Scrub Island Billfish Series Unofficial Rules

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Friday, August 28, 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Final registration in the Columbus Ballroom. 

7:00 pm
Captains’ Meeting, Kick-Off Party & Dinner – Grand Patio. 

Saturday 8/29, Sunday 8/30 & Monday 8/31

• 7:30 am – Lines-in
• 5:00 pm – Lines-Out
• 5:00 to 7:00 pm – Release Video Check-in – Columbus Ballroom

Tuesday, September 1
11:00 am – 1:00 pm – Leg 2 & Scrub Island Billfish Series Awards Gala Brunch – Columbus Ballroom

THE TOURNAMENT
The Scrub Island Billfish Series is a two-tournament series in which teams earn points at each event, with the overall series winner awarded to the team with the highest total score.

Leg 2 is a three-day, team-based tournament, with top honors going to the team that accumulates the most points. Prizes are awarded to the top three teams—first, second, and third place.

Individual honors include awards for the high-point angler and  top lady angler, each receiving a trophy and prize package.

Eligible species include blue marlin, white marlin, spearfish and sailfish.

Participating boats must stay at Scrub Island Marina or an approved alternative location within the British Virgin Islands. During the event, all boats must reside within BVI waters to be eligible to compete in the Scrub Island Billfish Series.

BASE ENTRY FEE
The base entry fee is $5,000 per team and includes up to six(6) registered anglers. This fee covers both tournament participation and access to all scheduled entertainment and social events for those six participants.

The tournament committee reserves the right to refuse entry to any individual, organization, or corporation.

OPTIONAL JACKPOTS
Jackpots are completely optional, and you must be entered into each specific category in order to be eligible for cash prizes. See “Awards and Optionals” for more information.

TEAM REGISTRATION
Final registration will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on August 28, 2026 in the Columbus Ballroom. All preregistered teams, as well as those registering onsite, must have at least one representative present to collect tournament credentials and the captain’s bag.

To encourage maximum participation, registrations will remain open until 7:29 a.m. on August 29, 2026.

CAPTAINS MEETING
The mandatory tournament rules briefing will take place at 7:00 p.m. on August 28, 2026, on the Grand Patio. All anglers and captains are required to attend. Those who do not attend agree to be bound by any instructions or rule changes issued during the meeting, whether communicated verbally or in writing.

CANCELLATION POLICY
Cancellations made more than 30 days prior to the tournament start date will receive a full refund of the base entry fee and all optional jackpots. Cancellations within 30 days of the start date will receive a 50% refund of the base entry fee, along with a full refund of any optional jackpots.

CANCELLATION OF ENTIRE TOURNAMENT
If the tournament is canceled prior to any scheduled fishing days due to circumstances beyond Bonnier’s control—such as extreme weather, natural disasters, acts of terrorism, or other force majeure events—50% of the entry fee and 85% of any optional jackpot funds will be refunded.

If the tournament is canceled by Bonnier for any other reason, including insufficient participation, all entry fees and optional jackpot payments will be refunded in full.

Refunds will be issued to the Team Representative via ACH, check, or wire transfer within four weeks, provided all tournament entry fees have cleared the bank.

ELIGIBLE SPECIES
Blue Marlin, White Marlin, Sailfish and Spearfish

FISHING DATES/TIMES
Tournament fishing days are August 29, 30 and 31. Lines-in: 7:30 a.m., Lines-out: 5:00 p.m. daily

Lines-in and Lines-out calls will be announced via tournament radio—no fishing is permitted before the “lines-in” call.

The tournament committee reserves the privilege of changing starting and finishing times for any reason it deems necessary.

LATE HOOK-UPS
Hookups occurring within the final 15 minutes of fishing must be called in immediately. If a fish is still hooked at lines-out, the angler may continue fighting until the fish is released or lost; however, tournament control must be notified once the fight ends.

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.

RULES
IGFA angling and tackle rules apply unless otherwise stated. All registered anglers must hook and fight their own fish until it is released. All participants—anglers, captains, and crew—are responsible for knowing, understanding, and complying with IGFA and tournament rules throughout the competition. Any participant who intentionally breaks these rules is subject to expulsion and disqualification, upon determination by the tournament committee, from this and future tournaments without a refund of any registration fees. For a complete list of IGFA angling and tackle rules, go to igfa.org. 

