- Standard entry fee is $2,450 per boat and $1000 for the 40' an Under Division. (Early entry fees are $2,250 and $900 respectively prior to October 1, 2011) Boats may enter 1 or both divisions by paying the respective entry fee. Each division will have separate prize pots, and boats are only eligible for prizes in the division they have entered. All entry fees are non-refundable. Standard entries include 6 bracelet passes to all El Pescado Tournament functions, while the 40' and Under Division includes 4 bracelet passes. Additional bracelets are available for purchase, and will be required for access to event functions.
- Tournament within a Tournament: All boats are encouraged to participate in the TWT. There are multiple TWT categories, and boats are encouraged to enter as many as they wish. Checks will be accepted until 8pm on Thursday, October 13. Levels and prizes are attached.
- This is a billfish release Tournament. All billfish will be released for points. No points will be awarded for dead or mutilated fish. Points will be as follows: Blue Marlin 400, White Marlin 200, Sailfish 100. There are also prize categories for heaviest dolphin and wahoo, however meat fish carry no point value for the Standard Division. In the 40' and Under Division, dolphin and wahoo are worth 1 point per pound, with a 10lb fish minimum. All weighed fish become property of the tournament and will be used for the Saturday evening fish fry.
- Fishing hours are 8:30AM to 3:30PM each day. Boats may not leave the St. Augustine Sea Buoy before 5:30AM, and must return past the St. Augustine Sea Buoy no later than 6:30PM, unless hooked-up and acknowledged by the Committee Boat prior to the "lines out of the water."
- There shall be no time limit on any fish hooked prior to "lines out of the water," except on the last day of fishing when all boats must arrive at the St. Augustine Sea Buoy no later than 6:30pm. No Exceptions.
- Boats may fish no more than 6 rods at a time. Dead bait only. No live bait allowed.
- IGFA rules will apply, except as otherwise noted. Maximum leader length is 15ft, and double-line combined with leader may not exceed 20 feet. Anglers must hook and fight their own fish, except for junior anglers age 16 and under where help may be provided. All lines and leaders are subject to random inspection by the Tournament Committee. Per NMFS regulations, boats fishing with natural baits MUST use non-offset circle hooks. J-hooks may only be used with artificials.
Boats are required to comply with all state and Federal fisheries regulations including, but not limited to size and bag limits and licensing requirements.
- Official Release: To qualify as a "released fish" the leader must be brought within the grasp of the mate or the end of the leader must touch the rod tip. A Billfish Release Affidavit must be completed and submitted to the Tournament Committee along with a time and date-stamped digital image (still or video) that clearly shows the billfish species and the colored ribbon of the day (which will be provided in the Captain's bags. The species of the billfish MUST be identifiable for full points to be given. If the fish is clearly a billfish but cannot be distinguished as to species (BM, WM, or Sailfish), then the minimum 100 points will be given.
- All boats must call-in releases to the Committee Boat, at which time an official release time will be given. In the case of ties, the winner will be determined by the earliest release. Committee Boat times, not camera times, will be the official release time. Daily catch reports must be signed and submitted by each boat captain. If you cannot raise a committee boat, take a picture of your GPS time after the picture of your fish.
- All boats must check-out and check-in via radio to the Tournament HQ upon departure and arrival at the St. Augustine Sea Buoy each day. The Tournament HQ will monitor Channel 72.
- All protests will be settled the day they are officially lodged with the Tournament Committee, and captains from all subject boats must be present for such hearing. Protests must be made in writing to the Tournament Director before the conclusion of the day such protests occur. Protests must be accompanied by a $500 deposit, returnable only if the Tournament Director finds the protest to be valid.
- Any crewmember of winning boats may be subject to polygraph testing at the discretion of the Tournament Committee. By virtue of entry into the tournament, entrants agree to the final decision of any polygraph test. Refusal to submit to the testing will be automatic grounds for disqualification from the tournament and any winnings.
- There are NO REFUNDS. In the case of a mechanical breakdown, a team may request a transfer to a substitute boat, to be approved by the Tournament Committee.
- Weather: The Tournament Committee may cancel fishing anytime it considers weather conditions to be unsafe. However, it is agreed by all parties that each captain has the ultimate responsibility to determine if conditions are unsafe for his vessel. One day of fishing will constitute a complete Tournament, and awards will be presented accordingly. As a last resort, if fishing is cancelled both Friday and Saturday, Sunday will be used as a fishing day, with awards to follow that evening. The Saturday Feast will remain Saturday however, and Sunday will solely serve to award prizes.
