Tuna Comp

45th ANNUAL TUNA & SPORTSFISH

We have moved with the times and commenced an on line Tuna Competition Entry form and this is the only way to enter. It is very simple and takes all the guesswork out of it. Trying to interpret some of the handwriting was a challenge and I recon a lot of us should have been doctors.

To enter, simply scan the attached QR code and follow the prompts. Should this not be possible for some reason, contact a committee member who will assist you.

 Download the 45th Tournament Booklet later.

We look forward to you joining us for the upcoming Tuna and Sportsfish Tournament to be held from 2nd-9th May 2026. Below I have included some information for the Tournament and some key timings, dates, and rules. The PMOAC has been working hard to bring together another successful Tuna and Sportsfish Tournament to our shores. Following last year’s great turn out of competitors and some quite exceptional catches, we are hopeful that this year’s 45th Tournament will be one to remember. Above all else, please let’s make it a safe event. So, check your safety equipment, radios and boat and have a very safe and enjoyable week.
Liam McKinnon
President
Tournament Enquiries:
Liam McKinnon: President. 0478149201.
Lachie Charlton: Vice President. 0498162832.
Glen Sparks: Secretary. 0419866670.
Lorraine Burston: Treasurer. 0405042359.
Tournament Committee
Weigh Master: Tyson Kain
Weigh-In MC: Tom Egan
Tag Master: Glen Sparks
Tournament Liaison: Lachie Charlton

Facilities at Port MacDonnell:

• A well serviced 4 lane boat ramps
• Floating service jetties
• Washdown area and fish cleaning facility
• Extensive parking areas for both cares and trailers

Pre-Tournament Briefing Session
All competitors, boat skippers or a representative must attend the briefing session at the Port Macdonnell Offshore Angling Clubrooms at 7PM on Friday st May 2026 as the briefing will provide additional Tournament information and relevant safety updates. The briefing will cover aspects such as, a resume of the Tournament rules and conditions, detailed marine radio monitoring service and rescue facilities, information concerning ramp procedures, critical timings (start, weigh-in) and offering all competitors the opportunity to ask and questions concerning the Tournament. For those requiring them, grid maps will be available at the briefing session for boat skippers to facilitate safety radio schedules during the Tournament.

Fishing, Boating, Road Safety Rules
Recreational boating safety in South Australia is controlled and managed by the Marine Safety Section of Transport S.A. Please note that you will require a current boat licence to operate a motorboat in S.A.

Boat Classes
The PMOAC Tuna and Sportsfish Tournament operates a boat class system. You will have signed up to and identified your boat as one of the following classes:

• Class 1: Under 6.5 meters.
• Class 2: 6.5 - 7.5 meters.
• Class 3: Over 7.5 meters.

EVENTS:

• Friday 1 May - 7 PM: Tournament Briefing Night - PMOAC Clubrooms.
• Saturday 2 May – 8 AM: Flare Start; and boats are permitted to depart the Port MacDonnell harbour breakwater.
• Monday 4 May: Victoria Hotel (Bay Pub: 5 PM till close $1 drinks discount and $5 food discount.
• Wednesday 6 May: Fellowship Night Bay Football Club. Meals and drinks.
• Saturday 9 May: Tournament Presentation Night Port MacDonnell Football Club - 6.30 PM. Kitchen and bar facilities. Lucky Entrant Prize $5,000.00 for Tournament entrants: and you must be present in the Football Club rooms to win the prize.

TOURNAMENT RULES

FISHING RULES:  G.F.A.A. Game fish rules apply to all captures and equipment.

LINE CLASS: G.F.A.A. line classes: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 15, 24, 37 and 60kg are recognised. The Committee reserves the right to call for any line to be tested. Braid
line captures are accepted for heaviest of species only.

QUALIFICATIONS: The Tournament is open to all competitors who are financial members of the Port MacDonnell Offshore Angling Club or any other club which is
affiliated with the S.A.G.F.A. and G.F.A.A and I.G.F.A. However, Tournament fees apply.

