The Pelagic Triple Crown of Fishing Tournament is a team event with prizes and awards estimated to over $350,000 (based on number of entries). Awards will be presented to the anglers and teams (teams are constituted of up to six anglers, plus 1 captain and 2 mates) for their performance in releasing the most billfish (blue marlin, black marlin, striped marlin, sailfish, and swordfish) and/or catching the heaviest aggregate gamefish weight per species (tuna, wahoo, dorado) during the two-day tournament.  (Friday, June 11^th & Saturday, June 12^th).

(1) Fish must be caught on standard rod and reel equipment during advertised tournament hours of 7:00am-3:00pm on June 11-12, 2021.  (2) Teams may use lures, live bait, or dead bait, or any combination of the aforementioned. (3) Any bait or lure in combination with live, dead, or strip baits are to be used with non-offset circle hooks only. (4) There is no limit to line class. (5) No electric reels, spears, or harpoons are permitted.

(5) Anglers may receive assistance from their captain/crew in hooking and landing fish.  This is a fun tournament, and while it’s perfectly acceptable for crew to hook and assist anglers during the fight, the primary angling is intended to be done by the registered anglers of each individual team.

(6) Professional chartermen, captains, mates, and deckhands are ineligible and will be disallowed to register or act as anglers in this event.  While ineligible to register as anglers, professionals may act as crew and are allowed to pass rods, bait fish, and assist the team within the rules. THE TERM PROFESSIONAL IS DEFINED AS ANY INDIVIDUAL PERSON WHO’S MAJORITY INCOME DERIVES FROM THE ACT OF FISHING BASED IN CABO IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS, SUCH AS, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, A FULL OR PART TIME CAPTAIN OR MATE. The tournament directors will make all determinations regarding entrants with professional status, and will make ineligible any individual they deem as professional. The tournament reserves the right to refuse entry to any one for any reason whatsoever.

Teams must be lined up in front of “Land’s End” Cabo Arch by 6:45am for an official shotgun start promptly at 7:00am, after which they may begin fishing.  Fish hooked prior to lines-out may be fought until released (billfish) or brought aboard (in the case of a gamefish), but teams must make it to the scales before closing each day.  

Teams May Leave Marina: 6:00am

Starting Line: 6:45am

Shotgun Start: 7:00am

Lines-In: 7:00am

Lines-Out: 3:00pm

Scales Open: 3:00pm

Scales Close: 6:00pm

Weigh-ins will be hosted at the designated location on the water, in front of Baja Cantina, Marina Cabo San Lucas.  Scales close at 6:00pm; however, if there are fish waiting to be weighed passed official close time, they will be accepted, so long as visual contact has been made with weighmaster or tournament officials.  Teams are asked to bring their heaviest tuna, wahoo, and dorado (as per individual tournament team’s discretion) to the scales for official weigh-in first, before proceeding to documentation of billfish releases.   Teams will be asked to provide video evidence of each individual billfish release at the official documentation station located inside Baja Cantina Restaurant, Marina Cabo San Lucas.

ELIGIBLE SPECIES: Blue Marlin, Black Marlin, Striped Marlin, Sailfish, Spearfish, and Swordfish.

SCORING:  Teams will be ranked based on their two-day combined release point total.  1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd place will be awarded.

• Striped Marlin, Sailfish, or Spearfish = 100 points per release
• Blue Marlin, Black Marlin, or Swordfish = 300 points per release

Properly documented video evidence of each released billfish must be provided.  To be scored, the release video must contain the following three items:

1) The registered tournament angler on the rod fighting the fish.

2) The mate touching the leader with the fish boat side.  To identify a specific species of marlin, clear video showing the fish’s dorsal fin out of the water must be provided. Billfish that cannot be unmistakably identified will be scored at 100 points. 

3) Video of the leader being cut clean or the fish unhooked, followed by at least :03 seconds of continuous video showing the fish swimming away no longer attached to fishing line.

If proper video is not supplied, your catch will not be scored.  Teams must supply their own video recording device with the ability to show proper time/date (if deemed needed).  In the case of a swordfish catch, teams may choose to either release or weigh their fish.  A weighed swordfish will receive the same point scoring as a released swordfish, no matter the weight.  Tournament Officials’ rulings on release evidence are final; there will be no protests allowed for video evidence.  Submitted tournament videos may be used by Pelagic in future promotions.

Teams are required to call-in their hook-ups, angler on the rod, and status of releasing the fish via radio control.  Once your radio release is confirmed, you will receive an official release time. Official release status and points will be awarded once tournament officials have reviewed your billfish release video documentation.

Radio control station and additional notes will be announced during the captain’s meeting on June 10^th.  Please make sure at one team representative is on-hand for this important meeting.

If there is a tie in aggregate billfish release points by multiple teams at the end of the two-day tournament, rankings will be determined by the first team to reach their aggregate point total by time (verified by release video date/time). Example: if “Team A” reached their point total at 1:00pm and “Team B” reached their point total at 2:00pm, “Team A” beats “Team B”.

There are three (3) Gamefish Divisions, in which the following rules apply: At the end of each day of tournament fishing, teams may weigh their respective tuna, wahoo, and dorado.  Each team may weigh two (2) fish per species each day; however, only their single-heaviest tuna, wahoo, and dorado will be scored that day.  At the end of the final day of tournament fishing, team rankings will be determined for each gamefish division (tuna, wahoo, and dorado) based on their aggregate two-fish per species weight (single-heaviest each day) throughout the two-day tournament. NOTE: if no qualifying fish are scored in a tournament Gamefish Division, the entry money will be divided equally among 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd place Billfish Release Division winners.

