Unofficial Rules 2025
The Dorado Derby is a Fishing Tournament scheduled to take place at Marina Pez Vela in Quepos Costa Rica on November 15, 2025. The Dorado Derby 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 tournament.
The Tournament
The Dorado Derby is a one-day team event with top-team honors going to the team that weighs the single heaviest Dorado during the tournament. Prizes pay down to Third place. The tournament will award cash, and prizes to the 3 teams that weigh the 3 single heaviest Dorados.
Junior Angler Boy (16 years-old or under) Award*: Top Boy Angler weighing the single heaviest Dorado will receive an award.
Junior Angler Girl (16 years-old or under) Award*: Top Girl Angler weighing the single heaviest Dorado will receive an award.
Lady Angler Award*: Top Lady Angler weighing the single heaviest Dorado will receive an award.
*Junior (Boy/Girl) and Lady Anglers must identify and declare themselves at registration to qualify and agree to use the designated color bands on their fish.
| Team Entry Fee (Mandatory) | $500.00 |
JACKPOT Categories (All Optional)
| Closes to 20 lb. | $100.00 |
| Closest to 25 lbs. | $100.00 |
| Closest to 30 lbs. | $100.00 |
| Heaviest 2 Dorado Jackpot (Total Weight) | $100.00 |
| Heaviest Dorado Jackpot | $300.00 |
| Charity* Jackpot 50/50 Closest to 22.22 lb. | $300.00 |
| Heaviest Dorado Jackpot $500 Level | $500.00 |
| Heaviest Dorado Jackpot $1000 Level | $1,000.00 |
| Total (All In) | $3,000.00 |
GAMEFISH TIE BREAKERS/ROLLOVERS: In the unlikely event that no qualifying gamefish are scored the monies collected for those jackpot categories will be paid back to each respective entrant of the categories, minus the 10% tournament administrative jackpot fees.
*The Charity Jackpot category specifically will split winnings 50% with the team and 50% with the tournament’s designated charity(charities) for that year.
A MAXIMUM OF FOUR FISH CAN BE WEIGHED PER TEAM AND MUST INCLUDE JUNIOR (Boy/Girl), AND FEMALE ANGLER BANDED FISH TO QUALIFY FOR THOSE CATEGORIES. NO ADDITIONAL FISH CAN BE WEIGHED, REGARDLESS OF CATEGORY OR JACKPOTS.
FOUR TOURNAMENT FISH ARE PERMITTED PER TEAM, SO MAKE YOUR CHOICES ACCORDINGLY. NO FISH UNDER 20 LBS. QUALIFY FOR ANY JACKPOTS OR AWARDS
Entry Fee
The Team registration fee is $500.00 with the Team consisting of 1 to 5 anglers. This basic registration fee covers the participation of the 5 registered anglers. The angler fee does not cover the daily boat charter expense. Charter boats are available for hire through the tournament office.
Final registration will take place from 2:00 to 6:00 p. m. Friday, November 14th, 2025, at MARINA PEZ VELA. A Captains/Anglers meeting will be held at 7:00 pm. We advise anglers and boat captains to attend. WhatsApp your questions to 2774-9006 and they will be discussed during the meeting. Anglers that are pre-registered and anglers needing to register must send at least one representative to obtain tournament credentials. Anglers, captains, and mates are obligated to accept and be bound by all the rules and instruction changes announced during this meeting.
Tournament Entry Additional Prize Payouts
Lucky 21
(Dorado weighing 21.00 lbs. or closest to)
$2,100.00
First 25.00 lbs. to be weighed
$1,000.00
Twin Dorados
(2 dorados weighed with identical weight or closest to)
$1,000.00
OFFSHORE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING EVENT
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 tournament committee prior to leaving Marina 0n the day of fishing. There is a limit of five registered anglers per boat in this tournament; however, if an angler drops out, a substitute angler can be signed on with the team if he/she registers before leaving the Marina on that day’s fishing. Registered guests are allowed on the boats as non-participants but are not allowed to partake in the fishing in any way. 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
November 14th, 2025
- 2:00 – 6:00 p.m. Final registration. If assistance is required contact WhatsApp 2774-9006
- 7:00 pm – Captain’s meeting (Questions: WhatsApp 2774-9006)
November 15th, 2025 (All Boat Entries must depart from Marina Pez Vela)
- 5:30 a.m. (Fishing Day): registration desk open for check out
- 6:45 a.m. Boats line up for 7:00 am Shot Gun Start. (Please check out before leaving)
- 7:00 a.m. SHOT GUN START
- 7:00 a.m. lines in
- 3:30 p.m. lines out
- Weigh station open from 3:00 – 6:00 pm
- ALL TEAMSmust be checked in by 6:00 pm.
