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.

2.7 All fly fishing anglers entered in the Pro or Amateur divisions must obtain and carry with them during the tournament a vailid Belize Sport Fish license covering all days of the event.

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

3.0 Only tarpon, bonefish and permit digital photographs with proper team IDs will be accepted as entries in this tournament. Each team will be provided with a daily ID card that must be clearly visible in all fish entered digital photos. All minimum fish lengths will be measured from the most protruding head portion to the center forked portion of the tail using the tournament provided measuring stick to aid in quick identification of a legal length fish.

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 Tournament 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 Tournament Headquarters in Central Park by water. Failure to sign out in the morning or turn in a score sheet will result in a 300 point penalty. 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 card.

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 Tournament Headquarters by 4:00pm. Boats returning to Tournament Headquarters after 4:00 pm may incur a penalty as set forth by the committee. Score sheets must be returned to the Tournament Headquarters by 4:30 PM each day.

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 or similar areas on Caye Caulker.

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.

IV. Scoring and Points:

4.0 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 a maximum of 5 of each species per day. Each fish to be entered into the tournament must be digitally photographed with the team's ID card clearly visible in the photograph.

4.1 For purposes of scoring, the Tournament shall issue to each team a Catch and Release packet to include: a minimum length measuring sticks, pen, Catch and Release forms and a set of the rules.

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)

4.2 All fish must be photographed while the fish is in the water. All fish to be photographed must only be handled with wet hands to protect the fish's slim from being removed. Only one (1) photo is required to be taken with the fish and the the team ID card clearly visible in the photograph.

4.3 The angler/guide shall log the fish information on the provided score sheet for each fish released. Each day's score sheet must be completed and signed by the team anglers and in the case of the Pro Teams, by the guide, and returned to the tournament judges not later than 4:30 PM each day, whether points are scored or not.

4.4 Points: Each of the three (3) fish species eligeble for entry into the tournament have separate point values. Tarpon will be scored at 200 points for each released fish above the minimum length. Each released permit will be scored at 300 points. Each released bonefish above the minimum length will be scored at 150 points each.

4.4 Winning Order: The team entered who has accumulated the most slams or portions thereof will be the grand champion. In the event of a tie for the most slams or portions thereof, the most points will prevail. In the event of a tie with most slams and points, the last fish caught first will prevail.

V. Tackle:

5.1 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.

5.2 Tippet will be 20 lb. manufacturer's stated test or less for all species and will be funished by the anglers. Anglers may use smaller size (pound strength) tippet material but may not exceed the stated pound test tippet material.

5.3 Leaders may not exceed 15 feet in length and must contain not less than 15 inches of 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 tippet. If questions arise about a team's tippet material that team shall provided the spool with it's identification as well as the actual tippet in question.

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

5.5 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. It is prefered NOT to use a gaff if at all possible but is understood to be a safety precaution for large tarpon.

VI. Fly Casting Competition:

6.0 The Central Park events each day will run from 3:00 PM each day until 6:00 PM. Casting competitions will run from 3:00 PM until 6:00 PM each day.

6.1 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.

6.2 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.

6.3 There will be two (2) fly casting styles; one (1) for distance and one (1) for accuracy. Each casters farthest cast will be combined with the casters accuracy points for the caster's overall points. The highest score from landing casts in the target rings at 20,, 40, 60 and 80 feet will be combined with the caster's distance cast. 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.

6.4 Scoring and points for the casting competition:

Distance casting catagory scoring: