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

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.

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. The OBBC will follow International Game Fish Association Rules and additional rules and allowances specified herein.
7. 130 lb Line class is the maximum allowed in this tournament.
8. 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.
9. 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).
10. Vessels will be allowed to retain legal swordfish under 60 inches and such fish will count as 100 points.
11. Spreader Bars will be allowed in the OBBC, but must only contain one hook.
12. Double hooks and J hooks are allowed.
13. 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.
14. 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. Any breach of any of the above Tournament Rules will result in disqualification. Decisions of the Tournament Committee are final.