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| ENTRY INFORMATION • • EQUIPMENT RULES • GRID MAPS |
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2010 Tournament Rules updated February 6, 2010 Rules, including published rules in print or on the Bisbee’s website (www.Bisbees.com), are subject to change without notice. Current instructions are given at the Captain’s Meeting for each event, where attendance by at least one team member is mandatory. By entering one of the Black & Blue Tournaments and paying the entry fee, participating anglers, captains, crews and guests (“Participants”) agree to abide by the Tournament Rules. Bisbee's Black & Blue Tournaments expects the highest level of integrity and sportsmanship from its Participants. Refer to Schedule of Events for time and location of Captain’s Meetings. Except where noted, the following information and rules apply to all three events. 1. Rules Acceptance Back to Top It is the sole responsibility of the participating anglers, captains, crews and guests (“Participants”) to know and abide by the Tournament Rules as published and as amended during the Captain’s Meeting. Participants agree to accept all Tournament Rules and accept that decisions made by the Rules Committee are final. 2. Nature of Tournament Back to Top The Bisbee’s Tournaments are fishing competitions. Participants enter at their own risk, and understand the possibility exists that there may be no winners if no qualifying fish are caught. 3. Permits & Licenses Back to Top It is the responsibility of registered boat captains and anglers to comply with all Mexican Federal and State laws regarding fishing licenses, size limits, bag limits and any other regulations that may apply. A representative from the Mexico Department of Fisheries should be on-site during Registration at all events to sell Licenses and Permits. You can learn more by visiting the CONAPESCA (National Aquaculture and Fishing Commission) website at www.conapescasandiego.org. 4. Tournament Start Back to Top The official start of each fishing day is a “Shotgun Start” where boats line up and wait for the firing of the start flare. There is a five minute countdown. Boats must be behind the start line 15 minutes prior to the Shotgun Start. Any boat not clearly behind the start line at this time is disqualified from the day’s fishing. Boats disqualified for this violation a second time are disqualified from the entire event, and the team forfeits any and all entry money, prizes or prize money. The start line is defined at the Captain’s Meeting. 5. Bait Fishing Prior to Tournament Start Back to Top Teams may attempt to catch bait until 15 minutes prior to the official start time. At this time, all fishing lines and teasers must be removed from the water. 6. Fishing Days and Times Back to Top East Cape Offshore: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 7:00am–4:00pm Los Cabos Offshore: Saturday, Sunday 8:00am–5:00pm Black & Blue: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 8:00am–5:00pm A fish hooked prior to end of fishing may be fought until boated, released or lost provided the team arrives at the weigh station prior to its closing for the day if they have a fish to weigh or release to report. The Rules Committee reserves the privilege of changing starting and ending fishing times to coincide with weather, tides, and improved probability of better fishing conditions. 7. Extending Fishing Time Back to Top Fishing time will not be extended during the tournament unless all teams are included and no qualifying fish have been caught. 8. Hand-Offs Between Vessels Back to Top Between the tournament’s fishing hours, no vessel entered in the tournament may be involved in the handing off or receiving of anything from another vessel whether that vessel is entered in the tournament or not, or any other entity of any sort including bait receivers. The Rules Committee may choose to grant special permission in advance to waive this rule if someone's personal safety or health is at risk. 9. Weather and “Complete Tournament” Back to Top The Rules Committee may cancel any tournament fishing day if, in their best judgment, unsafe conditions exist at sea. Resumption of fishing is announced by 6:00am the following morning on the tournament’s VHF radio channel. A resumption of fishing announcement by the Rules Committee does not ensure the safety of any Participant. Whether or not to fish must be based solely on the team’s own judgment taking into consideration the prevailing conditions, the seaworthiness of their vessel, and the crew’s seamanship skills. As little as one day of fishing or any part thereof may constitute a complete tournament. 10. Cancellation of Entire Tournament Back to Top In the event a tournament is canceled by the Rules Committee prior to any portion of the scheduled fishing days, the portion of Entry Fees and Optional Jackpot monies that were allocated for cash awards are refunded by check within four weeks to the Team Contact—one check per team. Teams may choose to roll their refund to the following year’s event. 11. No Qualifying Fish Caught Back to Top In the event no qualifying fish are caught during the tournament, the portion of Optional Jackpot monies that were allocated for cash awards are refunded by check within four weeks to the Team Contact—one check per team. There is no refund of Base Entry Fees. Teams may choose to roll their refund to the following year. 12. Boundaries and Grid Maps Back to Top East Cape Offshore: 50 mile radius from host resort. Black & Blue and Los Cabos Offshore: 40 mile radius from Cabo San Lucas. Teams are required to fish within the boundaries laid out by the Tournament’s Grid Map, and to call in the grid location of every hook-up. Grid maps are published in the Tournament Magazine or Brochure that is in the Team's information envelope handed out during Registration. 13. Communications and Tournament Standings Back to Top The VHF radio channels, backup channels and telephone numbers used to contact Radio Control and Tournament Officials are provided during the Captain’s Meeting and in the Team's information envelope handed out during Registration. Tournament standings are broadcast every morning over the radio, and fish weights are announced as fish are weighed. 14. Eligible Species & Points Back to Top  See table to right.15. Penalty Points & Disqualification Back to Top Black or blue marlin weighing less than 300 lbs. are not eligible for cash awards. Black or blue marlin weighing less than 300 lbs. are awarded zero points and additionally penalized 25 points plus two points for every pound under 300. EXAMPLE: A 290 lb. blue marlin would be awarded 0 points and be penalized 25 points plus 20 points (2pts x 10lbs), making the total points for the fish -45. The negative points are deducted from the team’s overall weight points. East Cape and Los Cabos: Tuna weighing less than 40 lbs. and dorado weighing less than 30 lbs. are disqualified. 16. Official Billfish Release Back to Top A billfish is considered officially released when the leader connection is wound to the tip of the rod, or the mate or other crew member touches the leader. If you are releasing the billfish, do not remove it from the water. 17. Reporting Catch to Radio Control and Official Time Back to Top East Cape and Los Cabos Offshore: Gamefish only need to be reported if they are going to be to be weighed. All Tournaments: When a billfish is hooked, captains must report to Radio Control the Boat Name, Grid Area and Species. The boat captain must again report to Radio Control when the billfish is lost, released or boated. In addition, billfish still being fought at lines out must be reported to Radio Control. Times are recorded to the whole minute. The time recorded by Radio Control is the official time. Any team member intentionally reporting wrongful information to Radio Control for the purpose of altering tournament standings or results is disqualified from the event, and forfeits any and all entry money, prizes or prize money. 18. Recording Billfish on Scorecards Back to Top Scorecards are compared to radio logs for verification. Scorecards must be filled in legibly and completely, and signed by the Boat Captain and anyone who caught a billfish indicating they agree to the information as recorded. Instructions are also printed on the scorecard. All billfish released or boated must be recorded on the Billfish Scorecard (you do not need to record gamefish on the scorecard). You must use a separate scorecard for each day (see Rule #20). Any team intentionally recording wrongful information on the scorecards for the purpose of altering tournament standings or results is disqualified from the event, and forfeits any and all entry money, prizes or prize money. 19. Billfish Release Photo Verification Back to Top The following pertains to the Black & Blue only. Teams entered in the Release Division are given a disposable camera during Registration. Additional cameras are available at the Weigh Station during fishing days. These cameras must be used to record billfish releases. At the beginning of the second and third day of fishing, Radio Control announces the day’s verification object. At that time you must take a photo of the object so the Rules Committee can determine on which day the billfish was caught. The day one verification object is recorded on the cameras before they are handed out. Teams then take photos of billfish as they are released. The photo must show the billfish next to the boat, and identify the billfish species. If the verification object is missing from the camera any billfish released on that day are disqualified. If the species cannot be positively identified no points are awarded. 20. When & Where to Turn in Scorecards and Release Cameras Back to Top Billfish Scorecards: Scorecards must be turned in at the Weigh Station before it closes for the day on the same day the fish was caught. A new scorecard will be given to you for the next day. If you did not catch a billfish you do not have to turn in a scorecard, but if you did catch a billfish you must turn in the scorecard. Release Cameras (Black & Blue): Cameras do not need to be turned in daily. If you fill up the camera before the end of the tournament you can turn it in at the Weigh Station and pick up another camera. Cameras must be turned in to the Weigh Station by closing of the last day of fishing. If you did not catch a billfish you do not need to turn in the camera. 21. Weigh-In Procedures Back to Top All fish must be weighed at the tournament's official weigh station. Weigh station officials will continue to weigh fish for all boats that arrive in front of the weigh station prior to its closing for the day. Refer to the Schedule of Events for Weigh Station locations and times. Additional Rules: A) ANY marlin brought onboard a boat must be weighed. A team intentionally mutilating a fish for the purpose of altering tournament standings or results is disqualified from the event and forfeits any and all entry money, prizes or prize money. B) Fish must be brought to the scales on the boat on which they were caught. C) Fish to be weighed must be presented to the weigh station on the same day they are caught. D) The angler must remain with the fish throughout the weigh-in. E) Before leaving the scales, the angler must verify weight information, sign the Weigh-In form and provide a telephone number where they can be reached. F) The rod, reel, line, leader, lure and hook(s) must accompany each fish to be weighed and presented to the Weighmaster. G) Any fish brought to the weigh station may have its mouth sealed closed. However, once the Weighmaster has raised the fish on the scales the angler is asked to remove whatever is sealing the mouth closed and clip any external leader material to the outer edge of the fish’s mouth. Except for artificial lures, nothing will be pulled from the fish’s mouth. Whatever may fall from the fish due to gravity will remain out when determining the weight of the fish. 22. Breaking Ties Back to Top Ties between the weights of two or more fish are broken by the time the fish was weighed. Ties between release points are broken by the time of release as recorded on the radio logs. Times are recorded to the whole minute. 23. Polygraph Examination Back to Top The following pertains to the Black & Blue only. One person from each team that is receiving a cash award must complete a polygraph examination. This person must have been directly involved with either the release or the capture of the fish (angler, captain or wireman). The final selection of the person to receive the examination is made by Tournament Officials. Examinees must be sober at the time of the examination. Failure to comply, or failing the examination, results in disqualification of the entire team and the team forfeits any and all entry money, prizes or prize money. 24. Release of All Claims Back to Top This section must be carefully read by each Participant. In consideration for being accepted by the Tournament Organizers/Rules Committee for participation in Bisbee’s Black & Blue Marlin Tournament, Bisbee’s East Cape Offshore Tournament or Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore Tournament (“the Tournament”), the Participants hereby release, forever discharge, and agree to hold harmless the Tournament, Tournament Promotions, Inc., Tournament Control, Inc., and their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, volunteers, partners, members, and/or attorneys (collectively the "Releasees") for any and all losses, claims, or demands of any kind or character whatsoever arising from the negligence or gross negligence of the Releasees or from any other cause connected with or occurring during the Tournament. The Participants expressly acknowledge that he/she has received, reviewed, and agrees to abide by the Tournament Rules and this Release. Furthermore, the Participants expressly acknowledge that activities relating to deep sea fishing are extremely dangerous and involve the risk of serious injury or death. Having so acknowledged, the Participants hereby assume full responsibility for the risk of bodily injury or death due to the negligence or gross negligence of the Releasees or any other cause connected with or occurring during the Tournament. 25. Disputes/Protests Back to Top All disputes, protests, claims, differences or controversies relating to any aspect of the Tournament, including, without limitation, Tournament Rules, must be submitted in writing to the Tournament Organizers/Rules Committee no later than twenty-four (24 ) hours following the official closing of the Tournament Weigh Station or are deemed waived. All such disputes shall be decided by the Tournament Organizers/Rules Committee and shall be final and binding upon all parties. 26. Binding Arbitration Back to Top In the event the Tournament Organizers/Rules Committee cannot render or refuses to render a final and binding decision with respect to any dispute, claim, difference, or controversy under review, the matter shall be resolved by binding arbitration under the commercial arbitration rules of the American Arbitration Association. The decision rendered in arbitration shall be in writing and shall be final and binding upon all parties. The parties shall have no further recourse, except as provided for by the commercial rules of the American Arbitration Association. Once the decision is rendered, it will produce the effect of “res judicata” and the parties shall fully comply with the decision without delay. The Participants specifically waive any right to a trial by judge or jury. 27. Participation Back to Top The Participants specifically agree and consent to the use of any photograph, motion picture, or audio recording in which they appear or are heard, by the Tournament, Tournament Promotions, Inc. or Tournament Control, Inc. for any purpose whatsoever including, but not limited to, resale, advertising, and promotional material without compensation or restriction of any kind. |
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