Unofficial Rules Marina Pez Vela Open 2018

The Marina Pez Vela Open is a Fishing Tournament scheduled to take place at Marina Pez Vela in Quepos Costa Rica from April 12th through 14th, 2018. The Marina Pez Vela Open is the property of and organized by, ifishquepos, S A, a corporation organized under the laws of Costa Rica; Corporate identification number 3-101-614831. Marine Pez Vela participates in the tournament as the hosting facility, but ifishquepos, S A has sole responsibility for tournament operations.  While all efforts are made to keep this information current, all rules published on this website shall be considered unofficial. Official rules will be distributed and announced at the registration check-in and captains meeting. All participants agree to the terms of these rules by participating in the tournament. All participants should also agree to the rules by signing the registration forms at the tournament site.

The Tournament

The Marina Pez Vela Open is a two day billfish team event with top-team honors going to the team that tallies the most points during the tournament. Prizes pay down to third place (first, second, and third). The tournament will award trophies, cash, and prizes to the team(s) that score the most accumulated points for marlin and sailfish.

Largest Fish Weighed: Trophy and cash prize will be awarded to the angler weighing in the largest Dorado, Yellow fin Tuna or Wahoo with a minimum weight of 15 lbs. Fish donated for fish fry is much appreciated.

Entry Fee

The Team registration fee is $2500.00 with the Team consisting of 1 to 6 anglers. (max 6 anglers fishing daily). This basic registration fee covers the participation of the registered anglers. It also covers attendance at all planned entertainment and social activities. The angler fee does not cover the daily boat charter expense and crew tipping. Charter boats are available for hire through the tournament office.

 Non-Angler Guests:
Guest of anglers are welcome, but are required to purchase participation tickets for entry to all planned entertainment and social functions. The fee is $100 for each non-angler participation-ticket package, $35 for individual ticket for kick-off, $50 for individual ticket for closing ceremony.  These tickets must be purchased in advance. The tournament committee reserves the right to deny tournament entry to any individual, organization or corporation.

A final registration, captains meeting and kickoff party will take place from 3:00 to 6:30 p.m., April 12th, 2018, at MARINA PEZ VELA. All anglers and boat captains must attend the scheduled anglers/captains meeting at 6:30 p.m. Anglers that are pre-registered and anglers needing to register must send at least one representative to obtain tournament credentials and the team captains’ bag. Anglers, captains, and mates are obligated to accept and be bound by all the rules and instruction changes announced during this meeting.

Angler, Crew and Boat Requirements

Without exception, each boat must have on board one designated boat captain and at least one designated mate. Captain and crew changes are allowed but must be communicated to the tournament committee prior to the day’s fishing. There is a limit of six registered anglers per boat in this tournament per day; however, if an angler drops out, an substitute angler can be signed on with the team if he/she registers before the start of that day’s fishing. Registered guests are allowed on the boats as non-participants but are not allowed to partake in the fishing in any way. Boats may receive aid from other boats in the form of towing in the event of mechanical failure. Teams and boats are not allowed to receive assistance in landing or releasing fish. All participants must exercise good and courteous sportsmanship whether at the dock, under way or fishing.

Schedule of Events

Event location and weigh in: MARINA PEZ VELA QUEPOS

April 12th, 2018

• 3:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.:  Final registration, captain’s meeting and kickoff party at Marina Pez Vela.
• 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.: Dock Socials & Games
• 6:30 -8:30 p.m.: Tournament kickoff and Captain’s meeting

April 13th, 2018

• 5:00 a.m (Fishing day): registration desk open for check out (daily check-out and check-in required ).
• 6:30 am. Boat shot gun start. Boats are to line-up (6:20 a.m.) between the committee boats outside the Marina.
• 7:30 a.m. lines in.
• 4 p.m. lines out
• 5:00-7:00 p.m. Dock Socials & Games
• All boats must be checked in by 6:00 pm unless there is a documented hookup prior to 4pm lines out.

April 14th, 2018

• 5:00 a.m (Fishing day): registration desk open for check out (daily check-out and check-in required ).
• 6:00 a.m (Fishing day): Boat are permitted to leave the marina at start time of 6 a.m. or later.
• 7:30 a.m. lines in
• 3:30 p.m. lines out
• All boats must be checked in by 6:00 pm unless there is a documented hookup prior to 4pm lines out.
• 7:00 – 9:30 Awards Presentations and  Dinner

Unofficial Rules

While all efforts are made to keep this information current, all rules published on this website shall be considered unofficial. Official rules will be distributed and announced at the registration check-in and Captains meeting. All participants agree to the terms of these rules by participating in the tournament.

