BASE ENTRY FEE
The Los Cabos Billfish Tournament entry fee is $2,500 per team, whether teams choose to target billfish or gamefish. This entry fee covers the participation of all registered anglers on a team, and allows your team to enter any of the optional jackpot categories. Only teams entered in optional jackpots are eligible for applicable cash prizes. We have separated the base entry fee from the eligible payout categories so each team can choose the specific categories they prefer. The tournament rules apply to all optional jackpots.
The tournament committee reserves the right to deny entry of any individual, organization or corporation. The total all-in cost for entering the base entry, all optional weighed marlin jackpots, weighed marlin dailies, heaviest tuna/wahoo/dorado, tuna/wahoo/dorado dailies, overall billfish release point’s jackpots, and daily billfish release jackpots is $59,000.
FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD PLACE OVERALL
All registered teams are eligible for the first, second, and third place overall awards. Trophies and top honors are awarded to the teams that weigh the three heaviest blue or black marlin, 300 lbs or more. If no qualifying marlin are weighed for any of the top 3 positions, those honors will be awarded to the teams with the most points. Points will be awarded by scoring 1.5 points per pound for marlin at or exceeding the 300-pound minimum weights for blue and black marlin, 300-points for blue and black marlin releases, and 25-points for striped marlin, sailfish and spearfish releases. In the event of a tie, the team reaching the highest score first wins, with the other team assuming the next award position. This is based on the time of release and boated time of billfish. Teams can only place in one position, with the next position awarded to the team who weighs the next heaviest marlin or places the most points, depending on how many teams weigh qualifying marlin.
TOP CAPTAIN AWARD
All registered captains are eligible for the prestigious Top Captain Award. The Top Captain Award will go to one(1) Captain who’s team scores the most points scoring 1.5 points per pound for weighed marlin at or exceeding the 300-pound minimum weights for blue and black marlin, 300-points for blue and black marlin releases, and 25-points for striped marlin, sailfish and spearfish releases. In the event of a tie, the team reaching the highest score first wins. This is based on the time of release and boated time of billfish. There is no cash payout for this category.
TOP ANGLER AWARD
All registered anglers are eligible for the Top Angler Award. The Top Angler Award will go to one(1) angler with the most points scoring 1.5 points per pound for weighed marlin at or exceeding the 300-pound minimum weights for blue and black marlin, 300-points for blue and black marlin releases, and 25-points for striped marlin, sailfish and spearfish releases. In the event of a tie, the angler reaching the highest score first wins. This is based on the time of release and boated time of billfish. There is no cash payout for this category.
TOP LADY ANGLER AWARD
Awarded post-tournament in 2025, and new in 2026, all registered female anglers are eligible for the Top Lady Angler Award. Female anglers must be designated as female on CatchStat BEFORE lines-in on fishing day 1 to be eligible. The Top Lady Angler Award will go to one(1) female angler with the most points scoring 1.5 points per pound for weighed marlin at or exceeding the 300-pound minimum weights for blue and black marlin, 300-points for blue and black marlin releases, and 25-points for striped marlin, sailfish and spearfish releases. In the event of a tie, the angler reaching the highest score first wins. This is based on the time of release and boated time of billfish. There is no cash payout for this category.
OPTIONAL JACKPOT DIVISIONS
All optional jackpot divisions are 85% payback. The tournament rules apply to all optional jackpots. Only teams entered in the optional jackpots are eligible for jackpot cash and prizes.
WINNER-TAKE-ALL LARGEST MARLIN JACKPOT
Level 1 Entry Fee – $1,000
Level 2 Entry Fee – $3,000
Level 3 Entry Fee – $5,000
Winner-Take-All Largest Marlin Jackpot is optional and consists of three different levels of participation. You must be entered in level one to participate in level two, and level two to participate in level 3. The team that catches the heaviest marlin at or over the 300-pound minimum weight will win the entire jackpot in that level. In the event of a tie, the award earned will be split evenly between all teams who tied. In the event that no teams in the Winner-Take-All Heaviest Marlin Jackpot catch a qualifying fish, the Winner-Take-All Largest Marlin Jackpot entry will be returned less a 15% fee. Only teams registered in this category are eligible for cash prizes from this category.