BILLFISH RELEASE RULES
All teams are responsible for supplying and operating their own video equipment to verify billfish releases. To validate a catch, ​​all recordings must be time- and date-stamped in accordance with the official time as stated by Tournament Control prior to each day’s fishing. Teams must use the official release cards included in the team packets received at the captains’ meeting, and it is their responsibility to ensure the cards are on board before fishing begins. Teams will be notified which release card to use prior to the start of each day’s fishing. 

To score an official release, the video footage must include clear and sufficient evidence of the following:

1. Clear identification of the species
2. Leader/mainline connection clearly visible inside the rod tip, swivel reeled all the way to the rod tip, OR a team member touching the leader while the fish is still hooked
3. Display the release card of the day designated by the tournament
4. Full release of the fish, showing the line being cut, hook removed, or fish swimming away freely
5. Time and date of the release

After each release, the official time, species, and angler name must be recorded on the catch affidavit. The affidavit must be signed by each registered angler and the boat captain.

At the end of each fishing day, teams must bring their camera, signed catch-report affidavit, and all original video footage to the Columbus Ballroom for verification. Catch reports must be submitted by 7:00 p.m., unless a team is actively fighting a fish after lines out at 5:00 p.m.

BILLFISH RELEASE POINTS
Five-hundred (500) points awarded for every blue marlin officially released. One hundred (100) points for every white marlin, spearfish or sailfish officially released.

In the event of a tie, rankings will be determined by the team that reaches the highest point total first, based on official release time.

RELEASE VIDEO CHECK IN
Release video check-in will be in the Columbus Ballroom 5:00pm – 7:00pm.

CATCHSTAT
The Scrub Island Billfish Series uses CatchStat for registration and team management and live scoring updates. All content on CatchStat is for entertainment purposes only. All content on CatchStat is for entertainment purposes only and may not reflect official standings or payout amounts. For official results, please contact the tournament committee directly.

BOATS WITH SONAR
Sonar devices may not be deployed prior to Lines In (7:30 a.m.) and must be powered off no later than 15 minutes after Lines Out (5:00 p.m.) each day.

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
Bait must be rigged with non-offset circle hooks only. Artificial lures without natural bait may be rigged with conventional J-hooks.

RADIO/COMMUNICATIONS
The official tournament channel is 7 International. If out of radio range, tournament control may also be reached by phone (813) 928-6266 or the official tournament WhatsApp group. Access to the group will be provided at registration. Each team must designate one representative to submit all reports to the group to avoid duplicate entries. The timestamp of each message will serve as the official release time, and tournament control will acknowledge receipt with a “thumbs up.”

All catches must be reported as soon as possible via radio, phone, or WhatsApp. Tournament control’s time is final for all starts, hookups, and stops. All billfish releases must be reported with the angler’s name and species, and all hookups must be reported during the final 15 minutes of fishing each day.

Channel 7 is reserved for official announcements and catch reports only. All other competitor communications must take place on alternate channels.

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, 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. All protests on August 25, 26 and 27 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. All protests will be settled the day of the incident.

The tournament committee may call a protest hearing in their discretion; a protest hearing is not guaranteed. 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.

The Scrub Island Billfish Series tournament committee reserves the right to update or change these rules at any time. By entering the Scrub Island Billfish Series tournament and paying the entry fees, all participants agree to abide by the tournament rules and accept all decisions made by the Tournament Committee as final.

READ CAREFULLY! This Release affects your legal rights and its completion is a prerequisite for your enrollment and participation in the Scrub Island Billfish Series tournament (the “Tournament”). Your entry indicates your FULL acceptance of these terms.

By entering the Scrub Island Billfish Series tournament and paying the entry fees, I AGREE AS FOLLOWS: I am applying to participate in the Tournament; acceptance of my application is at the sole discretion of the Tournament organizers. In consideration of being permitted to apply for, enroll or participate in the Tournament and such activities as may be arranged for me in connection with such application, enrollment and participation (collectively, the “Tournament Activities”), individually for myself and on behalf of my personal representatives, heirs, assigns, executors, administrators, and next of kin, and as the vessel’s master (if I am the vessel’s master):

