and Club members scoring points in each specific category. The final totals at the end of the season will determine the Club Champion, Boat Team awards, and individual award winners.

 

In the billfish categories in both adult and junior divisions, cumulative tournament billfish points of that species will determine the winner. Should a tie exists, the winner will be the angler that reports catching the tying fish earliest. In the non-billfish categories in both adult and junior divisions, weight will determine the winner. Should a tie exists, the winner will be determined by the measurement from tip of nose to the rear center edge of the tail (fork length). Should a tie still remain, the first fish weighed will determine the winner.

 

Members may compete for the following awards:

 

Club Champion– Cora & Tom Keeler Perpetual Trophy

                Boat with most total points—first, second, and third place

 

Champion Angler– M.L. Walker II Perpetual Trophy

                Angler with the most total points—first, second, and third place

 

Champion Non-Billfish Angler-

                Adult Angler with most total non-billfish points– first, second, and third place

 

Champion Lady Angler-

                Adult Lady Angler with most total points—first and second place

 

Champion Junior Angler-

                Junior Angler with most total points—first and second place

 

                  Crews of 3 boats with most total points

 

                 Crews of 3 boats with most total non-billfish points

 

Adult anglers may compete for first and second place awards for Blue Marlin, White Marlin, Sailfish, and Swordfish. Adult anglers may also compete for first and second place awards for the two largest of each of the following recognized non-billfish: Amberjack, Blackfin Tuna, Dolphin, King Mackerel, Red Snapper, Wahoo, and Yellowfin Tuna. Adult anglers may also compete for first place award for larget Ling/Cobia.

 

Junior anglers may compete for first and second place awards for Blue Marlin, White Marlin, and Sailfish. Junior anglers may also compete for first and second place awards for the two largest of each of the following recognized non-billfish caught by juniors: Amberjack, Blackfin Tuna, Dolphin, King Mackerel, Red Snapper, Wahoo.  Junior Anglers may also compete for fire place for the largest Yellowfin Tuna and Ling/Cobia.

 

 

All members may compete for first and second place awards in the release only International Division. Points are awarded for billfish caught anywhere in the world with a departure from and return to any non-Texas port. Eligible fish are Blue Marlin (400 points), Black Marlin (400 points), Swordfish (400 points) White Marlin (250 points), Striped Marlin (250 points), Sailfish (200 points), and Spearfish (200 points). Release sheet data must be submitted through the website, faxed to (361) 749-4859 or emailed to Chris@Foxyachtsales.com prior to the last eligibility date of the current year.

 

Eligibility dates will be from the day following the last regular tournament date of the current year through the last regular tournament date of the following year. All anglers must have dues paid prior to accumulating points.

 

 

All boats/members registered in the CCBGFC will act as tournament boats for each CCBGFC fishing tournament. Upon releasing a billfish, the boat/member must report the release on VHF channel 68 or SSB channel 2638 and state the boat name, species of billfish released, and time of the release. The boat/member who catches and releases the billfish will be responsible for logging the above information on the release sheets that are to be carried onboard each member’s boat. It is also the responsibility of the member to have each person who is onboard during the billfish release sign the release sheet. A boat/member who fails to report his/her catch via VHF channel 68 or SSB 2638 may be subject to disqualification. All boats/members may obtain release sheets from the CCBGFC website www.ccbgfc.org or from the club secretary. It is the sole responsibility of the angler to turn in his/her release sheet(s) to the weigh master by the 8:00 P.M. deadline for each tournament, or as stated below under “Concurrent Tournaments”.