LARGEST MARLIN 50/30/20
Level 1 Entry Fee – $3,000
Level 2 Entry Fee – $5,000
Entry in the Largest Marlin 50/30/20 is optional and consists of two different levels of participation. You must be entered in level one to participate in level two. The jackpot prize will be awarded to the team(s) that catch the three heaviest marlin in the tournament over the three days of fishing and will be awarded accordingly, 50% heaviest, 30% second heaviest and 20% third heaviest. In the event of a tie, the award earned and the next lower level will be split evenly. For example, if two teams entered in the Largest Marlin Jackpots catch the heaviest marlin of equal weight, they will split the first and second heaviest marlin payout evenly, and the next heaviest marlin will win third place. If only one team in the Largest Marlin 50/30/20 catches a qualifying fish they will win the first, second and third place awards. If only two teams in the Largest Marlin Jackpot catch a qualifying fish, they will split the third place award evenly. If no teams catch a qualifying marlin in the Largest Marlin 50/30/20, the entry will be returned less a 15% fee. Only teams registered in this category are eligible for cash prizes from this category.
DAILY LARGEST MARLIN
Entry Fee Level 1 – $1,000
Entry Fee Level 2 – $2,000
Entry Fee Level 3 – $3,000
Entry Fee Level 4 – $4,000
Entry is optional and consists of four different levels of participation. You must be entered in the lower levels to participate in the next higher level. For example: In order to enter Level 3, you must be entered in Levels 1 and 2. Each jackpot entry fee includes all three days of fishing. The Daily Largest Marlin Jackpot awards go to the heaviest marlin (by weight) of the eligible species that meets the minimum-weight requirements caught each day. The Daily Largest Marlin Jackpot prize will consist of one-third of the jackpot from each level. If no fish that reach the minimum weights on an individual day are weighed, the jackpot will roll over to the next day’s fishing. If on the final day of fishing, no fish that meet the minimum weight limits are caught, then the final day’s jackpot money will split evenly and go to the previous day’s winner(s). In the event of a tie, the Daily Marlin Jackpot will be split evenly. In the event that no teams in the Daily Marlin Jackpot catch a qualifying fish, the Daily Marlin Jackpot entry will be returned less a 15% fee. Only teams registered in the Daily Marlin Jackpots are eligible for cash prizes.
WINNER-TAKE-ALL RELEASE POINTS JACKPOT
Level 1 Entry Fee – $3,000
Level 2 Entry Fee – $5,000
Entry in the Winner-Take-All Release Points Jackpot is optional and consists of two different levels of participation. You must be entered in level one to participate in level two. The jackpot prize will be awarded to the team(s) with the most points scoring 300-points for blue and black marlin releases, and 25-points for striped marlin, sailfish and spearfish releases. In the event of a tie, the team reaching the highest score first wins, based on the official time of release. If no teams in these categories score release points, the Winner-Take-All Release Points Jackpot entry will be returned less a 15% fee. Only teams registered in this category are eligible for cash prizes from this category.
BILLFISH RELEASE POINTS 50/30/20
Level 1 Entry Fee – $3,000
Level 2 Entry Fee – $5,000
Entry in the Billfish Release Points 50/30/20 is optional and consists of two different levels of participation. You must be entered in level one to participate in level two. The Billfish Release Points 50/30/20will be awarded to the top three teams with the most overall billfish release points of the tournament over the three days of fishing and will be awarded accordingly; First place 50%, Second Place 30%, Third Place 20%. In the event of a tie the team reaching the highest score first wins with the other team assuming the next award position. This is based on the official time of release. Only teams registered in the Billfish Release Points 50/30/20 will be eligible for these cash awards. If no teams in these categories score release points, the Billfish Release Points 50/30/20 entry will be returned less a 15% fee. Only teams registered in the Billfish Release Points 50/30/20 are eligible for cash and prizes.
DAILY BILLFISH RELEASE JACKPOT
Level 1 Entry Fee – $3,000
Level 2 Entry Fee – $5,000
Entry in the Daily Billfish Release Jackpot is optional and consists of two different levels of participation. You must be entered in level one to participate in level two. The Daily Billfish Release Jackpot will go to the team that scores the most billfish release points during each day of fishing. Eligible species are sailfish, spearfish, and blue, black and striped marlin. The pot will be divided three ways among the boats that score the most billfish release points on Day One, Day Two and Day Three. If no teams in this category score release points on an individual day, the jackpot for that day will roll over to the next day’s fishing. If, on the final day of fishing, no teams in the category score release points, the final day’s jackpot will be split between day 1 and day 2 winners. In the event of a tie, the team reaching the highest score first wins, based on the official time of release. If no Daily Billfish Release Jackpot teams release a fish, the entry will be returned less a 15% fee. Only teams registered in the Daily Billfish Release Jackpot are eligible for cash prizes in this category.
