El Gouna Egyptian Fishing Cup Rules

Schedule DAYS & HOURS:

Wednesday October 16: The Captain’s Meeting is scheduled for 7 PM At Mazagouna “AbuTig Marina”.

Thursday October 17: All boats will head out to the sea from Abidos Marina at 8 AM.

Friday October 18: All boats at the sea sleeping over.

Saturday October 19: The award ceremony will take place at Abutig Marina at 3 PM, followed by lunch at Mazagona at 5 PM

GENERAL RULES

  • All IGFA International Angling Rules will be applied to all catch

  • Four anglers per team are permitted.

  • All anglers are required to fish 200 meters away from any reef.

  • All fish must be tagged and safely released.

  • A team representative must be in attendance of Captain’s meeting, and all participants are encouraged to join.
    If they do not attend, they accept and agree to be bound by all instructions and/or rule changes made orally or in writing during that meeting.

  • Please be aware that the Tournament’s Rules published on the web are to be considered provisional .The rules committee has right to make any changes during the captain's meeting.

  • Flags and advertisements are not permitted during the captain's meeting and award ceremony. Only sponsors are allowed to display advertisements. Any violation of these rules will result in team disqualification.

    BOUNDARIES

  • The tournament area will be communicated at the Captain’s meeting.

    ANGLING & EQUIPMENT

  • Line class of 60 lb will be distributed to all teams during the captain’s meeting

  • The use of backing is permissible per IGFA rules.

  • Top shots must be a minimum of 5 meters (16.5 feet) in length.

  • Leader length is limited to 9.14 meters (30 feet) including floats/corks and is measured to the bend of the last hook.

  • Double line length is limited to 9.14 meters (30 feet).

  • The combined length of the double line and leader shall not exceed 12.19 meters (40 feet).

  • No dead or live bait is allowed, only artificial lures can be used.

  • Harpoons are prohibited.

  • The use of diving boards are NOT permitted, only diving planers and downriggers are allowed.

  • During a fight with a fish, the angler is the only one permitted to handle the rod.

  • Team members are prohibited from rotating or passing the rod to each other while fighting the same fish. Furthermore, no one other than the angler should touch the rod at any point during the fight until the fish is tagged and released.

  • The tournament committee reserves the right to request line samples for all released and tagged fish submitted to the tournament.

  • It is absolutely forbidden to bring any billfish onboard for photography or any other reason. Doing so will result in disqualification of the catch, even if the fish is later released.

  • The tournament committee reserves the right to request line samples for any catches submitted to the tournament.

  • The Tournament’s committee has the right to disqualify any catch it sees unfit.

TOURNAMENT CATCH LIMITS, SPECIES & SCORING

  • Swordfish: 100 base points

  • Sailfish: 100 base points

  • Mahi mahi: 20 base points

  • King Fish : 15 base points

  • Barracuda: 15 base points.

Below Species calculation is:

Base points + length of fish divided by 10. For example, a 90 cm fish will score 90\10 = 9, then add the base points ( length are measured in cm ).

  • African Pompano: 20 base points + length of fish divided by 10.

  • Yellow spotted trevally: 10 base points + length of fish divided by 10.

  • Bluefin trevally: 20 base points + length of fish divided by 10.

  • GTs: 30 base points + length of fish divided by 10.

  • Amberjack: 30 base points + length of fish divided by 10.

  • Yellowfin Tuna: 40 base points + length of fish divided by 10.

  • Dogtooth tuna: 20 base points + length of fish divided by 10.

CATCH & RELEASE RULES

All Billfish must be released safely to qualify. A fish is considered released when:

a) the swivel between the main line or double line and leader hits the rod tip,
b) the mate grabs the leader or,
c) the wind-on leader comes through the rod tip.
Please release the fish in good condition by either removing the hook or cutting the leader as close to the hook as possible. “Popping” the leader is not a good method of healthy release, and we ask that you refrain from doing so.

VIDEO REQUIREMENT

All catches must be caught on video to earn points.(Must be VERTICAL/WIDE video in High quality).

Team must present all video devices to the Tournament Committee prior the start of the tournament.
For each fish tagged and released the team must provide continuous footage video evidence from the moment before the mate grabs the leader or the terminal tackle hit the tip of the rod, including releasing the fish as stated, clearly confirming that one of the above actions occurred, clear identification of the fish swimming in the water, the angler and the rod, or tournament official gadgets or flags. Video is required for the full release of tagged fish safely.
A video showing the same actions must be taken for all fish tagged and released and it must be presented to the committee within one hour after the end of any fishing day.
Each team is responsible for providing their own video camera and the appropriate media to record video footage that documents the catches or releases on their boat.
Video footage and photos submitted become the property of the IGFA and may be used for all promotional purposes.
All registered captains, anglers, and occupants of their boats consent that tournament officials may use all video content without any payment or restriction.

CATEGORIES & AWARDS

The winner will qualify to El Gouna IGFA Championship 2025

TOP TEAM CATEGORY (total points based on released fish)

  • First Place Team – Team with the most total points.

  • Second Place Team – Team with the second most total points

  • Third Place Team – Team with the third most total points

TOP ANGLER CATEGORY (total points based on released fish)

  • First Place Angler – Angler with the most total points.

  • Second Place Angler – Angler with the second most total points

  • Third Place Angler – Angler with the third most total points

Mr. Ahmed Mitkees: Tournament Director & IGFA Co-Chairman of Development Committee.

The Tournament Committee are:

The Egyptian Angling Federation

Headed By Eng. Mohamed Kaddah : President of the Egyptian Angling Federation & Vice President of the IGFA Mediterranean council