EL PALOMETERO: INTERNATIONAL PERMIT TOURNAMENT

 ASCENSION BAY, MEXICO 

This is a gentlemen's and ladies' charitable event whose primary goal is to improve the schools and facilities for the children of Punta Allen.  All guests are expected to enjoy the town of Punta Allen, Ascension Bay and the Sian Ka'an, safely and enjoy all it has to offer.  Guests are encouraged get to know the town of Punta Allen and take in its rich culture in family, conservation, ecology, fishing, lobster, and traditions.

1. This is a flats and fly only fishing tournament.
2. Anglers may fish the tournament 1 (one) or 2 (two) per boat. Anglers cannot change boats or guides once the tournament begins.
3. To maintain a more level competition, the pairing of anglers with local guides will be drawn at random on the evening before the first day of fishing. 
4. Only the angler may touch the rod, reel, or line while the line is outside the boat. Exceptions: 1) when boating/netting/tailing fish, the guide may then touch line but no more than the length of the rod from the hook; 2) if wading, the guide may assist in preventing or undoing line tangles without pulling any line out of the water, or off of the water.
5. All fish must be boated, photographed with your own digital camera and/or cell phone camera and released alive. A poor-quality photo, a partial fish photo, or no photo may completely disqualify the catch, and photographic integrity is at the discretion of the tournament committee.
6. A tournament measuring tape/device and scoresheet will be provided by the first morning of fishing. Minimum fork length of fish is 14 inches. 
7. Fishing range is unlimited in the Ascensión Bay area, flats, lagoons or reef.
8. Fishing is only allowed while poling or wading. No fishing is allowed while the boat is anchored, or with the motor running. 
9. Boats may leave the designated tournament dock no earlier than 8:00 AM. Fishing may begin immediately. All boats must return and report at the tournament designated location no later than 4:00 PM. Boats not reporting by 4:00 PM will be disqualified for that day. Boats not reporting by 4:30 PM may be disqualified from the tournament.
10. Catches must be reported to the scorekeeper no later than 4:30PM each fishing day and include conclusive, unambiguous, and noncontroversial measurements of catches consisting of photos and/or video and with the correct use of the tournament-provided measuring device.
11. IGFA rules apply except where otherwise stated within these rules. 
12. Overall landing net length may not exceed 8 feet.
13. Only traditional flies with a single hook are allowed. 
14. Maximum leader strength is 20lbs as per manufacturer’s rating. Any brand of leader material may be used. Any length of leader may be fished. 
15. No chumming. No dipping the fly with scent or bait. No bait, or any food resembling bait, is allowed on board the vessel during the tournament. 
16. Wading is permitted. 
17. Any protests must be reported in writing to the tournament rules committee no later than 5:00PM on the day of fishing that the proposed infraction occurred. All rulings by the tournament committee are final.
18. The use of a drone (including any type of ariel cameras), or any scouting information by anyone other than the persons assigned to the individual boat, is strictly prohibited. 
19. Each permit release will count as 1000 points. In addition, each inch in length will count 100 points. (ex. A 25-inch permit released will give a total of 3500 points)
20. The overall winner of the tournament will be the angler with the highest total permit points. In the case of a tie, the winner will then be determined by the angler with the lower total number of qualifying fish, followed by the angler with the overall largest fish.
21. It is expected that all anglers competing for prizes will be registered and fully paid before Day 1.  Exceptions may be made by the tournament committee for late registrations if paid in full before 7:30 AM the morning of the first day of fishing. 
22. Additional prizes may be awarded for the biggest permit, biggest bonefish, biggest tarpon, biggest snook, grand slam, most catches, and other criteria to be determined.
23. Guide prizes will be awarded starting with the total points earned by their assigned anglers.
24. Guides local to Sian Ka'an may not compete as anglers.

The wording and content of these rules are subject to change at any time. Although not anticipated, the tournament committee reserves the right to refuse registration of any angler for any reason and may disqualify any registered angler at any time for any reason detrimental to the tournament.