 

 

Boats may leave the dock on or (at any time) prior to the first day of the tournament. Fishing may begin at 12:01 A.M. on the first day of the tournament. Dock time will be 8:00 P.M. on the final day of the tournament. All boats must leave and return through the Port Aransas jetties. On two-day tournaments, boats will be permitted to spend the night out if desired. If a decision is made to stay out, a boat may not return to any other port other than Port Aransas. The official CCBGFC weigh station is at Virginia’s on the Bay unless otherwise specified. The weigh station will open at 4:00 P.M. and remain open until 8:00 P.M. each tournament day. Boats must be at the dock by the 8:00 P.M. deadline for fish to count. A boat is considered to be “at the dock” when the boat is in sight of the weigh master at Virginia’s on the Bay by 8:00 P.M. All tournament fish must be in edible condition and may be subject to testing. The decision of the weigh master is final.

 

IGFA rules will govern each tournament. It is each Club member’s responsibility to know and abide by IGFA rules. A billfish is considered “caught” when the mate touches the leader, or when the swivel (or knot which attaches the main line on the reel to the leader line of the bait or lure) touches the rod tip. ONLY when either one of the two above criteria is achieved is a fish considered legally caught.

 

“Mopping” or “roping” is strictly prohibited and all illegal entanglement devices are not allowed. Catches cannot be assigned between members and/or non-members. Transfers of catch are not permitted. Anglers may have assistance in getting the rod to the chair or into a harness, but the fish must be fought alone from that point. Corpus Christi Big Game Fishing Club rules supersede IGFA rules in the event of a conflict. Members must comply with all state and federal size, possession, and license regulations.

 

 

The CCBGFC board of directors recognizes that some of our members also participate in other area tournaments that may require billfish to be brought to the dock to be eligible for awards. These fish will not be eligible for CCBGFC points under any circumstances, but we do feel members should be rewarded with points for billfish released unharmed and in accordance with CCBGFC rules. Our fishing schedule has been arranged to coincide with one or more days of the more popular tournaments. The Club also recognizes that other Texas sanctioned offshore tournaments not listed on our tournament schedule may coincide with our tournament dates. If a member choose to fish any of these tournaments, the same concurrent rules apply. If a member elects to fish a tournament not listed as concurrent on the club schedule, that member may accumulate points for CCBGFC only on the date of the CCBGFC tournament.

 

 

 

· Weigh sheets can be delivered to the CCBGFC weigh master by 8:00 p.m. the last day of the tournament.

 

· Weigh sheets can be faxed to the CCBGFC scorekeeper at (361) 749-4859 or a legibly scanned image can be e-mailed to Chris@Foxyachtsales.com by Tuesday at noon following the concurrent tournament.

 

Some 2-day CCBGFC fishing events are listed in the schedule to coincide with the Friday/Saturday schedule of a concurrent tournament and the Saturday/Sunday schedule our club normally fishes. In these cases, members entered in other tournaments may score CCBGFC points on only the two days fished by that concurrent tournament (Friday and Saturday OR Saturday and Sunday). Members not entered in these other tournaments may score CCBGFC points on Saturday and Sunday only.

 

 

In case of bad weather, a tournament will not be rescheduled. All tournament cancellations will be posted on the CCBGFC website at www.ccbgfc.org by 5:00 P.M. the night before the actual tournament fishing day. In the event of a two day Club tournament, if the first day is called “on”, the second day of the tournament will automatically be called “on” as well. In the event the first day of a two day tournament is cancelled, the second day will be cancelled as well. It is the member’s responsibility to access the CCBGFC Tournament Status by checking postings at www.ccbgfc.org.

 

 

 

 

All tournaments are fished implementing the “honor system” of sportsmanship. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and it is your responsibility for you and your crew to be familiar with Corpus Christi Big Game Fishing Club and IGFA rules. If your crew is not a member of the Corpus Christi Big Game Fishing Club, it is your responsibility to make certain they understand the rules that govern all Club tournaments. Illegal catches will be subject to disqualification.

 

 

Should a dispute arise, Club members are required to file a detailed written protest fully describing the nature of the protest within 48 hours after the scores are posted on the club’s website. Protests should be addressed to the Club President, Todd Hester, at (361) 442-8087 or faxed to (361) 749-4859. Protests will be presented to the board for review and a decision will be rendered within 7 days of the receipt of the protest. All decisions are final.