Unofficial Rules Quepos Billfish Cup 2019

Quepos Billfish Cup is a Fishing Tournament scheduled to take place at Marina Pez Vela in Quepos Costa Rica from March 14th through 16th, 2019. The Quepos Billfish Cup 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 at registration forms at the tournament site.

The Tournament Big Boat Division

The Quepos Billfish Cup is a two day billfish team event with top-team honors going to the team that tallies the most billfish 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.

The Tournament Small Boat Division

The Quepos Billfish Cup is a two day billfish team event with top-team honors going to the team that tallies the most billfish points during the tournament. ). The tournament will award a trophy, cash, and prizes to the team that score the most accumulated points for marlin and sailfish.

“HOOK N PASS” Scoring Billfish

• Blue, Black, or Stripe Marlin *****500 points
• Sailfish **200 points

Big Boat Division – Additional Awards

Top Angler: An Award and cash prize will be awarded to the angler with the most billfish release points.

Lady Angler: An Award presented to the top lady angler scoring the most billfish release points.

Junior Angler: Award for the top scoring junior angler (under the age of 16) with the most billfish release points.

Small Boat Division – Additional Awards

Top Angler: An Award and cash prize will be awarded to the angler with the most billfish release points.

Registration

The final registration will take place March14^th , 2019 from 3:00 to 6:30 p.m. at Marina Pez Vela. The Captains’ meeting and kickoff  will take place March 14th, 2019, 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; however, if an angler drops out, a 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 transfer fish from one boat to another.

Entry Fee – Big Boat Division (35ft plus)
The Team registration fee is $3000.00 with the Team consisting of 1 to 6 anglers. 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 any daily boat charter expense. Charter boats are available for hire through the tournament office. Daily optional jackpots:

Entry Fee – Small Boat Division (34ft under)
The Team registration fee is $1000.00 with the Team consisting of 1 to 6 anglers. 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 any daily boat charter expense. Charter boats are available for hire through the tournament office. Daily optional jackpots:

TOURNAMENT DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE: ifishquepos.com

Not connected to Billfish division!

Tournament Jackpot Gamefish Divisions: 

TUNA & DORADO

BIG & SMALL BOAT DIVISIONS COMBINED

There are two (2) Gamefish Jackpot Divisions, in which the following rules apply: At the end of each day of tournament fishing, teams may weigh their respective tuna or dorado.  Each team may weigh two (2) fish, per species each day; however, only their single heaviest tuna, or dorado will be scored that day.  At the end of the final day of tournament fishing, team rankings will be determined for each gamefish division (tuna and dorado) based on their aggregate two-fish per species weight (single-heaviest each day) throughout the two day tournament.

The tail of each fish brought to the scales will be clipped, signifying that it has been weighed and scored.  All fish that appear to have been altered, spoiled, mutilated or frozen will be disqualified, per the discretion of tournament officials.  Any boat which enters a fish that is proven to have been weight-altered, frozen, or previously weighed will be disqualified from the tournament.

Largest Fish Weighed

An Award and cash prize will be presented to the angler weighing in the largest game fish with a minimum weight of 15 lbs. Fish donated for fish fry is much appreciated.

Event Schedule

Event location and weigh in: MARINA PEZ VELA, QUEPOS

March 14, 2019

• 3:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.:  Final registration, captain’s meeting and kickoff at Marina Pez Vela.
• 6:30 p.m. – Captain’s meeting will be held (TBA) in Marina Pez Vela.

March 15, 2019

• 4:30 a.m (Fishing day): registration desk open for check out (daily check-out and check-in required ).
• 6:00 a.m. Shotgun start. Boats are to line up (5:50 am) between the committee boats outside Marina
• 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 lines out.

March 16th, 2019

• 4:30 a.m (Fishing day): registration desk open for check out (daily check-out and check-in required ).
• 5:30 a.m (Fishing day): Boat are permitted to leave the marina at start time of 5:30 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 lines out.
• 7:00 PM Awards Party to be held at Marina Pez Vela

IGFA MODIFIED “HOOK N PASS”

IGFA rules apply in this tournament. 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 or tournament rule 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.
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 Quepos Billfish Cup by the Tournament Rules Committee.

• Once the fish takes a bait or lure, the Captain, Mate, or any other angler may hook the fish and pass the rod to an available angler. IGFA release rules still apply.
• 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.

Release Rules

All teams must provide their own digital video camera (preferred) to video releases. The video must show the correct time and date. 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 video camera, catch-report affidavit and all 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.

Line
Maximum line strength allowed is 50-pound-test. Tournament and/or non-tournament lines are eligible. If the line test is 50 pounds or less, the line will be allowed in the tournament.

Tackle
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) total.

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 Cash Jackpot moneys.

Rods
Unlimited in use or numbers max 50 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. (no live bait)

Hooks
All tournament participants must use non-offset circle hooks for all species whenever natural baits or natural-bait/artificial-lure combinations are used.

Fishing Hours
Fishing will commence at 7:30 a.m. “lines in” and end at 3:30 p.m “lines out” on March 15 and 16, 2019. The tournament director’s time will act as the official time for the start, release times and end of fishing time each day. The tournament committee reserves the privilege of changing starting and finishing times for any reason it deems necessary. A shotgun start will take place at 6:00 a.m. on March 15^th, please be lined up outside Marina by 5:50 am. An official radio start will take place on March 16^th. The official tournament channel will be 27 back up 25. After release, the angler and species are to be radioed in to Tournament Control. No hook up time is required until last 15 minutes of each fishing day.

Fighting Times
Any fish hooked up before the lines out (last 15 minutes),team must radio hook up to Tournament Control, and may continue to fight the fish until release, but time must be registered by video and checked in at the dock before 9 p.m. on day 1 and 6 pm on day two.

Weigh-In/Release-Photo Check-In
The weigh station and release-photo check-in station will at Marina Pez Vela. Open at 3:00 pm.

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 27) to tournament control as it happens, along with the anglers’ 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 27. A Costa Rica cell phone number on which teams can also communicate will be given at the captains meeting. During the last 15 minutes of fishing each day, all hookups must be reported. (8315-5051) Tournament Director. After lines out, communicate on channel 69 with Marina Pez Vela concerning any emergency, boat break down or under way issues.

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 March 15th 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 March 16, 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 a Quepos 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 Quepos Billfish Cup, 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 fees.

Publicity Release
Hereinafter, Quepos BillFish Cup and ifishquepos, 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 Quepos BillFish Cup, 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 Quepos BillFish Cup, 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.