CLICK HERE FOR ENTRY FORM

Tournament Directors: Bobby Byrd and John Cochrane

Tournament Committee: Kirk Elliott, Hefner Appling, Tye Bralley, Mark Glassmeyer, Allan Legge

Tournament Staff

  Ann Marie Cochrane, Kathy May, Deana Watson, Jo Ellyn Krueger, Robin Duxstad

Tournament Weighmaster

Duane Engels

assisted by students from

Texas A&M University - Galveston

Pelagic Fisheries Conservation Program

Tournament Artist

Inga Clough Falterman

www.ingaworks.org

For More Information Call:  

Registration Headquarters: Tops-N-Towers   281-474-4000

Captain's Party and Final Registration - Thursday, August 19

Weigh-in and Party- Saturday, August 21

Awards - Sunday, August 22

Port Aransas, Texas

and departure from the Texas port of your choice!

     Official Rules and Information  

ENTRY FEE AND BOAT POOLS

 CONTESTANTS ARE BOATS. BOATS MAY LEAVE FROM THE TEXAS PORT OF THEIR CHOICE. All boats must be registered and all fees paid before leaving their respective ports. Boats may depart anytime after 5pm on August 19th. There may not be any pooling of catch or transfer of catch from one boat to another.

Entry is $750 per boat, plus $500 to each Mandatory Yellowfin Tuna Pool. Mandatory Pools are the $500 Aggregate Yellowfin Tuna Pool and the $500 Largest Yellowfin Tuna Pool. If paid before August 1, 2010 Entry Fee is $600. Total entry and mandatory pools are $1750. If paid before August 1^st the total is $1,600. Once the entry fee and mandatory pools are paid, you may enter any optional pools in you desire. Entry Fee and Mandatory Boat pools must be received at Registration Headquarters on or before August 1, 2010 to qualify for discounted entry fee. Final entry deadline is 7:00 pm August 19, 2010 at Fox Yacht Sales in Port Aransas, Texas, or 5:00 pm at Tops-N-Towers in Seabrook, Texas.  

All registered boats will receive 6 badges for admission to Saturday Night’s Dinner and Sunday’s Awards Brunch along with dinner and drink tickets, T-shirts, hats, tournament bag and other gifts and information.  Other prizes will be awarded. You must pick up your bag before departure if you fish the billfish release division to receive the object of the day. Additional badges and tournament gear can be purchased when you register.

BOAT POOLS

PELAGIC DIVISION – Aggregate Yellowfin Tuna and Largest Fish Pools__

Mandatory Aggregate Yellowfin Tuna Pool (3 Fish Max)                      $500

Optional Aggregate Yellowfin Tuna Pools (3 Fish Max)                    $1,000 / $2,500

Optional Captain’s Pool                                                                             $150

Optional Mate’s Pool                                                                                  $100

Mandatory Largest Yellowfin Tuna Pool                                                  $500

Optional Largest Blackfin Tuna Pool                                                        $500

Optional Largest Wahoo Pool                                                                    $500

Optional Largest Dorado Pool                                                                    $500

         Optional Largest Swordfish Pool                                                                $500         

 TEXAS SWORDFISH CHAMPIONSHIP - Heaviest Swordfish - Three Places

Optional Texas Swordfish Championship Pool                                     $1,000

BILLFISH DIVISION – VIDEO RELEASE ONLY

Optional Billfish Release Boat Pool                                                           $2,500

                 The Optional Boat Pools are exactly that, Optional, and are not required or included in the base entry fee.  Entry into the Optional Pools is not required to be eligible for the Tournament Awards.  Payout on all Boat Pools is 95%. 5% Administration cost deducted.

 The Yellowfin Tuna, Texas Swordfish Championship and all Billfish Release Pools use a point system and will pay up to 3 places. The boat with the most points wins. Captain’s and Mate’s Pools are scored by combining the boat's points on the Mandatory Aggregate Yellowfin Tuna Pool and the Mandatory Largest Yellowfin Tuna Pool. These pools pay one place only, the captain or mate on the boat with the most points wins.  All largest fish pools pay one place, winner take all. Scoring for weighed fish is one point per pound.

PELAGIC DIVISION - Aggregate Yellowfin Tuna Pools and Largest Fish Pools

 The Aggregate Yellowfin Tuna Pools and Captain’s and Mate’s Pools are scored by the highest combined weight of up to three (3) Yellowfin Tuna caught on one boat. The Yellowfin Tuna Pools will pay up to Three Places. The Captain’s and Mate’s Pools will pay one place, highest combined weight. ALL Largest fish pools will pay one place, winner take all. Scoring is one point per pound.

TEXAS SWORDFISH CHAMPIONSHIP – Heaviest Swordfish – Three Places

 The optional Texas Swordfish Championship Pool will pay three places for the three largest swordfish caught. A boat may win more than one place. The boat catching the largest swordfish will receive the championship trophy and winner’s flag.