SCORING: Teams will receive 1-point per pound of scored gamefish, rounded to the nearest tenth (i.e. 17.2 points).   Remember, teams will score their heaviest fish per species per day.  Minimum Weight to Qualify = 10.0 lbs. Each division will be awarded 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd place cash and prizes.

The tail of each fish brought to the scales will be clipped, signifying that it has been weighed and scored.  All fish that appear to have been altered, spoiled, mutilated or frozen will be disqualified, per the discretion of tournament officials.  Any boat which enters a fish that is proven to have been weight-altered, frozen, or previously weighed will be disqualified from the tournament.

All teams must enter the $3,500 general entry category to be eligible – 40% of net entry goes towards the Billfish Release Division, which pays 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd place; and 20% of net entry goes towards each of the three (3) individual Gamefish Divisions (Tuna, Dorado, Wahoo), which pays 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd place per division.  This enters you into the general tournament.   Each division will be awarded as follows: 65% to1^st place; 25% to 2^nd place; and 10% to 3^rd place.  The PELAGIC Triple Crown of Fishing Tournament offers an 80% total (net) payout on general entries.

Teams have the option of raising the stakes by placing bets in optional daily jackpots for all four (4) divisional categories.  Daily Jackpot winners will be determined by single-heaviest qualifying fish in the Tuna, Dorado, and Wahoo jackpot categories; and by the most daily release points in the Billfish Release categories.  The purchase of a daily jackpot is split evenly over the two-day tournament, and teams must purchase both days per jackpot category. The PELAGIC Triple Crown of Fishing Tournament offers an 80% total (net) payout on jackpot categories.

In the event of a tie in any of the gamefish daily jackpots (tuna, wahoo, dorado), money will be split evenly between the teams with the tied weight or release total.  If no qualifying fish are weighed or scored in a jackpot category on the first day of the tournament, the money will roll to day 2; If no qualifying fish are weighed or scored in a jackpot category on the second day of the tournament, the money will roll to the day 1 winner; In the unlikely event that no qualifying fish are scored by any teams in a given Jackpot category over the two-day tournament, the money will be paid back to each team entered in that Jackpot category, minus 20%.

If there is a tie in aggregate billfish release points by multiple teams at the end of a given tournament day, the daily jackpot winner will be determined by the first team to reach their aggregate point total by time (verified by release video date/time). Example: if “Team A” reached their point total at 1:00pm and “Team B” reached their point total at 2:00pm, “Team A” beats “Team B”. REMINDER: Teams are required to radio-in their hook-ups, angler on the rod, and status of releasing the fish. Once your radio release is confirmed, you will receive an official release time, verified by video date/time upon official review. In the unlikely event that no qualifying fish are scored by any teams in a given Billfish Release Jackpot category over the two-day tournament, the money will be paid back to each team entered in that Jackpot category, minus 20%.

All teams wishing to enter the Pelagic Triple Crown of Fishing Tournament must complete and return registration form online at www.PelagicTournaments.com; or by email or postage; or during Team Check-In/Registration on Thursday, June 10^th, 2021 (3:00-6:00pm) at Tournament HQ in Baja Cantina - Marina Cabo San Lucas. Tournament entry fees and Optional Jackpots (if applicable) must be determined, listed, and payment received at the time of registration.

Please expect a 30 to 60-day processing period to receive any cash winnings earned during the 2021 Pelagic Triple Crown of Fishing Tournament; winnings are subject to being taxed (1099); form W9 to be completed by all winning participants. Winners can be paid via check or wire transfer; please note, wire transfer fees do apply.

The tournament is required by Mexican law to withhold a combined 15% city, state, & federal tax from any winnings to be paid. A disbursement breakdown will be provided to any teams receiving cash prizes showing total winnings, the tax deduction, & total disbursement.

Any protests must be made in writing and presented to the tournament director NO LATER than 6:30pm on Saturday, June 12^th, 2021. You will be asked to provide a statement and any photo/video or other form of supporting documentation surrounding the claim. Protests will be ruled on by tournament director and supporting staff; tournament director’s decision is final. Any verbal/physical abuse or threats made to tournament staff is grounds for team disqualification without refund.

Check-in will be held from 3:00-6:00pm on Thursday, June 10^th at Baja Cantina in Marina Cabo San Lucas.  Captain’s Meeting will immediately follow registration promptly at 6:00pm.  At least one representative from each team must be present for registration/captain’s meeting, as you will be receiving some important rule announcements and documents.

Stick around for a fun-filled night following check-in/captain’s meeting on June 10^th at Baja Cantina, Marina Cabo San Lucas. Appetizers and complimentary beer and margaritas will be provided, and live music will be playing, all at Cabo’s favorite sport fishing restaurant/bar. Party tickets will be provided to each individual team upon completion of tournament check-in.

An awards presentation and trophy ceremony will be held following final weigh-in and documentation on Saturday, June 12^th, at Baja Cantina, Marina Cabo San Lucas. All tournament teams are encouraged to join, regardless of overall placing in the tournament.

View the options below and call or visit the various charter operations on the web to find the boat for you.  Remember, each team must reserve their own vessel or charter; the tournament will not provide this for you.

Tournament Director: Colin Sarfeh | Email Contact: oceanlifestyles@yahoo.com | Phone Contact: 949-584-8968