Participate in the Tuna Tournament

We welcome any and all fisherman to sign up to participate in the Make-A-Wish Tuna Challenge. The Kona Kai Anglers and Silver Gate Yacht Club are hosting their annual Tuna Challenge and 100% of the proceeds from this tournament will be donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of San Diego.

We have two openings on the Dominator at $185 each. Please contact Pete Saridakis at 619-672-7089 for reservations.

Image of two people catching a fish

Early Bird Signup Special

All anglers signed up, paid in full, and postmarked before the deadline - Saturday, July 18th - are eligible for a $1,000 worth of Mega Raffle Tickets.

Rules and Information

Rules are subject to change prior to the captains meeting on September 5, 2008

Captains Meeting

Friday, September 5, 2008 @ 6:00 PM at Silver Gate Yacht Club, 2091 Shelter Island Drive, San Diego.  Check in will begin at 4:00 PM.  One team member must be present for registration & the meeting that will start promptly at 6:00 PM.  This applies to teams fishing in the Charterboat division as well.  All teams not checked in prior to 6:00 PM will have to check in after the Captains Meeting concludes.  Due to space limitations, please limit attendance to one member!

Lines in

5:00 AM, Saturday, September 6, 2008

Fishing Area

In those waters of the Pacific Ocean between a line running due East and West from the Southern tip of San Martin Island in the South to a similar line running due East and West from the Northern tip of San Miguel Island in the North.  Boats may depart from any Southern California port or Ensenada, but must return to either San Diego Bay or Mission Bay via water in order to be eligible for weigh-in.

Divisions

There will be (3) divisions in 2008:  Smaller Boats (less than 29 feet), Larger Boats (29 feet or greater) and the newly formed Charterboat division (“6-Pack Charter Boats and Chartered Sportboats).  Each division will have its own set of individual angler awards although only participating anglers in either the Smaller Boats or Larger Boats division are eligible to win the Richard Thomas Memorial Grand Prize Award and/or the Super Grand Prize (if awarded).

Teams

A team consists of as many paid anglers per boat as the team desires.  Regardless of the number of team members, only the four largest scoring fish will count towards the team prize.  Team championship jackets will be awarded to each paid angler on the high team in each division.  Charterboat division participants are excluded from team award considerations.

Crew

Captains, deckhands or guests may gaff, chum, run the boat, etc.  They may not clear trolling lines and shall not touch any rod or reel while there is a line in the water.

Weigh In

All eligible fish must be weighed in from the boat of entry at either the San Diego Marlin Club or Dana Landing Market & Fuel Dock in Mission Bay no later than 10:00 AM, Sunday, September 7th, 2008.  Trailer boats are not permitted to remove their boat from the water and drive the boat to a weigh in station for the purpose of weighing fish.  The only exception to the fish removal rule is that any anglers fishing on a Chartered Sportboat will be allowed to bring their fish to either weigh station via car after placing a specially marked tag on their fish.  This will best accommodate any participating Sportboats arriving to the docks in the middle of the night, while preserving equity in weigh in procedures.  Please note that anglers fishing on a Chartered “6-Pack” boat must follow regular weigh in procedures.  Scales will be open from 4:00 PM-10:00 PM on Saturday the 6th and 7:00 AM-10:00 AM on Sunday the 7th.  (Fish identification & final weigh in details will be announced at the captains meeting).

Point System

Tuna (Blue Fin, Yellow Fin, Big Eye, Albacore and Skipjack) shall receive one point per pound. Yellowtail and Dorado shall receive ½ point per pound.  Billfish (Swordfish and Spearfish) shall receive ¼ point per pound.  Marlin scoring will defined in the paragraph below.  No other fish will qualify.  For individual awards, only the largest scoring fish for each angler will be eligible for an award.  For the team award (if applicable), the four highest scoring fish for the entire team will count towards determining the team point total.  All qualifying fish will count whether they are caught on the troll or via other method.

Points (Marlin)

Marlin points may only be accrued in a release format.  In addition, there will be a limit of 1 marlin per team that may accrue points.  A released marlin will be credited for 120 pounds or 30 points.  In order to receive credit for a marlin release, you must successfully photograph a crew member with the leader in hand AND the marlin in the same photograph OR a crew member holding the bill of the marlin.  Photographs that do not meet this burden of proof will lead to the disqualification of the fish.  Each team is encouraged to use a personal digital camera (but may also use a disposable camera).  Digital camera cards marked with the owner’s name must be turned in at the time of weigh in of the rest of the team’s catch (and will be returned to the captain shortly thereafter).  All captains will be instructed to photograph an item TBA prior to the commencement of fishing.  Marlin will not be weighed in for Tuna Challenge purposes.  In addition, marlin will not be considered for points accrual in the Charterboat division.

Ladies Award

The lady angler catching the highest point scoring fish will be eligible for a special prize.  Should the winner also qualify for an adult individual award, they will be allowed to retain their right to this award as they are paying the adult entry fee.  Only lady anglers from the Smaller Boats and Larger Boats divisions are eligible for this prize

Juniors Category

The Juniors Category is for children fishing aboard a boat in the Smaller Boats or Larger Boats divisions and who are aged 15 y/o and younger as of September 5th.  Junior anglers are eligible only for the junior prizes unless they pay the adult entry fee.  They may be a member of a team entry (does not apply to Sportboat participants) and therefore be eligible for the team jackets.  A junior can participate in the adult category by paying the adult entry fee, however, should they qualify for an adult individual award they will forfeit their right to a junior award.  There will be two junior divisions in 2008:  Juniors aged 11 y/o and younger as of 9/5/08 & Juniors aged 12 y/o-15 y/o as of 9/5/08.

Outboard Award

The Smaller Boat Division private boat team who catches the highest point scoring fish and whose boat is powered by an outboard motor will be eligible for a special prize.  Teams must specify this designation on the application in order to be eligible.  Inboard/outboard powered boats do not qualify for this division.

Licenses

All Anglers shall abide by California and Mexican rules regarding permits and licenses. In addition, all anglers are encouraged to abide by bag limits from each respective agency.

Angling Rules

IGFA Standards will apply with the exception that double and treble trolling hooks are allowed.  In the event that there is a qualifying catch for the Super Grand Prize (if available), IGFA Rules must be followed with the above exception of the use of double and treble trolling hooks.

Protests

The protest committee will be announced prior to the Captain’s meeting.

Awards Banquet:

10:00 AM, Sunday, September 7th, 2008 at Silver Gate Yacht Club.  The banquet will include presentation of tournament awards, a mega raffle and silent/live auction.  Parking will be available in the parking lots across the street from Silver Gate Yacht Club and via shuttle from the island.

 Tuna Seminar:   

A pre-tournament tuna seminar will be held Thursday, August 14th @ 7:00 PM at Silver Gate Yacht Club.  Panelists are to be determined.  The seminar will be free to the public and will offer the opportunity for anglers to sign up before the early entry deadline.  Tournament dinner tickets and banquet raffle tickets will be available for purchase. A free drawing for door prizes for all in attendance will be conducted.

All anglers will receive a participation bag, tournament t-shirt and banquet ticket.  See application for entry fee, t-shirt, hat and extra banquet ticket information.  Entries submitted on or before July 18th will receive one raffle ticket per paid angler, which will make them eligible for the early bird prize.

Please make checks payable to “Tuna Challenge 2008.”  No entry refunds will be offered after 8/14/08.

Due to space limitations, entries to this event may have to be limited to the first 150 boats and/or first 600 anglers.  Please enter your application early to secure your position.

ALL FORMS MAY BE DOWNLOADED FROM THE TOP OF THE PAGE - TOP

Make-A-Wish Tuna Challenge Chair: Tom Drake
(858) 279-0010 or email:  draketr@ntasd.com

Fishing Tournament Chair: Kevan Branchfield email:  noahstackle@sbcglobal.net            

Important 2008 Dates



Sign up to Participate

This year we have created a Charter Boat Division which will replace the Sportboat Division. Individuals interested in participating in this division may organize their charters (including 6-Pacs) and compete for their own prizes. 

If you will be fishing on a Private Boat you may download and mail in our 2008 Private Boat Application (PDF). If you will be fishing on a Charter Boat you may download and mail in our  2008 Charter Boat Application (PDF).

This year, special Fuel Certificate Awards will be given to the Boat Captain’s of the  1st-4th Place winners in the Small and Large Private Boat Division. The special fuel awards will be:  $500 for 1st Place, $400 for 2nd Place, and $300 for 3rd Place, and $300 for 4th place and are for this year only.   These Special Fuel Certificates will be redeemable at Pearson’s Fuel Dock on Shelter Island, San Diego.

Review the Rules

 You may download the 2008 Tournament Rules (PDF) at any time. Please make sure that you and your fellow anglers have read over them.

Looking for a Team Member

Are you an angler who doesn't have a boat but wants to fish the tournament? Are you a skipper who needs an extra angler onboard? Please attend the Pre-Tournament Seminar to find other interested members.

 

Still Have Questions

For Tuna Challenge Tournament Inquiries please contact Tom Drake.

Tuna Challenge Seminar

Thursday, August 14, 2008 - 7PM

This special seminar is open to the public and affords anglers the opportunity to hear from experts in sportfishing related activities. Tournament registration begins at 5PM followed by hamburgers, hotdog's, and an open bar (no host) at 5:30PM. This is a great seminar to attend if you are looking for extra crew members or a boat to participate in the tournament on.

Every person in attendance will receive a free ticket to participate in a special raffle at this seminar.

On Thursday evening, August 14, the Make-A-Wish Tuna Challenge Tournament will host it's 7th Annual TUNA SEMINAR, at Silver Gate Yacht Club on Shelter Island, San Diego.   This annual event is a great opportunity for Tournament Anglers to learn about the latest techniques and equipment available for catching Tuna.  It is Free and we invite all interested Anglers whether they are fishing in the Tuna Challenge Tournament or not, to come and participate.  A free drawing for door prizes for all in attendance will be conducted.

 The Tuna Seminar takes place from 7-9 P.M. and  we are happy to welcome two very knowledgeable experts in Southern California Fishing, who will demonstrate the many different ways to fish for and catch Tuna from Small and Large Private Boats as well as from Sport Boats.  Our Special experts are:  Ray Lowry, Pro-Staffer with Shimano American Corporation, and Bobby Woodard, Jr., Pro-Staffer with Izorline.

 This is the last opportunity to register at the early entry Tournament prices, so  the Registration desk will open at 4:00 P.M. and there will be a casual dinner available for a small fee and an open bar.  Tournament Dinner Tickets, Banquet Raffle Tickets, and Boat Raffle Tickets will be available for purchase.  For additional information,  please contact Tom Drake at: (858) 279-0010