IGFA Rules: All OWC registered anglers must hook and fight their own fish until it is released or boated. Registered angler teams are responsible for ensuring that IGFA and tournament rules are followed. IGFA angling and tackle rules apply in this tournament unless otherwise stated. (See tournament release rules for scoring release points.) It is the responsibility of each team and crew member to know, understand and abide by IGFA and tournament rules during this competition. Any angler who intentionally breaks these rules are subject to expulsion and disqualification, upon a determination by the tournament committee, from this and future tournaments without a refund of any registration fees.
IGFA Addition: In addition to IGFA rules: Captains, mates, or any other non-registered people aboard are not permitted to pitch hook-rigged baits or drop back hook-rigged baits to fish. Because many fish that are caught during the tournament are teased up and pitch baited or bait and switched, we suggest that teams practice pitch baiting and drop back baiting in advance of the tournament. In the event that the provided captain or mate breaks any IGFA rules please notify the Tournament Director. Captains and mates are permitted to use teaser reels, hookless baits, and hookless lures for bait and switch fishing methods.
Boats with Sonar: Sonars are not permitted to be deployed or turned on during the entire duration of tournament fishing days, starting at 12:00 a.m. on April 7th, 2025, and ending at 11:59 p.m. on April 9th, 2025.
Tackle: Angler teams are encouraged to check tackle, leaders, hook arrangements and line prior to the start of fishing. Charter Boats are required to have rods, reels and tackle on board. Anglers are permitted to bring their own rods and reels and fishing gear. Only fish caught on rod and reel will qualify. Rods are unlimited in use and numbers.
Dead Bait: Dead bait, lures and any combination thereof are permitted in this tournament. Live bait is NOT permitted in the tournament. Each boat will provide dead bait depending on what is available during tournament time. Teams may purchase and provide their own dead bait. Fishing for bait prior to the start of fishing is prohibited. No lines are permitted in the water prior to the start of fishing. Dead bait cannot be purchased during tournament fishing hours.
Hooks: Bait must be rigged with non-offset circle hooks only. Artificial lures without natural bait may be rigged with conventional J-hooks.
Line: All fishing line is permitted except for wire lines. Wire leader is allowed in the tournament. Costa Rica charter boats fish with 30- to 50-pound-class gear, but if you prefer your own tackle, please bring it with you.
Leaders: The length of the leader is the overall length, including any lure or hook arrangement or other device, and is measured to the bend of the last hook. The leader must be connected to the line with a snap, knot, splice, swivel, or other device. Holding devices are prohibited. There are no regulations regarding the material or strength of the leader. In all line classes exceeding 20 pounds (10 kg), the leader shall be limited to 30 feet (9.14 meters). The combined length of the double line and leader shall not exceed 40 feet (12.19 meters) total.
Teasers and Dredges: Unlimited in use or numbers.
Daisy Chains: The use of daisy chains attached in any way to the same rod as a hooked bait or hooked lure is not IGFA legal and therefore prohibited. Daisy chains are permitted when used strictly as a teaser.
Prospecting: Teams are not allowed to hire or use other boats, planes, helicopters, or drones to find fish or assist them in any way in catching or releasing fish.
Fishing Boundary: Teams must fish within a radius of 50 nautical miles from the entrance of Marina Pez Vela.
Fishing Days/Times: The fishing days are April 7, April 8 and April 9. The fishing hours are lines in at 7:30 a.m. and lines out at 3:30 p.m. each day. All boats fishing in the tournament must depart from the designated starting point at Marina Pez Vela. The start and stop signal will be announced on the radio. Do not start fishing until tournament officials declare “lines in” on the radio. All fish must be hooked and called in to tournament radio control prior to the time of the stop-fishing (lines out) signal each day. All hookups must be reported during the last 15 minutes of fishing before lines out. If, in the event a fish is still hooked up at the call to stop fishing, the angler may keep fighting the fish until it is released, boated or lost. Tournament radio control must be notified as soon as possible when a team has released the fish or the fish will be disqualified. All teams must turn in their catch-report affidavit, video and weighed fish no later than 7 p.m. Exception: if a fish is called in before lines out and is still being fought at the time of lines out or if the boat has mechanical difficulties and returns to the dock late.
Daily Catch Report Affidavit: Each team must complete a Daily Catch Report Affidavit form, which is supplied in the tournament bags at registration. The form must be completed and turned in at the end of the fishing day by 7 p.m. to the tournament committee at Marina Pez Vela. No form, no points! The angler must furnish, upon request, the lure, leader, line, hook, rod, reel and terminal tackle with which the fish was caught.
Radio Communications: All billfish releases and boated game-fish intended to be weighed are to be reported to tournament control along with the assigned team number, angler number and fish species. If a tournament boat is out of range, the catch must be relayed via radio or cell phone as soon as possible. Tournament control’s time will act as the official time for the start, catch, and end of fishing each day without exception. The official tournament VHF channels will be announced at the captains and anglers meetings. A Costa Rica cell-phone number through which teams can also communicate will be given at the captains and anglers meetings. All hookups must be reported during the last 15 minutes of fishing.
Video Release Rules: All teams must provide their own video camera(s) and know how to operate them to verify releases. All video recording equipment must be synchronized to the official tournament time. Teams must video their boat and team number with all release cameras each day before departing to go fishing. To score an official release, the video footage must include sufficient footage to (1) clearly identify the species of the fish while hooked up; (2) clearly show the leader is wound inside the rod tip while the fish is still hooked OR a team member, angler or crew touching the leader while the fish is still hooked; (3) identify the time and date of the catch; and (4) show the full release of the fish. The video must identify all of these elements. Do not delete any video taken during fishing hours, even if it does not include the above elements and will not be used to prove a catch. After the release video is taken, the official time, species and angler name must be written on the catch-report affidavit. Each registered angler and boat captain must then sign the catch-report affidavit. At the end of the day’s fishing, the video camera, camera connections used to plug into a computer, catch-report affidavit and all video footage taken must be brought to the weigh station for verification of official release points. Catch reports should be turned in by 7:00 p.m. unless a team is fighting a fish after lines out at 3:30 p.m. Failure to turn in a catch report will result in disqualification of that day’s releases. Any team falsifying information on the affidavit will be disqualified from the tournament with no refund of entry or optional jackpot fees.
All recordings, images, sounds, etc. become property of Bonnier LLC and may be used at any time. Recordings and/or images may be downloaded from the team’s device(s).
Any release photos posted on the tournament website or social channels or included in the tournament videos are for entertainment and marketing purposes only.
Billfish Points: Any blue marlin, black marlin, striped marlin, sailfish, spearfish or swordfish released in accordance with the tournament rules shall be awarded the following points: Released blue, black, striped marlin or swordfish will receive 500 points; sailfish or spearfish will receive 200 points. Teams may not catch the same fish twice. If there is a tie in billfish release points by multiple teams at the end of the tournament, rankings will be determined by the first team to reach their aggregate point total by time of catch.
Weighed Meat Fish Points: Points will be awarded on the basis set below for any meat fish that exceeds the minimum weight limit of 20 pounds in the following categories: dorado or yellowfin or bigeye tuna. Weigh-in limit is two (2) per species per day per team for dorado or either species of tuna. Meatfish will be weighed to the tenth of a pound up to 200-pounds and to the pound for fish over 200-pounds. Teams will be awarded one (1) point per pound for fish up to 99.99-pounds, one and a half (1.5) points for fish 100-199.99-pounds and two points per pound for fish 200-pounds or more. For example, a 40.6-pound tuna would earn 40.6 points. A 150-pound tuna would earn 225 points and a 201-pound tuna would earn 402-points. Teams must report boated meatfish, team number and angler number that will be weighed and take video of them once they are on the boat. In the event of an exact tie by weight in the meatfish category, the winning angler/team will be determined by which angler weighs the fish first by time. No mutilated fish will be weighed. These points DO NOT count towards the optional billfish release jackpot.
CatchStat: The Offshore World Championship uses CatchStat for team management. CatchStat provides live scoring updates. All content on CatchStat is for entertainment purposes only. Content does not replace and may not reflect official tournament standings or payout amounts. Official standings can be obtained by contacting the tournament committee.
Committee Rights: The Tournament Committee has the right to investigate and act upon any incident occurring during the tournament. It shall have the right to disqualify any capture following examination. Refusal to allow the committee to examine any tackle, line and/or leaders will result in immediate disqualification from the event without a refund of any registration fees. The tournament committee reserves the privilege of changing the rules and starting and finishing times for any reason it deems necessary. All decisions of the Tournament Committee are final and non-appealable.
Observers/Photographers: The tournament, at its sole discretion, may assign an observer or photographer to any boat on any fishing day. If an observer or photographer is assigned, the boat is responsible for their comfort and safety. Observers do not determine official releases or catches.
Weather: There is no weather committee. The tournament is conducted on a “fish at your own risk” basis. If any portion of the tournament is fished and a team or teams land or release fish that match the tournament’s eligible species and minimum weight limits, then prizes will be awarded.
Protests: Participants may lodge protests against any catch which they believe was not made in accordance with these rules. All protests must be stated in writing and accompanied by $500. All protests will be settled on the day of the incident unless the tournament committee feels more time is necessary. All protests on April 7, April 8, and April 9 must be in the hands of the tournament’s designated rules official by 7 p.m. on the day of the alleged incident unless there is a protest regarding a fish that comes to the scales late.
The tournament judges may call a protest hearing in their discretion; a protest hearing is not guaranteed. If a protest hearing is called, the protesting party, as well as the accused team members, captain and crew, must be present at any official protest hearing. The tournament committee may refuse to consider any protest evidence not submitted at the protest hearing in the presence of the protested team. If the protesting or protested team fails to show up for the protest hearing, that team forfeits its right to submit evidence.
Official tournament release video footage may only be viewed by the tournament committee and the team who submitted it. Decisions of the tournament committee with regard to protests are final, non-appealable, and nonjusticiable.
Sportsmanlike Conduct: All participants are expected to maintain a reasonable and sportsmanlike demeanor at all times throughout the tournament. Unsportsmanlike or threatening conduct towards the tournament committee or other participants, or any other behavior which the tournament committee deems inappropriate, in their sole discretion, will result in immediate disqualification of the entire team with no refund of entry fees.
Tipping: Tipping of captains and mates is mandatory and the responsibility of the team. Suggested minimum tip per day for twin engine vessels is $300 for 30- to 34-foot boats, $350 for 35- to 40-foot boats and $400 for 41- to 45-foot boats and should be handed directly to the boat captain. Additional tipping is allowed and encouraged for exceptional service and performance.
The Offshore World Championship tournament committee reserves the right to update or change these rules at any time. By entering the Offshore World Championship tournament and paying the entry fees, all participants agree to abide by the tournament rules and accept all decisions made by the Tournament Committee as final.
