IGFA Rules Question

[Squidnation]

I was watching a video of a blue marlin being wired. The intent is to kill the fish. The mate grabbed the leader according to IGFA rules. Then had to let go of the leader. fish comes around again and the mate grabs the main line then the leader. Is this a violation? I think it is. The intent is to kill fish so their is no "getting the release" on the fish. Shouldn't this fish be dq'd regardless of weather they got it or not.

[FAT CAT MX]

If it was a world record catch and the IGFA saw the main line touched, they would not a grant world record, as the rules were violated.

[Patudo]

If the tournament is being fished by IGFA rules then yes it is a DQ as the main line cannot be held by anyone other than the angler at any time.

[Mike15]

The mate can grab the leader, but he cannot grab the main line...HOWEVER..look at IGFA definition of leader below...

"The leader on all classes of tackle over 20 lb (10 kg) shall be limited to 30 feet (9.14 meters). The combined length of the double line and leader shall be limited to 40 feet (12.19 meters)."

For tackle over 20lbs the "leader" is defined as the first 30 feet from the hook. The leader cannot be longer than 30 feet. Therefore, if a leader is only 12 feet long, the mate has the liberty of grabbing anything he wants as long as it is 30 feet or less from the hook. Because according to the rules, anything within 30 feet of the hook can be considered leader. And the main line is less pound test than the leader, so there is no advantage.

7. When angling from a boat, once the leader is brought within
the grasp of the mate, or the end of the leader is wound to the rod tip,
more than one person is permitted to hold the leader.

[Mike15]

I was watching a video of a blue marlin being wired. The intent is to kill the fish. The mate grabbed the leader according to IGFA rules. Then had to let go of the leader. fish comes around again and the mate grabs the main line then the leader. Is this a violation? I think it is. The intent is to kill fish so their is no "getting the release" on the fish. Shouldn't this fish be dq'd regardless of weather they got it or not.

So to answer this question - No, if the point in the main line where the mate grabbed is less than 30 feet from the hook the fish is legal. If he grabbed the main line over 30 feet from the hook, the fish is illegal.

[kaveman]

So to answer this question - No, if the point in the main line where the mate grabbed is less than 30 feet from the hook the fish is legal. If he grabbed the main line over 30 feet from the hook, the fish is illegal.

Sorry Mike15... but the leader is the leader length you make it.Not the 30ft from hook.
Regulations clearly state that "the leader measurement is taken from the end of knot where it is attached to the mainline to end of hook"
Mainline can never be touched by anyone other than the angler, or DQ
If you decide to use 3ft leaders, that is all you can wire a fish on.

[Mike15]

Sorry Mike15... but the leader is the leader length you make it.Not the 30ft from hook.
Regulations clearly state that "the leader measurement is taken from the end of knot where it is attached to the mainline to end of hook"
Mainline can never be touched by anyone other than the angler, or DQ
If you decide to use 3ft leaders, that is all you can wire a fish on.

Just double checked the rules a few minutes before I posted. Above in bold is the definition of a "leader" from the IGFA.

See here for yourself...2009 copy of the rules right from the IGFA website...

http://www.igfa.org/PDF/InternationalAnglingRules09.pdf


Your saying that if one ties a hook directly to the main line then he is not allowed to leader the fish...That doesn't make much sense to me. There is no interpretation of this in the rules, but the rules I posted are right. I copied and pasted them right right from the IGFA.

[canyongear]

Rod, Reel, Mainline or Double Leader can never be touched by anyone or anything other than the angler during the fight. DQ.

Angling Regulations:

The following acts will disqualify a fish -
see #2

[Mike15]

Rod, Reel, Mainline or Double Leader can never be touched by anyone or anything other than the angler during the fight. DQ.

Angling Regulations:

The following acts will disqualify a fish -
see #2

Thanks Canyongear but that is not what is at debate. What is at debate is a what happens when there is no leader or the leader is less then the 30 foot maximum.

[canyongear]

"Then had to let go of the leader. fish comes around again and the mate grabs the main line then the leader. Is this a violation? I think it is. The intent is to kill fish so their is no "getting the release" on the fish. Shouldn't this fish be dq'd regardless of weather they got it or not."

Umm, not the way I read the question...