Los Cabos Tuna Jackpot Tournament Rules
Nov. 5-8, 2008
RULES: One change for 2008; Be back to the official weigh-in dock area by 6 p.m.
Inner Harbor no longer the "deadline" spot
It's the 10th annual event and there is one major change: Teams must be in the specific area of the weigh-in dock to be eligible to weigh in a fish after 6 p.m. and must be in radio contact with tournament radio control. There has been too much confusion over the definition of "inner harbor" and identifying arriving boats who wish to weigh in.
"Basically, get to the weigh-in dock or within view of the tourney officials and be in radio contact the entire time if you want to weigh in fish. If we don't see you from the dock when you arrive and wait (if there are other boats weighing and there is no room to dock) or hear from you, you can't weigh in fish after 6 p.m.," said tourney director Pat McDonell. "It simplifies the process. We want both see you and hear from you on the radio before 6 p.m. If we don't see you and hear from you prior to 6 p.m., letting us know that you want to weigh in, your catch is ineligible. "Just make sure you get in on time."
Special note: The biggest change last year was the inclusion of the Wahoo/Dorado $1,000 options $500 each day) and there was some confusion when 40-pound minimum was dropped after the first day to 25 pounds the second day. If no dorado or wahoo of 40 pounds or over are caught, the minimum will automatically be set at 30 pounds for the second day.
- It is the sole responsibility of the participating anglers, captains and crews to know and abide by the tournament's rules. By entering the Los Cabos Tuna Jackpot they acknowledge such and agree to all rules.
- There will be a maximum of four anglers per team, plus a maximum of two crew members, and two guests for a maximum of eight people on a boat. The extra 2 people cannot be fishing crew, just guests or family members or boat chef or engineers, and they cannot assist in the fishing.
- All participants must possess a valid Mexican fishing license on both days of fishing. Anglers checked by a Mexican authority who do not have a valid Mexican license will cause their entire team to be disqualified from the tournament. To avoid delays and other problems, it is highly recommended you obtain a Mexican license and boat permit before entering Mexico.
- There is no limit or restriction on when and how much bait can be obtained prior to the shotgun start. Teams can obtain bait (buy it) one half-hour past the 7 a.m. shotgun start. The PURCHASE of bait must be completed by 7:30 a.m.
- All boats must fly the official TUNA JACKPOT tournament flag.
- Shotgun (flare) start at 7 a.m. The specific start area will be announced at the Captains' Meeting. All boats must be behind the official starter's boat prior to the 7 a.m. shotgun start. Any boats not clearly behind the start line will be disqualified from that day's fishing. There will be a visual boat check-off starting at 6:15 a.m. outside the harbor entrance. All boats must attempt to report in fish on the tournament channel that are estimated at over 100 pounds. Locations need not be disclosed on the radio.
- Lines out at 4 p.m. Boats must be back to the Marina Cabo San Lucas Official/scale area by 6 p.m. the official deadline for weighing in fish. Teams that are both visually identified by radio control at the dock and are in radio contact by 6 p.m. will be allowed to weigh in after 6 p.m. The scale at Marina Cabo San Lucas will open at 2 p.m.
- Any boat deemed operating in an unsafe manner will be disqualified from that day's fishing. No fishing boundaries will be required either day.
- There is no restriction on tackle other than the fish must be taken on hook and line using rod and reel. More than one team member (not crew) may fight the fish, and team members or crew may assist the angler by touching the main line at any time during the fight. The rod may touch the boat railing during the fight.
- Only three (3) tuna, and ONE (1) wahoo and/or dorado may be weighed per day, per team. Teams are responsible for removal of fish at scale area. Dreammakers processing will be available. Tourney staff is not responsible for "lost" fish at the scale or fish left at the scale that was donated.
- It is the responsibility of the team to decide which fish to weigh prior to docking at the weigh area.
- Between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. of the fishing days, no vessel entered in the tournament may be involved in handing off or receiving anything from another vessel whether that vessel is entered in the tournament or not. The tournament director may choose to grant special permission in advance to a team to waive this rule in the event that someone's personal safety or health is at risk. No disabled boat can be towed back to Cabo so a fish can be weighed in on time.