BILLFISH RELEASE DIVISION

The optional Billfish Release Pools are scored by a point system, highest combined score wins. Blue Marlin, White Marlin and Sailfish are the only eligible billfish. Each species of billfish has a different score (see below). The Billfish Release Pools will pay up to Three (3) Places. THIS IS A VIDEO RELEASE ONLY DIVISION - All catches must be verified by video – see Video Release Rules. Under no circumstances will any marlin or sailfish be weighed. Swordfish are not scored in the billfish pools

 Billfish Release Point System

    Blue Marlin Released                                 400 points

     White Marlin Released                               150 points

      Sailfish Released                                       100 points

-Highest score determines the winner(s). 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. These Pools will pay up to Three Places.

 -Contestants who enter the optional Billfish Release Pools 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, dolphin or swordfish. 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, cell and satellite phone numbers will also be available to report catch in case of no contact with a committee boat.

-All boats fishing the Billfish Release Division 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. 

SEE VIDEO RELEASE RULES ON LAST PAGE

SCORING

Weighed fish are scored one point per pound. Billfish are scored on a release point system (see above)

Payout Percentage by Place

       Number of Places           3          2          1

                    1^st  Place                 50%    65%   100%

         2^nd Place                30%    35%   

3^rd Place                 20%      

Schedule of Events

 Thursday, August 19 

 3-7 pm - Final Registration and Captains Party

Hosted by:  TEXAS ROADHOUSE RESTAURANT

@

 Fox Yacht Sales - 203 W. Cotter  Port Aransas, TX 78373 / 361-749-4870

 5:00 pm - Registration Closes at Tops-N-Towers in Seabrook, TX

 7 pm - Registration Closes at Captain’s Party in Port Aransas, TX

 Boats may depart anytime after 5 pm from all ports

 Friday, August 20

12- 6  Weigh Station Open.

 Saturday, August 21

 12- 6 pm - Weigh Station Open

 6 pm - Weigh Station Closed

 8 pm -  Dinner - Port Aransas Community Center and Museum

 Sunday, August 22

10 am - Awards Brunch - Port Aransas Community Center

 Our Early Departure Time - anytime after 5 pm on August 19th - allows for an unhurried trip offshore during daylight hours for safety and practicality.

 Tournament Rules

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

Prior to August 19th, contestants may register by mail or in person at Registration Headquarters:

Tops-N-Towers

2321 Nasa Road One, Seabrook, Texas  77586 / 281-474-4000

-Final Registration and Captains Party will be from 3:00 pm until 7:00 pm, Thursday, August 19th in Port Aransas, Texas and you may also register until 5:00 pm at Tops-N-Towers in Seabrook, TX Attendance is not mandatory. However, you must arrange to pick up your tournament bag before departure, so you will have the required object of the day for billfish video release if you are fishing the Billfish Release Division.

-Cancellations on or before August 1st receive a full refund of Entry Fee & Boat Pool money. Cancellations after August 1st and prior to 7:00 pm on August 19th will receive refund of Boat Pool money only. No cancellations accepted after 7:00 pm August 19, 2010.

-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 of, and coordinated with, the tournament director. Any substitution must take place at the dock, not offshore.

NO EXCEPTIONS

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

-Boats may leave from any Texas Port – Please notify Registration Headquarters if you are leaving from a port other than Port Aransas, Texas. Make sure you understand all rules and pick up your tournament bag before departure. Bags will be available after August

-Boats must make their own arrangements for dockage in their respective ports including Port Aransas.  

 -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, July 1^st. Boats may depart anytime after 5pm.

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

 -Fishing time starts at 5 pm on August 19, 2010 and ends at 6 pm August 21, 2010 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 Port Aransas Municipal Harbor Jetties; in plain sight of the weighmaster at Virginia’s Dock at 6 pm. Boats waiting in line to weigh fish or submit video release footage will be considered on time. No exceptions. All times are GPS times (Universal Time

 Use your GPS for correct time.

Weigh Station – Virginia’s Dock behind Virginia’s Restaurant, Port Aransas, Texas. All boats weighing fish or submitting video release footage must return to Port Aransas, Texas by 6:00 pm on August 21, 2010. Fish will be weighed during weigh station hours

 No Exceptions.

 No mutilated or frozen fish accepted! 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. When weighing fish, in case of a tie, length prevails.

Boats weighing fish will be responsible for those fish after weigh-in. 

 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, harpoons or other non-sporting devices may be used.

-A boat may fish as many lines as desired.

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

 Make sure you have a NMFS HMS Permit.

