The Zane Grey Invitational Marlin Tournament kicks off the California Billfish Series as the first of three events. The Zane Grey Invitational is a modified-release tournament that gives out prizes to the top three teams that score the most points. Points are awarded for released striped marlin, as well fish weighed in that meet the minimum length requirement. The 2012 event will fish out of Dana Point Harbor with two days of fishing and an award’s banquet. All participants in the Zane Grey Invitational are encouraged to also fish in the Avalon Billfish Classic and the Catalina Classic, which take place September 23-25.
The 2012 Zane Grey Invitational is scheduled to take place from September 9-11.
ENTRY FEES
- The entry fee for those teams entered in the Zane Grey Invitational is $3,120. There is a $120 discount for those teams who pay in cash, making the entry $3,000 per team.
CASH AWARDS
- All cash prizes are based on entry quotas. First through third place cash prizes will be calculated as a percentage of total entry fees as follows: First Place wins 40%; Second Place wins 17%; Third Place wins 8%.
- All cash prizes will be paid within 30 days from the end of the event.
OPTIONAL JACKPOTS
- Separate optional DAILY jackpots in the amounts of $250, $500, $1,000, $2,000 and $5,000 per day are available for interested teams.
- Teams entering any daily jackpot level must enter for all two days of the tournament.
- There is also an optional OVERALL jackpot in the amounts of $250, $500, $1,000, $2,000 and $5,000 per day are available for interested teams.
- Teams may enter any level of optional overall jackpot with or without having entered into optional daily jackpots.
- All jackpots pay back 85% in a winner-take-all format, using the tournament’s point scoring rules. Verified release points and weighed fish points both count in the overall points of the winning team.
- The minimum qualifying length for any striped marlin caught in the Zane Grey Marlin Invitational is 84 inches or a weight greater than 165 pounds. This minimum length applies to the jackpots as well. Tournament Control reserves the right to adjust the minimum length and weight requirements based on current conditions. If any adjustments are made to the minimum length and/or weight, they will be announced at the mandatory captains briefing.
- Daily jackpot prizes will roll forward or backward in the following fashion if there are no points scored on one or more days by a daily jackpot entrant.
- In any given daily jackpot level, if there are no points scored by participating teams on the first day of fishing, the jackpot will roll forward to the second day of fishing. If no points are scored by participating teams on the second day of fishing, the jackpot will roll backward to the first day of fishing.
- If any jackpot prize goes unclaimed, the tournament will refund those entry fees less the portion deemed earned by the tournament.
POINT SCORING AND STANDINGS
- All awards and daily jackpot winners will be determined by the highest accumulated point total.
- In the event that two or more teams arrive at the same points total, the standings will be determined based on the chronological order the respective teams reach that point total, with the earliest team reaching that point total finishing higher.
QUALIFYING RELEASE POINTS
- The Zane Grey Invitational will award 100 points for each qualifying released striped marlin. A qualifying release occurs when a team member grabs the leader or bill of the fish, or when the leader, knot or swivel touches or passes through the rod tip.
- The qualifying release MUST be captured on the team’s video camera with the audio turned on and the volume set to an adequate level for subsequent playback. The fish must be included in the shot for the release to count.
- Immediately upon releasing the fish, the team must radio Tournament Control to obtain a release code. The release code will be a selected item which must be captured on video immediately following the release.
- The time that Tournament Control receives the call announcing a release constitutes as the official time of release.
- The fish does not need to be tagged in order to count as a release.
- Any fish that dies during the fight and cannot be revived will count as a release if Tournament Control is notified and video proof confirms the fish could not be revived.
BOATING AND WEIGHING FISH
- Once a marlin is brought into the boat’s cockpit, it is deemed boated and MUST be weighed. Failure to weigh a boated fish will result in tournament disqualification and forfeiture of any previous points, prizes and jackpots.
- The minimum weight for a striped marlin is 165 pounds. Based on this weight the tournament has established a minimum length of 84 inches fork length, measured from the tip of lower lip with the mouth closed to the fork in the tail, as the standard to be used. Tournament Control reserves the right to adjust the minimum length and weight requirements based on current conditions. If any adjustments are made to the minimum length and/or weight, they will be announced at the mandatory captains meeting.
UNDERSIZED FISH PENALTY
- Any striped marlin brought back to the scales weighing less than the minimum weight and measuring less than 84 inches will result in a penalty of 100 points plus four points for each pound below the minimum weight and the fish will be disqualified. Penalty points will count towards a team’s final standing in the tournament’s cash prize division but will not carry forward or backward any days in respect to the optional daily jackpot.
- However, if the fish meets or exceeds the 84-inch length the team will receive 90 points for the catch even if the fish weighs less than the 165-pound minimum. The 90 points counts as weighed fish points, and will not be counted towards daily points if another fish is weighed that day or overall points if another fish is weighed during the tournament.
POINT SCORING FOR BOATED FISH
Scoring of points for boated fish will be determined as follows:
- For boated striped marlin over the minimum weight, the team will receive two points per pound for the minimum weight plus three points per pound for each whole pound over the minimum weight. For example, a 200-pound striped marlin would score 330 points (165 pounds X 2 points) plus 105 points (35 pounds X 3 points) for a total of 435 points. A 180-pound striped marlin would score 330 points plus 45 points for a total of 375 points.
- A team is allowed points only for its largest weighed fish for the tournament. If a team weighs a second, larger fish, the points from the previous fish will not be counted towards the team’s overall points. The points for the original fish will only be counted for that day’s daily jackpot.
- It is the team’s responsibility to remove any weighed fish from the scale area and take them back to their vessel after the weighing and measuring process has been completed. The tournament has no facilities to clean or process a weighed fish. Each team captain must make sure that his or her team will remove the fish and not dump the carcass within 1 mile of Dana Point Harbor after cleaning it.
TEAM ROSTERS AND CAPTAINS
- A team shall consist of one to six team members with one team member designated as team captain.
- No more than six people are allowed on board during tournament hours (with the exception of designated tournament or media personnel).
- Each team member must be listed on the official team roster. Substitutions are permitted with prior notification to and approval by tournament officials.
- The team captain will be responsible for all correspondence and payments to the tournament, and distribution of all prize money for their team. It is the team captain’s responsibility to insure that all team members follow all rules and regulations of the tournament.
FISHING TIMES
Monday September 10
- Monday morning beginning at 6:40 a.m. Tournament Control will conduct a Radio Roll Call on VHF channel 71. Teams are required to make visual and radio contact with the Tournament Control Boat.
- Boats will then line up for the 7 a.m. Shotgun Start and Lines In, the signal to start fishing. There is no fishing prior to 7 a.m. but bait fishing is permitted.
- “Stop Fishing” time is 4 p.m. Lines Out is at 4:05 p.m. Any fish hooked after lines out will not count in the tournament.
Tuesday, September 11
- Tuesday morning beginning at 6:15 a.m. Tournament Control will conduct a Radio Roll Call on VHF channel 71. Teams are required to make visual and radio contact with the Tournament Control Boat.
- Boats will then remain in Dana Harbor until the 6:30 a.m. Lines In call, the signal to start fishing. There is no fishing prior to 6:30 a.m. but bait fishing is permitted.
- “Stop Fishing” time is 4 p.m. Lines Out is at 4:05 p.m. Any fish hooked after lines out will not count in the tournament.
- There is no fishing permitted after lines out but bait fishing is permitted.
- Boats scoring points must be back in Dana Harbor by the 6:30 p.m. deadline on Monday and Tuesday to weigh fish and/or submit release affidavits and video cameras. A boat is considered inside the harbor when they cross the imaginary line between the south jetty and the mainland (at a right angle). Failure to enter the harbor before the deadline will disqualify all fish for that day. If you are late, we still must weigh any fish on board to determine if any penalty points may accrue for any undersized fish.
FISHING AREA
- Each team will be given a Grid Map. Fishing outside the designated grid area will disqualify all fish caught that day. Tournament Control may request any team to give their immediate Lat/Lon at any time.
- Teams are required to report their approximate location of all hook ups according to the grid map within 10 minutes of the hookup, whether or not the fish is still hooked.
- Tournament Control reserves the right to make adjustments to the tournament Grid Map based on current conditions. Any changes will be announced at the mandatory captains briefing before fishing begins.
- All boats must fly the official tournament flag during tournament hours.
VHF AND TOURNAMENT CONTROL
- All boats are required to have a functioning VHF radio. The official tournament channel is VHF Channel 71. The alternate channel will be VHF Channel 65. Each morning at roll call, the tournament may announce an alternate channel for communication for the day. Channel 71 will be the default channel if an alternate channel is not available.
- VHF communications between tournament boats is permitted, but please switch to a different channel for conversation.
- Radio silence is to be observed during the final 30 minutes of fishing each day, with the exception of emergency or to report a hook up or release.
- Teams are required to immediately report their hookups, including grid location, angler name and whether it is a bait or lure fish. Teams are also required to immediately report the catch, release or loss of any hookup.
- In the event that radio communication is difficult, please assist tournament control by relaying communication if possible.
- The use of profanity on the radio is strictly prohibited.
CAMERA POLICY
- Each team is required to provide its own video camera to be used to document catches and releases during this years’ tournament.
- The tournament will have equipment available onsite to play back your videotapes/disks/camera cards, etc. Each team is required to have available at least three videocassettes/disks for use during the event.
- Each team will be given a disposable camera to be used to photograph and document team releases as a back up and to supplement their video camera.
- A set of sealed instructions will be given to each team. All teams must follow the instructions included in their package in order for their releases to qualify.
- It is the team captain’s responsibility to make sure his team’s camera and videocassettes/disks are submitted to the proper tournament official.
TACKLE
- IGFA Rules apply in the tournament unless specifically modified in this document or at the tournament check in.
- Copies of the IGFA rules book can be obtained online at http://www.igfa.org/Fish/INTERNATIONAL-ANGLING-RULES.aspx or by calling 954-927-2628. They will also be available at tournament registration.
- All fishing is to be done using rod and reel.
- Leaders are limited to 30 feet overall length, including all terminal tackle.
- Double line may be used, but the total combined length of double line and leader must not exceed 40 feet. There is no restriction to the breaking strength of the leader or double line.
- There are no limits as to the number of lines that may be in the water at one time.
- Fishing line must not exceed 80-pound breaking strength as indicated by the line manufacturer.
- Artificial lures with skirts or trailing material shall not have more than two single hooks attached to the line or leader and must conform to IGFA rules.
- For live or dead-bait fishing, circle hooks must be used and must be manufactured with a zero offset and not modified in any way. Hooks must be imbedded in or securely attached to the bait and conform to IGFA rules.
- If requested by tournament officials, rods, reels, line, lures, leaders and hooks must be presented to tournament officials for inspection.
SPECIAL RULES
- If there are not enough qualifying fish released to claim first through third place regular cash prizes, the unclaimed cash prizes will be added to the daily cash prizes on a pro-rata basis.
- If an insufficient number of daily jackpot division fish are released to claim all daily jackpot prizes, the tournament will refund those entry fees less the portion deemed earned by the tournament.
- If no qualifying fish are released during the tournament, or if weather causes cancellation, the tournament will be extended to include Wednesday the 14th of September.
- One day of fishing will constitute a tournament.
- If no qualifying fish are released or weighed in during the tournament, or if after Wednesday there are any unclaimed cash prizes, they will be added to and carried forward to next year’s respective cash prizes.
DISQUALIFICATION
The following acts or situations will disqualify a team or its catch:
- Fishing outside the designated grid area will disqualify all fish caught that day.
- Fishing before “Lines In” or after “Lines Out” will disqualify all fish caught that day (bait fishing is permitted).
- Failure to weigh a boated fish will result in disqualification of the team.
- Mutilation of the fish by sharks or propellers will disqualify the fish.
- Coming into contact or passing any item to or from any other vessel without expressed permission from tournament officials will disqualify all fish caught that day.
- Habitually abusing FCC regulations or tournament regulations regarding radio communications are subject to disqualification.
- Illegal radio or electronic gear found on a team’s boat will subject that team to disqualification.
- Teams caught communicating with spotter planes, spotter boats, or commercial fishing boats during tournament hours are subject to disqualification.
- The use of firearms, harpoons, or entangling devices is prohibited and will result in disqualification of fish.
- Any misrepresentation on the teams signed entry forms, signed release affidavits will be cause for disqualification.
- Teams are not permitted to be entered in and fish in a second tournament that overlaps in any manner the fishing times of Zane Grey Invitational.
- Any other act not in strict compliance with the rules or intent may be cause for disqualification.
RULE CHANGE AND PROTEST POLICY
- Any amendments or additions to the tournament rules will be announced at the team captain’s check-in.
- If there is any disagreement, controversy or necessary clarification of any tournament rule or result, the final irrevocable decision will be made by the Tournament Rules Committee.
- The violation of any tournament rule may result in the disqualification of both the angler and the team unless otherwise noted.
- All competitor’s protests, if any, must be submitted in writing by a team captain on the same day the situation generating the protest occurred. Any protest on the last day of fishing must be received by 7:30 p.m.
- The protesting team must submit a $500 cash deposit with the written protest.
- Deposits will not be returned for protests subsequently determined to be without merit or substance.
- It is expressly understood that these protest rules relate to teams protests and do not limit the time the tournament has to enforce tournament rules and regulations.
- Any misrepresentation on the team’s signed entry form or signed release affidavit discovered at a later date will be cause for disqualification, forfeiture and the return of any prize money and merchandise won in the tournament.
- The tournament reserves the right to pursue such misrepresentations without regard to any time limit that all tournament team’s protest is bound by.
- Decisions by the rules committee of the California Billfish Series on any question of tournament rules or interpretation shall be final.
- Any disputes arising between the tournament and a team captain or any team member may be settled by binding arbitration at the sole discretion of the Tournament Rules Committee.
POLYGRAPH POLICY
- At the sole discretion of tournament officials, all team captains, team members, and observers may be required to take a polygraph test administered by the tournament’s independent polygraph contractor. All team captains and team members agree to be bound by this provision and to abide by the results thereof.
BOAT INSPECTIONS AND OBSERVATIONS
All tournament boats are subject to inspection at any time by tournament officials. Helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, official observers, and marine biologists may be utilized by tournament officials to aid in enforcement of all tournament rules.
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