- It is recommended that all anglers and crew attend the scheduled angler/Captains' Meeting. If they do not attend, they automatically accept and agree to be bound by all of the instructions announced at the meeting.
- Overall, $400 of the $700 dollar entry fee, and 80 percent of the daily jackpots will be paid back to anglers. The team that catches the biggest tuna over the two days wins 85 percent of the total cash in the entry pool. Second largest tuna wins 10 percent of the cash in the entry pool. Third largest tuna wins 5 percent of the cash in the entry pool. In jackpots, the winning team/captain takes all cash in the pot. Of the total amount awarded for first, second and third places in the entry pool and in the optional jackpots 90 percent will go to the team and 10 percent will go to the boat captain of the charter boat if that boat is chartered. If not chartered, the captain's winnings is divided among the team members as they see fit.
- The official minimum weight for tuna, wahoo or dorado is 40 pounds. If there is a change in the minimum weight for tuna, wahoo or dorado it will be announced at the Captains' meeting Wednesday night or before the shotgun start on the official VHF channel. In the event no tuna over the minimum size limit are caught to fill the optional tuna jackpots, the largest wahoo or dorado will be the standby species. If no wahoo or dorado of the minimum size are brought by teams, tuna is the standby species (at the minimum tuna size of 40 pounds.)
- In the event of a tie in any overall or optional pool, a coin toss by the tournament director will determine the winner if there are two teams. More than two teams will result in a drawing among the teams. If no eligible jackpot fish are caught the first day, the jackpot money rolls to the second day. If no eligible jackpot fish are caught the second day the money rolls back to the first day winners. In the unlikely event that no eligible fish are caught over both days, refunds of the entry amount (minus $300 tournament operation fee) and jackpot amounts (minus 20 percent tournament operation fee) will be given.
- Mutilated fish will not be weighed in.
- Any team or individual receiving monetary winnings is required to provide to Western Outdoors Publications a social security number and a current address. A signature will additionally be required for receipt and acknowledgment of winnings. Team captains of teams that win money will be required to meet WON staff at a specific time on Saturday morning at a site and time to be named to apply for their winnings which will be sent by check via mail immediately after the event.
- Wrist bands will identify team members and must be worn at all times. These will be distributed to team captains at check-in. The wrist bands are your ticket to the hosted parties. If availability permits, special wristbands will be sold at $40 each for non-team members or crew who wish to attend the parties (Thursday party will not require wristbands) or just the awards dinner. (Guests are not entered in the drawings.)
- All decisions by the tournament directors and advisory board are final.
- All monetary winners will be subject to a lie detector test at the discretion of the tournament directors. If any angler declines to be tested, his team is automatically disqualified from receiving any monetary awards. The lie detector test will be used as one of, but not the sole, determining factor in any decision by the tournament directors and the advisory board.
- The tournament directors reserve the right to alter starting and finishing times to coincide with weather, tides and probability of better fishing conditions.
- All verbal protests and supporting evidence must be presented to the tournament directors immediately upon returning to Cabo, followed by a written protest no more than 30 minutes after the verbal protest. Said evidence will be ruled on by both tournament directors and the staff advisory board prior to the next day's events. Any verbal or physical abuse or threats from entrants toward Jackpot staff is cause for a team's disqualification.
- WON reserves the right to deny any teams' or individual's entry. Also note that the above rules are subject to change prior to the event.
- Teams which weigh in fish cannot continue to fish that day.
- No spotter planes are allowed to assist teams in any way the two days of fishing.
- All boats must visually check in with the tournament start boat (the Oceanus) between 6:15 a.m. and 7:30 a.m or will be disqualified.
- Safety is No. 1. No boats on the flare start shall "shoot" between the rock and arch at the start, which means all boats must run to the fishing grounds on the OUTSIDE of the outer rock. There is no automatic penalty, however. Disqualification of a team or teams is up to the discretion of the tourney staff both days.
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