TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
PELAGIC Rockstar Offshore Tournament® – Quepos, Costa Rica – January 11 – 14, 2024
With over $1,000,0001 in prize money up for grabs, the PELAGIC Rockstar Offshore Tournament® is Central America’s largest and richest sportfishing tournament. Angling teams from across the globe travel to Quepos, Costa Rica to compete over two days of fishing for the prestigious title of Tournament Grand Champion and for some serious cash. Target species include sailfish, marlin, tuna, and dorado. Join us at Marina Pez Vela - a modern, world class yacht harbor with restaurants, bars, and retail shopping - for a weekend on the Pacific Ocean with a festival-like atmosphere featuring daily rock concerts, Costa Rican hospitality, and some of the best fishing on the planet.
Tournament Schedule:
- Thursday, January 11th – Team Check In, Captain’s Meeting, & Kickoff Party
- Friday & Saturday, January 12th – 13th – Tournament Fishing days
- Sunday, January 14th – Awards Ceremony
Summary of Entry Fees & Optional Jackpots:
- General Entry: $3,500
- All In (Sonar Division): $40,500
- All In (Non-Sonar division): $30,500
Entry Fees & Optional Jackpots Breakdown:
All boats will compete together in the general entry prize and trophy categories as well as the gamefish optional daily jackpots. Billfish and Marlin Only Optional Daily Jackpots are divided into two divisions: Sonar and non-sonar boats.
GENERAL ENTRY AND GAMEFISH OPTIONAL DAILY JACKPOTS
GENERAL ENTRY | $3,500 | MANDATORY |
$500 TUNA DAILY JACKPOT | $500 | OPTIONAL |
$1K TUNA DAILY JACKPOT | $1,000 | OPTIONAL |
$2K TUNA DAILY JACKPOT | $2,000 | OPTIONAL |
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$500 DORADO DAILY JACKPOT | $500 | OPTIONAL |
$1K DORADO DAILY JACKPOT | $1,000 | OPTIONAL |
$2K DORADO DAILY JACKPOT | $2,000 | OPTIONAL |
TOTAL | $10,500 |
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1Estimated prize money based on number of entries and optional jackpot participation.
BILLFISH AND MARLIN ONLY OPTIONAL DAILY JACKPOTS
SONAR OPTIONAL BILLFISH JACKPOTS |
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$1K BILLFISH RELEASE DAILY JACKPOT | $1,000 | OPTIONAL |
| $1K BILLFISH RELEASE DAILY JACKPOT | $1,000 | OPTIONAL |
$2K BILLFISH RELEASE DAILY JACKPOT | $2,000 | OPTIONAL |
| $2K BILLFISH RELEASE DAILY JACKPOT | $2,000 | OPTIONAL |
$3K BILLFISH RELEASE DAILY JACKPOT | $3,000 | OPTIONAL |
| $3K BILLFISH RELEASE DAILY JACKPOT | $3,000 | OPTIONAL |
$5K BILLFISH RELEASE DAILY JACKPOT | $5,000 | OPTIONAL |
| $5K BILLFISH RELEASE DAILY JACKPOT | $5,000 | OPTIONAL |
$10K BILLFISH RELEASE DAILY JACKPOT | $10,000 | OPTIONAL |
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$1K MARLIN ONLY DAILY JACKPOT | $1,000 | OPTIONAL |
| $1K MARLIN ONLY DAILY JACKPOT | $1,000 | OPTIONAL |
$3K MARLIN ONLY DAILY JACKPOT | $3,000 | OPTIONAL |
| $3K MARLIN ONLY DAILY JACKPOT | $3,000 | OPTIONAL |
$5k MARLIN ONLY DAILY JACKPOT | $5,000 | OPTIONAL |
| $5K MARLIN ONLY DAILY JACKPOT | $3,000 | OPTIONAL |
TOTAL | $30,000 |
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| TOTAL | $20,000 |
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Note: All boats compete equally in general entry billfish division, general entry gamefish divisions, and gamefish optional daily jackpots. The Billfish and Marlin Only Optional Daily Jackpots are divided into two categories, boats equipped with sonar and boats without sonar as defined below.
PAYMENT DEADLINES
Payment Type | Payment Deadline | Fees | Notes |
Wire Transfer | Cleared by 1/4/24 | $35.00usd | Please contact christina@pelagicgear.com for instructions |
Check | Cleared by 1/4/24 | $0.00 | Please contact christina@pelagicgear.com for instructions |
Credit Card | 1/11/24 | 3.5% | Payments made directly through CatchStat |
Cash | 1/11/24 | $0.00 |
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SONAR DEFINITION
Side Scanning Sonar vs. Traditional Fish Finder:
All fish finders work as echo sounders and are a form of sonar. For the 2024 Pelagic® Rockstar Costa Rica Offshore Tournament, Sonar vs. Non-Sonar is defined by the following:
Any vessel with sonar that requires a transducer mounted to a shaft or “Staff” that extends from or through the hull/keel of the vessel like a periscope and with the capability to rotate and view the water from 1 – 360 degrees will be deemed as a Sonar equipped vessel. These vessels can only enter and fish the “Sonar” optional jackpot Division. A good example of this type of Sonar would be any system that works like the Furuno Omni Sonar or the Koden KDS 6000 Sonar.
Any vessel with a traditional fish finder with a “fixed” transducer and with no extending shaft and no ability to rotate the transducer in any direction will be deemed as a non-sonar vessel and are eligible to fish the “non-sonar” optional jackpot division.
Teams with “non-sonar” designation may opt to fish in the “sonar” designated divisions but must choose one or the other.
The decision of the Tournament Director with respect to a review of the sonar vs. non-sonar distinction with respect to a particular boat or crew or fish will be binding and final.
GENERAL TOURNAMENT RULES
There are three (3) eligible divisions included in the general entry for this tournament, in which all boats compete equally: (i) Billfish, (ii) Tuna, and (iii) Dorado. Trophies and cash awards will be presented to the top three teams (1st, 2nd, and 3rd place) for their aggregate performance in each division over two days of fishing.
ANGLING & TACKLE RULES
- Teams must strictly abide by Costa Rica’s Fisheries laws: all billfish must be released; offset circle hooks are forbidden.
- Fish must be caught on standard rod and reel equipment during advertised tournament hours of 8:30am-4:30pm on January 12-13, 2024.
- Teams may use live bait or dead bait, with non-offset, in-line circle hooks or lures with standard J-Hooks, so long as offset circle hooks are not used.
- 130LB manufacturers stated maximum line class.
- Leader length shall not exceed 30 feet in length.
- Maximum combined length of double line and leader shall be limited to 40 feet.
- No electric reels, spears, or harpoons are permitted.
- Fishing Boundaries: Teams must fish within a 50-mile radius from the Marina Pez Vela buoy.
- Anglers may receive assistance from their captain/crew in hooking & landing their fish. This is a fun tournament, and while it is perfectly acceptable for crew to hook and pass their anglers the rod, the primary angling is intended to be done by the registered anglers of each individual team.
All rules to be covered thoroughly at the Captain’s Meeting on January 11, 2024, including last minute changes which will be enforced. We recommend at least one member from each team attend the Captain’s Meeting. It is the responsibility of each team to read and understand all tournament rules.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
- Thursday, January 11th – Tournament Headquarters, Marina Pez Vela
- 3:00pm – 6:30pm – Mandatory Team Check In/Registration
- 7:00pm – Captain’s Meeting
- 7:30pm – Kick Off Party
- Friday, January 12th – Fishing Day 1
- 6:45am – Starting Line
- 7:00am – Shotgun Start (Optional)
- 8:30am – Lines-In/Start Fishing
- 4:30pm – Lines Out/Stop Fishing
- 4:30pm – 7:00pm – Gamefish Weigh-Ins
- 4:30pm – 7:00pm –Video Release Review
- Saturday, January 13th – Fishing Day 2
- 6:45am – Starting Line
- 7:00am – Shotgun Start (Optional)
- 8:30am – Lines-In/Start Fishing
- 4:30pm – Lines Out/Stop Fishing
- 4:30pm – 6:30pm – Gamefish Weigh-Ins
- 4:00pm – 7:00pm –Video Release Review
- Sunday, January 14th – Marina Pez Vela
- 5:30pm – 7:30pm – Awards Ceremony and Party
DAILY FISHING HOURS: 8:30AM – 4:30PM – All tournament boats will line up in front of Marina Pez Vela by 6:45am for an official shotgun start at 7:00am. Teams cannot leave for the fishing grounds prior to the 7:00am shotgun start. The shotgun start is optional. Teams that choose not to participate in the shotgun start are asked to stay towards the back of the fleet and may leave for the fishing grounds after the shotgun start has commenced. Lines in will be called on official tournament VHF Channel 21, at 8:30am each day. Fish hooked prior to lines-out at 4:30pm may be fought until released, lost, or boated (in the case of a gamefish), but teams must make it to the scales/stage to check in before closing each day at 7:00 PM. Hook-ups occurring between 4:20 - 4:30pm must be radioed in on official tournament VHF Channel 21.
DAILY SCHEDULE:
Starting Line: 6:45 AM
Shotgun Start: 7:00 AM
Lines-In: 8:30 AM
Lines-Out: 4:30 PM
Scales Open: 4:30 PM
Scales Close: 7:00 PM
WEIGH-IN: 4:30PM – 7:00PM – At the end of each fishing day, weigh-in will be hosted at the designated location in Marina Pez Vela. Scales open at 4:30pm and close at 7:00pm; however, if there are fish waiting to be weighed past official close time, they will be accepted, so long as team has properly checked in with the weighmaster prior to 7:00pm and met the other rules.
BILLFISH RELEASE VIDEO DOCUMENTATION: 4:30PM – 7:00PM – At the end of each fishing day, teams will be asked to drop off billfish release scorecards and provide video evidence of each individual billfish release at the official documentation station located at Tournament HQ in Marina Pez Vela.
BILLFISH RELEASE DIVISION – SCORING OVERVIEW
PLEASE NOTE ALL BILLFISH MUST BE RELEASED IN ADHERENCE TO COSTA RICA FISHERIES LAWS.
The team which scores the most billfish release points combined over the two (2) days of tournament fishing will win the Billfish Release Division. All billfish releases must be radioed into radio control (VHF Primary Channel 21, Backup Channel 27), recorded on video, and documented in your catch log. Qualifying billfish species are sailfish, striped marlin, blue marlin, and black marlin. Teams will be ranked based on their two-day combined release point total: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place will be awarded.
Points are scored as follows:
Billfish Species | Points per Release |
Blue Marlin | 300 |
Black Marlin | 300 |
Striped Marlin | 200 |
Sailfish | 100 |
NOTE: Billfish that cannot be clearly identified in video will be scored 100 points
BILLFISH RELEASE VIDEO REQUIREMENTS
Properly documented video evidence of each released billfish must be provided to tournament officials at the end of each fishing day. To be scored, the release video must contain a continuous sequence with the following five (5) items:
- Ability to show correct time/date on all release videos
- A registered tournament angler fighting the fish
- A mate touching the leader with the fish boat side. To identify species, clear video showing the fish’s distinctive traits must be provided. Billfish that cannot be unmistakably identified will be scored at 100 points
- Tournament provided color-coded scorecard in clear view with fish in sight, to mark completion of a catch
- Video of the leader being cut or the fish unhooked and released, followed by at least 3 seconds of continuous video showing the fish no longer attached
If proper video is not supplied, your catch will not be scored. Teams must supply their own video recording device with ability to show time/date. Tournament Officials’ rulings on release evidence are final; there will be no protests allowed for video evidence. All submitted tournament videos may be used by Pelagic, Inc. for marketing or other purposes, worldwide, in Pelagic’s sole discretion.
IN EVENT OF A TIE (BILLFISH DIVISION): 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 of catch.
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”. PLEASE NOTE: make sure your video time/date profiles are accurate to Costa Rica time zone!
GAMEFISH DIVISIONS: TUNA & DORADO – SCORING OVERVIEW
There are two (2) Gamefish Divisions, in which the following rules apply: At the end of each day of tournament fishing, teams may weigh their respective tuna and dorado. Each team may weigh up to two (2) fish per species each day; however, only their single-heaviest tuna 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 based on their aggregate two-fish per species weight (single-heaviest each day) throughout the two-day tournament.
NOTE: If no qualifying gamefish are caught in a given division, entries for that species will be rolled to the opposite gamefish division (i.e. if no qualifying dorado scored, then money rolls to tuna division; and vice versa). If no qualifying tuna or dorado are scored, then the money from those divisions rolls to the Billfish Release Division.
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 per fish to Qualify = 15.0 lbs Each division will be awarded 1st, 2nd, 3rd 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 caught on another vessel, weight-altered, frozen, previously weighed or otherwise tampered with will be disqualified from the tournament without refund.
GENERAL ENTRY & AWARDS PAYOUTS
All teams must pay the fee for the General Entry category to participate in the tournament and be eligible for awards.
After applying a 20% administration fee against the total general entry amount to arrive at available prize money, 50% of the general entry prize money is allocated to the Billfish Release Division, which pays 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place; and 25% of the general entry prize money is allocated to each of the two (2) individual Gamefish Divisions (Tuna & Dorado) which pays 1st, 2nd, 3rd place per division.
Within each general entry division (Billfish, Dorado, Tuna), the prize money will be awarded as follows: 65% to 1st place; 25% to 2nd place; and 10% to 3rd place.
IMPORTANT NOTES ON CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS:
1 - Credit card payments will require a payment surcharge of 3.5%;
2 - All credit card charges are made by Pelagic Tournaments LLC.
NOTE: A 20% administration fee is deducted from all general entries & jackpots, so the NET prize money payout on all categories is 80% of gross fees.
OPTIONAL DAILY JACKPOTS
Teams have the option of raising the stakes by placing bets in optional daily jackpots for all three (3) divisional categories, plus the marlin specific jackpot category. Optional daily jackpots pay only one place per jackpot category per day (winner take all) and will be determined by each day’s single-heaviest qualifying fish in the tuna and dorado jackpot categories; and by the most daily release points in the billfish release and marlin only categories. The purchase of a daily jackpot is split evenly over the two-day tournament.
SONAR/NON-SONAR OPTIONAL BILLFISH & MARLIN ONLY DAILY JACKPOTS: Teams have the option of entering billfish and marlin only optional daily jackpots in two categories: sonar equipped boats and non-sonar equipped boats, as defined in the tournament definition provided in this tournament rules kit.
TIE BREAKERS (GAMEFISH DIVISION): In the event of a tie in any of the gamefish daily jackpots, money will be split evenly between the teams that are tied.
If no qualifying fish are scored in a jackpot category on day 1 of the tournament, the money for that jackpot will roll over to day 2. If no qualifying fish are scored in a jackpot category on day 2 of the tournament, the money for that jackpot will roll back to the day 1 winner in that jackpot category.
In the unlikely event that no qualifying fish are scored in each jackpot category during the two-day tournament, the monies collected for the unfulfilled jackpot category will be paid back to each respective entrant of that category, minus the 20% administrative fees.
MARLIN ONLY DAILY JACKPOTS: Reserved for Marlin species only (blue marlin, black marlin, and striped marlin), the team in this category that gains the most release points each day will win the respective jackpot level(s). Same rules, scoring, and tie-breaker procedures apply as listed under the General Tournament Rules, Billfish Release Division, and Optional Daily Jackpots.
Marlin points are scored as listed below:
Marlin Species | Points per Release |
Blue Marlin | 300 |
Black Marlin | 300 |
Striped Marlin | 200 |
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
REGISTRATION - All teams wishing to enter the Pelagic Rockstar Offshore Tournament must complete registration online at www.PelagicTournaments.com; or during Team Check-In/Registration on Thursday, January 11th, 2024 (3:00-6:30pm) at Tournament HQ. Tournament entry fees and Optional Jackpots must be determined, listed, and payment received at the time of registration.
