4^th Annual Blue Marlin Cove Bahamas Wahoo Classic

A message from the Rieger Family

The Rieger Family, Joseph, Sandy and Giovanna, welcome all anglers for the 4th Annual Blue Marlin Cove Bahamas Wahoo Classic. We hope to see you and your family team at this year's main event and thank you in advance for your continued support! Always remember that we are very hands on owners, so if you have any questions about our upcoming event, or anything at all, please feel free to email us at jr@bluemarlincove.com or simply call 1-772-485-0040. We can’t wait to see you at this year's tournament! Until then, bent rods, tight lines, and good family memories!

Available Sponsorship Levels

Regulations

OFFICIAL TIME - The official time will be kept by the Tournament Director. It is urged that captains and anglers synchronize their watches with the director to avoid time related issues.

CAPTAIN'S MEETING - There will be a (mandatory) Captains’ Meeting on February 1, 2018 at 7 p.m. on the Pool Deck at Blue Marlin Cove. At least one (1) representative from each boat/team must be present to sign and account for team Rules & Regulations Packet. All anglers are encouraged to attend. The rules of this tournament can and may be amended verbally or in writing at the time of the meeting. Any Rules or Regulations amended at the captain’s meeting will immediately take effect following the notification to all anglers/participants. All anglers are responsible for being well informed of all rules.

LICENSES AND PERMITS - All participating anglers must possess the necessary Bahamian licenses and permits. All boats must abide by all local and international laws. ELIGIBLE SPECIES: Wahoo (See optional Entries)

OPTIONAL ENTRY SPECIES - All species dictated in the optional entries definition.

BOUNDARIES - No Boundaries. Teams may fish Bahamian and US Waters. Teams must be aware that they are responsible for abiding by US and Bahamian Customs Laws and Regulations.

GPS VERIFICATION - All boats must possess a working GPS unit with tracking enabled. Any team without a full and valid track or a deleted track for that day’s fishing will automatically be disqualified for that days fishing. Any boat can be boarded and inspected by the Tournament Director to verify compliance with Boundary rules. The top three (3) boats plus three (3) random boats will be boarded and GPS verified after the weigh-station closed.

COMMUNICATIONS - All participating boats should be equipped with a working VHF marine radio. The tournament committee will monitor VHF channel 9. The backup channel will be channel 12. Official times and other special notifications will be announced during the tournament on this channel. NO TOURNAMENT STANDINGS OR WEIGH-IN STATISTICS WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THE VHF RADIO. In the event the VHF malfunctions or is not working the Tournament Committee will communicate through a designated Cell Phone Number to be provided at the Captains Meeting.

SUBSTITUTIONS - You may substitute anglers or boats. Boat and angler substitution may occur if done in writing AND ACCEPTED BY THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR before either day’s fishing has commenced. Substitutions may not happen once fishing has begun.

BOAT RESTRICTIONS - Once boats have checked-out for each day’s fishing, boats may not come in contact with land or another boat until they arrive back at Blue Marlin Cove Marina for weigh-in. Boats weighing fish must do so under their own power. In the case where an emergency exists, captains are ultimately responsible for their boat and crew and should make the decision as to safe operating conditions. Boats going to the aid of a vessel in distress must notify the tournament committee prior to contact. Boats may radio for permission to use fuel docks however may do so ONLY after a team angler AND all qualifying/weighable fish have been secured at the Blue Marlin Cove Weigh Station in accordance with the weigh-in procedures. (See weigh-in procedure below). 

CHECK-OUT PROCEDURE - Teams must register with the director as to their intended leave-time and location. Boats will be inspected before check out. The Tournament Director will sign the teams weigh card verifying inspection of the vessel. Teams will have to show a valid tournament committee member signature on their weigh card prior to weighing any fish. Teams without a valid signed weigh card will be disqualified from weighing fish on that day of fishing.

BAIT FISHING - Teams may fish for their own bait or purchase bait for this tournament.