TWD HEAVIEST GAMEFISH OPTIONAL
Level 1 Entry Fee – $1,000
Level 2 Entry Fee – $3,000
Entry in the TWD Heaviest Gamefish Optional consists of two different levels of participation. You must be entered in level one to participate in level two. The TWD Heaviest Gamefish Optional applies to tuna, wahoo, and dorado. The TWD Heaviest Gamefish prizes will be divided evenly three ways and awarded to the teams that weigh the heaviest of each species of gamefish: ⅓ to heaviest tuna, ⅓ to heaviest wahoo, and ⅓ to heaviest dorado. Eligible species of tuna include yellowfin tuna and bigeye tuna. In the event of a tie, that portion of the award will be split evenly between teams tied. For example, if two teams entered in the TWD Team Division Jackpot catch the heaviest tuna of equal weight, they will split the heaviest tuna award evenly. If only one team in the TWD Heaviest Gamefish Division/Jackpot catches a qualifying fish, they will win the entire payout. If there are no qualifying fish weighed for a specific species, the payout for that species will be split evenly among the teams who weighed the heaviest fish of the other qualifying species. If no teams weigh a qualifying gamefish in the TWD Heaviest Gamefish Division/Jackpot, the entry will be returned less a 15% fee. Only teams registered in the TWD Team Division/Jackpot are eligible for cash prizes.
HEAVIEST TUNA DAILY JACKPOT
Entry Fee – $500
The Heaviest Tuna Daily Jackpot is divided three ways among the boats that catch the heaviest tuna for tournament fishing day 1, day 2, and day 3, and will be awarded accordingly: ⅓ to heaviest tuna on day 1, ⅓ to heaviest tuna on day 2, and ⅓ to heaviest tuna on day 3. In the event of a tie on a particular day, the portion of the jackpot for that day will be split evenly among the teams who tied. If no qualifying tuna are weighed on an individual day, the jackpot for that day will roll over to the next day’s fishing. If, on the final day of fishing, no qualifying tuna are weighed, the final day’s jackpot will be split evenly among the previous day’s winner(s). Only teams registered in the Heaviest Tuna Daily Jackpot are eligible for this cash prize. If no Heaviest Tuna Daily Jackpot teams weigh a fish, the entry will be returned less a 15% fee.
BIGGEST WAHOO DAILY JACKPOT
Entry Fee – $500
The Heaviest Wahoo Daily Jackpot is divided three ways among the boats that catch the heaviest wahoo for tournament fishing day 1, day 2, and day 3, and will be awarded accordingly: ⅓ to heaviest wahoo on day 1, ⅓ to heaviest wahoo on day 2, and ⅓ to heaviest wahoo on day 3. In the event of a tie on a particular day, the portion of the jackpot for that day will be split evenly among the teams who tied. If no qualifying wahoo are weighed on an individual day, the jackpot for that day will roll over to the next day’s fishing. If, on the final day of fishing, no qualifying wahoo are weighed, the final day’s jackpot will be split evenly among the previous day’s winner(s). Only teams registered in the Heaviest Wahoo Daily Jackpot are eligible for this cash prize. If no Heaviest Wahoo Daily Jackpot teams weigh a fish, the entry will be returned less a 15% fee.
HEAVIEST DORADO DAILY JACKPOT
Entry Fee – $500
The Heaviest Dorado Daily Jackpot is divided three ways among the boats that catch the heaviest dorado for tournament fishing day 1, day 2, and day 3, and will be awarded accordingly: ⅓ to heaviest dorado on day 1, ⅓ to heaviest dorado on day 2, and ⅓ to heaviest dorado on day 3. In the event of a tie on a particular day, the portion of the jackpot for that day will be split evenly among the teams who tied. If no qualifying dorado are weighed on an individual day, the jackpot for that day will roll over to the next day’s fishing. If, on the final day of fishing, no qualifying dorado are weighed, the final day’s jackpot will be split evenly among the previous day’s winner(s). Only teams registered in the Heaviest Dorado Daily Jackpot are eligible for this cash prize. If no Heaviest Dorado Daily Jackpot teams weigh a fish, the entry will be returned less a 15% fee.
The total all-in cost for entering the base entry, all optional weighed marlin jackpots, tuna/wahoo/dorado jackpots, overall billfish release points jackpot, and daily billfish release jackpot is $59,000.
PRIZE DISBURSEMENT
We are required by Mexican law to withhold city, state and federal taxes from tournament winnings. The amount of taxes can change from year to year, but is currently 15%. Each registered team representative is in control of any prize winnings and must sign a prize disbursement form specifying how the funds are to be distributed. If the funds are intended to be disbursed to multiple parties, each party must fill out a form signing off on their portion of the winnings and specifying how the funds are to be distributed (check, ACH or wire), in addition to providing a signed form W-9, if applicable. Funds will be disbursed 30 days from receipt of all necessary documents, as long as all tournament entry fees have cleared the bank. All funds will be paid from a US bank account in US dollars.
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