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2019 Cajun Canyons Billfish Classic

May 28 - June 2, 2019

Presenting SPONSOR

Tournament Rules

Rules are Subject to Change. The final instructions/rules will be given at the mandatory Captains’ Meeting, Wednesday, May 29, 2019 at Cypress Cove Marina.

1. Dates and Times: Back to Index
Tournament fishing days are Thursday, May 30 starting at 1:00pm, Friday, May 31 and Saturday, June 1, 2019. Tournament fishing times are from Thursday, May 30 at 1:00pm until 7:00pm, Saturday, June 1, 2019. All participating boats with eligible fish to be weighed or BSC’s (see section 11) must be passed the northern most edge of the Cypress Cove fishing cleaning station and checked in with Tournament Headquarters via VHF radio channel 72 prior to 7:00 PM, Saturday, June 1. Please refer to “Weigh-In” section for weigh station times. Tag/Release certificates (Billfish Score Cards) and video images with connecting cables, must be turned in prior to Weigh Station closing.

2. Registration: Back to Index
Registration will be held at the Tournament Headquarters, located at Cypress Cove Marina, Wednesday, May 29, 2019 from 2:00 PM until 7:00 PM. All boats and anglers must be registered by 7:00pm, May 29, 2019 to be eligible for tournament awards or prizes. Wristbands will be issued and MUST be worn at all times for admission to events and be visible in your digital images for Tag or Release Points.

3. Departures/Boundaries: Back to Index
Boats may depart only from Venice, Louisiana at 1:00 PM, Thursday, May 30, 2019, and check out via radio. There are no tournament boundaries. ALL eligible fish, along with Billfish Score Cards, digital images (cameras) and connecting cables must be brought to Cypress Cove Marina; just be in on time, and please use safe judgment with regards to fuel capacity and range.

4. Tackle: Back to Index The official I.G.F.A. saltwater rules are the applicable rules for the Cajun Canyons Billfish Classic™. For a complete listing of the I.G.F.A. saltwater equipment and angling rules, please go to http://www.igfa.org/Fish/INTERNATIONAL-ANGLING-RULES.aspx. The exception to this, is that a mate may set the hook and pass the rod to a registered angler. This may occur only once during the first minute of the fight.

5. Official Times: Back to Index
The official tournament time will be announced at the mandatory Captains Meeting, 7:30 PM, Wednesday, May 29, 2019. The official tournament clock will be posted at the weigh station.

6. Entry Fees: Back to Index
The base entry fee is $1,600.00 prior to April 1, 2019; after April 1, the base entry fee will be $1,850.00. The base entry fee covers: 1 Boat with 1 Captain, 1 Mate, and 4 Anglers. Additional anglers may be registered at $250.00 each, prior to April 1; after April 1, the additional angler registration fee will be $300.00. All entry fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. Cash, certified checks, or credit cards (subject to a 3.5% service charge) ONLY will be accepted at tournament headquarters. Payment of the base entry fee and signing of the entry form constitutes that each participant has read and wholly understands the tournament rules and release of liability. Additionally, the participants further agree to abide by the tournament rules and the decisions of the Tournament Committee. The decisions of the Tournament Committee are FINAL, inclusive of the Weigh Master and Tournament Rules Committee. Participants must fish the boat that is registered; changing of boats is not allowed after the Captains’ Meeting at 7:30pm, Wednesday, May 29, 2019.

7. Sportsmanship: Back to Index
The Cajun Canyons Billfish Classic™ is located in historic Venice, Louisiana, also known to many as the “Sportsman’s Paradise.” All participants hereby agree to abide by our basic tournament philosophy: “Treat fellow sportsmen and fishermen the way you would like them to treat you in return.” Poor sportsmanship may be grounds for tournament disqualification at the discretion of the Tournament Committee.

8. Permits/Licenses: Back to Index
All tournament participants are encouraged to comply with all Federal, state of Louisiana, and Plaquemines Parish laws reqarding boating, fishing licenses, size and bag limits, etc.

9. Polygraph Testing: Back to Index
All registered participants may be subject to polygraph testing, prior to the issuing of any tournament winnings or prizes. The Tournament Committee may consider the results of any such polygraph test prior to the determination of any tournament prize money or award winner.

