Article by Capt. Franky Pettolina
It was rough and my angler was tired. We had spent close to 45 minutes battling huge seas and a very stubborn white marlin. It was late in the afternoon on our final fishing day of the White Marlin Open. The fish we hooked was one of a doubleheader. We missed the other one. Our time was spent backing into 6-foot seas for most of the fight. The cockpit was flooded more than it was dry. Heck, my arm was tired from guiding the line back and forth across the spool for my angler.
At about the one hour mark, I was able to grab the leader and pull the fish close enough to grasp it’s bill and flip it into the cockpit. We were going to the scales!!! During the ride in, my dad and I were discussing our chances. It was at this point that dad told me they were not too good. I asked him, “Why?” As soon as he started to tell me why, I realized what I had done. I was 14 years old and had been charter fishing the rest of the summer. This was the only tournament we had fished that season and this marlin was the only fish we caught during the tournament. Not only were we out of practice, but I did things as I would have for any other day of charter fishing. I guided the line for my angler. Common practice for charter fishing, but a blatant infraction of the International Game Fishing Association angling rules. We would have to disqualify our fish. So we went to the scales, and as luck would have it, our fish was not big enough to qualify. I was saved the embarrassment of having to DQ my fish on my very first trip to the WMO scales and I learned a lesson that I will never forget.
I tournament fish quite a bit these days. Over the years, I have helped start 6 tournaments, 4 of which have been successful and are big parts of the Ocean City fishing calendar. I have made it my business to know the rules of every tournament I fish. At the start of each tournament, I go over the rules with my anglers. My father, our team, mate Chris Evans and myself talk about what we can and can’t do before each event. We do our best to make sure that we follow all of the rules. When we are not tournament fishing, Chris and I even review videos that people share on Facebook and we count the infractions we see. Now, I am not saying that people intentionally cheat all the time, but unfortunately there is quite a bit of cheating that goes on, and most of the time people are not even aware that they are doing it. With that in mind I am going to list some of the common scenarios that are against the rules in most tournaments. I say “most” because there are some tournaments that are free for alls as far as the rules go, but most are not. Make it your business to know the rules before you fish any event.
One of my biggest pet peeves, and against IGFA rules, is when a mate grabs the double-line to pull the leader within reach. Or even more annoying to me is when a mate grabs the rod tip to pull the leader within his reach. Both of these are not allowed. The mate is allowed to grab the leader once it is within reach, or once the swivel or knot touches the rod tip, but the double-line can NOT be grabbed, nor can the rod. Period.
Another very common rule that is broken is leader length. When using 30 pound test or heavier mainline, the length of the leader cannot exceed 30-feet, per IGFA rules. If using a double-line, the combined length of the leader and the double-line cannot exceed 40-feet. Many tuna fishing crews like to use exceptionally long leaders - 60-feet for example. This is fine when recreational fishing or non-tournament fishing, but in a tournament that does not specify otherwise, the length of the leader cannot exceed 30-feet, no matter what species you are fishing for. I make my leaders 28-feet long to allow for any stretch in the leader material.
Most of the tournaments in Ocean City are what is referred to as “Hook and Hand”. What this means is that someone other than the angler may hook the fish and then pass the rod to the angler. From then on, the angler must fight the fish unassisted, unless otherwise specified by the tournament rules. My earlier mentioned screw-up of guiding the line breaks this rule. Another time this rule is broken is when a rod is fished from the Flying Bridge. If the captain hooks the fish from the bridge, the rod must be passed to the angler only. Not to the mate and then the angler. This is another one that I see broken all the time.
Any tournament that offers a prize for white marlin is under federal mandate to require the use of non-offset circle hooks in natural baits or natural bait/lure combinations. This has been in effect for many years now. I often hear anglers say that they are not targeting marlin, rather they are targeting tuna, so they can use J-hooks in their ballyhoo. NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO!!!! I don’t care what you are fishing for! If the tournament has a white marlin category, you have to use circle hooks in any type of natural bait scenario. PERIOD... END OF DISCUSSION.
Here are 2 things that most people do not realize are rule infractions.
Number 1 - Gaffs cannot exceed 8-feet in length. Somewhere in the past 15-years, long gaffs became really popular when targeting tuna. Make sure you put those away when tourney fishing.
Number 2 is line breaking strength. If you are fishing a tournament that follows IGFA rules, the main line, or any backing that is attached to the mainline, cannot exceed 130 lb. test. Many of the lines rated at 130 lbs. actually break at higher than 130 lbs. You cannot use these for your main line. If you are unsure, do an internet search or call the line company. I can tell you that most non-tournament lines break at more than they are rated. Lines that are classified as “tournament” grade usually break at less than their rating. Using braided line as backing on the reels is also very popular. Make sure that your braid does not exceed 130 lbs. If you have 200 lb. braid as backing on your 50’s or 80’s, and your mainline is spliced directly into it, you are breaking the rules in an IGFA based tournament.
One last item. Unless otherwise stated by the tournament, spreader bars with hooks in them are not permitted per the IGFA rules. In order to be legal in a strict IGFA interpretation, the spreader bar must be on a break away, or some sort of release must be employed to allow the fish to be fought without the spreader bar attached to the mainline. Bet ya didn’t know that one! The IGFA maintains that the bar hampers the fish’s ability to fight.
I sincerely hope that you found this article informative. I know there have been some recent events in local tournaments and to be honest, that is what prompted me to write this. I am not pointing the finger or laying blame at anyone in the White Marlin Open or in the Poor Girls Open. I didn’t see what happened in either of those events and I do not know what happened. I just hope that both situations are resolved and the events are able to move on without issue in the future.
In closing this week, and fittingly in a story about integrity and following the rules, you may remember that I put out a challenge to our readers that if $500 or more was donated to the OC Reef Foundation, I would provide pictures of me with the very first fish I ever caught (with me in my skivvies). This past week that goal was met, so here is the picture! Laugh away and have all the fun you want at my expense, but please, keep donating. The Reef Foundation is worth it!!!
Capt. Franky Pettolina is Co-Captain of the charter boat, “Last Call” and President of the Ocean City Marlin Club.
