The OBBC will offer an Optional Small Boat Division, for vessels 38 feet in length and under. Small boat division teams can compete in all tournament calcuttas. Small boat teams must choose a division. They cannot compete in both.

The OBBC will also offer 4 separate Bluefin Tuna Only calcuttas and 3 bluefin trophy prizes. Harpoons will be allowed in this division, and consequently, bluefin tuna points will no longer count in the OBBC point system.

The OBBC tournament winner will be the vessel that accumulates the most overall points.

CHECK IN--IMPORTANT

Vessels will be allowed a maximum of 43 hours away from the dock if they depart at 8 PM. Vessels must return and radio register with the OBBC committee boat by 3 pm on their day of return using tournament VHF channel 72. The weigh station committee boat will be situated at the Falmouth Harbor entrance. Tournament vessels must be visually verified. Once confirmed, vessels must verbally check in with the tournament weigh station on Channel 71 and follow instructions on how and when to proceed. Tournament catch forms and release footage must be submitted when weighing fish.

FISH DAYS--IMPORTANT
All vessels will be allowed to fish 2 out of the 5 tournament fish days. Vessels will be allowed to fish overnight. All vessels planning to fish single days must return by designated times. All vessels will be asked to declare their fishing days upon check in on July 13th. Any fish day declaration changes must be declared by 8PM the night before departure by texting tournament organizer, Damon Sacco, at 508-221-5136. Vessels can leave at 8 PM, and depart from any port.

MANDATORY--All vessels must declare departure BEFORE leaving the dock by using the tournament phone app and clicking the "Start Trip" button. Be sure and familiarize yourself with the app, and get it working before you plan to fish.

Boat Points For Qualifying Fish in OBBC

All point breakdowns are the same for both OBBC boat class divisions.
 
BLUE MARLIN: 300 points for each released fish (unlimited releases allowed)
WHITE MARLIN: 100 points for each released fish (unlimited releases allowed)
ALL SPEARFISH & SAILFISH: 100 points for each released fish (this will award points for all spearfish/sailfish species/unlimited releases allowed)
BLUEFIN TUNA: Will NOT count in the OBBC (except in Bluefin Only Categories/Calcuttas - See Prizes Section )
SWORDFISH: 2 points per pound (60" inch minimum, 1 fish maximum to be weighed in per vessel) and 100 points per released and or caught fish (3 fish maximum to count in tournament regardless of kill/release) *swordfish catches will only count as 1 pt per pound in all billfish calcuttas
YELLOWFIN: 1 point per pound (2 fish allowed total for tournament)
ALBACORE: 1 point per pound (2 fish allowed total for tournament)
BIG EYE: 1 point per pound (2 fish allowed total for tournament)
DOLPHIN: 1 point per pound (1 fish allowed total for tournament)
WAHOO: 1 point per pound (2 fish allowed total for tournament)

