1) This tournament is open to all TEAMS who register appropriately and abide to follow the tournament rules, as well as the Mexican Federal Fishing Law, and The Federal Communications and Transportation Law, and submit to the ruling judge, to the Honor and Justice Committee and the norms which rule the Fishing Federal Law.
2) Each TEAM can have a maximum of 4 participants. A TEAM can participate with less than 4 fishermen. Each TEAM must assign a captain to represent the team.
3) The species that qualify are: Marlin and Tuna.
Special prizes for Mahi-Mahi and Sail Fish.
4) In our interest to protect some species, the minimum weight for a capture to qualify is: Marlin 100 kg., Tuna 30 kg. and Mahi-Mahi 10 kgs. The sailfish won't be weighted it will be included in the "Catch and release" program.
5) The committee does suggest to release all the captures that at your own judge are below the minimum weight to classify. There will be no penalties if you weight a capture below the weight limit but it won't classify.
6) To be declared champions per specie, the teams must capture the heaviest marlin, tuna or mahi-mahi. In case of a tie, in the weight, the fish will be placed by length. If the tie persists the fish will be measured in girth according to the regular IGFA rules. The last criteria shall be whoever registered the fish first.
To participate in the Sailfish Catch and release category and be declared the winner in this category, the team must have the highest number of releases of sailfish, it is important for every team participating in the category to bring a digital camera and to show a picture of the release. The picture must show the date and hour of the capture. The camera must have the way to be connected to a computer for printing the images and to have an clean memory card in the day of register. The camera must be presented every fishing day at the weighting area with the committee. More details are going to be given in the captain's meeting in the register day. It is recommended to use circle hooks to make easier the release.
7) For this competition, you can ONLY USE OR TAKE ABOARD 130 lbs., BREAKING STRENGHT. The rod and reel is a matter of choice of the fishermen.Electric reels is prohibited. The organizing committee when it deems it necessary can request from any participant a sample of fishing of line. There is no restriction on the number of rods and reels that a TEAM can use.
8) IMPORTANT: All boats need to remove all illegal fishing equipment like: nets, harpoons, etc
9) A maximum of two single Hooks-SINGLE HOOKS per leader in accordance with IGFA regulation is permitted. Double hooks or Treble Hooks are prohibited (see drawing).
10) Fish can be caught with natural bait, (both dead and alive) and with artificial lures. Fish can only be brought to the boat with the aid of rod and reel. The maximum length of the double line is 4.50 meters and the maximum length of all the leader material is also not to exceed 4.50 meters. The combination of double line and leader can not exceed 9 meters in length. It is strictly forbidden to use 2 or more hooks per lure. At no time during the fight is another angler or mate allowed to touch the angler's rod, reel or line. The use of mop heads is strictly prohibited to bring any fish to the boat.
11) THE FOLLOWING ARE REASONS OF DISQUALIFICATION:
a- Not abiding by the rules of this tournament established by the organizing committee.
b- Somebody other than the angler aiding and touching rod and reel. It is prohibited to touch the double line. Only one mate or angler can grab the leader. Gaffing a Sailfish is prohibited but not the other species.
c- Allowing any strange person to fish in the boat, other that the registered fishermen.
d- Any fish that is wounded by propeller, shark bite, harpoon, bullet or any kind of sharp cutting object that is not a legal gaff. Superficial cuts, abrasion or wounds caused by line or leader are not subject to disqualification in billfish division. Broken bill is not subject to disqualification no matter the cause.
e- All fish that place in each category, will be dissected. If any strange foreign objects are found in all captures from the team will be disqualified that day.
f- Any boat that refuses an inspection from the organization committee.
g- To have on board fishing means or instruments that are not properly registered, including harpoons, gill nets, cast nets, loglines, extra rods and reels, any other illegal means of capturing a fish including a "Mop Head" (Mechudo).
h) If a boat does not visibly display the colored flag for all other participants to see.
i) Any participant issuing any verbal insults and physical aggressions against the Judge and his staff. In this case will be jugged by the honor and justice committee, and will be disqualified.
12) If a boat, for whatever reason, has a problem and can't return on time for the weigh-in, the fish can be transferred to another boat if this boat is late then all the fish in it are disqualified for that day.
13) All participants must be present at Marina Riviera Nayarit at La Cruz in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, Nayarit, for the opening ceremonies and await the official starting signal. If for any reason a boat leaves before the official signal the team will be disqualified for the day.
14) The teams must report daily the departure and arrival time. It will not be allowed to departure from another place different than the official departure points.
The first fishing day the departure time will be after the official signal and after the opening ceremony. The second fishing day the departure can be after 00:00 hours (central time) and the arrival time is before 18:00 central time. The team that not follow this rule could be disqualified.
15) The organizing committee has the power to shorten, prolong or cancel the tournament in the event of an unforeseen situation. (Weather, disaster).
16) The judge for the tournament will be Captain Cipriano Quintero Montes, a.k.a. "Pano" His decisions will be final and unappealable. In the event of a situation not covered by these rules, the decisions of the judge and the Honor Justice Committee ruling will be final.
17) The fish will be weighed at 13:00 every day (One o'clock) central time. It is mandatory for all participants to personally register and weigh-in their catch. Previous authorization from the Organizing Committee is necessary when an unforeseen event or 'major force "takes place. Only then can someone else register and weigh-in a third parties catch.
18) Fish that register a heavier weigh will be subject to a meticulous examination by the biologist and tournament judge, therefore the weigh registration forms will be valid only after this exam.
19) Los ejemplares de los primeros lugares de cada día serán propiedad del club de pesca, cuando algún pescador quiera montar su ejemplar se le proporcionara la piel.
19) The first place fish for each catogory on a daily basis will become the Fishing Clubs property, if a fisherman wishes to have their fish as a trophy he shall have to request it.
20) Any protest and complaints related to the tournament must be presented by 19:00 Hrs (central Time). In writing to the judge, the same day the infraction occurs.
21) For a safer tournament the Secretaria de Marina and the Port Captain Office and SAGARPA Office, shall witness the event.
The organizing committee is not responsible of any accident or risky situation that should take place on the boats during the tournament.
22) The anglers, boats and disqualified crews on the tournament could be voided to participate in future tournaments organized by the Club de Pesca Bahia de Banderas A.C. and can be reported to other tournament's committees.
23) Any registered participant must read, understand and follow all the tournament rules.
24) The organizing committee reserves the right of admission of any fisherman, crew member, ore any person that wants to enter the fishing tournament.
