TOURNAMENT RULES

1) The following fish qualify for release points. There is no minimum size or weight for released fish. Every released fish of each species receives the number of points specified below, regardless of size.

2) Any boat that lands a Blue Marlin weighing less than the minimum weight will be deducted 10 points per every pound the Marlin is below weight. Example: A boat that weighs a 150lb Blue Marlin will lose 1,000 points against their total score and not gain any points for undersized fish.
3)The following fish qualify for weigh-in at tournament base, points are as follows.

4) Video Points - Video points are as follows. Note that there will be a maximum of 20 fish for the tournament in each of the below video categories. Any fish weighed and does not meet minimum weight can be videoed at the dock for video points. All videos of below species must have day flag, as well tail removal, video must be made the same day of catch at tournament base and viewed by tournament representative in order to to qualify. Video will then be submitted to weigh master via Whatsapp for review and awarding points goes to boat and not to angler.

5) Fishing times are as follows: A .Bimini Start- All vessels competing in the tournament must present themselves at Tournament Base at 6am on every day of the tournament before fishing commences. If a boat cannot make it to Tournament Base before 6am, it must still present itself before fishing can commence. Any boat that does not present itself at Tournament Base before starting to fish will not be allowed to earn points for that day of fishing. B .Day 1 & 2 – 6 am to 6 pm. If a fish is hooked before lines out on Day 1, it can continue to be fought past lines out and until the end of the tournament, provided it is reported to the tournament base before lines out on the day it is hooked. Any boat bringing a fish to be weighed, or video for viewing has to report to tournament base by the end of the tournament which is at 6 PM on day 2. C .Day 3 – Prize Giving -11AM

6) All fish must be reported to Tournament Base before lines out and they arrive at the dock for weigh-in. A boat does not need to personally radio or phone in its catch. Relaying the message accurately to another boat which then forwards the message to tournament base is sufficient. However, if tournament base does not receive that message and has no record of the fish being reported, or the message is inaccurate, the fish will be disqualified. The following information is needed when reporting a fish: a. Species of fish b. Angler c. Estimated weight. d. Location caught.

7) All fish must be weighed the day they are caught. Any fish kept overnight will be DISQUALIFIED.

8) All weighed fish will have their tails removed by the weigh master once weighed.

9) Only one Angler is allowed to fight a fish. A .If a Junior or Female Angler is preparing to fight a fish, the rod may be passed from the rod holder to the fighting chair by another Angler. B .Male Anglers may never pass a rod to another male Angler.

10) All fish must be fought from either a standing position or from a fighting chair. A battle station may be used once resting pin is removed. No fish may be fought from a rod holder.

11) A Junior Angler is any angler who at the start of the tournament is aged 16 or under.

12) Maimed fish will be disqualified. A fish will be considered maimed if it is damaged to a point where it can no longer reasonably continue to fight. This usually occurs when the tail has been severed to the bone, or if a large enough chunk of the fish has been bitten off that the fish becomes unable to propel itself. The weigh master will have the final decision on whether a fish will be disqualified due to being maimed.

13) Fish may not be transferred from one boat to another. If for any reason a boat cannot make it to the dock under its own power to weigh its catch or submit its release video, the boat must seek assistance in arriving at the dock, but may not transfer its fish or videos to another boat. The only exception to this is if prior permission is granted by the weigh master due to a lack of availability of space at the dock. If a team requires a boat change, it must be requested to Tournament Committee before start of day 2.

14) Any boat that attempts to artificially enhance the weight of a fish will be disqualified.

15) Wire lines, electric reels, hand lines, spear guns, harpoons and nets are prohibited. These must not even be present aboard a vessel except electric reels for teasers.

16) No person may at any time during the fight, touch the main line, except for the angler who may guide the line onto the real.

17) All fishing is to be done by trolling or drifting (Anchoring is prohibited).

18) Only Anglers who are registered aboard a boat at the start of the tournament may fight a fish.

19) If two or more of the same species of fish are weighed in at the exact same weights, thereby making them the heaviest of that category of fish, the prize will go to the Angler who reported the catch first and verified at the tournament base by weigh master.

20) If two Anglers complete the Tournament with the same number of points, the prize will go to the Angler who accumulated the points first. This is determined by who reported their verified catch first which resulted in final points.

21) If two or more boats complete the tournament with the exact same number of points, the prize they tie for will go to the Boat that reports their verified catch first and is verified at the tournament base by the weigh master.

22) If no boats record points throughout the tournament, resulting in no winner, the prize remains with the tournamanet organizer.

23) If none of a species of fish is landed, the Organizers will retain that prize.

24) Any fish that is brought to the scale and exhibits signs of being damaged by a firearm will be disqualified.

25) Any boat that kills a Shark of any species will be disqualified completely from the tournament.

26) All disputes with the Weighmaster's decisions are to be formally raised with a member of the Grand Caribe Deep Sea Classic Official Committee no later than 30 minutes after the Weighmaster officially closes the scale.

27) All fishing is to be done within Belizean Territorial Waters.

28) All Decisions by the Tournament organizer are final.

Weigh Master: Giovanni Duran (Cel:602-6746) VHF Radio Station: Channel 68

RELEASE POINTS RULES

• In order to count for points, all boats that release a fish must provide tournament base with a video that shows the Four Release Rules being completed in one continuous video as listed below. Any video not showing all four of the requirements in one continuous video may not be accepted for points. All Decisions by the Tournament organizer are final.
• If the Weigh Master cannot identify the species of fish in the video, but can identify it as a Billfish, the boat will receive the least amount of release points, being 1000 for Sailfish. If the Weigh Master cannot identify the species of the fish in the video, nor can he confirm that the fish is a Billfish, the boat will receive no points.
• Release flag for Day 1 will be made available to boats at the Tournament Briefing.
• Release flag for Day 2 will be made available to boats at the end of Day 1 at Grand Caribe dock.
• Boats must report their release before lines out as per Rule #5 of the Tournament Rules.
• Boats must bring their video to the dock on the same day that the fish is released as per rule number 6 of the Tournament Rules.
• These rules are to be followed in conjunction with the TOURNAMENT RULES. FOUR RULES OF RELEASE

1) Video must show the face of the Angler who is fighting the fish and a close up of the release flag.

2) Video must show EITHER the swivel touching the tip of the rod OR the Wireman touching the leader in order to constitute a legal release.

3) Video must show the release flag AND the fish in the same shot.

4)Video must clearly show the species of the fish being released.

EXTRA POINTS: A video that shows the hook being removed from the fish before release.

TIGHT LINES!!!!