2025 OBBC Tournament Rules

1. Upon departure, all tournament vessels must declare their start time and trip departure by clicking the "Start Trip" section of the OBBC tournament app. This procedure will alert tournament officials the GPS location and time of each vessel's departure. Your cell phone's "location" mechanism must be turned on to use the app correctly. Vessels who do not declare a trip departure before leaving the dock will not be able to count that day of fishing. If a team forgets to declare a trip, they must return to a port and start over. (no exceptions) Once a vessel declares a departure/start trip, it cannot be changed. Vessels encountering mechanical failure issues WILL be allowed to switch vessels but must continue fishing their originally declared trip. The start trip instructions will be clearly shown in the OBBC tournament program. If you are having trouble with the app, you can also declare departure by texting a clear video of your vessel's chartplotter (containing a GPS time stamp), a tournament catch flag, and be sure to include your boat name. This video must be texted to tournament staff at 508-221-5136.
2. Calcuttas can be registered on Sunday July 13th at tournament registration location 2pm - 6pm.
3. Tournament vessel crews are not allowed to dispose of fish racks in ANY harbor. Doing so will result in immediate tournament disqualification, a forfeiture of any prize winnings, and a $5,000.00 fine payable to the Town Of Oak Bluffs. Fish racks are to be disposed of outside the harbors or in the harbor dumpsters. Heavy-duty contractor bags will be handed out at registration to all vessels.
4. Tournament packets which contain tournament programs and tournament catch flags must be picked up in person at check in at one of the 2 tournament registration locations. For outside of New England vessels only, Captains packets and packages can be mailed out providing you register/pay by July 1st. The tournament captains meeting will be aired live on the Oak Bluffs Bluewater Classic Facebook page at 6:30 PM.
5. All boats weighing fish and/or declaring footage must return to the designated check in area at the Falmouth Harbor jetty, and radio to the OBBC tournament committee boat on VHF channel 72 by 3PM.
6. After being visually verified, boats must then check in with the weigh station staff on the same channel and follow the instructions given by the OBBC weigh station staff.
7. All vessels returning to weigh fish/submit release footage must receive verification of arrival by weigh station. That means your vessel has to be physically seen by OBBC staff. Vessels will be given instructions on when to approach the weigh stations. There will be 2 Falmouth cranes.
8. The OBBC will follow International Game Fish Association Rules and additional rules and allowances specified herein.
9. 130 lb Line class is the maximum allowed in this tournament.
10. Electric reels can be used as teaser reels, dredge reels, and for a breakaway system with a release. Electric reels containing a manual conventional retrieval mechanism CAN be used providing the electric component of the reel is completely removed/detached from the reel and is not being used to fight fish, tease fish, or change bait depth. The motor can only be used to retrieve the bait all the way to the surface.
11. 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).
12. Vessels will be allowed to retain legal swordfish under 60 inches and such fish will count as 100 points.
13. Spreader Bars will be allowed in the OBBC, but must only contain one hook.
14. Double hooks and J hooks are allowed
15. In case of a tie(same number of points), winner will be determined by earliest time of cumulative points OR catches attained during fish days. Video documentation of all catches with a GPS time stamp(chartplotter) is highly recommended as is carefully documenting time of catch on the OBBC catch form(s) in your packet. Time of catch is paramount for all catches and most importantly, releases.
16. Tournament catch forms (documenting catch times and species) must be filled out and submitted to weigh station staff when weighing in fish or declaring release footage. All forms and release footage must be handed in to weigh station staff. If you are not weighing any fish, but have release footage to declare, you still need to hand in catch forms and footage to the weigh station staff by 5pm. If your vessel is checked in and waiting in line to weigh in, you may present your catch form at the time of your weigh in. Just be sure and check in and be verified at the Falmouth harbor entrance by 3 pm
17. There will be a 140 mile range limit for all vessels from Hooter Buoy also called Muskeget Channel Lighted Whistle Bouy MC. This will include the Hudson and Lydonia Canyons..
18. The angler must hook, fight and bring the fish to the gaff or tag stick unaided by any other person (excluding gaff and leader man). An alternate angler will be allowed to hook and hand the rod one time for each fish hooked.
19. This is a rod and reel, hook and line tournament. The use of hand lines, rope, nets, harpoons, and any other means of fish capture other than rod and reel are strictly prohibited.
20. Fish cannot be fought from the rod holder except for Bluefin Division Only catches.
21. Harpoons are not allowed except for Bluefin Division Only catches.
22. Winners of the OBBC will be presented with an invitation to fish the IGFA Offshore World Championship
23. Each vessel will be presented with a laminated tournament flag inside their packet. All released fish entries must be documented with a digital video recording device. A cell phone is fine. All catches must be documented from the time of leadering to 5 full seconds after the time of release. All captured video footage with tournament fish must contain a clear view of the tournament flag. Video must be uninterrupted from the time the mate grabs the leader to the time the fish is seen swimming away.
24. Small boat division vessels are categorized as 38 feet in length or less, and will be allowed to compete for all OBBC prizes and/or calcuttas if they choose. They will also be allowed to fish exclusively against other vessels in their own size class if they choose. Teams must decide which division they are fishing in by day of registration. This separate OBBC "Small Boat Division" will offer separate tournament prizes and calcuttas.
25. The official clock of the tournament will be kept on continuous GPS time.
26. The OBBC is not responsible for SFC rules and prizes as they are separate entities from the OBBC.
27. The OBBC assumes no responsibility for the conduct or safety of any boats or entrants. All participants enter the tournament at their own risk.
28. All participants and their crews must adhere to federal and state mandated fishing guidelines and permit requirements. Bluefin Tuna Only Categories must be fished in accordance to federal and state regulations.
29. There is no tournament weather committee. All boats are responsible for making decisions regarding weather, and do so at their own risk.
30. All vessels will be given oversized trash bags to contain fish racks and there will be a designated dumpster along the Oak Bluffs Harborfront.
31. Any and all protests must be filed in writing and handed off in person to Damon Sacco or Christian Giardini by 6PM each day of fishing. Protests will cost $350 and proceeds will go to the designated tournament charity.
32. All tournament caught fish are the property of the boat. After the weighmaster releases the fish, its disposal must be done outside the harbor.
33. All vessels are required to have their fish picked out and ready to weigh. The OBBC weigh staff will not be able to weigh fish to determine weight ahead of time.
34. No mutilated fish shall be eligible for competition. Mutilation shall be defined as damage which would impair the fighting ability of the fish.
35. The weigh master reserves the right to retain and inspect any fish that is deemed questionable. If retention is refused, the fish is automatically disqualified.
36. The Tournament Directors reserve the right, in their sole and absolute discretion, to reject any fish that does not meet the requirements of the Tournament. Any decision of the Tournament Directors to reject a fish is final.
37. Anglers and crew aboard winning boats may be subjected to a lie detector test.

All entrants must sign and/or check the respective "I agree" boxes on the online tournament REGISTRATION form in regards to the POLYGRAPH and INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT before being eligible to register for the event. All items in this agreement are firm and final. Any breach of any of the above Tournament Rules will result in disqualification. Decisions of the Tournament Committee are final.