• I hereby acknowledge that the Tournament Activities are dangerous and hazardous, and may entail the risk of serious injury, death, and property or economic damage. I understand that the risks include, but are not limited to, dangers posed by inclement weather and the inherent risks posed by game fishing. I hereby fully assume all non-economic and economic risks posed to me by my enrollment and participation in the Tournament Activities, whether those risks are known or not and whether those risks are foreseen or not. I hereby release and discharge the Tournament, its sponsors and Bonnier LLC; each of their respective parent companies, subsidiaries, and affiliated companies; the officers, employees, associates, agents, and contractors of all of the foregoing; all other Tournament participants; and all location owners and operators (collectively, the “Releasees”) of and from any and all claims, suits, causes of action, obligations, liabilities, debts, costs, damages, or demands of every kind and nature which I now have or which may arise from or in connection with my enrollment and participation in the Tournament Activities, whether or not caused or contributed to by the negligence of the Releasees or the manner in which the Tournament is conducted by the Releasees. ALL TOURNAMENT PARTICIPANTS ARE ADVISED TO OBTAIN THEIR OWN INSURANCE COVERAGE.
• To the fullest extent permitted by law, I hereby agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Releasees, their heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives, successors, assigns, and parent organizations from any damages, costs, expenses, or liabilities, including but not limited to reasonable attorney fees or other professional fees, resulting from or in any way connected with the risk posed by the Tournament or Tournament Activities, and regardless of whether those risks were caused in full or in part by a party indemnified hereunder.
• I agree that this Release supersedes any other agreements, written or oral, between the parties and is governed by the laws of Florida. I intend this release to be interpreted as broadly as possible, and if any portion of this Release is held invalid, I intend the remainder to continue in full legal force and effect.
• I acknowledge receipt of the rules of the Tournament and I agree to fully abide thereby. I further agree that: (i) I will abide by and accept all decisions made by the Tournament organizers or any representative of the Tournament organizers in connection with my application, enrollment, or participation in the Tournament; (ii) all such decisions will be final, non-appealable, and in the sole discretion of the Tournament organizers or their representatives; and (iii) any economic or non-economic consequences to me as a result of such decisions are within the scope of the foregoing release.

I HAVE READ THIS RELEASE AND FULLY UNDERSTAND ITS TERMS. I UNDERSTAND THAT I HAVE GIVEN UP SUBSTANTIAL LEGAL RIGHTS BY ACCEPTING IT. MY ACCEPTANCE AND TOURNAMENT ENTRY IS GIVEN VOLUNTARILY, WITHOUT ANY INDUCEMENT OR ASSURANCE BEING MADE TO ME, AND I INTEND MY ENTRY TO BE A COMPLETE AND UNCONDITIONAL RELEASE OF ALL LIABILITY TO THE GREATEST EXTENT ALLOWED BY LAW.

Participants in Tournaments are advised to obtain their own insurance covering them and their vessel’s participation. By entering the tournament, I hereby affirm receipt of the rules of the Tournament. I also affirm that I will abide by and accept all decisions made by the Tournament committee.

In consideration for being permitted to enroll and participate in the Scrub Island Billfish Series tournament (the “Tournament”), I hereby agree to the following terms:

• I grant the Tournament, Bonnier LLC, and their respective licensees, affiliates, successors and assigns (collectively, the “Licensed Parties”) the unrestricted, irrevocable, and perpetual worldwide right to record, copy, reproduce, publish, exhibit, perform and otherwise exploit (collectively, “use”), and license others to use in any and all media now existing and hereinafter developed, without payment of additional compensation, my appearance, name, likeness, voice, and statements that I make in interviews connected with the Tournament, and any photographic, video or audio materials that I create during my participation in the Tournament (collectively, the “Property”), for any purpose, including but not limited to advertising and promotion. I hereby waive any right to inspect or approve any use of the Property or any materials including the Property.
• The Licensed Parties shall have no liability to me relating to the use or publication, as set forth herein, of the Property for any reason. For myself and on behalf of my personal representatives, heirs, assigns, executors, administrators, and next of kin, I hereby irrevocably release and exempt the Licensed Parties from and against all actions, claims and demands that I now have or may have in the future arising from or relating to any such use or publication of the Property.
• Nothing herein obligates the Licensed Parties to make any use of any of the rights set forth herein. The rights granted shall not revert to me by reason of the Licensed Parties’ lack of use, and are irrevocable.
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