The Charter Boat Challenge is an event scheduled to take place at Marina Pez Vela in Quepos Costa Rica from May 2, 2026, thru June 25, 2026, at 6:00 PM. The Charter Boat Challenge is the property of and organized by, Marina Pez Vela Quepos, S A, a corporation organized under the laws of Costa Rica; Corporate identification number 3-101-298191.  While all efforts are made to keep this information current, all rules published on this website shall be considered unofficial. Official rules will be distributed and announced at the registration check-in and captains meeting. All participants agree to the terms of these rules by participating in the event.

The Challenge

The Charter Boat Challenge is an 8-week charter boat event with top honors going to the Charter Boat that accumulates the most qualifying species weigh points during the event. Clients assisting in accumulating the most daily points in a single day of fishing will be awarded a free charter in the near future, Charter Boats are allowed to fish 8 declared days during the Challenge. There will also be a “JOKER’S WILD DAY ALLOWED FOR EACH TEAM”! Captains may choose which 8 days they fish but must declare to Guest Center Welcome Desk prior to leaving Marina. WhatsApp: Alcides 8519-3003 or Jerry 8315-5051.

Eligible Species

Dorado * Tuna * Wahoo *

Minimum weight to qualify is 15 pounds, one point per pound will be awarded for qualifying fish

 A MAXIMUM OF “TWO” FISH OF EACH SPECIES” CAN BE WEIGHED PER BOAT EACH DAY OF DECLARED FISHING

Entry Fee

The Boat registration fee is $100.00. This basic registration fee covers the participation of the Charter Boat Entry.

ALL ENTRIES MUST BE A FLAGGED AND DOCUMENTED VESSEL IN COSTA RICA AND OPERATING FROM MARINA PEZ VELA QUEPOS     

Vessel Entry Requirements

All participants are required to comply with all applicable international, national, regional, and local maritime and legal regulations.

All vessels participating in any MPV-sanctioned tournament must meet the minimum legal and operational requirements to enter the marina harbor. No exceptions or conditional approvals will be permitted,

All Teams must depart MPV and return aboard the vessel officially entered and approved for the tournament, unless specific return authorization for emergency situations is communicated, documented, and approved following Marina Office protocols.

Insurance Compliance

All participating vessels-and especially vessels operating commercially or “for hire”, must meet or exceed the minimum insurance requirements mandated for entry into Marina Pez Vela.

Registration 

1. Online
2. In person at the Guest Center welcome desk
3. Registration, information & rules meeting on May 01,2026 at 6:30 PM

Angler, Crew and Boat Requirements

Without exception, each boat must have on board one designated boat captain and at least one designated mate. Captain and crew changes are allowed but must be communicated to the Event committee prior to leaving the Marina on that day of fishing. Boats may receive aid from other boats in the form of towing in the event of mechanical failure. All participants must exercise good and courteous sportsmanship whether at the dock, under way or fishing.

Schedule of Events

Event location and weigh in: MARINA PEZ VELA QUEPOS

April 30, 2026

6:30 pm Final Registration, Captains & Mates Rules meeting will be at Marina Pez Vela. Very important that you attend this meeting.

May 2 – June 25, 2026,

• Daily check out prior to a declared fishing day. If you fail to check out that day’s fishing will not qualify Alcides 8519-3003 or Jerry 8315-5051.
• Boats must fish 8 days during the Tournament’s seven-week period.
• Weigh station will be available until 6:00 pm on days boats declare they are fishing in the Event.

After checking out at Guest Center, notify the Team at WhatsApp 2774-9006 before leaving marina on fishing days. Very important to be logged into that day’s fishing.

June 28, 2026,

6:00 pm – 7:00 pm Social Hour with food and drinks

7:00 pm- Awards

Any Fish estimated to be over 40 pounds must have a video submitted at weigh in with the fish being brought to gaff and boated.

Unofficial Rules (IGFA Modified) Hook n Hand

While all efforts are made to keep this information current, all rules published on this website shall be considered unofficial. Official rules will be distributed and announced at the registration check-in. All participants agree to the terms of these rules by participating in the Challenge Event.

IGFA rules and tackle apply in this event unless otherwise stated. It is the responsibility of each registered angler and crew member to know, understand and abide by IGFA and Challenge rules during this competition. Any angler, captain or mate who breaks any IGFA or event rule will be deemed ineligible for any prize, award, honor, or recognition and may be disqualified from this and future events without a refund of registration fees.

• HOOK N HAND rule applies. Any angler may hook a fish and pass to another angler. The Captain & Mates may hook and assist in fight a fish for boating!
• Wind-on leaders are permitted but may not exceed 30 feet as per IGFA rules. For a complete list of IGFA rules, go to igfa.org.

Marina Pez Vela Quepos S.A., will appoint the CHALLENGE Rules Committee. The rules committee is appointed to apply rules, assign, or take away points, and indicate the winners of the event without recourse. All anglers commit to accept and abide by the results indicated to the administration of the Charter Boat Challenge by the Event Rules Committee. The Event committee reserves the privilege of changing the rules, start, and finishing times for any reason it deems necessary. All decisions of the Rules Committee are final and non-appealable.

Photographs

We always look forward to receiving great photos and videos of your Fishing experience! We can download from most video and still cameras!

Any Fish estimated to be over 40 pounds must have a video submitted at weigh in with the fish being brought to gaff and boated.

Line

Maximum line strength allowed is 50-pound-test. Tournament and/or non-tournament lines are eligible. If the line test is 50 pounds or less, the line will be allowed in the event.