10. Captains’ Meeting: Back to Index
The Captains’ Meeting is scheduled for 7:30 PM, Wednesday, May 29, 2019; ALL boats must be registered by that time. Attendance is mandatory and an authorized representative must sign out from the Captains’ Meeting.

11. Billfish Score Cards: Back to Index
Billfish Score Cards will be distributed at the Captains’ Meeting. The BSC is the registered Team’s log for every Billfish that is released or boated. One team member must present completed and signed BSC’s (signed by all Team members), along with Video Images and cables to connect camera to an external monitor, no later than 7:00 PM, Saturday, June 1 at the tournament weigh-station in order to either weigh-in an eligible Blue Marlin or qualify for Tag/Release Points. BSC’s will be compared to the Tournament Committee Boats radio log.

12. Weigh-In: Back to Index
Tournament scales will be located at Cypress Cove Marina. The weigh station hours will be from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM, Thursday, May 30; 8:00 AM until 8:00 PM Friday, May 31, and 8:00 AM until 7:00 PM on Saturday, June 1, 2019. All fish, video images, and BSC’s must be brought to the weigh-station by the boat from which it was caught. Only registered tournament anglers are allowed to weigh in an eligible fish (see Rule #11). Eligible fish must be presented at the weigh-station by the angler that caught the fish, via his/her Teams registered boat. Eligible fish must not leave the registered boat from which it was originally caught, except for the weigh-in at Cypress Cove Marina. The angler must remain with his/her fish throughout the complete weigh-in procedure and sign the certified weight-slip to verify the weight and time prior to the fish becoming an Official Fish, eligible for prizes and/or awards. Weigh-in times will be recorded to the minute.

13. Eligible Fish: Back to Index
The following species are eligible as described below:

Species Tag or Release Awards Min. Size to Weigh Allowable Per Team to Weigh Points/Weight Points
(1/10th of lb.)
Blue Marlin Yes 110 inches LJFL 1 per team/per day 500/1 point per lb.
White Marlin Yes NO 0 200
Sailfish Yes NO 0 200
Spearfish Yes NO 0 200
Dolphin NO 20 lb. Min. 3/day/per Team 1 point per lb.
Tuna *1 NO 27″ CFL 3/day/per Team 1 point per lb.
Wahoo NO 20 lb. Min. 3/day/per Team 1 point per lb.
*1: Eligible Tuna Species are Yellowfin, Big Eye.

13. Eligible Fish continued: Back to Index
No mutilated, cut, frozen or questionable fish, as determined by the Tournament Weigh Master and Tournament Committee, will be weighed. The decision of the Tournament Weigh Master and Tournament Committee is FINAL. Any angler or team in possession of illegal fish will result in entire team disqualification without any refunds of entry fees or optional entry monies.

14. Reporting of Billfish: Back to Index
All billfish releases must be reported to a Tournament Committee Boat or tournament headquarters via VHF, or telephone. Committee Boats, frequencies and telephone numbers will be announced at the Captains’ Meeting, 7:30 PM, Wednesday, May 29, 2019. Upon the releasing or boating (110″ minimum lower jaw to fork length for Blue Marlin; please do not boat Sailfish, Spearfish, or White Marlin) of any eligible billfish, the entire Team must complete their BSC and report the following information:

  1. Name of Boat
  2. Name of Angler
  3. Species of Billfish
  4. Whether or not Tagged, Released or Boated
  5. Lower Jaw to Fork Length (LJFL), if boated, within 3 inches of when arriving at dock
  6. Time Boated or Released

ALL BOATED BILLFISH MUST BE REPORTED TO A COMMITTEE BOAT OR TOURNAMENT HEADQUARTERS WITHIN 30 MINUTES OF THE BOATING TIME.

14. Reporting of Billfish continued: Back to Index
The Tournament Committee Boat will issue a confirmation number and time for your released or boated billfish. Please make certain that the Committee Boat has confirmed your data, including time of release or boating of billfish. If a Tournament Committee Boat cannot be contacted, then a verifiable report must be given to another Tournament boat or Tournament Headquarters; boat name must be noted on the Billfish Score Card (BSC’s will be provided at the Captains’ Meeting). This is the same procedure for each billfish.

15. Release: Back to Index
The Cajun Canyons Billfish Classic™ does not require that a tag be inserted in a Billfish for the release to qualify for release points. We do encourage tagging of all billfish to further continue the research efforts of The Billfish Foundation (www.billfish.org) . A billfish is considered officially released when the leader connection is wound to the tip of the rod, or the mate touches the leader, along with the video images that are required (see Rule #16). Release points are based on GPS date/time and will be recorded to the full minute.