CHECK IN/CAPTAIN'S MEETING - Check-in/late registration will be held on Thursday, January 11th (3:00-6:30pm) at Tournament HQ in Marina Pez Vela. Captain’s Meeting will be held in person on the main stage of Marina Pez Vela. Efforts will be made to virtually stream the event on @PelagicGear’s Instagram social media platform. If there is no stream, it is up to each team to individually know and understand the schedule, rules, and regulations of the tournament, including any updates or amendments announced at the Captain’s Meeting at 7:00pm.
AWARDS CEREMONY - An awards presentation and trophy ceremony will be held on Sunday, January 14th, from 6:00 – 7:30pm, on the main stage of Marina Pez Vela. All teams are invited to join regardless of overall placing in tournament. Efforts will be made to have a live stream of the ceremony broadcasted via @PelagicGear’s Instagram channel as well.
PROTESTS - Any protests must be made in writing, accompanied by $500 cash, and presented to the tournament director NO LATER than 7:30pm on Saturday, January 13th, 2024. You will be asked to provide a written statement and any photo/video or other form of supporting documentation surrounding the protest 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 or disparagement (whether orally, in writing or on social media or any other forum) of Pelagic Tournaments LLC, PELAGIC or their personnel or staff is grounds for team disqualification for this and future tournaments without refund. A successful protest will result in a reimbursement of the $500 fee. A failed protest is non-refundable, with the $500 dollar fee being retained by Pelagic Tournaments, LLC or, at its election, donated to a charity of its choice. Pelagic Tournaments, LLC reserves the right to deny entry to any individual or team for any lawful reason.
VIDEO RELEASE - The Pelagic Rockstar Tournament, Pelagic Tournaments LLC, Pelagic, Inc. and their respective affiliates, have the right, but not the obligation, to post and/or use for any purpose, all video, photos, and other imaging submitted to the tournament or taken by Pelagic, Inc. or Pelagic Tournaments, LLC, on a worldwide basis, in perpetuity, for marketing, advertising or other purposes in Pelagic’s discretion.
RIGHT TO POLYGRAPH TOURNAMENT PARTICIPANTS – The Pelagic Rockstar Tournament reserves the right to polygraph all tournament winners at its discretion. Any teams caught cheating or falsifying video release verification will be disqualified with no refund and could possibly be banned from entering any future Pelagic or Pelagic Tournaments, LLC, events.
FORM 1099 – Please note, all monies won in the PELAGIC Rockstar Offshore Tournament® are subject to taxing and you will receive a 1099 form from Pelagic Tournaments, LLC and may be asked to execute a release in favor of the tournament company as a condition of awarding your prize monies. Please expect a 30–60 day processing period for all monies won to be paid. Payout instructions will be delivered to person listed as team contact. Winners can be paid via check or wire transfer; please note, wire transfer fees do apply - $30 for US wires and $45 for International Wires.
CHARTER/LODGING INFORMATION – Visit the link below to view all the various charter operations Marina Pez Vela offers and find the right boat for you. Remember, each team must bring their own boat or reserve a vessel for charter. The PELAGIC Rockstar Offshore Tournament® will not provide a boat for you. There are plenty of great lodging options available for rental very close to the marina as well, but we are not responsible for lodging.
For details contact: www.marinapezvela.com
Costa Rica: +(506) 2774-9006
Toll Free: 1-866-740-4658
Email: tours@marinapezvela.com
Have further questions? Please send an email [re: 2024 Rockstar Offshore Tournament] and one of our Tournament Officials will contact you shortly.
US Contact/Tournament Director – Tony DiGiulian: tony@pelagicgear.com (954) 895-6635 (Call, Text, and WhatsApp)
Costa Rica Contact – Alcides Alfaro: alcides@ifishquepos.com