Porto Rotondo Big Game - 2010

[The_Gaffer]

Thanks Clutch-Kick, much appreciated.  We can use all the help we can get.

Some more info about this Tournament.

The Tournamant is spread over 2 days, and runs under the control of the International Game Fish Association (IGFA)

I've just been on the phone with the organisers and registered our intent to participate.  IBSGroup, joint organisers of the Tournament together with Big Game Italia, were very pleased and are looking forward to our participation.  Boats from all over the Med take part in this tournament, with big game boats coming from Italy, Spain, France and portugal.  Some of the best big game anglers are present, as the winner automatically qualifies for the IGFA world championships.   

Our intention is just to take part. Compete we will, but our expectations are minimal.  The thrill of taking part with such high profile anglers in the Big Game fishing sphere is simply a chance not to be missed. 

All of our tackle, including rods and reels, will have to be in accordance with IGFA rules. Alot of work to be done there.


My wife always says that when I'm idle I'm dangerous.  My mind never stops working...always inventing new thrills and projects...if not renovating the Gaffer, I'm thick into helping ro organise the ORIS alongi competition.  Then I set a high objective...50 boats, that reached, I move on.  I have a set my sights on a new and more demanding project...taking part in the Porto Rotondo Big Game fishing tournament.  This tournamanet has always been on my radar screen.  Now as Twoutes said, I'm following my dream, together with the team we have put together...watch this space...more details will follow

[twoutes]

Excellent...l'll be watching this space.

What line class are you fishing?
It won't be hard to comply with IGFA standards...just watch the lengths of your doubles and leaders, and if you're using skirted lures, be very aware of the hook position....l'm sure you will have lots of fun working it all out.
I'm an IGFA member, so if you need any help with info give me a hoy.

I'm sure you are familiar with this site.

http://www.igfa.org/

GOOD LUCK!!

[The_Gaffer]

Thanks Twoutes. 
I also am a member of the IGFA, and quite familiar with the rules and regulations.  We're not sure what line class we'll be fishing, from what I could gather from the promo video, it should be in the region of either 8 or 12 kgs range, same goes for rods and reels.  I know for sure that all tackle is scrutenised the day before the tournament.  We'll be using skirted lures for sure, probably Pakula Lures.  I'm a great fan of those lures, and on friendly terms with Peter Pakula.  I've been a member on his site, the Marlin Bar, for over 12 years now.  I have about 12 soft pakula lures, mainly uzi, cockroach, sprocket and zipper in lumo, Mexican flag, stinger and screamer. I also have some Pakula Dojo Peche Hybrid lures in lumo.
I'm very excited at the prospect of competing in an international tournament.   
Pity you live on the other side of the Globe, it would have been great to have an experienced angler with the team.

[twoutes]

As much as l love being on this side of the globe...due mainly to the many wonderful fishing opportunities we have here, and you would have seen from some of my posts......I would have loved to be a part of your team on 'The Gaffer'. thanks for the comment 
Peter Pakula would be one of the nicest persons  (in fishing cirlces) that l know. His knowledge on, not just making fantastic lures, but also enticing fish to bite them is unbelievable.
When given the opportunity at fishing shows l listen to his lectures, and pick his brain behind the scenes, and always walk away feeling satisfied that l have learnt something new to try.
All the lures you mentioned are winners for targeting tuna, but like me l am sure that you keep an open mind and cover all bases, knowing that tuna can be caught at different depths you would also have a good range of hard bodied deep diving lures as well. Halco fill the nitch for me in this area.

Thanks for all your updates about the comp, its even making me excited all the way down under

[The_Gaffer]

I have a couple of Halco rattlers...would you suggest trolling them on weights?...if yes, how far back?

[twoutes]

l usually run the deeper lures down the center of my spread so they end well under the prop wash, and clear of the skitred lures on the surface. The prop wash is probably the best 'teaser' you have, with fish coming up for a look. I dont use weights but run it far back enough to get it under the wash. If you want to go deeper checkout the largest of the  'Halco Laser Pro's' they have very large bibs with good quality trebles..probably my favorite.We have had alot of success with them here recently.
All other skirted lures l run outside the prop wash with another way way back down the centre.
Do you have and use 'outriggers' & top 'shotgun' on your boat? If so they will allow you to put a good spread out...6 outfits not out of the question. But there are usually regulations on how many outfits you can deploy, so be careful there. But more importantly your crew needs to be 'switched on' when the tuna hit with that many lures in the water.

[The_Gaffer]

Yes, the boat is equipped with Tigress outrigger poles.  This enables me to troll either a 5 or 7 lure spread depending on the sea conditions.   I also intend on installing a centre rigger, that way I can deploy 2 lines down the middle, one at shotgun distance, and one just outside the prop wash.  As you quite rightly point out, the boat vibrations and propwash are the first attractants towards your lure spread. 

