GENERAL RULES

Season commences at the 1st July and ends 30th June.

Fishing Ground: for all tagged and weighed fish to be eligible for all club Trophies and Pins (except for trophy for caught outside area) they must be caught in area bounded by 36 - 15' South and 37 - 30 South and 177 - 00 East including the Firth of Thames. Approx. area - North: Tryphena, South: Katikati, including the Firth of Thames. All tag cards must be at the weigh master or secretary within 14 days of fish capture. Fish may be weighed at Tairua, Whitianga and Whangamata weigh stations.

Fish caught in other clubs competitions will not be recognised, i.e. not qualify for awarding of Pins, Trophies or Certificates.

Points system: a) Weighed Fish: where applicable, points will be calculated on the weight of the fish over the line breaking strain formula i.e. (weight of fish x 100) divided by test weight of line; b) Tagged Fish: tagged fish will earn points as follows: all Marlin and Broadbill - 600 points; Shortbill, Spearfish - 100 points; Sharks - 100 points; Yellowfin, Bluefin & Bigeye Tuna - 150 points; Yellowtail Kingfish - 25 points.

The claimant for a Trophy, Pin or Certificate was a full member of the Club when he/she caught the fish, and alone hooked the fish, and brought the fish to the gaff or tag pole.

Caught Fish: a fish is deemed "caught" when it is weighed or tagged as per IGFA and NZSFC fishing regulations and bylaws. Verification of tag in place, in the fish will be sought. Accepted methods are a photograph or verification from the another boat's skipper.

Awarding of Points, Trophies, Pins & Certificates are conducted under the IGFA and NZSFC fishing regulations and bylaws. Maximum line weight being 60kg.

Day Members: if a day member catches a fish, the points are eligible to be put forward for the boat the day member was fishing from, provided the boat owner is a club member. Day members are eligible for club Trophies or Pins.

Light Tackle: All fish under any minimum weight as specified in these rules will be eligible provided: a) they are caught on recognised light tackle - 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 and 10kg; b) they meet or better the line weight used.

Weighed Fish: No fish will be weighed unless the catch and the weigh recording sheets are completed accurately. The angler, skipper and crew must assist the weigh master in the measurement of the gear used and the weighing of the fish.

Meritorious Trophy: Any application for any Meritorious Trophy must be in the hands of the secretary no later than the first week of July.

It is to be remembered that these rules pertain to the awarding of Points, Pins, Certificates and Trophies only. Open tournament rules may vary slightly.

Club Trophies: a) all gamefish shall be eligible for club trophies, provided the minimum weights meet the following regardless of line weight: all Marlin and Broadbill - no minimum weight; Yellowfin, Bigeye and Bluefin Tuna - 15kg; Yellowtail Kingfish - 10kg; Shortbill Spearfish - 10kg; Albacore, Skipjack and Slender Tuna - 4kg; Mahimahi - 5kg; Hapuka - 10kg; Snapper - minimum weight of 5kg, maximum line weight of 15kg; Kahawai and Trevally - minimum weight of 2.5kg, maximum line weight of 15kg.

Pin Fish: a silver pin of the appropriate species will be presented to a member catching the first fish of the season in each class, as long as it meets minimum qualifying weights as follows: all Marlin and Broadbill - 90kg; Yellowfin, Bigeye and Bluefin Tuna - 25kg; Albacore Tuna - 7kg; Skipjack and Slender Tuna - 5kg; Yellowtail Kingfish - 12.5kg; Shortbill Spearfish - 12.5kg; Mahimahi - 8kg; Snapper - 7kg, maximum line weight 15kg; Kahawai - 3kg, maximum line weight 15kg; Trevally - 3kg, maximum line weight 15kg. As the season progresses, each new record fish will earn a silver pin of the appropriate species. Subsequently an increase of not less than 500gm for Snapper and 250gm for Kahawai or Trevally will apply. Should a World Record be landed, the Pin will be in gold. Should a member land two world records in one day, the pin will be gold with a diamond eye. A silver pin with a ruby eye will be presented to a member who catches a fish that is classed by the NZBGFC as a NZ record, providing it exceeds the breaking strain of the line.

Certificates: Minimum weights for the granting of certificates are as follows: all Marlin and Broadbill - no minimum weight; Yellowfin, Bigeye and Bluefin Tuna - 15kg; Yellowtail Kingfish - 10kg; Albacore, Skipjack and Slender Tuna - 4kg; Mahimahi - 5kg; Shortbill Spearfish - 10kg; Snapper - 5kg; Kahawai and Trevally - 2.5kg; Hapuka - 10kg.

Light Tackle: all Marlin - no minimum weight; Tuna - 2:1 ratio; Yellowtail Kingfish - 2:1 ratio; Albacore, Skipjack and Slender Tuna, Mahimahi, Shortbill Spearfish, Snapper, Kahawai and Trevally must equal or exceed line weight.

Sharks: in the interests of conservation, TPSFC recognise and promote sharks as tag and release species only. Sharks of any species will not be weighed and club Trophies, Certificates and Pins will not be awarded. TPSFC will continue to courtesy weigh sharks for anglers of NZSFC affiliated sport fishing clubs where capture and weighing of sharks is recognised and during the NZSFC Nationals.

Braid Ruling: the use of braid for Trophies, Pins and Certificates is allowed. To be recognised, the line must be tested by the club at the anglers expense. The test can be carried out either prior to the angler going fishing or when he/she returns. The fish will not be recognised until an acceptable line test is returned to the club records officer.

Measuring Boards: the use of approved measuring boards in accordance with IGFA rules is allowed. Fish measured with these devices will be recorded in accordance with IGFA rules but will not count towards Boat Points for the purpose of establishing the boat with the highest number of points for the year.

Footnotes: a) Weigh in times: 4:00pm - 6:00pm daily. Outside of these times depending on the availability of a weigh master. b) The committee reserves the right to alter, delete or add to these rules as time and circumstances change.