Tres Pescado Slam Tournament Official Rules



I. OFFICIAL RULES:

1.0 The Tres Pescado Slam Tournament (TPST) is a catch and release fly fishing only tournament. The health of the fish must be put above the competition. All means must be used to handle the fish properly to ensure their survival. Approved release methods will be provided to each contestant.

1.1 The Tournament shall be governed by the fly fishing rules of the International Game Fish Association ("IGFA Rules") and these TPST Rules, as amended from time to time. In the rare instances when the TPST Rules may conflict with the IGFA Rules, the TPST Rules shall supersede the IGFA Rules. It is the responsibility of each fly fisher and guide to know the IGFA Fly Fishing Rules and the TPST Rules.

II. Teams:

2.0 There are 2 divisions, a Pro division and Amateur division. Each Pro team will consist of a licensed Belize Tourism Board (BTB) fly fishing guide; defined as a BTB licensed professional fly fishing guide that has actively guided for at least six (6) months prior to the tournament, and no more than 2 fly fishers. Each amateur team will consist of no more than 2 fly fishers per boat and no guide. Note: each Pro or Amateur team may consist of only one (1) contestant fly fisher, however the team fees remain the the same and you will be competing against those teams that have two (2) fly fishers.

2.1 Guides may not guide for a member of their immediate family, defined as spouse, sibling, child, or parent.

2.2 An active BTB fly fishing guide, defined as an individual having provided fly fishing guiding services for hire within the prior six (6) months, shall not be eligible to participate as a fly fisher in the Pro Division. This only restricts fly fishing guides. A BTB fly fishing guide may enter the Amateur Division.

2.3 The Pro Team BTB fly fishing guide may not fish or assist in the casting, hooking or retreiving of the fish.

2.4 In the event of emergency or illness, a fly fisher or guide may have a substitute.

2.5 The Pro Team fly fishers are responsible for daily guide fees/gratuities.

2.6 Either the fly fisher(s) or their guide must attend the casting meeting banquet to confirm registration, receive tournament information, and pick up Catch and Release packets.

III. Fish Entries, Fishing Times, Territory, and Rules:

3.0 Only tarpon, bonefish and permit digital photographs with proper team IDs and readable measurements will be accepted as entries in this tournament. Each team will be provided with a daily ID number that must be clearly visible in all fish entered digital photos. All fish photos must indicate the overall fish's length clearly in the photo as measured from the most protruding head portion to the center forked portion of the tail.

3.01 All cameras must be digital and capable of being downloaded to the judges' computer. Contestants are responsible to provide their own compatible digital camera. Each contestant should check with the tournament officials to ensure their digital camera is compatible and that their photo entries can be downloaded.

3.1 Each day the fishing shall begin at a Fishing Headquarters in Central Park, and all fishers must sign-in and pick up their tournament issued ID prior to departing to fish.

3.2 All boats must depart from and return to Fishing Headquarters in Central Park by water. Fishers and guides may fish any areas accessible by boat from Fishing Headquarters.

3.3 Under the direction of an official starter, all boats will leave the starting area each day at 7:00 AM. It is the responsibility of the team to ensure they arrive well in advance of the departure time to sign in and get their daily ID number.

3.4 All areas in and around Ambergris Caye are open to fish, but restricted to depths of water where a push pole may be used according to commonly accepted customs and practices. Fishers may wade from the boat to fish. All teams must be present at the judge's station no later than 4:00 PM daily.

3.5 Fishing may begin as soon as a boat arrives at a fishing spot. Fishing may continue until 3:00pm at which time lines must be out of the water. A fish hooked prior to 3:00pm may be fought, caught, and released after 3:00pm. However, all boats must return to Fishing Headquarters by 4:00pm. Boats returning to Fishing Headquarters after 4:00pm may incur a penalty as set forth by the committee.

3.6 The start on any day may be delayed by the Tournament in the event of imminent inclement or dangerous weather. In the event of severe weather (i.e. tropical storm), the Tournament committee may shorten the number of Tournament fishing days.

3.7 The policy of the Tournament committee is that the first boat to reach a spot is entitled to fish there. The Tournament committee strongly recommends strict observation of all recognized courtesies and sporting practices between boats. This includes giving way and sufficient room to other boats in an area that typically accommodates more than one boat under normal fishing conditions. It is considered unsportsmanlike and a rules violation to have a spot "saved" by another boat.

3.8 Chumming or fishing in or near chummed areas is not allowed. There will be no fishing within 150 yards of known "pet fish" areas, such as the Sunset Grill.

3.9 No assistance may be given to any fisher other than by his guide who handles the boat, gaffs or grabs fish, and measures or releases fish. No other assistance can be given by the guide.

