CANCUN BILLFISH CLASSIC
OFFICIAL TOURNAMENT RULES
CASH PRIZES
The tournament utilizes a modified release format and has two primary divisions as described herein. Winners will be awarded their cash prizes based on the percentages as outlined. A single team can claim only one of the "cash prize places" in each category. All Daily Jackpot and Super Jackpot winners will be based solely on the rules of the billfish division. In the event of a tie, places involved will divide prizes evenly. Mexico has federal and state taxes much like the U.S. Taxes are required and will be withheld from all cash prizes.
CASH PRIZE CATEGORIES
Billfish Division; Most Overall Points: 1st place team 40% of total entry fees; 2nd place team 17% of total entry fees; 3rd place team 6% of total entry fees. Gamefish Division; Heaviest Fish over 25 lbs: 1st place team 5% of total entry fees; 2nd place team 2% of total entry fees. All Optional Daily Jackpots and the Optional Daily Gamefish Jackpot are paid on a winner-take-all basis at 85% of the gross entry fees. The Super Jackpot pays 90% of the gross entry fees. Daily Jackpot prizes will roll forward and backward if there are no winners on one or more days by a Daily Jackpot or Daily Gamefish Jackpot entrant. Example: If on the second day of fishing no qualifying fish are weighed, or released to claim one or more of the Daily Jackpots then the prize or prizes will roll forward to the third day and will be added to that days respective Daily Jackpot prizes. If the Daily Jackpot prizes are claimed on the first and second day of the Tournament but not the third day, the prizes will roll backward to the team which scored the most points on the first or second day. The same roll forward and backward rule applies to the Daily Gamefish Jackpot as well.
BILLFISH DIVISION
Blue Marlin, White Marlin, and Sailfish are eligible. Only two boated Blue Marlin per boat per day is allowed. The minimum weight for Blue Marlin has been established initially at 250 pounds. This minimum marlin weight could be adjusted after reviewing fishing conditions and catches a few weeks prior to the tournament. All Sailfish and White Marlin are required to be released. Scoring of points by teams will be determined as follows: for a boated marlin over the minimum weight, the team will receive two points per pound for the minimum weight plus three points per pound for each pound over the minimum. Example: a 350-pound Blue Marlin would be worth 500 + 300 = 800 points. Any fish brought to the weigh station may have its mouth taped close. However, once the weighmaster has raised the fish the team captain will be required to remove whatever is sealing the mouth closed (tape, string, etc.), and clip any external leader material to the outer edge of the mouth. Except for artificial lures, nothing will be pulled from the fish’s mouth, however, whatever falls from the fish due to gravity will remain out when determining the fish’s weight. Any billfish brought back to the scales weighing less than the minimum weight will result in a penalty of 100 points plus two points for each pound below minimum weight, and the fish will be disqualified. Without exception, all boated fish must be weighed. Failure to weigh a boated fish will result in tournament disqualification and forfeiture of any previous points, prizes and daily jackpots. A released billfish (Blue or White Marlin, Sailfish) is worth 100 points per fish. An official release occurs when the leader or swivel reaches the rod tip or when the leader is grabbed by the mate or a team member. This will be witnessed and verified by the observer if one has been assigned. It is mandatory that the team photograph the fish with the TEAM SUPPLIED DIGITAL CAMERA or the team does not earn the 100 points for the release*. The fish does not have to be tagged to be counted as a released fish but the team must cut the leader as close to the hook as possible and try to revive the fish if needed. Any ties resulting from tournament scoring practices will be decided (broken) based on the earliest time of day the teams involved reached their respective point totals. The team which reached their point total first shall be declared the winner.
*Refer to Camera, Observer, Procedures & Schedule
GAMEFISH DIVISION: DORADO, TUNA, KING MACKEREL AND WAHOO
Each team may enter the official weight of their catch in this division on a daily basis. The two heaviest catches recorded during the three days of fishing will win. The minimum weight necessary to qualify in this category is 25 pounds. If during the three days of fishing there are fewer than two qualifying catches, the unpaid cash prizes will be added to the prize money of the billfish category. All IGT Tournament, Angling and Equipment rules apply to the Gamefish Division.
GENERAL RULES
A team shall consist of one to five team members with one team member designated as the team captain. Only five anglers may be active at any time. Only one angler change per day is permitted. Angler changes will be recorded by and documented by contacting tournament control via radio. Team captains will be responsible for all correspondence and payments to the Cancun Billfish Classic and distribution of all prize money to their team. A grid map will be provided to all team captains. Tournament Control shall be notified immediately by radio when a fish is hooked-up and then again when it has been released or boated. The team must indicate approximate location according to the grid map, name of the angler, time of hook-up and the type of fish hooked. If tournament control has been notified at the time of hook-up, any fish hooked prior to the "stop fishing" time may be played until lost, released or boated. However, all weigh-in and check-in times must be observed or the catch will not count. Without exception, all boated fish must be weighed on the day caught at the official weigh-in station at the Marina El Cid. There is a weigh-in deadline of 6 p.m. each day (5 p.m. on the last day of fishing). The rod, reel, line, lure, gaff and leader with hook must be presented to the tournament judges for inspection at the weigh station during time of weigh-in. Failure to do so may result in disqualification of the fish. Tournament Control will conduct a roll call each day at 12 noon. Each team must report its position according to the grid map, any fish on-board and any fish released when called by Tournament Control.
Any misrepresentation on the team's signed entry form, signed release affidavits, signed weighmaster affidavits, or violation of any tournament rule will be cause for disqualification and forfeiture of any prize money and merchandise won in the tournament. Decisions by the rules committee of the Cancun Billfish Classic, on any question of tournament rules or interpretation, shall be final. Tournament boats shall be required to have a VHF radio for communication purposes. Radio silence must be observed, unless there is an emergency or a hookup, during the last 30 minutes prior to stop fishing. Radio communications between tournament boats will be permitted, but not on the official tournament channel. All boats must fly the official tournament flag during the tournament. Committee boats, chase boats, radio frequency scanning technology, tracking, camera boats, polygraph tests, official IGT observers and a marine biologist may be utilized by tournament officials to aid in the enforcement of all tournament rules. All tournament boats are subject to inspection by tournament officials at any time.
Mandatory:
IGT has a mandatory TV camera rule. IGT reserves the right to place an IGT Special TV Event Camera team on any Tournament boat during Tournament fishing hours that IGT decides at its sole discretion.
SPECIAL RULE
If there are insufficient numbers of qualifying fish, weighed-in or released, to claim all regular tournament cash prizes, the unclaimed cash prizes will be added to the claimed prizes on a pro-rata basis. If no Optional Super Jackpot division fish are weighed-in, entrants will be refunded 100% of their Super Jackpot entry fee. If no Optional Daily Jackpot or Optional Daily Gamefish Jackpot fish are weighed-in or released, all Optional Daily Jackpot and Optional Daily Gamefish Jackpot entry fees will be refunded, less the Tournament’s portion, which shall be deemed earned. If no qualifying fish are released or weighed-in during the tournament, or if weather causes a cancellation, the tournament will be extended to include Sunday, April 27th, 2008. One day of fishing will constitute a tournament. If after Sunday there are any unclaimed regular tournament cash prizes, they will be added to and carried forward to next year's respective cash prizes.
DISQUALIFICATION
The following acts or situations will disqualify a team or its catch:
1. Fishing before "start fishing" or after "stop fishing" will disqualify all fish caught that day.
2. Any foreign substances (for example: lead weights, ice, metal objects, etc.) found inside the fish results in disqualification of the fish.
3. Mutilation of the fish by propellers or sharks will disqualify the fish.
4. Teams caught communicating in any manner with spotter planes or commercial boats or any non-tournament vessel during tournament fishing hours will be disqualified. Boats are not allowed to come in contact with or hand off anything to another vessel during fishing hours unless given permission from tournament control. (Exceptions are navigational hazards or any other safety issues.)
5. Only team members shall participate. Any fish boated with non-team member assistance will be disqualified. The use of firearms is strictly prohibited.
6. Any other act not in strict compliance with the intent of the rules set forth herein.
7. Failure to weigh any boated billfish will disqualify the team from the tournament and result in forfeiture of any and all prizes and prize money.
8. The use of firearms is strictly prohibited.
9. Un-sportsmanship conduct can lead up to and include disqualification of a team in the current tournament and all future IGT sponsored events. Items such as physical or excessive verbal abuse directed towards any tournament official or participant of the tournament and excessive profanity on the radio are covered under this rule.
