SCRUB ISLAND INVITATIONAL BILLFISH SERIES
UNOFFICIAL RULES
LEG 2 - AUGUST 31 - SEPTEMBER 4, 2023
While all efforts are made to keep this information current, all rules and awards published shall be considered unofficial. Official rules and awards will be distributed and announced at the registration check-in and captains meeting.
THE TOURNAMENT
The Scrub Island Invitational Leg II is a three-day boat tournament. Prizes pay down to third place (first, second and third). Eligible species include blue marlin, white marlin, spearfish and sailfish. Boats are required to stay at Scrub Island Marina unless there is no available dockage and in such cases boats may stay in an alternative BVI location. During the event no boats are allowed to reside outside of BVI waters to participate in the Scrub Island Invitational Billfish Series.
ENTRY FEE
The entry fee is $5,000 per team. This basic entry fee covers the participation of the boat and attendance at all planned entertainment and social activities for 6 participants. The tournament committee reserves the right to deny tournament entry to any individual, organization or corporation.
A final registration, captains meeting and kickoff party will take place from 4 to 8:30 p.m., August 31, at Scrub Island Resort & Marina. All teams that are preregistered and teams needing to register must send at least one representative to obtain tournament credentials. All team members and boat captains must attend the scheduled angler/captains meeting at 7:00 p.m., August 31 at Scrub Island Resort & Marina. Regardless of attendance, they accept and agree to be bound by all instructions and/or rule changes made during that meeting. In an effort to maximize participation, registrations will be accepted until 8:29 p.m., August 31.
CANCELLATION POLICY
In an effort to receive early registrations, the tournament will allow participants to cancel their registration until the deadline of 9:00 p.m., August 30th. The tournament will refund all entry fees.
ANGLER, CREW AND BOAT REQUIREMENTS
Without exception, each boat must have on board one designated boat captain and at least one designated mate. Captain and crew changes are allowed but should be communicated to the tournament committee prior to any days fishing. There is a limit of six registered anglers per boat in this tournament; however, anglers may be added or swapped if he/she registers before the start of that day’s fishing. Designated captains and mates can also be registered anglers. Guests are allowed on the boats. Boats may receive aid from other boats in the form of towing in the event of mechanical failure. Teams and boats are not allowed to receive assistance in releasing fish. All participants must exercise good and courteous sportsmanship whether at the dock, underway or fishing.
BOATS WITH SONAR
Omni-Directional Sonar (ODS) may not be deployed, activated, energized, displayed or otherwise referred to in locating fish until after the assigned "lines-in" moment of each tournament day. Further to this rule, it must be deactivated upon "lines-out" until the beginning of "lines-in" the next day.
This rule does not apply to standard bottom finders transmitting at 50 to 200 khz or CHIRP sonars transmitting broad spectrum signals, since these are normally employed for safe navigation. It also does not apply to side scan sonar capable of scanning water from port to starboard at a new 180 arc.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
August 31 — Final registration, captains meeting from 4:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Scrub Island Resort & Marina. Captains meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m. followed by the dinner and the Leg One Awards.
September 1 — Fishing day: 7:30 a.m. lines-in, 5:00 p.m. lines-out. Release video check-in.
September 3 — Fishing day: 7:30 a.m. lines-in, 5:00 p.m. lines-out. Release video check-in
September 3 — Fishing day: 7:30 a.m. lines-in, 5:00 p.m. lines-out. Release video check-in.
September 4 — Leg II and SII Series Awards banquet 6:00 pm Scrub Island Resort & Marina
RULES
IGFA angling and tackle rules apply in this tournament unless otherwise stated (see release rules for scoring points).
BILLFISH RELEASE RULES
All teams must provide their own video camera(s) to verify releases. All video recording equipment should be set to the proper BVI time and date. To verify a catch, you must use release letter cards provided. Teams will be informed of the letter card to use prior to each days start of fishing. To score an official release, the video footage must include sufficient footage to (1) clearly identify the species; (2) show a team member, angler or crew touching the leader while the fish is still hooked; (3) display the catch release number card provided by the tournament; (4) identify the time and date of the catch; and (5) show the catch and full release of the fish. The video footage 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 time, species, release number 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 camera, camera connections, catch-report affidavit and all video footage taken must be brought to video check-in for review and verification of official release points. Catch reports should be turned in by 7:30 p.m. September 1, 2 and 3.
BILLFISH SCORING SYSTEM
Five-hundred (500) points awarded for every blue marlin officially released. One hundred (100) points for every white marlin, spearfish or sailfish officially released.
CATCH REPORT AFFIDAVIT
All catches to be considered for points must be recorded on the catch-report-affidavit sheets provided. The release time, species, release number and angler's name must be written on the catch-report affidavit. Each angler and boat captain must then sign the catch-report affidavit. The catch-report-affidavit sheets must be turned in at the weigh station each day. In the event of a tie, the team reaching the highest score first wins.
LINE
Teams may fish up to 80-pound-test maximum manufacturer labeled line; tournament or non-tournament lines are eligible. If the stated line test is 80-pounds or less on the label, it is allowed in the tournament. The catch shall be classified under the breaking strength of the first five meters of line directly preceding the double line, leader or hook. This section must be comprised of a single, homogenous piece of line.
LEADERS
The length of the leader is the overall length, including any lure or hook arrangement. In all line classes exceeding 20-pound (10 kg), the leader shall be limited to 30 feet (9.14 meters). The combined length of the double line, swivel, hook set and the leader shall not exceed 40 feet (12.19 meters) total. The tournament committee holds the right to examine any hook-sets, line and/or leaders at any time during the event. Refusal to allow the committee to examine any hook-sets, line and/or leaders will result in immediate disqualification from the event without a refund of any jackpot or registration fees.
RODS
Unlimited in use or numbers.
TEASERS
Unlimited in use or numbers.
BAITS
Live bait, dead bait, lures and any combination thereof are permitted in this tournament.
HOOKS
All tournament participants must use non-offset circle hooks for all species whenever natural baits or natural-bait/artificial-lure combinations are used.
DAILY FISHING HOURS
Fishing will commence at 7:30 a.m. (lines-in) and end at 5:00 p.m. (lines-out) on September 1, 2 & 3. The tournament committee reserves the privilege of changing starting and finishing times for any reason it deems necessary. A radio start will take place each morning at 7:30 a.m. The tournament control's time will act as the official time for the start, catch-and-release and end of fishing each day without exception.
FIGHTING TIMES In the event of late hookups, etc., all release footage must be turned in by 11:59 p.m. on the day of fishing.
RADIO/COMMUNICATIONS
All billfish hookups, releases and lost fish must be reported to tournament control, along with the boat name, angler name and fish species. The tournament control's time will act as the official time for the start, catch-and-release and end of fishing each day without exception. The official tournament channel will be provided during the captains meeting. Tournament cell phone number by which teams can also communicate will be +1-407-533-0123. During the last hour of fishing each day, all hookups must be reported.
RELEASE VIDEO CHECK-IN
The release video check in is at the Scrub Island Resort & Marina
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(s) releases 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 $1,000. The tournament judges may call a protest hearing in their discretion; a protest hearing is not guaranteed. All protests on September 1, 2 and 3 must be in the hands of the tournament's designated rules official by 7:30 p.m. on the day of the alleged incident unless there is a protest regarding a fish that comes to the video verification later than 7:30 p.m.
The protest 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. Decisions of the tournament organizers with regard to protests are final, nonappealable, 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 tournament organizers or other participants, or any other behavior which the tournament organizers deem inappropriate, in their sole discretion, will result in immediate disqualification of the entire team with no refund of entry fees.