Key points from the official tournament rulebook. Download the full document for complete rules. All published rules are unofficial until announced at the captains meeting.
Official Rulebook
Download the complete tournament rules and regulations document
Billfish: release only · Gamefish: optional jackpots only
Blue Marlin, 300 points per release
White Marlin, 100 points per release
Sailfish, 100 points per release
Spearfish, 100 points per release (Roundscale Spearfish scores as White Marlin)
Gamefish (Tuna, Mahi, Wahoo) eligible only in optional added-entry jackpots. Judged by weight, 10 lb minimum.
Fishing Hours
All times Atlantic Standard Time (AST)
Lines In: 7:30 AM AST each fishing day
Lines Out: 4:30 PM AST. Absolute. A release at 4:30:01 PM or later does not count.
A fish hooked before 4:30 PM may be fought until released or lost, if the hookup was reported to Tournament Control before lines out
All boats must be back at Marina Cap Cana no later than 7:00 PM each fishing day
Fishing Boundary
50 nautical mile radius from Marina Cap Cana sea buoy
Fishing is restricted to a 50 nm radius from the Marina Cap Cana sea buoy
A vessel may cross the boundary only while actively fighting a hooked fish, and must return before resuming fishing
Any release that occurs outside the boundary does not score
Penalty for fishing outside the boundary: forfeiture of all points earned that day (billfish and gamefish)
No fishing permitted within any Dominican Republic marine sanctuary or protected area. Violation results in immediate disqualification, no refund.
Team & Anglers
Unlimited registered anglers
Each boat must carry one designated captain and at least one designated mate at all times
A team may register an unlimited number of anglers across the tournament
Any new angler must be added to the team roster online before they can score release points on a given day
Any angler not registered online prior to lines in cannot score release points
Divisions
Sonar Division · Non-Sonar Division
Sonar Division: omnidirectional sonar permitted
Non-Sonar Division: omnidirectional sonar may not be on board, used, or powered on at any time during fishing hours
Permitted in the Non-Sonar Division: side-scan, downscan, and standard fishfinders
Boats in the Non-Sonar Division are subject to inspection at any time during the tournament
A violation by a Non-Sonar boat, including powering on omnidirectional sonar at any point during fishing hours, results in disqualification of that vessel for the day
Reporting & Radio
VHF Channel 7 International · WhatsApp tournament group
All hookups and releases must be radioed in to Tournament Control, without exception
Reports must include boat name, angler name, and species
All lost fish must also be reported
All gamefish intended to be weighed must be called in to Tournament Control prior to returning to the dock
Tournament Control time is final. Intentional false reporting results in immediate disqualification.
Tackle & Gear
IGFA angling and tackle rules apply unless otherwise stated
Maximum line strength: 130-pound test
Leader length: 30 feet max · Combined double line + leader + hook set: 40 feet max
Rods and teasers: unlimited in use or numbers
Non-offset circle hooks required for all natural-bait and natural-bait-with-lure combinations
Artificial lures without natural bait may be rigged with conventional J-hooks
Live bait is permitted for gamefish only. NOT permitted for billfish under any circumstances.
Prohibited: power-driven, ratchet-handle, or dual-crank reels · wire line · drones · green sticks · live bait for billfish
Hook & Hand Protocol
Hook-and-hand fishing is permitted under strict conditions
If the captain or mate hooks the fish, the rod must be transferred to a registered angler immediately after hookup
Once the rod is in the angler's hands, that angler must fight the fish to conclusion. The rod may NOT be passed to a second angler under any circumstances.
The hookup, transfer, and the angler fighting the fish must all be clearly captured on video
A rod holder may be used to hook a fish but NOT to fight one. Once hooked, the rod must be removed and placed in an angler's hands.
Violation results in the release not scoring; repeated or intentional violations may result in tournament disqualification
Video Verification
Mandatory on-site video review · 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM daily
Every billfish release must be verified at Marina Cap Cana on-site video review
Each team provides its own camera(s) or cell phone. Accepted media: SD card or cell phone video file.
Required on video: clear species ID, the registered angler fighting the fish, leader touch (not double line), release card of the day, full release of the fish, camera timestamp
A continuous video sequence from the time video evidence is established to the leader touch and release must be maintained
Release cards, signed catch affidavit, and SD cards must be turned in no later than 7:30 PM each day (adjusted for teams still fighting a late fish)
Using the wrong day's release card will result in the release not scoring
Entry Fees & Registration
$5,000 base entry fee per team · Optional jackpots announced separately
Base entry: $5,000 per team · includes up to 10 tickets to Welcome Dinner, Kickoff Party, and Awards Banquet
No limit on registered anglers per team
Final registration: October 22, 4:00 to 7:00 PM at Marina Cap Cana · Captains meeting mandatory at 7:00 PM
Registrations remain open until 7:29 AM on October 23 (lines in)
Withdrawals more than 60 days before the tournament start date: full refund of entry fee
Withdrawals within 30 to 60 days of the tournament: 50% refund of entry fee
Withdrawals within 30 days of the tournament: no refund
Jackpot entry fees are refundable only if the team withdraws before registration closes
Tournament cancellation for a force majeure event (severe weather, government action, acts of God): full refund of all entry and jackpot fees
All jackpot entries must be submitted at or before final registration. No jackpot entries accepted after lines in on October 23.
Winnings & Tax Compliance
W-9 / W-8BEN required prior to payout
All cash prizes are subject to U.S. tax reporting and withholding rules
U.S. winners must submit IRS Form W-9 before any payout is released
Non-U.S. winners must submit IRS Form W-8BEN before any payout is released
Tax forms are collected at the time you claim winnings; no payout is released without a valid form on file
Prize payouts may be reported to the IRS on Form 1099-MISC where applicable; backup withholding may apply if a valid TIN is not furnished
Protests & Conduct
$1,000 protest fee · Tournament committee decisions are final
All protests must be submitted in writing with $1,000 USD attached
Protests must reach the designated rules official by 8:00 PM on the day of the alleged incident
All decisions of the tournament committee are final, non-appealable, and non-justiciable
Unsportsmanlike or threatening conduct toward officials, participants, or marina staff results in immediate team disqualification. No refund.
Deliberate rule violations may result in expulsion from this and future Cap Cana Invitational tournaments