Modified IGFA rules and tackle will apply in this tournament unless otherwise stated. It is the responsibility of each registered angler and crew member to know, understand and abide by IGFA and tournament rules during this competition. Any angler, captain or mate who breaks any IGFA,  tournament rule, or Costa Rica Fishing Laws will be deemed ineligible for any prize, award, honor, or recognition and may be immediately expelled and disqualified from this and future tournaments without a refund of any jackpot or registration fees. Any competitor may be asked to take and pass a polygraph test.

• Once the fish takes a bait or lure, a mate or angler can hook the fish and pass the rod, when the rod has been passed to the angler, they must fight the fish until release (leader touches rod tip).
• Wind-on leaders are permitted but may not exceed 30 feet as per IGFA rules. For a complete list of IGFA rules, go to www.igfa.org.

ifishquepos, S A will appoint the Tournament Rules Committee. The rules committee is appointed to apply rules, assign or take away points, and indicate the winners of the tournament without recourse. All anglers commit to accept and abide by the results indicated to the administration of the MARINA Pez Vela Open by the Tournament Rules Committee. The tournament committee reserves the priviledge of changing the rules, start, and finishing times for any reason it deems necessary. All decisions of the Rules Committee are final and non-appealable.

Observers/Photographers

The tournament, at its sole discretion, may assign an observer or photographer to any boat on any fishing day. If an observer or photographer is assigned, the boat is responsible for their comfort and safety. Observers do not determine official releases and catches.

Release Rules

All teams must provide their own digital video camera (s) and know how to operate them to verify releases. All video recording equipment must be synchronized to the official tournament time and checked in by the tournament organizers. Teams must video their boat and control number with all release cameras before departing to go fishing. To score an official release, the fish must be at the leader, and an identifiable video must be taken of the fish showing the control-number (provided daily), with time and date.
After the release video is taken, the official time, species, and angler name must be written on the catch-report. Each registered angler and boat captain must then sign the catch-report. At the end of the day’s fishing, the camera, catch-report affidavit and all photos or video footage taken must be brought to the weigh station for verification of official release points. Failure to do so will result in disqualification of that day’s catch. Do not delete any video taken during tournament hours.
Failure to abide by any aspect of the Release Rules may result in disqualification of the catch, angler, or team, at the tournament rules and judging committee’s sole discretion.

Scoring Billfish

• Blue, Black, or Stripe Marlin 500 points
• Sailfish 200 points. Largest Single weighed Game Fish
• (1 point will be awarded for each pound)
• Dorado & Yellowfin Tuna. Must weigh over 15 pounds and officially weighed in at dock

Line

All fishing line will be allowed except for wire line. Wire leader is allowed in the tournament. Charter operators fish with 30-50 pound class gear, but if you prefer your own tackle, please bring it with you.

Leader

The length of the leader is the overall length, including any swivel, lure or hook arrangement. In all line classes exceeding 20 pounds (10 kg), the leader shall be limited to 30 feet (9.14 meters). The combined length of the double line and the leader shall not exceed 40 feet (12.19 meters) tot

• Rods: Unlimited in use or numbers max 30 pound
• Teasers: Unlimited in use or numbers. Dredges and Spreader Bars are permitted.
• Baits: Dead bait, lures and any combination thereof are permitted in this tournament.
• Hooks:All tournament participants must use non-offset circle hooks for all species whenever natural baits or natural-bait/artificial-lure combinations are used.

The tournament committee holds the right to examine any hook sets, line and/or leaders at any time during the event. Refusal to allow the tournament rules and judging committee to examine any hook sets, line and/or leaders will result in immediate disqualification from the event without a refund of any or registration fees and/or Calcutta moneys.

Fishing Hours

Fishing will commence at 8 a.m. “lines in” and end at 4 p.m “lines out” on April 13th, and 14th of 2018. The tournament director’s time will act as the official time for the start, catch-and-release times and end of fishing time each day. A radio start will take place each morning at 6:00 a.m. The official tournament channel will be 25 alternate 27.

Fighting Times

Any fish hooked up before the lines out time must be registered by photo, video or weigh in at the dock before 9 p.m. on the day of fishing other than the final day when all eligible points must be accrued prior to 6 PM.

Weigh-In/Release-Photo Check-In

The weigh station and release-photo check-in station will at Marina Pez Vela.

Catch-Report

All catches must be recorded on the catch-report sheets provided. The official time, species, and angler’s name must be written on the catch-report affidavit for each fish. Each registered angler, mate and boat captain must sign the catch-report prior to submittal. The catch-report sheets must be turned in at the weigh station at the end of each day.

• In the event of a tie, the team that reached the highest score first wins.
• All winners may be asked to take and pass a polygraph examination.

Radio/Communications

All billfish releases, and lost fish, must be immediately reported (channel 25) to tournament control as it happens, along with the boat name, boat number, angler name and fish species. The tournament director’s time will act as the official time for the start, catch-and-release and end of fishing each day without exception. The official tournament channel will be 25. A Costa Rica cell phone number on which teams can also communicate will be given at the captains meeting. During the last hour of fishing each day, all hookups must be reported.

Weather

There is no weather committee. The tournament is conducted on a fish-at-your-own-risk basis. If any portion of the tournament is fished and a team or teams land or release fish that match the tournament’s eligible species and minimum weight limits, then prizes will be awarded.

Protests

Participants may lodge protests against any catch which they believe was not made in accordance with these rules. All protests must be stated in writing and accompanied by $500. The tournament rules and committee judges may call a protest hearing at their discretion; a protest hearing is not guaranteed. All protests will be settled on the day of the incident. All protests on April 13th and 14th must be in the hands of the tournament’s designated rules official by 7 p.m. on the day of the alleged incident unless there is a protest regarding a boat that comes to the scales late. On April 14th, the last day of fishing, all protests must be in the hands of the tournament committee prior to 6 PM. The protesting party, as well as the accused team members, captain and crew, must be present at any official protest hearing. The tournament rules and judging committee may refuse to consider any protest evidence not submitted at the protest hearing in the presence of the protested team. If the protesting or protested team fails to show up for the protest hearing, that team forfeits its right to submit evidence. Should the protest be accepted and awarded on behalf of the protesting party the $500 fee will be returned to the protestors.  Should, for any reason, the protest not be ruled in the favor of the protesting party the $500 will be donated to charity. Decisions of the tournament rules and judging committee with regard to protests are final, non-appealable, and non-justiciable. All anglers, teams, and/or participants commit to accept the decisions of the Tournament Rules and judgment committee, the Tournament Marina Pez Vela Open, and Corporation ifishquepos, S A, without legal or judicial liability and accept the rules and results of the Rules and Judging Committee.

Sportsmanlike Conduct

All participants are expected to maintain a reasonable and sportsmanlike demeanor at all times throughout the tournament. Unsportsmanlike or threatening conduct towards tournament organizers or other participants, or any other behavior which the tournament organizers deem inappropriate, in their sole discretion, will result in immediate disqualification of the entire team with no refund of entry fee.

Publicity Release

Hereinafter, Marina Pez Vela Open and ifihsquepos, S.A. and their respective licensees, affiliates or assigns are granted the unrestricted, irrevocable and perpetual worldwide right to record, reproduce, copy, edit, publish, exhibit, exploit, and/or license others to use any and all media generated by; the Anglers video and/or picture cameras, videos and pictures taken by the tournament administration during all of the activities of the tournament, as well as any other electronic media or graphic material produce during the tournament by the tournament administration, including fishing stories of things that happened to boats, interviews, publicity and marketing. There is no obligation to the licensed party to use part or any of the material. The rights granted shall not revert to the anglers for the lack of use of the Licensed party. Full Release of Liability is granted in favor of ifishquepos, S.A. and/or its representatives.

Personal Risk Release

I hereby acknowledge that the Tournament activities are dangerous and hazardous, and may carry the risk for serious injuries, damages to the property and/or could even carry the death of the participants and the complete loss of property. I hereby release, irrevocably, in all of the extent and for perpetuity, the Organizers of the Marina Pez Vela Open, as well as the Company ifishquepos, S.A. and its representatives, as well as the Rules and Judging Committee, as well as Marina Pez Vela Quepos, S.A., and any other organizer, for any event of injury or death or loss of property, resulting from the developing of all of the activities of the Tournament. I hereby acknowledge and I am clear, that I participate, in my own will, because I want to participate, and that I understand all of the risks involved in fishing and in going into the ocean on board of a boat, and thus I understand the risks involved in the activities of the tournament, are not the responsibility of the organizers of the tournament, and therefore, I agree to indemnify, release and hold harmless, the rules and judging committee, the Marina Pez Vela Open, ifishquepos, S.A. and its representatives, administrators and organizers, and Marina Pez Vela Quepos, S.A., from any damages, costs, expenses or liabilities regarding the tournament activities on which I participate knowing of all of the risks.