WHEN BOATS ARE TIED FOR POINTS, THE BOAT WITH THE EARLIEST RELEASE TIME WINS

ALL WHITE MARLIN AND SAILFISH WERE RELEASED!

Fish Pools

   Largest Tuna - AMBUSH    140.5 lbs.!

     Largest Wahoo - FAMILY TIES      57 lb       

  Largest Dolphin - TOP BRASS    39.1 lbs.   

                          Largest Swordfish - LOAD & GO   281 lbs.!!!                          

Tournament Committee:

Hefner Appling, Tye Bralley, Kevin Deerman, Kirk Elliott, Chris Fox, Jim Glandt, Hank Johnson, Allan Legge, Dee Wallace

  Tournament Information

     -Entry is $1,500 per boat, plus $1,000 to the Mandatory Boat Pool. If paid before August 1st, Entry Fee is $1,200.

Final entry deadline is 7:00 pm, August 9, 2012, at the Captain’s Party in Port Aransas and 5:00 pm at

Coastline Marine

281-291-0101

2321 Nasa Parkway  Seabrook, Texas  77586

     -Boats may register by mail at Tournament Headquarters:

Texas Legends Billfish Tournament

   P.O. Box #1167   Seabrook, Texas  77586   409-739-4817

     -Cancellations on or before July 15^th receive full refund of Entry Fee & Boat Pool money. Cancellations after July 15^th and prior to 7:00 pm on August 9^th will receive refund of Boat Pool money only.  

No cancellations accepted after 7:00 pm August 9^th, 2012.

No Exceptions.

Please verify your vessel's condition before the cancellation deadline.

            Our Early Departure Time, anytime after 5 pm on August 9^th, allows an unhurried trip offshore during daylight hours for safety and practicality.   

Weigh Station – Port Aransas, Texas. All boats submitting videotapes or weighing fish must return to Port Aransas by 6:00 pm on August 11, 2012. Boats must be inside the Port Aransas Municipal Harbor Breakwater. No exceptions. Boats waiting in line to weigh fish or submit videos inside the harbor at 6pm will be considered on time.

This year’s participants will enjoy three special events. The Captain’s Party, Memorial Dinner Party and the Awards Brunch.  All registered boats will receive 6 I.D. badges for admission to all events along with dinner, T-shirts, hats, tournament bag and other gifts and information.  Other prizes will be awarded. Make sure you pick up your bag before departure. Special object of the day is included and required for each day of fishing.

Additional I.D. badges and tournament gear can be purchased at registration.

Schedule of Events

Wednesday, August 8th

2pm - ??   - Early Registration Party at Fox Yacht Sales - 203 West Cotter, Port Aransas, TX.

Register Early/Pick up Tournament Bags/Food & Drinks!

Thursday, August 9^th

1-7 pm - Final Registration and Captains Party in Port Aransas, TX.

at

Virginia's Restaurant

and

Coastline Marine

in Seabrook, Texas

***Final Chance for Entries***

 Friday, August 10^th

      12:01 am - Fishing Begins- use your GPS for correct time

   7-11 - Weigh Station On Call - call in 2 hours before arrival if weighing fish.

To weigh-in from 7-11 pm call John Cochrane 409-739-4817

  Saturday, August 11^th

2-6 pm - Weigh Station Open

  6 pm - Weigh Station Closed

8 pm - Memorial Dinner and

   Texas Saltwater Fishing Hall of Fame - Big Game Awards

Virginia's Restaurant

Sunday, August 14^th

10 -11 am - Awards Brunch for all participants 

Virginia's Restaurant

Tournament Rules

    -By entering this tournament, participants agree to abide by all rules and decisions. All committee decisions are final

   Contestants are boats.  

There may not be any pooling of catch or transfer of catch from one boat to another.

 In the event of a mechanical failure that disables a participant’s boat, a substitute boat may be used at the discretion  and coordination of a tournament director. Any substitution must take place at the dock, not offshore.

-All boats must be registered and all fees paid before leaving their respective ports. A committee boat will be stationed in each port to supervise boats leaving on Thursday, Aug 9^th. Boats may depart anytime after 5pm.

    -All boats are required to return to Port Aransas, Texas to weigh any fish or submit release tapes, regardless of departure port.

