Taittinger & Tails Ladies Only Tournament Rules

While all efforts are made to keep this information current, all published rules shall be considered unofficial. Official rules will be distributed and announced at the registration check-in and captains meeting. All participants agree to the terms of these rules by participating in the tournament.

General Rules

THE TOURNAMENT
The Taittinger & Tails Ladies Only Tournament is a one-day billfish release tournament open to female anglers aged 18 and older. This is a team-based competition, with payouts awarded to the top three teams. The top three highest-scoring female anglers will receive trophy and prize packages. Eligible species include blue marlin, white marlin, spearfish, and sailfish.

ENTRY
The entry fee is $1,500 per boat. From each entry, $250 will be donated to P.A.L.S. Cancer Care in Bermuda. 75% of the remaining $1,250 will be awarded to the top three teams, with payouts distributed at 50 / 30 / 20.

The entry fee covers the participation of the boat and access to all planned entertainment and social activities for up to six(6) participants. Non-angler participation ticket packages can be purchased for $100 per person. Guests of anglers are welcome, but are required to purchase participation tickets for entry to all planned social functions.

The tournament committee reserves the right to deny tournament entry to any individual, organization or corporation.

REGISTRATION
In-person registration will close at 8:00 p.m. on July 3, 2026, in conjunction with the Bermuda Billfish Blast registration event. Late registration will be accepted online only via CatchStat from July 3 through 8:00 p.m. on July 8. No registrations will be accepted after this time.

Teams registering after July 3 are responsible for coordinating with tournament officials to obtain team packets and release verification cards.

This event will not hold a rules meeting. By registering, all participating teams agree to abide by the Final Rules as published on taittingerandtails.com at 8:00 p.m. on July 8.

CANCELLATION POLICY
In an effort to receive early registrations, the tournament will allow participants to cancel pre-registration until 8pm on July 3. After that time, no refunds will be given.

BOAT AND CREW REQUIREMENTS
Each team must designate a Primary Contact who is able to make decisions for the team. The representative must provide a cell phone number and email address. All correspondence will be sent to the Primary Contact.

Without exception, each boat must have one designated boat captain and at least one designated mate aboard. Designated captains and mates can also be registered anglers. Boats may receive aid from other boats due to mechanical failure. Teams and boats are NOT allowed to receive assistance in landing or releasing fish.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

July 3, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm – Final in-person registration will be held at the Hamilton Princess Harborview Ballroom in conjunction with the Bermuda Billfish Blast.
July 4 – 8 – Online registration is available via CatchStat. Registration will close at 8:00 p.m. on July 8.
July 9
- 8:30 am – Lines In
- 3:30 pm – Lines Out
- 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm – Release video check-in will take place at the Hamilton Princess.
- 6:30 pm – The Awards Banquet will take place at The Cloud on the 3rd Floor of Wellesley House, with champagne and heavy hors d’oeuvres served.

Angling Rules

ELIGIBLE SPECIES
Blue marlin, white marlin, spearfish, and sailfish.

ANGLING RULES
IGFA tackle rules apply in this tournament unless otherwise stated (see release rules for scoring points). This is a hook and hand tournament; if necessary, anglers are allowed to pass the rod or receive assistance when fighting fish.

BILLFISH SCORING SYSTEM
Five-hundred (500) points rewarded for every blue marlin officially released. Two hundred (100) points for every white marlin, spearfish or sailfish officially released. In the event of a rod pass between anglers, the angler fighting the fish at the time of release will receive the points.

BILLFISH RELEASE RULES
All teams are responsible for providing and operating their own video equipment to verify billfish releases. Video recording devices must be set to the correct Bermuda date and time and synchronized with official tournament time.

Teams will be informed prior to the start of fishing of the specific release card to be used. Release cards are included in each team packet, and teams are asked to ensure they are on board.

To score an official release, a single continuous video must include:

Clear identification of the species
Leader/mainline connection clearly visible inside the rod tip, swivel reeled all the way to the rod tip, OR a team member touching the leader while the fish is still hooked
Display the catch control card of the tournament
Full release of the fish, showing the line being cut, hook removed, or fish swimming away freely
Identify the time and date of the catch;

CATCH REPORT AFFIDAVIT
All releases to be considered for points must be recorded on the official catch-report affidavit sheet provided. The official time, species, release number, and angler’s name must be clearly noted on the affidavit. Each angler and the boat captain are required to sign the completed form.

Catch-report affidavit sheets must be submitted at the Hamilton Princess by 5:00 p.m. on July 9. In the event of a tie, the team that reaches the highest score first will be declared the winner.

SONAR
Sonars are not permitted to be deployed prior to lines in at 8:30 AM.

LINE
For the Taittinger & Tails Ladies Only Tournament, fishing line is 130-pound-test maximum; tournament or non-tournament lines are eligible. If the stated line test is 130-pound or less on the label, it is allowed in the tournament. The catch shall be classified under the breaking strength of the first five meters of line directly preceding the double line, leader or hook. This section must consist of a single, homogenous piece of line.

LEADERS
The length of the leader is the overall length, including any lure or hook arrangement. In all line classes exceeding 20-pound (10 kg), the leader shall be limited to 30 feet (9.14 meters). The combined length of the double line and the leader shall not exceed 40 feet (12.19 meters) total. The tournament committee holds the right to examine any hook-sets, line and/or leaders at any time during the event. Refusal to allow the committee to examine any hook-sets, line and/or leaders will result in immediate disqualification from the event without a refund of any jackpot or registration fees.

RODS
Unlimited in use or numbers.

TEASERS
Unlimited in use or numbers.

BAITS
Live bait, dead bait, lures and any combination thereof are permitted in this tournament.

HOOKS
All tournament participants must use non-offset circle hooks for all species whenever natural baits or natural-bait/artificial-lure combinations are used.

FISHING HOURS
Lines-In is 8:30 AM. Lines-Out is 3:30 PM. The Tournament Committee may adjust starting or ending times if necessary.

RADIO/COMMUNICATIONS
The official tournament channel will be 7 International. The tournament control’s time will act as the official time for the start, catch-and-release and end of fishing each day without exception. A radio start will take place at 8:30 a.m. All billfish hookups, releases and lost fish must be reported to tournament control, along with the boat name, angler name and fish species.

FIGHTING TIMES
In the event of a late hookup and fight that continues beyond Lines Out, teams will be allowed to continue the fight for one additional hour. No release points will be awarded after 4:30 pm, regardless of outcome.

RELEASE VIDEO CHECK-IN
The release video check in is at the Hamilton Princess, no later than 5:00 pm. Teams are responsible for providing all required documentation to tournament officials.

WEATHER
There is no weather committee. The tournament is conducted on a fish-at-your-own-risk basis. If any portion of the tournament is fished and a team(s) lands or releases fish that match the tournament’s eligible species and minimum weight limits, then prizes will be awarded.

PROTESTS
Participants may lodge protests against any catch which they believe was not made in accordance with these rules. All protests must be stated in writing and accompanied by a $500 nonrefundable fee. The tournament judges may call a protest hearing at their discretion; a protest hearing is not guaranteed. All protests will be settled on the day of the incident. All protests must be in the hands of the tournament’s designated rules official by 5:00 p.m. on the day of the alleged incident.

The protest party, as well as the accused team members, captain and crew, must be present at any official protest hearing. The tournament committee may refuse to consider any protest evidence not submitted at the protest hearing in the presence of the protested team. If the protesting or protested team fails to show up for the protest hearing, that team forfeits its right to submit evidence. Decisions of the tournament organizers with regard to protests are final, nonappealable, and nonjusticiable.

SPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT
All participants are expected to maintain a reasonable and sportsmanlike demeanor at all times throughout the tournament. Unsportsmanlike or threatening conduct towards tournament organizers or other participants, or any other behavior which the tournament organizers deem inappropriate, in their sole discretion, will result in immediate disqualification of the entire team with no refund of entry fees.

TOURNAMENT CONTACT INFO

Michelle Gaylord, Tournament Director
[email protected]

APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION AND FULL RELEASE OF LIABILITY AND ASSUMPTION OF RISK

READ CAREFULLY! This Release affects your legal rights and its completion is a prerequisite for your enrollment and participation in the Taittinger & Tails Ladies Only Tournament (the “Tournament”). Your entry indicates your FULL acceptance of these terms.