[The_Gaffer]

The heat is building up towards this grand event.  I can reveal that the Team will be represented by 4 members from the Malta Fishing Forum.  We have opted to lease rather then ship The Gaffer all the way to Sardegna and back.  Logistics are easier that way.  Stay tuned for further details.

[twoutes]

Well...That's one hurdle out of the way, and l am sure less headaches for you.
Are you leasing just the boat? or does it come with a skipper? Local knowledge can be very beneficial.
Looks like your quest has begun...l'm very jealous.

[The_Gaffer]

We have an option to lease with or without skipper.  I'm a bit sceptical of leasing with skipper, as there are many Italians taking part in this toruney, and I'm sure the guy wouldn't reveal any hotspots to Maltesers.  My current thinking is to go spend a weekend there before the tourney, speak to the locals, and get as much info as necessary on fishing grounds and hotspots.  We also have some help from a local (Sardegian) whom I've yet to start comms with.

[twoutes]

That's good that you have some options, and even better that you are going there a bit earlier to check it all out.
I don't know about skippers in Europe, but here in Australia a skipper would out fish his brothers to win such a prestigious tournament, and would put him in much demand.

I hope you don't mind my input, but just want to give you somethings to think about.

Cheers

[The_Gaffer]

Just a quick update.  Today we recieved the official programme for the tournament.  We went through it, and have 1001 questions still pending.  We know the entry fee...which is 1200 Euros per boat...(that was me swallowing hard) and we know for sure that there has to be an independent judge on each boat, to ensure all rules are respected and also oversee the release of any BFT caught during the two days of the tournament (the independent judge's decision is final on weight and points awarded).  The tournamant is split over two days, 1 day for offshore big game trolling (triana d'altura), one day for drifting; this is dependent on weather conditions, whereby the organising committee can switch the tournament to two days offshore trolling or 2 days to coastal trolling. But we only get to know this on Friday, which creates a logistical problem in terms of tackle!!!...
The tournament is scored using a points system, and points are awarded according to tackle used, lenght of fight, type of pelagic fish caught, ect.  The organisers will only divulge the exact fishing grounds during a briefing to be held the day before the tournament starts (again Friday).  This will be based on reports of where and what type of pelagic fish are present in the waters surrounding the northern part of Sardegna.  These reports will be coming in from several professional fishermen who operate out of Sardegna and the west coast of Italy.  The tournament start times are 7.30am and boats have to end thier fishing by 4.30pm, by 6.30pm, all boats must return to port.  The 7.30am start time is applied so that all boats leave the port toegther, in daylight.  They also have 4 boats which set the pace, in this case speed (velocita di partenza) so that no boats are in any way put in an awkward or dangerous situation caused by the wake of other boats speeding past them during the start...(this rings a bell here...we all know what the start looked like yesterday at 4.30am outside the freeport!)

We also know that IGFA rules apply to this tournament, and that all tackle will be scrutinized and marked on Friday. 

[skip]

This years team has now be finalised and will consist of: Team Captain Joe The Gaffer, Skip, Alfadelta, Mundinu, Kaptan Jr and Cla144. The entry fee has been paid and our flights were booked yesterday so we now have just over 3 weeks left to prepare for this massive event. We will be fishing on a 2003 Luhrs 360 and leaving Malta Thursday at around 1pm to arrive in good time by early evening. The registration, briefing and checking of equipment will be done on Friday and the competition starts early morning on Saturday for Round 1 and Sunday for Round 2.

A gala dinner will be held in the evening on Sunday and then we'll be leaving around 1pm on Monday to make our way back to Malta. Our biggest issue is not knowing their local fishing grounds so in the case of Day 2 (drifting) we'll have no advance knowledge of the depths and conditions we'll be fishing in, forcing us to take up a whole range of tackle and line to try and be as flexible as possible. Travelling with 10-12 rods plus reels, lures and terminal tackle will be no easy feat and we've had to rent a 9 seat mini-van to accomodate the team and all our kit.

The IGFA's main charter is conservation, education and promotion of catch and release....the MFF has just signed up as an IGFA contributing club and one of the main reasons for going up to Porto Rotondo is to make new contacts with the IGFA representatives and the President of Big Game Italia to see how we can colloborate better in the future and perhaps introduce some new concepts locally.

[twoutes]

How exciting!! That's great news that you have become an IGFA contributing club

Good luck Team MFF

http://www.biggameportorotondo.it/lamanifestazione.php

[clutch_kick]

Skip ... PM me the flights you will be travelling on, to and from the competition.