ADJUDICATION. The Committee of the P.M.O.A.C shall be the sole adjudicator of all rules and conditions of the Tournament. Their rules shall be final and binding on all competitors. No correspondence or discussion will be entertained on the subject. The Committee also reserves the right to disqualify any boat, or competitor who does not comply with these strict boundaries and rules or, who behaves in a manner that is deemed by the Committee to bring the PMOAC / and or the Tournament into disrepute.

BURLEYING: No berleying for sharks is permitted within 4 km of any Port Macdonnell swimming / surfing beach.

TOURNAMENT FISHING TIMES:  Commencement of the Tournament is from the flare start at 08:00 AM Saturday morning 2 May 2026 and will conclude at 13:00 PM
on Saturday afternoon 9 May 2026.

BAD WEATHER: If the weather forecast (using BOM weather forecast only) is to blow equal to or more than 20 knots with 2.5 M or more swell, then the Committee may decide to restrict Tournament fishing to inshore only. If this is so, then no fish captured offshore will be weighed that day. Inshore (up to 2 nautical miles from shore) captures and tagged fish caught that day will only be accepted.

WATERS:  Competitors may fish between the hours stated above in the waters off Port MacDonnell. All boats must launch from, and return to, the Port MacDonnell boat ramp.

WEIGH-IN: Any species of fish caught for the Tournament must be weighed in on the day it was captured. No late weigh-in will be accepted.

ONE FISH ONE TROPHY:  The Committee applies a One-Fish-One-Trophy policy for the Tournament.

ALL SPECIES:  Only two fish of the same species can be weighed in on any one day of the Tournament by an individual competitor.

SHARKS: Sharks attract half points and must be at least twice the line class on which they were captured. Blue Whale Shark only attracts 10 points for tag and release. Current PIRSA restrictions apply to all shark and ray captures.

POINTS SCORING FORMULA: Weight of the fish X 100 Divided by the line class, will equal points. Sharks are half points.

SPECIES POINTS: 100 points will be awarded for the first of each different eligible fish species weighed or tagged by a competitor; THE EXCEPTION is Blue Whale Sharks - no species points.

GAME FISH: The Tournament is primarily a game fish Tournament conducted under I.G.F.A rules. To be eligible for major Tournament prizes game fish are to be at least
equal in weight to the line or tippet class used for the capture. Sharks and Rays must be at least twice the weight of the line or tippet.

SOUTHERN BLUEFIN TUNA: Tournament rules limit the weigh-in of Southern Bluefin Tuna and Albacore to 2 fish per competitor per day (Boat limits also apply). Refer to S.A. PIRSA fishing regulations.

FISH OF EVEN WEIGHT: The first fish to be caught, of the even weight fish, shall be deemed the winner of the prize.

TAG CARDS: Tag are available from the Tag Master (Glen Sparks). You can use tags already in your possession, but only original cards are to be presented. For competitors not from the PMOAC, all issued tag cards are to be returned to the Tag Master at the end of the Tournament.

TAG and RELEASE: Southern Bluefin Tuna and Albacore Tuna points are allocated on a sliding scale. If a tuna does not make line class the fish will only be awarded 50 points. Sharks: Mako and Thresher Sharks are awarded 500 points, Gummy Sharks and Tope are awarded 100 points. Blue Whaler Sharks are awarded 10 points, if they make double line class. Skipjack (Striped) Tuna - are awarded 50 points each. Tag and Release is not included in the highest point scoring Angler or Boat class awards. Tag cards are to be handed to the Weigh Master on the same day that the fish is tagged.

BOAT CLASS POINTS: 100 points are awarded for 1 of each listed species per boat. The highest line class points for G.F.A.A. species only (the fish must make line class).

HIGHEST POINTS SCORING ANGLER: 100 points is awarded for 1 of each listed species per boat. The highest line class points for the first of a G.F.A.A. species only
(the fish must make line class) The highest points for the first of any Club species.

RULES & CONDITIONS

ENTRY FEES: Adults $120.00: Children under 16 years $20.00. Both adults (Seniors)and children (Juniors) must be a member of an G.F.A.A. affiliated fishing club, to be able to claim a record capture for either a State, Australian or international record.

CONDUCT: It is expected that all participants will always conduct themselves in a responsible and respectable manner to all Tournament officials and fellow competitors throughout the Tournament: this includes on land and at sea. When conducting radio communications no obscene language should be used. The Committee expects that only professional and courteous radio dialogue to be used. Penalties for misconduct may include disqualification from the Tournament.

PROTESTS: Any protest of a Tournament official decision must be submitted in writing signed by the person affected and delivered to the PMOAC Secretary before the final weigh-in on Saturday 9 May 2026.

FISHING DAYS AND HOURS: No boat is permitted to leave the Port MacDonnell breakwater harbour entrance prior to the flare start at 08:00 AM on Saturday 2 May 2026.

SPECIES:  The following fish categories will attract points in the Tournament: All G.F.A.A. species, Southern Bluefin Tuna, Albacore, Sharks (those which are legal), Eagle ray, Mulloway, Australian Salmon.

SHARK ORDER OF MERIT: The order of merit for sharks is Mako, Thresher, Tope, Gummy.

MARINE RADIO: All boats must have an operational marine radio. The PMOAC operated a base radio station on 27 MHz and VHF. All boats are to report to PMOAC Base Station on departing the Port MacDonnell harbour and include the number of personnel on board and the same on return to harbour at the end of the days fishing. Whilst at sea scheduled radio checks are conducted twice daily during the Tournament at 11:00 AM and 14:00 PM. All boats must sign off by 16:00 PM. Penalties may apply for failure to comply with this critical safety procedure. The Club Radio Frequencies are:

• VHF: Club: 22
• 27 MHz: Club: 94
• 27 MHz: Coast Guard: 88

PRESENTATION OF PRIZES:  All prizes will be presented at the presentation dinner commencing at 6:30 on Saturday 9 May 2026, at the Port MacDonnell Football Club.

CLAIMING OF PRIZES:  Prizes can only be claimed at the presentation ceremony by the named winner. Failure to do so may result in forfeiture of the prize. The PMOAC accepts no responsibility for delivery of prizes.

SHIPBOARD SAFETY:  All boats proceeding over two (2) nautical miles from shore must have 2 personnel on board.

CATCHING A FISH:  Each competitor must hook and land their own fish, but may have assistance (e.g. gaff, gilling or the use of a landing net) if that assistance does not entail and handling of the rod, reel, or line above the leader/double prior to the fish being landed. Any breach renders that fish ineligible (refer to G.F.A.A. rules).

NO TREBLE HOOKS: The PMOAC recognises Tuna Champions ethics in catching and handling Southern Bluefin Tuna. To this end only Bluefin Tuna and Albacore caught on singe "J" or "circle" hooks will be accepted. Southern Bluefin Tuna and Albacore caught on treble hooks will be deemed as an ineligible capture in the Tournament.

PRESENTATION OF FISH: General Condition; all fish must be presented to the Weigh Master in an undamaged condition. Fish must be in fish boxes, cool bags, or Eskys etc. All visible tackle, including hooks and bait must be removed before weighing. All Southern Bluefin Tuna and Albacore mut be gutted and gilled (unless they are potential State/Australian/World records contenders); such fish can be weighed for record and then gutted and gilled and then weighed again for the Tournament. No live fish will be weighed. All fish must be presented to the Weigh Master to be recorded.

COMPLIANCE WITH SOUTH AUSTRALIAN REGULATIONS: All species caught must comply with PIRSA SA regulations: species, size, number, location, season
and regulatory reporting. It is the competitor’s responsibility to comply. Competitors must also comply with Port Authority regulations and any other relevant legislation and regulations in particular speed limits within the breakwater harbour and transit channel. It is the responsibility of competitors to be fully aware of regulations covering minimum size, bag limits and the requirement of appropriate boat licences and safety equipment.

COMPETITION TIMES:  All Tournament times covering departure of boats, close of entries, fishing hours and weigh in times will be strictly adhered to.

DECISIONS ARE FINAL: The decision of the Weigh Master and or Committee will be final.

BREACH OF RULES: Any competitor found to be in breach of these Rules and Conditions will be disqualified from the Tournament.