MAX LINES - A maximum of 6 lines may be fished. (Electric reels are prohibited).

FISHING TIMES - There will be no lines in or out time dictated however there will be a mandatory check-out so your vessel can be inspected, prior to leaving the dock, in order to maintain the integrity of the tournament. Teams weighing fish must comply with the weigh-in procedure or the fish will be disqualified.

WEIGH-IN PROCEDURE - The weigh-station will open at 3:30 p.m. each day. A Team Angler AND all fish to be weighed must be at the weigh station of Blue Marlin Cove before the close of the weigh station. We will have a member of the tournament committee on the docks verifying time of return. There will be no exception to this rule.

WEIGH-IN CARDS - Teams weighing fish must present their weigh card for verification and documentation. This card must be signed after the team’s fish have been weighed.

FISH - All fish presented for weigh-in must be in fresh, in edible condition and caught that tournament day. No mutilated fish (based on tournament committee’s opinion) will be accepted. The release of fish should be in keeping with the best conservation methods to ensure continued life. All entries must be weighed at the certified scale at the official weigh-in location in the presence of the boat/team entering them. Any fish may be examined by any means necessary. The fish will be weighed to the nearest twentieth (1/20) of a pound.

OVERALL SCORING - The team with the heaviest total weight of five (5) qualifying fish from both combined days will be deemed the winner.

WEATHER CONDITIONS - In the event of unsafe weather conditions, the tournament committee may choose to cancel a day of fishing for the tournament. If one day has been canceled, the tournament will be decided on the results of the remaining day(s) day. Captains are ultimately responsible for their boat and crew and should make the decision as to safe sea conditions.

PROTESTS - Any protests concerning the conduct of an angler or rules violations must be filed in writing with the tournament committee no later than the close of the weigh station on the day of the alleged violation. Protests will be handled by the rules committee. The decisions of the rules committee are final.

REFUNDS - No refunds will be given for any reason including, but not limited to acts of nature, war, national security, or travel restrictions.

TIES - All ties will be broken based on time. The earlier weigh-in will win the tie.

POLYGRAPH - Each registered angler specifically agrees and consents to voluntarily submit to a polygraph examination or examinations at any time until all prize winners and awards are determined and announced. Further, each registered angler agrees to obtain the agreement and consent of each and every occupant of the boat from which he or she fishes during the tournament (including but not limited to the captain and crew) to submit to a polygraph examination or examinations as described above. The method and conduct of all polygraph examinations, and the interpretation of the results thereof, shall be in the sole judgment of the polygraph examiner appointed by the Tournament, whose opinion shall be final. If any registered angler or occupant of a vessel refuses to submit to a polygraph examination, or if any registered angler or occupant gives a response which, in the sole opinion of the polygraph examiner, is untruthful, then all registered anglers on the boat shall be immediately disqualified without further notice from the Tournament. Any registered angler so disqualified shall not be entitled to any prize, award, or entry fee refund.

RELEASE OF LIABILITY - It is expressly understood that any and all participants in the Tournament enter at their own risk and that Blue Marlin Cove Resort & Marina, Tournament Committee and Staff, their officers and directors and all persons connected directly or indirectly with the operations of the Wahoo Classic Tournament, or any sponsor of the tournament shall be exempt from any and all liability for slander, loss, damage, negligence, harm, injury or death suffered by any participant, entrant, anglers or their companions, boat captains, mates, crew members, guests, vessels and equipment which may occur during the tournament.

SIGNING OF THE ENTRY FORM - By signing the entry form, the angler agrees to follow the above tournament rules and that the tournament and/or its sponsors may use without payment or restriction any photographs or video in which he or she appears for any purpose whatsoever but not limited to resale, advertising, commercial or promotional material. All Captains, Anglers and Participants are required to sign their entry form as certification that they have read and agreed to abide by all rules and the above liability release. Blue Marlin Cove Resort & Marina reserve the right to change these terms and conditions at any time, and you agree to abide by the most recent version of these terms at time of registration.