16. Video Images: Back to Index
To obtain release points, in addition to the communications with the Committee Boat and the corresponding confirmation number, the Cajun Canyons Billfish Classic™ requires completed Billfish Score Cards (BSC’s – see Sect. #11) and video images with both date and time stamps must be provided. The video image must contain the following:

  1. The angler fighting the fish showing the tournament issued wristband.
  2. Pan of complete cockpit.
  3. Clear identification of the species of Billfish.
  4. Mate with leader in hand or swivel at rod tip, and tournament issued wristband, wiring and releasing the fish.
  5. Wiring and release of fish, followed by an immediate and complete pan of the cockpit showing no other lines in the water.
  6. After the pan of the cockpit, record a clearly legible shot of the boat’s GPS showing both date and time.
  7. The camera must NOT stop recording during the wiring, release and complete pan of the cockpit and filming the GPS date and time stamp.
  8. If the mate has the leader in hand and the hook pulls or the leader breaks, the fish still qualifies if all other items are satisfied, but if the fish is only identifiable as a billfish, the fish will score the minimum points==200 points. Please do not stop your video. Do not bring any billfish into the boat or out of the water that you are going to release; it will be disqualified.
  9. Please have 1 team member bring completed BSC’s, camera and appropriate cables to connect camera to an external monitor and/or laptop computer.
  10. If the GPS date or time is not clearly identifiable, the date and time of the boat checking in via radio, crossing the checkpoint will be applied, if all other video requirements are met.
  11. No cell phone, iPad/tablet, or single CD/DVD videos will be accepted.

17. Protests: Back to Index
A tournament participant must register any protest with the Tournament Committee within thirty minutes of the weigh-in closing time (7:00 PM) on Saturday, June 1, 2019. The protest must be written and accompanied by $1000.00 cash, along with any evidence/materials for the protest and must be presented to the Tournament Rules Committee prior to 7:30 PM, Saturday, June 1, 2019. The Tournament Rules Committee will make every effort possible to determine the validity of the protest within two hours (9:30 PM). The decision of the Tournament Rules Committee is final.

17a. Binding Arbitration: Back to Index
In the event the Tournament Organizers/Rules Committee cannot render or refuses to render a final and binding decision with respect to any dispute, protest, 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 hereby specifically waive any right to a trial by judge or jury. Arbitration will occur in East Baton Rouge Parish in the State of Louisiana.

18. Prizes from Base Entry Fee: Back to Index
The Base Entry Fee for the Cajun Canyons Billfish Classic™ covers all events, trophies, and captain’s bags/give aways. The Base Entry Fee is exactly that, an Entry Fee that allows the registered team to participate in this event. There are no payouts from the Base Entry Fee.

Species 1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place
Blue Marlin Trophy Trophy Trophy
Release Trophy Trophy Trophy
Dolphin Trophy Trophy Trophy
Tuna Trophy Trophy Trophy
Wahoo Trophy Trophy Trophy
Top Angler (overall points) Trophy
Top Female Angler (overall points) Trophy
Top Youth Angler (overall points) Trophy
Top Billfish Boat (overall points) Trophy
Top Captain and Top Mate (overall points) Trophy
Release: Based on total billfish release points; ties broken by release times to the full minute; the first team to reach the highest number of total points will be declared the winner. Weighed fish prizes are based on individual fish weight; not on cumulative weight/points.

19. Tie Breakers: Back to Index
Ties between the weights of two or more fish are broken by the time the fish were weighed in, as recorded by the Tournament Official Weigh Master. A tie on total release points will be broken by the Team that reaches the highest total number of release points first.

20. Optional Entry Categories: Back to Index
The Optional Entry Levels are exactly that, Optional, and are not required or included in the base entry fee of $1,600.00 (if paid prior to April 1, 2019). The entry into the Optional Entry Levels is not required to be eligible for base entry fee trophies. Boats/anglers must be registered in the Optional Entry Categories to be eligible for the Optional Entry Levels Awards. There are 5 separate levels of Optional Entry Categories for Blue Marlin, Release, Tuna, Wahoo, and Dolphin; additionally, there is a $10,000 Blue Marlin and a $10,000 Release Category – Level #6. All boats may enter as many Optional Entry Categories as they desire, prior to 11:00 AM, Thursday, May 30, 2019. Cash, Certified Checks, or Credit Cards (subject to a 3.5% service charge) are required to enter Optional Entry Categories on-site at the Tournament Headquarters.

Level Blue Marlin Release Dolphin Tuna Wahoo
$10,000 Optional Entry Level #6 Jackpot $10,000 $10,000
$5,000 Optional Entry Level #5 Jackpot $5,000 $5,000 $5,000 $5,000 $5,000
$3,000 Optional Entry Level #4 Jackpot $3,000 $3,000 $3,000 $3,000 $3,000
$2,000 Optional Entry Level #3 Jackpot $2,000 $2,000 $2,000 $2,000 $2,000
$1,000 Optional Entry Level #2 Jackpot $1000 $1000 $1000 $1000 $1000
$500 Optional Entry Level #1 Jackpot $500 $500 $500 $500 $500
Total Across the Board: $77,500.00 plus Entry Fee
90% PAYBACK ON ALL OPTIONAL ENTRY CATEGORIES, 10% ADMINISTRATIVE FEE DEDUCTED

20.a. Optional Entry Level #1 – Level #6 Payouts: Back to Index

Optional Entry Level #1 – Level #6 Payouts:

3 Winners 2 Winners 1 Winner
1st Place 50%
2nd Place 30%
3rd Place 20%
1st Place 60%
2nd Place 40%
1st Place 100%

21.Optional Entry Refunds: Back to Index
If there are no winners in a specific category Optional Entry Jackpot, the Jackpot for that specific category will be refunded (less 10% Administration Fee) by comefishLa.com, Inc. to the Team Leader listed on the Entry form within ten (10) days following the Cajun Canyons Billfish Classic™.

22. All Payouts: Back to Index
All checks for tournament winnings will be made payable to the “Make Check Payable To” entity indicated on the Entry Form. A Social Security # or Federal Tax Identification # must be provided. ComefishLa.com, Inc. will issue a Federal Tax Form 1099 for all monetary awards to the entity for whom the check is made payable. Winning payout checks will be mailed within ten (10) days following the Cajun Canyons Billfish Classic™.

23. Cancellation: Back to Index
The Cajun Canyons Billfish Classic™ is scheduled for fishing starting at 1:00 PM, Thursday, May 30, 2019 until 7:00 PM, Saturday, June 1, 2019. In the case of inclement weather, the tournament will be completed on the first day to be declared fishable by the Tournament Committee. Thirty-six (36) hours of fishing by one third of the registered fleet constitutes a completed tournament. If weather and/or conditions beyond the control of the Tournament Committee require that the tournament be cancelled, refunds will be made, less five-hundred ($500.00) dollars tournament expenses — this is to include all captains bags, give aways, shirts, caps, etc. and Dock Party and Kick Off Party.

24. Use of photographs, audio & video recordings: Back to Index
All participants hereby grant the Cajun Canyons Billfish Classic™ and comefishLa.com, Inc. their full and unlimited consent for the use of any photograph, video and or audio recording, taken or recorded in relation to the Cajun Canyons Billfish Classic™, in which they, or their voice and or likeness may appear. CCBC and comefishLa.com, Inc. may use said photographs, video or audio recordings for any purpose it deems, including, but not limited to, advertising and marketing, promotion, resale, or the like without compensation or any restrictions.

25. Liability Release: Back to Index
Participants agree to the maximum extent permitted by law that they are entering and participating at their own risk. By entering and/or registering for the Cajun Canyons Billfish Classic (hereinafter referred to as “CCBC”) all participants, including, but not limited to all registered anglers, Captains, mates and guests (hereinafter referred to as “Participants”), agree, to the maximum extent permitted by law, to hold the CCBC, comefishLa.com, Inc., Cypress Cove Marina and Lodge, Venice Marina, together with all persons or entities involved with/associated with the CCBC, along with their respective employees, officers, directors, volunteers, agents, committee members, partners, sponsors, advisors, and subcontractors (hereinafter referred to as “the CCBC group”) harmless from any and all claims, demands, or liability of any kind whatsoever relating to the CCBC, including but not limited to any claims for any act or omission, excluding, however, any claims for any intentional or gross fault by any member of the CCBC group, and for any claims for physical injury caused by any member of the CCBC group.