 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 22, 2010 may be used as a weather day, if necessary. One day fishing constitutes the tournament. If the tournament is completely 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 unsportsmanlike 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 weighmaster, in writing, before 6 pm August 21, 2010. A $500 cash deposit must be included with the protest. The deposit will be returned only if the 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.  

Awards

The Texas Tuna Mania Champion and 2^nd and 3^rd place trophies will be awarded to the top three boats in the mandatory Aggregate Tuna Pool. A Trophy will be awarded to the top boat in the mandatory Largest Yellowfin Pool. The Texas Swordfish Championship Trophy and 2^nd and 3^rd place  trophies will be awarded to the top three boats in this pool. The top three boats in the Billfish Release Division will receive trophies.

The largest fish in each pool receives a custom fish art from Tops-N-Towers

The Largest Yellowfin Tuna

The Largest Blackfin Tuna

The Largest Wahoo

The Largest Dolphin

The Largest Swordfish

Captain and Mate ONLY! -  First Tuna weighed over 100 lbs.  wins $150 each ($300 TOTAL)        

Crew only- $100 to the biggest bonito weighed! 

Video Release Rules

FOR THE BILLFISH RELEASE DIVISION

All boats fishing the Billfish Release Division will be required to have a video camera to verify release of billfish and present their video at the dock for the Tournament Committee to review and verify. All boats must be able to connect their camera to a standard RCA connection and present their video for verification. 

 ***NO EXCEPTIONS*** 

-Releases should be confirmed by nearby boats, if possible, and must be reported to a committee boat 

-Only releases verified by video camera and verified by Tournament Committee earn points.

-Each boat is responsible for its own video equipment

-It’s a good idea to film with more than one camera in case of equipment failure.

-After a catch, pan the cockpit - Confirming no other lines in the water.

Each release video must show the following:

 Angler fighting the fish showing the Wireman’s shirt of the day. Entire fight is not necessary.

 Clear identification of species

 Wireman with leader in hand AND showing the object of the day during wiring and release

 Wiring and release of fish showing hook removal or cutting of leader with the fish swimming away, followed by an immediate and complete pan of the cockpit.

          The camera should not stop during wiring, release and complete pan of cockpit.

If the wireman has the leader in hand and the hook pulls, the fish still qualifies if all other rules are satisfied. If the fish is only identifiable as a billfish, it will score 100 points.

More is Better! The more video we see, the easier it is for us to verify you have met all of the video release requirements!

Tournament Directors: Bobby Byrd and John Cochrane

Tournament Committee: Hefner Appling, Tye Bralley, Kirk Elliott, Allan Legge, Mark Glassmeyer, Kevin Deerman

Tournament Staff: Ann Marie Cochrane, Deana Watson, Kathy May, Jo Ellyn Krueger, Robin Duxstad

Tournament Weighmaster: Duane Engels - assisted by students from Texas A&M  - Pelagic Fisheries Conservation Program

Call Registration Headquarters - Tops-N-Towers / 281-474-4000

       Tournament Headquarters - Fox Yacht Sales / 361-749-4870

 JUNGLE RULES!

  www.tunamania.com 

 Last Year's Results!

August 20-22, 2009

16 Boats - Total Prize Money over $68,000!

Top Boats

                  MINNO SODA                Tournament Champion    

SIX CHICKS                                                    2nd Place      

                    AKELA                                                               3rd Place                      

          LADY DIANA (Dion)                                   4th Place                

Top Captain & Mate

   MINNO SODA

1^st Yellowfin Tuna over 100 lbs - Captain/Mate – MINNO SODA

Mate’s Award - Largest BONITO (sp. Little Tunny) – 420 Express

PELAGIC SLAM

 SIX CHICKS                         106.9 points

         MINNO SODA                      101.6 points        

                          CATCHIN' UP                        66.5 points                          

                LADY DIANA (Tuttle)           58.8 points                

Fish Pools

   Largest Yellowfin Tuna - AKELA     52.3 lbs.

Largest Blackfin Tuna - AKELA     22.1 lbs.

      Largest Wahoo - SIX CHICKS         29.3 lbs,       

  Largest Dolphin - CATCHIN' UP     29.6 lbs.   

                            Largest Swordfish - NO WINNER                                  

BILLFISH RELEASE DIVISION

 REEL ATTITUDE                 2 Blue Marlin   800 points

         CATCHIN' UP                    1 Blue Marlin   400 points        

                          AKELA                              1 Blue Marlin   400 points                          

                SIX CHICKS                       1 Blue Marlin   400 points                

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

ALL BLUE MARLIN, WHITE MARLIN AND SAILFISH WERE RELEASED!

Crew

Captain’s Pool - REEL ATTITUDE

    Mate’s Pool - REEL ATTITUDE

Billfish Caught

      Boats                       Blue Marlin    White Marlin    Sailfish    Swordfish   

16                                 6                       0                     2                 1