Official Rules
2023 BD Outdoors Yellowtail Shootout
Presented by Costa
June 23 – 25, 2023 

NEW WRISTBAND AND CAMERA RULES THIS YEAR.  PLEASE REVIEW CAMERA RULES SECTION.

  • It is the Team Captains responsibility to read and fully understand the rules before the start of the Tournament. It is the responsibility of the Captain to ensure his team members and boat are fishing within the Tournament Rules. Any breach of these rules by ANY team member or captain will result in TEAM Disqualification. 
  • The Entry Fee for the Tournament is $375 USD per team of up to three (3) Anglers, additional anglers may be added to the team for $100 USD each when paid in full by June 16, 2023. June 17, 2023, the team registration fee will be $450 and $125 per additional angler and includes anglers registered at the captain’s meeting. There will be a maximum of six (6) Anglers per team. Every person on competing boats shall be considered an Angler. All passengers aboard a competing vessel must be PAID Tournament Anglers, no spectators/guests are allowed. 

The Tournament will be capped at 110 teams. 

NO REFUNDS WILL BE GIVEN AFTER JUNE 16, 2023 

  • It is the Captain’s responsibility to contact tourneys@bloodydecks.com for a refund before June 16, 2023.  One team member shall be designated as Team Captain. Team Captains may reserve paid angler slots at the time of registration but must have the angler names and contact information submitted before the end of the Captain’s Meeting on June 23, 2023. To register additional Anglers that have not yet been determined please fill out the angler spaces as TBA. Angler fees must be paid at the time of registration and final Angler info can be submitted at the Captains Meeting. 
  • Captains Meeting – Team Captains must report to the mandatory Captains Meeting on Friday, June 23, 2023, between 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM PDT.

The Captains Meeting will be held at: 

Blue Seas Fabrication 

2610 Ingraham St Suite A  

San Diego, CA 92109 

  • Captains must submit final registration information for the entire team if any changes are needed before 7:30PM PDT on June 23, 2023 at the Captains Meeting. 
  • Failure to check-in before the end of the captain’s meeting at 7:30 PM PDT will result in immediate disqualification and no refund will be issued for any reason. 
  • The Tournament Committee reserves the right to refuse entry or remove any person or team at any time at their sole discretion. 
  • Teams may make registration changes, if necessary, provided Tournament Control is notified before the end of the Captain’s Meeting. Teams may substitute boats, if necessary, provided Tournament Control is notified before the end of the Captain’s Meeting. Please try to make all changes in ADVANCE of the Captain’s meeting by emailing tourneys@bloodydecks.com. 
  • Tournament boats may depart from bays or launches from San Diego to Los Angeles but must weigh in by boat in Mission Bay or San Diego Bay before returning to port. 
  • VHF Channels – Weigh Stations will be on Channel 68 During weigh-in times. 
  • Start of Tournament – Lines-in shall be Saturday, June 24, 2023, at 5:00 AM PDT. 
  • Making Bait – Bait fishing is allowed before lines-in. No other lure, jig, or line specifically rigged for any gamefish is allowed in the water before lines-in. Any Yellowtail by-catch must be released. 
  • Weigh-in – All fish must be weighed at an official tournament weigh station at either Dana Landing Fuel Dock or Harbor Island West Fuel Dock in SD Bay between 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM PDT on the tournament day. ANY FISH CAUGHT BUT NOT WEIGHED IN BY 6:00 PM PDT TOURNAMENT DAY SHALL NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO WIN. 

The Weight Rules are as follows: 

  • Each team may weigh up to five (5) fish. 
  • Fish must be brought to the scales in Mission Bay or San Diego on the boat on which they were caught while still in the water (no walk-ups). Walking a fish up by land will result in TEAM disqualification. 
  • Boats lined up to weigh will be served in the order in which they arrive. 
  • Fish must arrive at the dock in whole edible condition. 
  • The Team Captain must remain with the fish throughout the weigh-in process. 
  • Boats must be in line and out of gear at or before 6:00 pm to qualify. 
  • The Teams weight time will be recorded when the tournament official has made verbal contact with the team captain on the dock. This time will be used to break any ties in fish weight with other teams.
  • Before leaving the scales, the Team Captain must verify weight information and sign the official Weigh-In Slip to validate the weights. 
  • WRISTBAND/CAMERA RULES – Anglers must wear wristbands while fishing Saturday AND keep them on through Sunday if attending the Awards Party. DO NOT REMOVE THE WRISTBAND IF YOU PLAN ON ATTENDING THE AWARDS PARTY.
  1. Take a picture of every fish you plan to weigh with a cell phone.
  2. Angler should be holding the fish and the wristband must be visible.
  3. Upon weigh in, you must text all pictures of weighed fish to 619-738-2569 with the following information.