Wind-on leaders are permitted but may not exceed 30 feet as per IGFA rules. For a complete list of IGFA rules, go to www.igfa.org

Leader

The length of the leader is the overall length, including any swivel, lure, or hook arrangement. In all line classes exceeding 20 pounds (10 kg), the leader shall be limited to 30 feet (9.14 meters). The combined length of the double line and the leader shall not exceed 40 feet (12.19 meters) tot

Rods

Unlimited in use or numbers max 50 pounds

Teasers

Unlimited in use or numbers.  Dredges and Spreader Bars are permitted.

Baits

Dead bait, live bait, lures, and any combination thereof are permitted in this event.

Hooks

All event participants must use non-offset circle hooks for all species whenever natural baits or natural-bait/artificial-lure combinations are used. IGFA & Costa Rica Law apply.

The event committee holds the right to examine any hook sets, line and/or leaders at any time during the event. Refusal to allow the event rules and judging committee to examine any hook sets, line and/or leaders will result in immediate disqualification from the event without a refund of any or registration fees and/or Jackpot moneys.

Fishing Hours

Fishing will commence at 7 a.m. on the declared fishing days. Boats must be checked out prior to leaving Marina Pez Vela., any radio communications required, please contact Marina Pez Vela on channel 69. Event team will be available if assistance is required.

Weigh-In

Boats must choose the fish to be weighed and brought to the weigh station.   A MAXIMUM OF TWO FISH of EACH SPECIES MAY BE WEIGHED. NO ADDITIONAL FISH CAN BE WEIGHED,

The weigh station will be in Marina Pez Vela, open until 6:00 pm on the designated fishing days.

Minimum qualifying fish weight is 15 pounds and officially weighed in at dock Weigh station. Signature verification required from the Charter Captain.

Any Fish estimated to be over 40 pounds must have a video submitted at weigh in with the fish being brought to gaff and boated.

Radio/Communications

Any radio communications required please contact Marina Pez Vela on Channel 69.  The Event team will be available if assistance is required. Event Director’s Cell Phone # 8315-5051.

Weather

There is no weather committee. The Event is conducted on a fish-at-your-own-risk basis. If any portion of the Event is fished and a team or teams land or release fish that match the Event’s eligible species and minimum weight limits, then prizes will be awarded.

Protests

Participants may lodge protests any catch which they believe was not made in accordance with these rules. All protests must be stated in writing and accompanied by $500. The Challenge rules committee and judges may call a protest hearing at their discretion; a protest hearing is not guaranteed. All protests will be settled on the day of the incident. All protests on must be in the hands of the event’s designated rules official by 6 p.m. on the day of the alleged incident unless there is a protest regarding a boat that comes to the scales late. The protesting party, as well as the accused team members, captain and crew, must be present at any official protest hearing. The Event rules and judging 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. Should the protest be accepted and awarded on behalf of the protesting party the $500 fee will be returned to the protestors.  Should, for any reason, the protest not be ruled in the favor of the protesting party the $500 will be donated to charity. Decisions of the event rules and judging committee regarding protests are final, non-appealable, and non-justiciable. All anglers, teams, and/or participants commit to accept the decisions of the Event Rules and judgment committee, the Charter Boat Challenge, and Corporation Marina Pez Vela, S A, without legal or judicial liability and accept the rules and results of the Rules and Judging Committee.

Sportsmanlike Conduct

All participants are expected to always maintain a reasonable and sportsmanlike demeanor throughout the event. Unsportsmanlike or threatening conduct towards Event organizers or other participants, or any other behavior which the event organizers deem inappropriate, in their sole discretion, will result in immediate disqualification of the entire team with no refund of entry fee.

Publicity Release

Hereinafter, Charter Boat Challenge and Marina Pez Vela, S.A. and their respective licensees, affiliates or assigns are granted the unrestricted, irrevocable and perpetual worldwide right to record, reproduce, copy, edit, publish, exhibit, exploit, and/or license others to use any and all media generated by; the Anglers video and/or picture cameras, videos and pictures taken by the event administration during all of the activities of the Challenge, as well as any other electronic media or graphic material produce during the event by the Challenge administration, including fishing stories of things that happened to boats, interviews, publicity and marketing. There is no obligation to the licensed party to use part or any of the material. The rights granted shall not revert to the anglers for the lack of use of the Licensed party. Full Release of Liability is granted in favor of Marina Pez Vela, S.A. and/or its representatives.

Personal Risk Release

I hereby acknowledge that the Event activities are dangerous and hazardous, and may carry the risk for serious injuries, damages to the property and/or could even carry the death of the participants and the complete loss of property. I hereby release, irrevocably, in all the extent and for perpetuity, the Organizers of the Charter Boat Challenge, as well as the Company Marina Pez Vela, S.A. and its representatives, as well as the Rules and Judging Committee, and any other organizer, for any event of injury or death or loss of property, resulting from the developing of all the activities of the Challenge. I hereby acknowledge and I am clear, that I participate, in my own will, because I want to participate, and that I understand all of the risks involved in fishing and in going into the ocean on board of a boat, and thus I understand the risks involved in the activities of the event, are not the responsibility of the organizers of the event, and therefore, I agree to indemnify, release and hold harmless, the rules and judging committee, the Charter Boat Challenge, Marina Pez Vela Quepos, S.A. and its representatives, administrators and organizers, from any damages, costs, expenses or liabilities regarding the event activities on which I participate knowing of all of the risks.