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GENERAL TOURNAMENT RULES
GENERAL TOURNAMENT RULES
General entry to the Pelagic Triple Crown of Fishing tournament features four divisions: (I) Billfish, (II) Tuna, (III) Dorado & (IV) Wahoo. Trophies and cash awards will be presented to the top three teams (1st, 2nd, and 3rd place) for their aggregate performance in each respective division over two days of fishing.
General entry includes up to six (6) registered anglers, one (1) boat captain, and two (2) deckhands only. Each team must designate and register anglers and crew, with a total team consisting of no more than nine (9) members.
In the Billfish Division, teams are awarded points for successfully catching and releasing sailfish, blue marlin, black marlin, striped marlin, and spearfish. Billfish release must be clearly documented on video according to specific tournament rules.
In the Gamefish Divisions, each team may weigh their respective tuna, dorado, and wahoo. Teams may weigh two (2) fish per species each day; however, only their single-heaviest tuna, dorado, and wahoo will be scored for 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 tournament.
ENTRY FEES AND OPTIONAL JACKPOTS
GENERAL ENTRY: $4,000
ALL IN: $93,000
LIVE BAIT/CASTING | TROLLING ONLY (no live bait) | |||||
GENERAL ENTRY | $4,000 | GENERAL ENTRY | $4,000 | |||
BILLFISH RELEASE POINTS 500 DAILY JACKPOT | $500 | OPTIONAL | BILLFISH RELEASE POINTS 500 DAILY JACKPOT | $500 | OPTIONAL | |
BILLFISH RELEASE POINTS 1K DAILY JACKPOT | $1,000 | OPTIONAL | BILLFISH RELEASE POINTS 1K DAILY JACKPOT | $1,000 | OPTIONAL | |
BILLFISH RELEASE POINTS 2K DAILY JACKPOT | $2,000 | OPTIONAL | BILLFISH RELEASE POINTS 2K DAILY JACKPOT | $2,000 | OPTIONAL | |
BILLFISH RELEASE POINTS 3K DAILY JACKPOT | $3,000 | OPTIONAL | BILLFISH RELEASE POINTS 3K DAILY JACKPOT | $3,000 | OPTIONAL | |
BILLFISH RELEASE POINTS 4K DAILY JACKPOT | $4,000 | OPTIONAL | BILLFISH RELEASE POINTS 4K DAILY JACKPOT | $4,000 | OPTIONAL | |
BILLFISH RELEASE POINTS 5K DAILY JACKPOT | $5,000 | OPTIONAL | BILLFISH RELEASE POINTS 5K DAILY JACKPOT | $5,000 | OPTIONAL | |
BILLFISH RELEASE POINTS 10K DAILY JACKPOT | $10,000 | OPTIONAL | BILLFISH RELEASE POINTS 10K DAILY JACKPOT | $10,000 | OPTIONAL | |
BILLFISH RELEASE POINTS 20K WTA* | $20,000 | OPTIONAL | BILLFISH RELEASE POINTS 20K WTA* | $20,000 | OPTIONAL | |
TOTAL | $49,500 (ALL IN) | TOTAL | $49,500 (ALL IN) |
NEW THIS YEAR
*The Billfish Trolling Only Optional Daily Jackpot
This offers teams the opportunity to catch and release billfish on dead bait or lures only. To score points and win money in this jackpot, teams must troll from a forward moving boat and bait, hook, and catch billfish with dead bait or artificial lures only.
Bait and switch teaser fishing is allowed if the boat is moving forward when deploying baits and hooking fish. No points for live bait or sight casting will be scored in this jackpot.
*The Winner Takes All (WTA) Billfish Optional Jackpot pays 100% back to the single winning team with the most billfish released over two days
GAMEFISH DIVISION - TUNA | ||
HEAVIEST TUNA 500 DAILY JACKPOT | $500 | OPTIONAL |
HEAVIEST TUNA 1K DAILY JACKPOT | $1,000 | OPTIONAL |
HEAVIEST TUNA 2K DAILY JACKPOT | $2,000 | OPTIONAL |
HEAVIEST TUNA 3K DAILY JACKPOT | $3,000 | OPTIONAL |
HEAVIEST TUNA 5K DAILY JACKPOT | $5,000 | OPTIONAL |
HEAVIEST TUNA 10K DAILY JACKPOT | $10,000 | OPTIONAL |
GAMEFISH DIVISION - DORADO | ||
HEAVIEST DORADO 500 DAILY JACKPOT | $500 | OPTIONAL |
HEAVIEST DORADO 1K DAILY JACKPOT | $1,000 | OPTIONAL |
HEAVIEST DORADO 2K DAILY JACKPOT | $2,000 | OPTIONAL |
HEAVIEST DORADO 5K DAILY JACKPOT | $5,000 | OPTIONAL |
HEAVIEST DORADO 10K DAILY JACKPOT | $10,000 | OPTIONAL |
GAMEFISH DIVISION - WAHOO | ||
HEAVIEST WAHOO 500 DAILY JACKPOT | $500 | OPTIONAL |
HEAVIEST WAHOO 1K DAILY JACKPOT | $1,000 | OPTIONAL |
HEAVIEST WAHOO 2K DAILY JACKPOT | $2,000 | OPTIONAL |
TOTAL | $43,500 (ALL IN) |
Payment Type | Payment Deadline | Fees | Notes |
Wire Transfer | Cleared by 6/13/25 | $35.00 USD | Please contact christina@pelagicgear.com for instructions |
Check | Cleared by 6/13/25 | $0.00 | Please contact christina@pelagicgear.com for instructions |
Credit Card | 6/19/25 | 3.50% | Payments made directly through CatchStat https://pelagic.catchstat.com/ |
Cash | 6/19/25 | $0.00 |
ANGLING & TACKLE RULES
- Teams may include no more than six (6) registered anglers, one (1) boat captain and two (2) deckhands/mates, for a total of nine (9) team members maximum.
- All billfish must be released; offset circle hooks are forbidden.
- Fish must be caught on standard/manual rod and reel equipment during advertised tournament hours
- 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. *No live bait on board if fishing the trolling only category.
- NEW: All billfish must be released and videoed from the back/stern/aft of the vessel. While casting, hooking, and fighting fish from the bow is acceptable, billfish must be in clear sight and released from the aft of the vessel in order for them to count towards billfish release points and jackpots.
- NEW: No more than six (6) fishing lines deployed in the water at one time, including bait rods. Teams may not fish more than six (6) baits/lures in the water at any time during tournament fishing hours. For example, if six lines are deployed in the water, no additional fishing lines may be deployed; regardless as to whether a fish is attached to those lines or not. At least one line/bait/lure would have to be fully retrieved and in the boat before an additional line can be deployed.
- Teams must strictly abide by all Mexican Fisheries and other applicable laws. All billfish must be released; and offset circle hooks are forbidden.
- 130lb. manufacturers stated maximum line class. Leader length shall not exceed 30 feet. The maximum combined length of double line and leader shall be limited to 40 feet.
- Anglers may receive assistance from their captain/crew in hooking their fish. Because this is a fun tournament, it is perfectly acceptable for registered anglers and crew to hook the fish and pass registered anglers the rod; however, after the initial pass there are no additional passes of the rod allowed. Angling must be done by the angler who received the rod after it was hooked and passed. Note: See Gamefish Divisions for tuna exception
*All rules will be reviewed at Captain’s Meeting. Any last-minute changes announced at the Captain’s Meeting will be enforced, so we recommend one member from each team attend. It is the responsibility of each team to read and understand all rules, including any changes or adjustments.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Starting Line: 6:45am
Shotgun Start: 7:00am
Lines-In: 7:00am
Lines-Out: 4:00pm
Scales Open: 4:00pm
Scales Close: 6:30pm
DAILY FISHING HOURS: 7:00AM-4:00PM – Teams are asked to 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, lost, or boated (in the case of a gamefish), but teams must make it to the scales before closing at 6:30pm each day.
WEIGH IN: 4:00PM – 6:30PM – Weigh-ins will be hosted TBA. Scales close at 6:30pm; however, if there are fish waiting to be weighed beyond official close time, they will be accepted, so long as contact and confirmation has been made with weighmaster or Tournament Director and the boat has made it in and is simply waiting for its turn at the scales scale by closing.
BILLFISH RELEASE VIDEO DOCUMENTATION: 4:00PM – 6:30PM – 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 inside TBA.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
- Thursday, June 19th – TBA
- 2:00pm – 6:00pm – Mandatory Team Check In/Registration
- 6:30pm – Captain’s Meeting
- 7:00pm – Kick Off Party
- Friday, June 20th – Fishing Day 1
- 6:45am – Starting Line
- 7:00am – Shotgun Start
- 7:00am – Lines-In/Start Fishing
- 4:00pm – Lines Out/Stop Fishing
- 4:00pm – 6:30pm – Weigh-In/Video Release Review
- 6:30pm – Scales Close
- Saturday, June 21th – Fishing Day 2
- 6:45am – Starting Line
- 7:00am – Shotgun Start
- 7:00am – Lines-In/Start Fishing
- 4:00pm – Lines Out/Stop Fishing
- 4:00pm – 6:30pm – Weigh-In/Video Release Review
- 6:30pm – Scales Close
- Sunday, June 22th – TBA
- 5:00pm – Awards Ceremony and Party
BILLFISH RELEASE DIVISION – SCORING OVERVIEW
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 (Primary VHS Channel 28; Backup VHS Channel 68), recorded on video, and documented in your catch log (received at registration/final team check in). Qualifying billfish species are sailfish, striped marlin, spearfish, 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 |
Black or Blue Marlin | 300 |
Striped Marlin | 100 |
Sailfish or Spearfish | 50 |
Note: Billfish that cannot be clearly identified will be scored as 50 point
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 items:
- Ability to show time/date of each release
- A registered tournament angler fighting the fish from the aft or cockpit of the vessel.
- A mate touching the leader with the fish boat side and at the aft or cockpit of the vessel. To identify species, clear video showing the fish’s distinctive traits must be provided.
- 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 from the aft or cockpit of the vessel, followed by at least 3 seconds of continuous video showing the fish no longer attached.
If proper video is not supplied to the reasonable satisfaction of the Tournament Director, your catch will not be scored. Teams must supply their own video recording device with the ability to show time/date. 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, Inc. and/or Pelagic Tournaments, LLC for marketing or other purposes, worldwide, at Pelagic’s sole discretion.
Teams are not required to call in hook-ups but are required to call in releases. When calling in releases please give the scorekeeper at radio control the boat name, angler name, species of fish released, and live or dead bait caught. Once your radio release is confirmed, you will receive a release time to write in your catch log. Official release status and points will be awarded once tournament officials have reviewed your billfish release video documentation. All releases are unofficial until all billfish releases have been reviewed and confirmed by tournament officials.
IN EVENT OF A TIE: 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 local Mexican time zone.
GAMEFISH DIVISIONS: TUNA, DORADO, WAHOO – SCORING OVERVIEW
There are three (3) eligible Gamefish Divisions, in which the following rules apply: At the end of each day of tournament fishing, teams may weigh their respective tuna, dorado, and wahoo. Each team may weigh two (2) fish per species each day; however, only their single-heaviest tuna, dorado, and wahoo will be scored for 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.
In the tuna category only, it is acceptable to use a one-time angler switch during one tuna battle per day, per team. The following procedures must be followed for the fish to be eligible to score points in the tournament:
- One (1) angler switch allowed per day for tuna only
- The switch must be between two (2) register anglers; registered crew members can assist in the switch but may not turn the reel handle and gain line at any time during the switch
- The captain must report the switch to radio control prior to the switch being made. Angler switch must be videoed, submitted, and reviewed at tournament headquarters for fish to be scored in the tournament.
NOTE: If no qualifying fish are scored in a particular tournament Gamefish Division, the entry money will be divided equally among 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place Billfish Release Division winners. If only 1st and 2nd place are handed out, the 3rd place money will be evenly distributed amongst 1st and 2nd. If only one team places in the general entry, 1st place will receive the money from 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.
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, and 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 weight-altered, frozen, or previously weighed will be disqualified from the tournament.
GENERAL ENTRY & AWARDS PAYOUTS
All teams must pay the fee for the General Entry to participate in the tournament and be eligible for awards.
After applying a 50% administration fee against total the general entry amount to arrive at total available prize money, 40% of the general entry purse is allocated to the Billfish Release Division, which pays 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place; and 20% of the general entry purse is allocated to each of the three (3) individual Gamefish Divisions; which pays 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place per division.
Within each general entry division (Billfish Release, Tuna, Dorado, Wahoo), the prize money will be awarded as follows: 65% to 1st place; 25% to 2nd place; and 10% to 3rd place.
Billfish Release Division 40% Net General Entry | Tuna Division 20% Net General Entry | Dorado Division 20% Net General Entry | Wahoo Division 20% Net General Entry |
1st Place Pays – 65% of Net Division Entry | 1st Place Pays – 65% of Net Division Entry | 1st Place Pays – 65% of Net Division Entry | 1st Place Pays – 65% of Net Division Entry |
2nd Place Pays – 25% of Net Division Entry | 2nd Place Pays – 25% of Net Division Entry | 2nd Place Pays – 25% of Net Division Entry | 2nd Place Pays – 25% of Net Division Entry |
3rdPlace Pays – 10% of Net Division Entry | 3rdPlace Pays – 10% of Net Division Entry | 3rdPlace Pays – 10% of Net Division Entry | 3rdPlace Pays – 10% of Net Division Entry |
NOTE: A 50% administration fee is deducted from all general entries, so the NET prize money payout is 50% of gross fees.
OPTIONAL DAILY JACKPOTS
OPTIONAL DAILY JACKPOTS: Daily Jackpot winners will be determined by single-heaviest qualifying fish of the day 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.
GAMEFISH TIE BREAKERS/ROLLOVERS: In the event of a tie in any of the gamefish daily jackpots, money will be split evenly between the teams with the tied weight. 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 back to the Day 1 winner. In the unlikely event that no qualifying fish are scored in a given jackpot category, the monies collected for the unfulfilled jackpot category will be paid back to each respective entrant of that category, minus the 20% administrative fees.
BILLFISH RELEASE TIE BREAKERS/ROLLOVERS: 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”. In the unlikely event that no qualifying fish are scored in a given 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.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
NOTES ON CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS: Credit card payments will require a surcharge of 3.5%; All credit card charges are made by Pelagic Tournaments, LLC
REGISTRATION: All teams wishing to enter the tournament must complete registration online at www.PelagicTournaments.com; or during Team Check-In/Registration on Thursday, June 19th, 2025 (2:00-6:00pm) at Tournament HQ. Tournament entry fees and optional jackpots must be determined, listed, and payment received at the time of registration.
FORM 1099, TAXES, & FEES: All monies won in the Pelagic Triple Crown of Fishing Tournament are subject to taxing and you will receive a 1099 form from Pelagic Tournaments, LLC and may be asked to execute a W-9 and a release in favor of the tournament company as a condition of awarding your prize monies. Please expect a 30 to 60-day processing period to receive any cash winnings. Winners will be paid via wire transfer only; no wire fees apply.
MEXICAN TAXES: 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. You agree to pay all applicable taxes in connection with any winnings
PERMITS AND LICENSES: It is the responsibility of registered boat captains & anglers to comply with all Mexican Federal & State laws regarding fishing licenses, size limits, bag limits & any other regulations that may apply. This is a requirement of Mexico and is not a tournament rule—permit and licensing infractions have no bearing on tournament results or awards. A representative from the Mexico Department of Fisheries is normally on-site during Registration at all events to sell Licenses and Permits, but this is not guaranteed. Consult the FONMAR website for more information (www.sportfishingbcs.gob.mx).
PROTESTS: Any protests must be made in writing and presented to the tournament director accompanied by $500 cash, NO LATER than 10:00pm on Saturday, June 21st. 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. The decision of the Tournament Director 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 personal 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 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. 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, Inc. and/or Pelagic Tournaments, LLC for marketing or other purposes, worldwide, in Pelagic’s sole discretion.
VIDEO RELEASE: The Pelagic Triple Crown of Fishing 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 imaging submitted to the tournament or taken by Pelagic Inc or Pelagic Tournaments LLC, on a worldwide basis, in perpetuity, for marketing, advertising or any other purposes in Pelagic’s discretion.
RIGHT TO POLYGRAPH TOURNAMENT PARTICIPANTS: The Pelagic Triple Crown of Fishing 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 events.
CHECK-IN/CAPTAIN’S MEETING: Check-in will be held from 2:00pm - 6:00pm on Thursday, June 19th in Marina Cabo San Lucas. Captain’s Meeting will immediately follow registration promptly at 6:30pm. At least one representative from each team must be present for registration/captain’s meeting.
AWARDS PRESENTATION: An awards presentation and trophy ceremony will be held Sunday, June 22nd starting at 5:00pm at TBA, Marina Cabo San Lucas. All tournament teams are encouraged to join, regardless of overall placing in the tournament.
CHARTER INFORMATION: 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.
Picante Sportfishing US (714) 442-0644, Mexico (011-52-624) 143-2474 | Redrum Sportfishing US (760) 481-7667, Mexico (011-52-624) 172-0085 | Pisces Fleet US (877) 286-7938, Mexico (624) 143-1288 |
| Land’s End Charters US (800) 281-5778 |
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Have further questions? Please send an email [re: 2025 Triple Crown 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)