Team #
Team Name
Attach photos of fish

  • Every qualifying fish must have a picture with the angler, fish and wristband in the picture. 
  • No payouts will be given until the BD Outdoors Yellowtail Shootout Committee has picture verification and/or a polygraph test is completed. 
  • Weight Determination – Total team weight will be calculated by the three (3) heaviest yellowtail per team. Teams do NOT need 3 yellowtails to qualify for any prize placement or jackpots. For example, a team weighing 1 fish of 40lbs will win over any team weight 2 or 3 fish with a total combined weight under 40lbs. 
  • Tie-Breaker Rule – In the event that two or more combined fish totals or individual fish have identical weights, the first fish brought to the dock and weighed will be awarded the higher place should both fish be in top prize spots. Both weigh stations will be equipped with digital clocks that are synced to the same time. 
  • Yellowtail Purse – Total Purse shall be paid to the winning team with the heaviest combined total of up to 3 Yellowtail. 
PLACE  CASH*  PRIZES* 
1st Place  $5,000  + Prizes TBD 
2nd Place  $2,500  + Prizes TBD 
3rd Place  $1,000  + Prizes TBD 
4th Place  $750  + Prizes TBD 
5th Place  $500  + Prizes TBD 
Big Fish Yellowtail        Prizes TBD 

*Total Purse is based upon 100 teams participating. If less than 100 boats enter, the payouts will be adjusted proportionally. 

  • Optional Yellowtail Jackpots – There will be four (4) separate optional side team jackpots of $100 Biggest Fish (Yellowtail), $100, $200 and $300 USD for the heaviest combined total of up to three (3) Yellowtail. Participation in the jackpots is available to all interested teams but is NOT mandatory. The Side Jackpots are WINNER TAKE ALL format. Jackpots are 85% payback. If no qualifying Yellowtail are caught for any of the three jackpots, 85% of that jackpot’s fees will be returned to the respective teams. Side Jackpot fees may be paid in advance with Entry Fee or paid at the Captain’s Meeting. If paying the jackpot fees at the Captains Meeting, you MUST pay by cash or credit card. 
  • TowBoatUS San Diego will have one additional jackpot with a $50 entry for a guaranteed $2500 payout for the largest tuna.
  • All anglers must have a valid California and/or Mexican fishing license and observe ALL California and Mexican regulations. 
  • IGFA rules will apply in the Tournament unless specifically modified in this document. IGFA rules are incorporated herein by reference. 
  • The use of spearguns, harpoons, entangling devices or firearms is prohibited. The use of spotter planes or contact with commercial or recreational fishing vessels is prohibited. 
  • Boundaries – The fishing boundaries shall be within 100 nautical miles of the Point Loma Lighthouse. 
  • In the event of rough seas or weather, the Tournament may be postponed until conditions permit and at the discretion of the “Tournament Committee”. In the event that the fishing must be postponed, the After Party will go on at its regular date of June 25, 2023. 
  • Accepting fish or bait from another source, boat or otherwise, alive or dead, is prohibited. The only exception being commercial bait boats or bait barges. 
  • Weighing fish caught during non-tournament days and/or placing any foreign substance/object inside a weighed fish shall be automatic grounds for disqualification from the Tournament. 
  • Any anglers attempting to defraud the tournament will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of California law. 
  • Any intent of protesting a violation of the Tournament Rules must be made in writing to the Tournament Committee on the day of the alleged violation. If there is any disagreement, controversy or necessary clarification of any tournament rules, the final decision will be made at the sole discretion of the Tournament Committee. 
  • No one under 18 years of age may participate in the tournament unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. 
  • The Tournament Committee or BDOutdoors LLC is not responsible for the actions, of any persons in the operation boats, the conduct of fishing endeavors, transfer of personnel, fishing equipment or personal property on or off boats, docks or otherwise. Each participant assumes all risks and liabilities in connection with their participation. There will be no responsibility borne to any of the promoters, event organizers or sponsors as a result of inappropriate conduct by any of the participants or guests and that each individual participant will hold harmless The Tournament Committee and BDOutdoors LLC. 
  • Polygraph Examination – All registered participants agree to submit to a polygraph examination if requested to do so by the Tournament Committee. Failure to comply will result in the disqualification of the participant and his or her entire team. Disqualified participants and/or teams forfeit any and all entry money, prizes, prize money or jackpot money, and are refused entry to future BD Outdoors tournaments. The decision of the Tournament Committee is final. 
  • Cash Awards – Prize payouts will be made payable to the person or persons selected by the Team Captain. Prize checks will only be paid within 30 days of the end of tournament upon receipt of 1) Proof of identification
    2) Copy of social security card or Taxpayer ID number and 3) A completed IRS Form W4 or applicable IRS form from each of the requested payees. 
  • Raffle – The after-party raffle is for anglers of the BD Outdoors Yellowtail Shootout only. Only 1 raffle ticket per angler per team will be given at the After Party. Angler must be present at the After Party to participate. 
  • The infringement of these rules shall be considered cause for disqualification. The FINAL interpretation of these rules shall be left exclusively to the Tournament Committee. 

 

For any questions related to the tournament rules, contact tourneys@bloodydecks.com 

BDOutdoors LLC 

 

Rules updated April 17th, 2023