V. Scoring and Points:

5.0 All contestants are allowed to fish for any or all of the three fish species allowed entry in this tournament during each of the three days of the tournament but are limited to no more than five (5) of each species per day per angler unless there is only one (1) angler entered in a team then the limit is ten (10) of each species per day. Each fish to be entered into the tournament must be digitally photographed with the team's ID number and tape measure clearly visible and readable in the photograph by the tournament judges.

5.1 For purposes of measuring and scoring, the Tournament shall issue to each team a Catch and Release packet to include: a measuring tape, various sized tie-wrap "straps", a roll of sticky tape, and Catch and Release forms. No other measuring devices, scales, or calculators are allowed in the boat.

This is a 100% release tournament. The sole exception is a potential IGFA world record, weighed then released.

Minimum length by species:

Bonefish	Tarpon	Permit
14 inches	24 inches	No Size Limit

(Measure all fish from fork of tail)

5.2 Bonefish and permit can be photographed from the water or while in the boat but tarpon, due to their size, must be kept in the water. All fish to be photographed must only be handled with wet hands to protect the fish's slim from being removed with care taken while measuring. For bonefish and permit, lying the fish on a wetted surface with the ID number above the fish and the tape measure being held along the fish's lateral line and at both ends of the fish from the furthest protruding portion of the head to the fork of the tail by the angler while restraining the fish as the photo is taken by the guide or the other team member. A second photo must be taken with the fisher holding the catch with the the team ID daily number hung from around the neck of the fisher that caught the fish and clearly visible in the photograph. The fisher/guide shall then log the fish information on the provided data sheet.

5.3 For tarpon, due to their size, keep the fish in the water along side of the boat taking three (3) photos; one (1) photograph with the ID number and tape measure in the entire photo; one (1) photograph showing a close-up of the tape measure's number indicating the total length of the tarpon, and one (1) with the fisher that caught the fish in the photo. All photos will allow the judges to determine the overall length of the fish. Having a method to temporarily attach the ID number to the boats gunwale so that the number will be visible in the photo can be helpful. With 2 people in the water and holding the tarpon against the boat's side, each person can hold one end of the tape measure with the 3rd person taking the 2 photos. Only lip gaffs are allowed and care must be used to avoid injury to the fish/team members. The angler shall then log the fish information on the provided data sheet.

5.4 Points: Each inch of an eligible fish equals one tournament point with each team member's points combining for the team's total tournament points. All fish shall be measured to the nearest inch only. Unreadable photographs will be disqualified. Judges rulings are final. The 1st place winner will be the team with the most over all points with 2nd and 3rd place following in descending order. Seventy-five (75) bonus points will be awarded to each team's first (1st) permit landed during the tournament. In additon, one hundred (100) bonus points will be awarded to each team that lands one (1) of each of the three (3) species during the tournament.

VI. Tackle:

6.1 Only fly casting will be permitted, and only artificial lures/flies may be used. Only one-handed rods and single action reels are eligible to be used. The rod may not be altered after a fish is hooked.

6.2 Tippet for bonefish will be 10 lb. and for permit and tarpon tippet will be 16 lb. manufacturer's stated test and will be furnished at no charge by the Tournament. Fly fishers may use smaller size (pound strength) tippet material but may not exceed the provided tippet material.

6.3 Leaders may not exceed 15 feet in length and must contain not less than 15 inches of Tournament approved tippet material between the knots. For tarpon, a shock tippet may be of nonmetallic or metallic material, may not exceed 12 inches including the knots, and must be tied directly to the Tournament approved tippet.

6.4 A broken rod, above the reel seat, will not disqualify a caught or released fish.

6.5 A release gaff may be used for tarpon and must be no more than two feet long with ropes or straps not to exceed 12 inches. Fish may be lip gaffed only.

VII. Fly Casting Competition:

7.0 The Central Park events each day will run from 12:00 noon each day until 8:00 PM. Casting competitions will run from 3:30 PM until 6:00 PM each day.

7.1 Each fly casting session each day will be an elimination event. Each competitor will be given 3 casts and 1 warm-up cast. The warm up cast can be counted as one of the 3 event casts at the discretion of the caster. The caster will have 3 minutes to complete each cast.

7.2 There will be three (3) divisions in the fly casting competition; a youth division for ages 10-15 years old; a women's division; and a men's division.

7.3 There will be two (2) fly casting divisions; one (1) for distance and one (1) for accuracy. The farthest cast wins in the distance division. The highest score from landing casts in the target rings at 20,, 40, 60 and 80 feet wins in the accuracy division. Each caster will use the same 8 wit rod, reel, fly line, leader and tippet. The tippet will be terminated with a piece of yarn.

7.4 Scoring and points for the casting competition:

Distance casting catagory scoring: