The 56th Annual CYC Blue Marlin Release Tournament is a two-day team event with Top Team honors going to the team that tallies the most points during the tournament. Eligible species for the tournament are blue marlin, White marlin, Sailfish and Spearfish. Additional prizes will be given for other species (minimum weight 5kg/11 lbs) 

 

GENERAL RULES AND LAWS

IGFA rules will apply to this Tournament except where they are inconsistent with these specific Tournament Rules. It is the responsibility of the captain and anglers to be familiar with these Tournament Rules and IGFA Rules. All registered boats and anglers must comply with all applicable Curacao Laws regarding fishing licenses and boundary limits, etc. Any infractions of the applicable rules will disqualify the registered anglers(s) and boat from the entire tournament, and any disqualified angler(s) will not be entitled to any refund.

 

Scoring 

Billfish Division: five hundred (500) points rewarded for every blue marlin officially released, or 1 point per pound for every blue marlin weighed and verified over the 500-pound minimum. 

 

If a blue marlin brought to the scales fails to make the minimum weight limit, the team that caught the fish will receive no points for the fish. Any billfish boated for any reason must be weighed. Failure to weigh a boated fish will result in immediate disqualification for the remainder of the tournament and forfeiture of all points previously earned. 

 

Billfish points:

 

White Marlin 200 points

Sailfish 150 points

Spearfish 150 points

 

The committee can award points if a billfish can’t be identified by species, in this case 150 points can be awarded, but those points will not count for the billfish class prize. For example, if the fish is a billfish, but one can’t tell if it’s a Blue or sail, 150 points may be awarded, however it won’t count for the sailfish prize as such. 

 

Release Rules 

All teams must provide their own digital still or video camera to verify releases. The camera must show the correct time and date stamp on each photo or video. 

After a Bill Fish is hooked up, the hook up should be reported to “control” with the name of the angler. The boat will receive a control code number, which will be between the number 1 and 5. A photograph must be taken of the angler fighting the fish with his rod and reel showing the control number given to the boat by Control with your designated photographer or any other crew member holding up the number with his/her fingers or the control code signs received. 

 

The team needs to provide indisputable video or photo evidence to the Rules Committee. The teams must turn these in in person along with the SD Card, Micro SD Card or Compact Flash Card from their camera.  Media Cards can be turned in at the Official Weigh Station in CYC. The Media Card and Release Form must be turned in no later than one hour after lines out (6 p.m. on Saturday and 5 p.m. on Sunday) on the day fish is released to qualify. The Media Card must show continuous video or a clear single photo of the mate touching the leader and clear and indisputable evidence that the fish is a blue marlin or other eligible species. It is the responsibility of the participants to ensure that their camera’s Clock/ Date is set accurately to reflect the time and date of the Releases to. Date and time stamp must be 100% accurate. All videos will become property of the CYC blue marlin Tournament. If the rules committee is unable to see indisputable evidence that the fish is a blue marlin, the release will be scored at 150 points. 

 

Any fish hooked by two or more Anglers is automatically disqualified, but must be reported. Failure to do so will result in disqualification of that day’s catch. 

 

In the event of a tie, the team reaching the highest score first wins. 

 

 

Angler, Crew and Boat Requirements: 

Without exception, each boat must have on board one registered boat captain. Captain and crew changes are allowed but must be communicated to the tournament committee prior to any days fishing. There is a limit of four anglers per boat in this tournament and a minimum of 2; however, if an angler drops out, an additional angler can be signed on with the team if he/she registers before the start of that day’s fishing. Registered captains can also be registered anglers. Guests are allowed on the boats. Boats may receive aid from other boats in the form of towing due to mechanical failure. Teams and boats are NOT allowed to receive assistance in landing or releasing fish. Boats may fish a max of 6 lines regardless of the number of registered anglers.

 

803 Challenge

 

Winner of the Curaçao Yacht Club 803 Challenge is the participant catching the heaviest Blue Marlin during the two-day tournament weighing over 803 lbs. Max line class 50Lbs applies 

Scale is checked by ijkwezen Curacao. 

 

Rules 

IGFA rules apply in this tournament (see release rules for scoring points). It is the responsibility of each team and crew member to know, understand and abide by IGFA and tournament rules during this competition. 

 

Any angler, captain, or mate whom deliberately breaks these rules will be immediately expelled and disqualified from this and future tournaments without a refund of any jackpot or registration fees. 

• Each morning before departure a team photo must be taken of all anglers with their rod and reel they are going to use for that fishing day. 

• All boats must radio report: leaving the pier and their return at the club. Baits in the water and out of the water will be called by Control.

• Mates cannot hook the fish or touch the rod, reel or line (including the double line) at any time for any reason once the fish takes a bait or lure. 

• Mates can only touch the leader once the swivel or leader reaches or passes the rod tip.

His mere touch constitutes a catch.

• The leader (swivel) must touch the tip of the Rod, before the fish can be released. All released Bill Fish must be photographed in order to qualify. 

• The bait-and-switch method of angling is permitted; however, fish must be hooked at least 10 seconds before the mate may touch the leader. 

• Wind-on leaders are permitted but may not exceed 30 feet as per IGFA rules. 

• Fishing will be done by trolling or drifting. No bottom fishing is permitted

 

The following practices are illegal in this tournament: a) use of handline or rope attached to the line or leader; b) shooting, harpooning, or lancing; and c) the transfer of any participant from one boat to another to aid in the landing of the fish. Bill rope/”snooter” is allowed. Drones are not allowed in this tournament.

 

Line 

The maximum line strength allowed is 50-pound monofilament test. Only tournament lines are eligible. If the line test stated on the label is 50 pounds or less, the line will be allowed in the tournament. The tournament organization retains the right to test all lines, if they exceed 50lbs participant will be disqualified. The catch shall be classified under the breaking strength of the first 5 meters (16.5 feet) of line directly preceding the double line, leader, or hook. No extra points will be awarded to Anglers using lighter lines. Braided line is not allowed.

 

 

Leaders 

The length of the leader is the overall length including any lures or hook arrangement. 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 line and/or leaders at any time during the event. Refusal to allow the committee to examine any line and/or leaders will result in immediate disqualification from the event without a refund of any jackpot or registration fees. 

 

Rods 

Unlimited in use or numbers, but max 6 baited rods while fishing. 

Teasers and Dredges

Unlimited in use or numbers. 

Baits 

 

Dead bait, lures and any combination thereof are permitted in this tournament.

Live bait is not permitted. 

 

Fighting times 

All fish or release photos must be back to the weigh station by 18:00 hours on the day of fishing. No lines or teasers are permitted in the water before official fishing hours each day.

 

Daily fishing hours: The boats can leave both fishing days from the piers of the Curaçao Yacht Club at 7:00 a.m. The fishing hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday. Neither baits nor teasers are allowed in the water before or after mentioned hours. All boats must be back and/or in sight of the CYC organizing committee ONE- hour after the baits are out of the water, or it will be disqualified. 

 

The tournament committee reserves the privilege of changing starting and finishing times for any reason it deems necessary.

A radio start will take place each morning at 6:00 a.m. The official tournament channel will be 68. 

 

Fishing area

It is only allowed to fish in Curacao waters, up to 18 miles from shore. It’s prohibited to go to Bonaire or Aruba, committee can check your GPS tracks, if these were wiped the fish will be disqualified.

 

Weigh-in 

“The weigh station is at Plenchi “Be Galmeyer”. All release photo/video checks will take place in the CYC office upstairs, behind the bar area. To be eligible for prize money, a blue marlin must weigh at least 500 hundred pounds. 

 

Radio/Communications 

All billfish hookups, releases and lost fish must be reported to tournament control, along with the boat name, angler name and fish species. The tournament control’s time will act as the official time for any and all catches and releases without exception. The official tournament channel will be 68. A Curacao Yacht Club cell phone number will be given at the captain’s meeting that teams can also communicate on. 

 

Registration will take place August 19th from 6 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Club House of the CYC. 

 

All teams that are pre-registered and teams needing to register must send at least one representative to obtain your tournament credentials and team captains’ goody bucket. 

 

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. 

 

Entry Fee 

The fee is $800,= per boat (up to 4 anglers per boat and min 2).

WITHDRAWAL FROM THE TOURNAMENT - No fees will be refunded.

 

Protests 

All protests must be stated in writing. All protests will be settled the day of the incident. All protests must be in the hands of the tournament’s designated rules official by 6:30 p.m. on the day of the alleged incident. All decisions of the official tournament judges are final. 

 

Liability 

The Curaçao Yacht Club or the tournament committee and the boats owners will take no responsibility for any damage (material or personal) that may occur to any of the participants. 

 

Important 

All captured fish, inclusive those not classified, MUST be brought to the weighing station and will become property of the organizing committee. All proceeds will go to charity. So please be a gentleman and bring in your fish.