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1. The Target: Giant Bluefin Tuna

The entire tournament revolves around catching the heaviest single Giant Bluefin Tuna.

• Scoring: It is purely based on weight. The boat with the heaviest fish at the end of the tournament takes the top prize.

• One Fish Per Day: Due to federal regulations, boats are limited to retaining only one giant bluefin per day. This means captains must make a critical decision: if they catch a "smaller" giant (e.g., 400 lbs) early in the day, they have to decide whether to keep it and end their fishing day or release it and hope for a bigger one.

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2. The Rules & Gear

This is a Rod and Reel tournament, meaning anglers must fight the fish manually.

• No Commercial Gear: Commercial methods like longlines or gillnets are strictly prohibited.

• Harpoons: Harpoons are allowed only for the final landing of the fish (securing it alongside the boat), but the fish must be fought and brought to the boat using a rod and reel.

• Lines In: Fishing begins at 12:00 AM (Midnight). Boats are allowed to leave the dock at 10:00pm. 

• Video Evidence: Teams are required to video document, leaving the dock, the catch, including the time to prove they complied with the "lines in" and "lines out" times.

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3. The Format

• Duration: The tournament spans two days of fishing. In 2026 Tournament dates are July 22 - 23, 2026

• Boundaries: Boats are generally allowed to leave from any port, but they must return to the designated weigh-in station at Cape Ann’s Marina Resort in Gloucester by a specific deadline (often late afternoon or early evening) to qualify.

• Check-In: There are strict check-in times. If a boat is late returning to the committee boat or weigh-in station, their catch is disqualified.

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4. The Weigh-In Spectacle

The weigh-in is the public highlight of the event:

• The Hoist: Because these fish can weigh between 300 and 1,000+ pounds, they are mechanically hoisted off the boats by a crane in front of a cheering crowd. The weigh-in is free to the public.

• Wicked Tuna Connection: You will often see captains from the TV show Wicked Tuna competing alongside other top commercial captains.

• Commercial Sale: Unlike catch-and-release tournaments, these fish are often sold commercially after being weighed, consistent with the commercial fishing licenses many of these boats hold.

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5. Prizes

The stakes are incredibly high, often totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars.

• Cash Awards: Significant payouts for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place.

• Calcuttas: There are optional side bets (Calcuttas) where boats pay extra entry fees to compete for separate prize pools