   -Fishing time starts at 12:01 am on August 10, 2012 and ends at 6 pm August 11, 2012 at the close of the weigh station. Stop fishing in time to make the 6 pm deadline if you boat or release a fish. Boats must be inside the breakwater at Port Aransas Municipal Harbor Breakwater (not jetties) at 6 pm. No exceptions. Boats waiting in line to weigh fish or submit videos inside the Port Aransas Harbor at 6 pm will be considered on time. All times are local CDST and available on your GPS (corrected from Coordinated Universal Time)

Use your GPS for correct time.

      - Contestants will contact a committee boat on VHF Channel 68 or SSB Channel 2638, immediately after boating or releasing an eligible billfish. It is not necessary to call in hook-ups, only catch or release information. It is also not necessary to call in tuna, wahoo or dolphin. For released billfish the committee boat will also record the time of release. Be sure the committee boat gets your information. A list of committee boats and contact information will be included in your tournament bag.

    -Have another boat relay the information if no contact can be made with a committee boat. Boats failing to report a catch may be disqualified. At tournament time, phone numbers will also be available to report catch in case of no contact with a committee boat.

   -Highest score determines the winner(s). In the case of a tie, length prevails. On released billfish, if the score is tied, the boat catching the most blue marlin releases wins. If still tied, the boat with the earliest release time wins. If there is a tie between boats with weighed fish and released fish, the boat with the most weighed points wins.

    - All boats are required to have a video camera to verify release of billfish. NO EXCEPTIONS. Releases should be confirmed by nearby boats, if possible, and reported to a committee boat.

Jungle Rules!

 There are no angling rules other than the fish must be caught on an IGFA conventional rod and reel and boated by hand or gaff. Anyone may handle the fishing rod. 

No shooting, explosives, entangling devices, nets, longlines or other non-sporting devices may be used.

    -Fish must be weighed in edible condition. This rule will be strictly enforced. Remember to take plenty of ice and insulated fish bags. All fish must remain in the weigh master’s possession until the end of the tournament or until released by weigh master.

    -Boats weighing fish will be responsible for those fish after weigh- in. This includes Blue Marlin

    -No mutilated or frozen fish accepted!

    -A boat may fish as many lines as desired.

    -All fish must be caught in accordance with State and Federal Laws.

    -A weather committee comprised of the tournament committee and selected registered participants may decide to postpone the tournament  in case of bad weather. Sunday, August 12^th may be used as a weather day, if necessary. One day fishing constitutes the tournament. If the tournament is cancelled due to weather, entry fees will be refunded less tournament expenses.

     - Regardless of weather, the captain/owner of each vessel is responsible for decisions made regarding the safety of their vessel.

   -Conduct: the committee will consider unsportsman-like conduct as grounds for disqualification. Contestants are responsible for their crew’s actions. Committee decisions are final.

    -Protests: all protests must be submitted to the weigh master, in writing, before 6 pm August 11, 2012. A $500 cash deposit must be included with the protest. Deposit returned only if protest is upheld. The Tournament Committee will resolve all disputes and their decision is final.

 POLYGRAPH: All participants (including captain, crew or guest) agree to submit to a polygraph test if requested by the Tournament Committee. Failure to submit to such an exam will result in the disqualification of the boat, at the discretion of the Tournament Committee. Any participant disqualified by the Tournament Committee for cheating, attempting to cheat or any other dishonest conduct may not be allowed to participate in future tournaments.  

Scoring

Our Tournament promotes the release of Billfish!

    -This point system is designed to promote releasing all Blue Marlin under 500 lbs.  All White Marlin and Sailfish must be released. Blue Marlin are the only billfish eligible for weigh-in and must be at least 101” in short length  - the Lower tip of the jaw to the fork of the tail.

Swordfish are not scored in the billfish pools. 

A Blue Marlin release counts the same as bringing a 500 lb blue to the dock!

Point System

          Blue Marlin Weighed-in                                    1 point per pound

        Blue Marlin Released                                          500 points

        White Marlin Released                                        150 points

        Sailfish Released                                             100 points

        Bonus points:

     Blue Marlin 600 lbs. and over.        1 point per pound +400 points

   -Highest score determines the winner(s). In the case of a tie, length prevails. On released fish, if the score is tied, the boat catching the most blue marlin releases wins. If still tied, the boat with the earliest release time wins. If there is a tie between boats with weighed fish and released fish, the boat with the most weighed points wins.

Entry Fee and Boat Pools

    -Entry Fee and Mandatory Boat pool must be at Tournament Headquarters on or before August 1, 2012 to qualify for discounted entry fee - $1200. After July 15th, entry fee is $1,500. Final entry deadline is 7:00 pm August 9^th, 2012 in Port Aransas, Texas.