- 7:30 p.m. Award
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 and Captains meeting. All participants agree to the terms of these rules by participating in the tournament.
IGFA fishing rules and tackle apply in this tournament unless otherwise stated. It is the responsibility of each registered angler and crew member to know, understand and abide by IGFA and tournament rules during this competition. Any angler, captain or mate who breaks any IGFA or tournament rule will be deemed ineligible for any prize, award, honor, or recognition and may be disqualified from this and future tournaments without a refund of any jackpot or registration fees.
- HOOK N HAND Any team member may hook a fish and pass to another angler. One pass rule applies! The Captain & Mates may hook a fish but must pass the rod to a registered angler for boating! Captains and Mates cannot fight a hooked fish.
- Junior, and Female Anglers must fight the fish and bring to capture.
- 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 Tournament Rules Committee. The rules committee is appointed to apply rules, assign, or take away points, and indicate the winners of the tournament without recourse. All anglers commit to accept and abide by the results indicated to the administration of the Dorado Derby by the Tournament Rules Committee. The tournament 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 Tournament experience! We can download from most video and still cameras!
Any fish estimated to be over 40 pounds must have a video recording of fish on leader, gaffing, and being 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 tournament.
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 tournament.
Hooks
All tournament 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 tournament committee holds the right to examine any hook sets, line and/or leaders at any time during the event. Refusal to allow the tournament 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. “lines in” and end at 3:30 p.m. “lines out” on November 15th, 2025. The tournament director’s time will act as the official time for the start and end of fishing time. Boats must be checked out with Tournament Committee prior to leaving Marina Pez Vela for Shot Gun Start. After 7:00 am, any radio communications required, please contact Marina Pez Vela on channel 69. Tournament team will be available if assistance is required. Fishing boundary (fence) is 50 nautical miles from Marina Pez Vela
Weigh-In
Teams must choose the 4 fish to be weighed and brought to the weigh station. A MAXIMUM OF FOUR FISH CAN BE WEIGHED PER TEAM AND MUST INCLUDE JUNIOR (Boy/Girl), AND LADY ANGLER BANDED FISH TO QUALIFY FOR THOSE CATEGORIES. NO ADDITIONAL FISH CAN BE WEIGHED, REGARDLESS OF CATEGORY OR JACKPOTS. FOUR TOURNAMENT FISH ARE PERMITTED PER TEAM, SO MAKE YOUR CHOICES ACCORDINGLY.
The weigh station will be in Marina Pez Vela, open from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 pm November 15th.
Minimum qualifying fish weight is 20 pounds and officially weighed in at dock Weighing to 0.01 hundredth decimal point using a Scale Master Certified Digital Scale.
- For the Closest to 20 lbs. Optional jackpot **(OVER ONLY), 25 lbs. and 30 lbs. optional jackpots, the fish may weigh over or under.
- In the event of any tie, the team that weighs earliest wins.
- All winners may be asked to take and pass a polygraph examination
- Any fish estimated to be over 40 pounds must have a video recording of fish leader, gaff, and being boated
Radio/Communications
Any radio communications required please contact Marina Pez Vela on Channel 69. Tournament team will be available if assistance is required. There is no radio communication required for hook-ups and releases in this tournament. Tournament Director’s Cell Phone # 8315-5051.
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 or teams land or release fish that match the tournament’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 tournament rules and committee 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 November 15th must be in the hands of the tournament’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 tournament 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 tournament 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 Tournament Rules and judgment committee, the Dorado Derby Tournament, 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 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 fee.
Publicity Release
Hereinafter, Dorado Derby 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 tournament administration during all of the activities of the tournament, as well as any other electronic media or graphic material produce during the tournament by the tournament 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 Tournament 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 Dorado Derby, 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 of the activities of the Tournament. 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 tournament, are not the responsibility of the organizers of the tournament, and therefore, I agree to indemnify, release and hold harmless, the rules and judging committee, the Dorado Derby, Marina Pez Vela Quepos, S.A. and its representatives, administrators and organizers, from any damages, costs, expenses or liabilities regarding the tournament activities on which I participate knowing of all of the risks.