CAMERAS, OBSERVERS, PROCEDURES & SCHEDULE
Cameras: Photo Procedures, Each team is required to provide and use their own digital camera. They are responsible for the operation of this camera and are urged to have a backup camera. Each team must take a photo of an object which will be announced by the committee boat or tournament control each morning to initialize their camera for that day’s photos. This must be done each morning. Teams must take photos of each released fish during the fight and during the release. The photo must conclusively show the release AND the species of the fish. It is your discretion to take one or two photos of the release and fish. If you feel you have both items in one photo this will be sufficient for the release. You will be required to take a photo of an item to mark the end of that fish’s photo sequence. If multiple fish are released there must be an object between each released fish, the items to photograph will be supplied and documented by tournament control. These items will be announced by the radioman. Teams must submit their camera and appropriate USB cable at the end of each day’s fishing for examination. The camera is to be submitted with the release affidavit(s). Cameras will be returned that same day. Get acquainted with your camera. Most digital cameras experience “shutter-lag” which is a slight delay from when you press the button to when the photo is actually taken. Taking the photo of the fish has become part of the “official release” procedure. Just like touching the leader, taking a valid photo is now also necessary. If you do not have a photo of the release, then you do not have an official release. No photo(s), no release.
OBSERVERS: The tournament will assign an unbiased Official IGT Special Observer to any boat which claimed a daily jackpot or any of the cash prize categories on the prior day of fishing. The observer will be rotated on a daily basis.
PROCEDURES: It is the team captain's responsibility at the end of the day to make sure that the appropriate tournament affidavits are correct, properly signed by all team members and a copy, if desired, kept for the team's records. The observer will turn the original copy over to tournament control immediately upon arriving back at the dock, however, if an observer had not been assigned, it is the team captain’s responsibility to make sure the team’s release cameras and the appropriate affidavits are turned in each day to the appropriate tournament official.
SCHEDULE: Boats may start loading observers at 6:00 a.m. Boats may depart the marina at 6:30 a.m. to arrive at the official starting line immediately outside the harbor entrance. Each day of fishing will begin with a 7:00 a.m. shotgun start. Teams may not leave the established start line prior to the 7:00 a.m. start time. Boats that have been assigned an observer may not leave the marina without the tournament-authorized observer onboard. Violation of this rule will result in the automatic disqualification of the team. Stop-fishing is at 4 p.m. on the first two days of the tournament and at 3 p.m. on the last day of fishing. All boats must be inside the harbor and checked-in by tournament control by 6 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and by 5 p.m. on Saturday. Violation of this rule will result in the team's disqualification for that day of fishing.
RULE CHANGE & PROTEST POLICY
Any amendments or additions to the tournament rules will be announced at the mandatory captain's briefing. If there is any disagreement, controversy or necessary clarification of any tournament rule or result, the final irrevocable decision will be made by the tournament’s rules committee. The violation of any of the rules may result in the automatic disqualification of both the angler and the team unless otherwise noted. All competitors’ protests, if any, must be submitted in writing, accompanied by $300 in cash, by a team captain on the same day that the situation generating the protest occurred. If the team wins the protest they will be refunded the $300 and if they lose the protest the money will be donated to a local charity. Protest regarding weight of a fish must be made before the fish is removed from the scales. It is expressly understood that these protest rules relate to team protests and do not limit the time the tournament has to enforce tournament rules and regulations.
OBSERVER RULES & POLICIES
On the 2nd and 3rd day of fishing, teams that are in 1st through 5th place in the Billfish Division will have an Official IGT Special Observer on-board for the day. Last year's 1st through 5th place teams, if entered again this year, will also have an Official IGT Special Observer on-board for Thursday, the first day of fishing.
MANDATORY & RANDOM BOAT INSPECTIONS
As stated earlier, all tournament boats are subject to inspection at any time by tournament officials. In addition to random inspections each day, each team that finds themselves in 1st through 5th place will automatically be inspected each morning before the start of fishing.
POLYGRAPH POLICY
At the sole discretion of the Cancun Billfish Classic, all team captains, team members and observers may be required to take a polygraph test administered by the tournament's independent polygraph contractor. All team captains, and their team members, agree to be bound by this provision and to be subject to the determination of the examiner and abide by the results thereof.