By entering the Taittinger & Tails Ladies Only tournament and paying the entry fees, I AGREE AS FOLLOWS: I am applying to participate in the Tournament; acceptance of my application is at the sole discretion of the Tournament organizers. In consideration of being permitted to apply for, enroll or participate in the Tournament and such activities as may be arranged for me in connection with such application, enrollment and participation (collectively, the “Tournament Activities”), individually for myself and on behalf of my personal representatives, heirs, assigns, executors, administrators, and next of kin, and as the vessel’s master (if I am the vessel’s master):

I hereby acknowledge that the Tournament Activities are dangerous and hazardous, and may entail the risk of serious injury, death, and property or economic damage. I understand that the risks include, but are not limited to, dangers posed by inclement weather and the inherent risks posed by game fishing. I hereby fully assume all non-economic and economic risks posed to me by my enrollment and participation in the Tournament Activities, whether those risks are known or not and whether those risks are foreseen or not. I hereby release and discharge the Tournament, its sponsors and Bonnier LLC; each of their respective parent companies, subsidiaries, and affiliated companies; the officers, employees, associates, agents, and contractors of all of the foregoing; all other Tournament participants; and all location owners and operators (collectively, the “Releasees”) of and from any and all claims, suits, causes of action, obligations, liabilities, debts, costs, damages, or demands of every kind and nature which I now have or which may arise from or in connection with my enrollment and participation in the Tournament Activities, whether or not caused or contributed to by the negligence of the Releasees or the manner in which the Tournament is conducted by the Releasees. ALL TOURNAMENT PARTICIPANTS ARE ADVISED TO OBTAIN THEIR OWN INSURANCE COVERAGE.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, I hereby agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Releasees, their heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives, successors, assigns, and parent organizations from any damages, costs, expenses, or liabilities, including but not limited to reasonable attorney fees or other professional fees, resulting from or in any way connected with the risk posed by the Tournament or Tournament Activities, and regardless of whether those risks were caused in full or in part by a party indemnified hereunder.
I agree that this Release supersedes any other agreements, written or oral, between the parties and is governed by the laws of Florida. I intend this release to be interpreted as broadly as possible, and if any portion of this Release is held invalid, I intend the remainder to continue in full legal force and effect.
I acknowledge receipt of the rules of the Tournament and I agree to fully abide thereby. I further agree that: (i) I will abide by and accept all decisions made by the Tournament organizers or any representative of the Tournament organizers in connection with my application, enrollment, or participation in the Tournament; (ii) all such decisions will be final, non-appealable, and in the sole discretion of the Tournament organizers or their representatives; and (iii) any economic or non-economic consequences to me as a result of such decisions are within the scope of the foregoing release.

I HAVE READ THIS RELEASE AND FULLY UNDERSTAND ITS TERMS. I UNDERSTAND THAT I HAVE GIVEN UP SUBSTANTIAL LEGAL RIGHTS BY SIGNING IT. MY ACCEPTANCE AND TOURNAMENT ENTRY IS GIVEN VOLUNTARILY, WITHOUT ANY INDUCEMENT OR ASSURANCE BEING MADE TO ME, AND I INTEND MY ENTRY TO BE A COMPLETE AND UNCONDITIONAL RELEASE OF ALL LIABILITY TO THE GREATEST EXTENT ALLOWED BY LAW.

Participants in Tournaments are advised to obtain their own insurance covering them and their vessel’s participation. By entering the tournament, I hereby affirm receipt of the rules of the Tournament. I also affirm that I will abide by and accept all decisions made by the Tournament committee.

PUBLICITY RELEASE

In consideration for being permitted to enroll and participate in the Taittinger & Tails Ladies Only tournament (the “Tournament”), I hereby agree to the following terms:

I grant the Tournament, Bonnier LLC, and their respective licensees, affiliates, successors and assigns (collectively, the “Licensed Parties”) the unrestricted, irrevocable, and perpetual worldwide right to record, copy, reproduce, publish, exhibit, perform and otherwise exploit (collectively, “use”), and license others to use in any and all media now existing and hereinafter developed, without payment of additional compensation, my appearance, name, likeness, voice, and statements that I make in interviews connected with the Tournament, and any photographic, video or audio materials that I create during my participation in the Tournament (collectively, the “Property”), for any purpose, including but not limited to advertising and promotion. I hereby waive any right to inspect or approve any use of the Property or any materials including the Property.
The Licensed Parties shall have no liability to me relating to the use or publication, as set forth herein, of the Property for any reason. For myself and on behalf of my personal representatives, heirs, assigns, executors, administrators, and next of kin, I hereby irrevocably release and exempt the Licensed Parties from and against all actions, claims and demands that I now have or may have in the future arising from or relating to any such use or publication of the Property.
Nothing herein obligates the Licensed Parties to make any use of any of the rights set forth herein. The rights granted shall not revert to me by reason of the Licensed Parties’ lack of use, and are irrevocable.
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