EQUIPMENT AND ANGLING RULES:
LINE
1. Monofilament, multifilament, lead core multifilament and Spectra fiber braided fishing lines may be used. Line must not exceed 130 pound test class as stated on the line manufacturer’s product specifications. Wire lines are not allowed.
2. Two different types or strengths of lines ("top-shots") may be used on a single reel provided the two lines meet the tournament's line requirements. The connecting knot, splice or braid may not exceed seven (7) feet in length. Teams weighing fish must report the use of “top shots” or the use of two different lines on their reel at the time of weighing their fish in order for Tournament Officials to examine the two lines and connecting knot, splice or braid.
LINE BACKING
1. Backing not attached to the fishing line is permissible with no restrictions as to size or material. If the fishing line is attached to the backing, the backing may not exceed the 130 pound maximum line class.
DOUBLE LINE
If double line is used, it must meet the following requirements:
1. A double line must consist of the actual line used to catch the fish.
2. Double lines are measured from the start of the knot, braid, roll or splice making the double to the farthest end of the knot, splice, snap, swivel or other device used for securing the trace, leader, lure or hook to the double line. In all line classes up to and including 20 lb, the double line shall be limited to 15 feet. The combined length of the double line and leader shall not exceed 20 feet. The double line on all classes of tackle over 20 lb shall be limited to 30 feet. The combined length of the double line and leader shall not exceed 40 feet.
LEADER
A leader must be used, it must meet the following specifications:
1. The length of the leader is the overall length including any lure, hook arrangement or other device. The leader must be connected to the line with a snap, knot, splice, swivel or other device. Holding devices, such as knotted loops, are prohibited. There are no regulations regarding the material or strength of the leader.
2. In all line classes up to and including 20 lb, the double line shall be limited to 15 feet. The combined length of the double line and leader shall not exceed 20 feet. The double line on all classes of tackle over 20 lb shall be limited to 30 feet. The combined length of the double line and leader shall not exceed 40 feet.
3. The main line may not be connected directly to the hook. All line strengths including 130 lb. test must have a swivel, splice, or knot attaching a leader and hook. The leader cannot exceed 30 feet in length.
4. A fish can not be fought entirely on the double line or leader. If is fish is hooked before the double line and leader has cleared the rod tip you must immediately free spool or otherwise get the double line and leader past the rod tip.
ROD
1. The rod tip must be a minimum of 40 inches in length. The rod butt cannot exceed 27 inches in length. These measurements must be made from a point directly beneath the center of the reel. A curved butt is measured in a straight line. When the rod is placed in a gimbal, the measurement from the center of the reel seat to the pivot point of the gimbal can be no more than 27 inches.
2. Once a billfish has been boated the rod and reel may be reused, however it must have the jig or hook(s) complete leader, double line, if used, and 12 inches of the main line cut off before reusing. Please put aside for examination by a Tournament Official. Zip-Lock bags work great. The rod and reel must be tagged or marked in a manner which can be later identified as the combination used in the catch.
REEL
1. Power driven reels of any kind are prohibited. This includes motor, hydraulic, or electrically driven reels, and any device that gives the angler an unfair advantage. Ratchet handle reels are prohibited. Reels designed to be cranked with both hands at the same time are prohibited.
HOOKS FOR BAIT FISHING
See Illustrated Hooks, Lures and Gaffs
For live or dead bait fishing no more than two single hooks may be used. Both must be firmly imbedded in or securely attached to the bait. The eyes of the hooks must be no less than a hook's length (the length of the largest hook used) apart and no more than 18 inches apart. The only exception is that the point of one hook may be passed through the eye of the other hook. The use of a dangling or swinging hook is prohibited. Double or treble hooks are prohibited.
MANDATORY Circle hook required for the Cancun Billfish Classic.
Circle hooks are mandatory for the Cancun Billfish Classics. The size of the circle hook is at the discretion of the team and the team’s captain. The circle hook must also be designated by the manufacturer as a non offset hook. All IGT leader requirements apply.
ALL IGT RULES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
From time to time it becomes necessary to modify and update our Tournament Rules. The rules posted on our website are to be considered a draft version. We will distribute a final Official version to each team Captain prior to each event. IGT also reserves the right to make changes and modifications at any of the Mandatory Captains meetings proceeding the first day of fishing.
