While each tournament has its own nuances, the following are the general rules for the Series:

TOURNAMENT ENTRY FEES:

Each team participating in the SPS shall be responsible for timely payment of entry fees for individual tournaments within the series. Tournament entry fees are not included in the SPS Enrollment Fee. Additional socials may be purchased at each individual event throughout the series through those events. Each team shall be furnished a contact for all tournaments participating in the 2011-2012 SPS upon confirmation of the schedule.

ENROLLMENT REFUSAL:

The SPS committee reserves the right to refuse series applications or enrollment of any prospective entrant, with or without cause at its sole discretion.

RULES

ROSTER:

Teams shall be permitted a roster of nine (9) pre-registered professional anglers (including videographer) which shall be used at their discretion throughout the series. The deadline for original roster submission shall be September 1, 2011, at which time all registered teams shall, at a minimum, list Team Name, Team Owner, a designated Team Captain along with full details of Team Vessel including photos of all of the above. Complete team rosters must be registered prior to the Captain's Meeting at each tournament. Any and all exceptions to the original nine (9) person registered roster (other than Trades and Open Alternates) shall be brought before the Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) prior to each tournament's Captain's Meeting for approval. No additional professionals shall be allowed on SPS boats (a "PROFESSIONAL" is defined as anyone who makes or has made a living fishing and or anyone who has won any tournament money in the past five (5) years) for any reason whatsoever unless approved by the DRC prior to any tournament, but in no event later than the Captain's Meeting. Teams may carry any number of "non-professional guests" aboard at their own risk. In the event a "non-professional guest" is discovered to fit the description of a "professional" as described above, violating Team may be subject to disqualification for that portion of the tournament that the person in question participated. For a full description of the Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) see "PROTESTS."

TRADES/ SUBSTITUTIONS:

Teams shall be permitted to make up to two (2) open substitutions (TRADES) during the regular season. In order to make such a substitution, Teams must drop a team member from their roster for each person added, thereby maintaining a total of nine (9) professionals on their roster. All Trades must be submitted and approved by the Commissioner of the SPS prior to any further competition. No trade shall be unreasonably denied. Team members who have been dropped from one Team may be picked up by another only once throughout the season. Therefore, a Team Member may compete on a maximum of two (2) different Teams throughout the course of the entire season. SPS shall provide an Open Alternate/Trade Authorization form to all teams. No substitutions (TRADES) shall be made following the conclusion of the regular season.

TOURNAMENTS:

The season shall consist of three (3) individual tournaments and a post season playoff. The three (3) remaining scores for each Team shall be combined at the end of the regular season to determine each Teams CUMULATIVE SCORE. In the event a Team cannot participate in a tournament, they shall receive zero points for that leg of the series.

TOURNAMENT BOUNDARIES:

The Sailfish Pro Series shall strive to select quality tournaments with similar rules and reasonable boundaries. Wherever possible, standard boundaries shall be approximately 30 nautical miles in each direction. Variations may include shifting the boundaries to include areas known to hold fish and to work with tournaments who need larger geographic boundaries in order to maintain participation (i.e. The World Sailfish Championship). Boats must remain in the water (i.e., not transported in any manner to another location). Dates and times are final. There are no weather days. The committee boat will monitor a channel to be specified by each individual tournament.

GENERAL RULES:

1. Fishing must be performed in accordance with principles of good sportsmanship, and in compliance with these and IGFA rules as published in the 2007 Edition of the IGFA World Record Game Fish book under "International Angling Rules." SPS rules will be strictly adhered to, and all decisions of the SPS Director will be final. Any angler(s), captain(s), or mate(s) found to be in any violation of any tournament rule may be disqualified from this series.
2. The maximum number of team members allowed is nine (9), including videographer during any one tournament. This is an OPEN EVENT: Professional guides, captains, and mates are eligible to participate as anglers.
3. A boat may be changed throughout the season from tournament to tournament at that teams discretion, but once a boat is entered into the tournament, it must be fished for the entire tournament. A boat may only be changed during a tournament as a result of mechanical breakdown and after approval is received from the SPS Rules Committee.
4. The maximum number of fishing lines in the water shall be six (6) (except at World Sailfish Championship (max lines in water is four (4), with a maximum of two teasers. In the event an individual tournament has a lower number of maximum fishing lines, the individual tournament's rule shall take precedence. Only single hook rigs are permitted. We require the use of non-offset circle hooks when used with live or dead bait or natural bait/artificial lure combinations. Live bait teasers are not allowed.
5. No one except the angler may touch the rod, reel or line after the fish has been engaged. "Engaged" is defined as the time at which drag is engaged (engage the drag lever or close the bail). No one except the angler may touch the rod, reel or line while the fish is being fought. The angler, captain, or crew may only touch the leader during the release of the fish. They must touch the leader and not the double line. It is recommended that the leader be cut as close to the fish as possible, rather than by breaking the leader.
6. Crew members are permitted to cast baits. Once an angler is fighting a fish, the angler must fight it to conclusion (loss or release) before fighting another fish. If there is a multiple hookup, the angler may proceed to the next fish once the first fish has been fought to conclusion. No one else may touch the rod other than the angler who engages the fish.
7. A mutilated fish is not eligible.
8. Double line, if used, must leave the rod tip during the fight, and the fish must be fought on specified class line. The double line shall be limited to fifteen (15) feet and the leader shall be limited to fifteen (15) feet. However, the combined length of the double line and leader shall not exceed twenty (20) feet.
9. Line Test Limits: It is the responsibility of the angler and crew to ensure that the proper test line is used. Manufacturer has stated test line is a maximum of 20 lbs. test. Lower test line may be used, but no bonus is awarded for using lower test line. No braided lines may be used (i.e. Spiderwire, Spectra or FireLine), only monofilament.
10. Live, dead or artificial baits may be used. No entangling devices or material may be used. Live bait chumming is PROHIBITED throughout the course of this tournament. Any bait that is replaced on a fishing line or teaser line because of injury, weakness, fouling, or for any reason whatsoever, shall be retained within the vessel. In addition, any vessel participating in this tournament shall not permit any other vessel to "chum" on their behalf. Ground chum is permitted for the purpose of catching bait only and not to be used while sailfishing.
11. Tournament anglers who use live or dead natural bait are required to use non-offset circle hooks in the tournament. The only condition in which traditional j-hooks may be used is when anglers are using lures.
12. Bait may be obtained by any means before the days fishing hours. During fishing hours, boats may catch their own bait but may not obtain bait from any other boat. Ground chum may be used to obtain bait only.

VALIDATION REQUIREMENTS:

1. Video: Each boat will need to provide their own memory chips in order to record the fish before its release. All memory chips will be returned once it is no longer needed by the committee. All fish caught and released should be videoed at least once during the fight and at the time of release. Failure to video a fish will result in disqualification of that particular fish. In the event your video camera malfunctions or some other unusual circumstance results in no video, the angler may petition the SPS Rules Committee to have his catch allowed. The SPS Rules Committee may request special polygraph test or other corroborating evidence that would help validate the catch. Basically, NO VIDEO=NO FISH, that also applies to ALL memory chips that are NOT finalized. The decision of the SPS Rules Committee is final.
2. Memory Chips, line and angler's register (provided in packet) will be turned in by at specific time and location to be determined by each individual tournament.
3. Polygraph: All winning teams will be subject to and must pass polygraph testing. Refusal to take the test will result in disqualification. Any person aboard the boat also may be subject to and must pass the polygraph test. Refusal to take the test will result in disqualification. Polygraph tests will include but will not be limited to questions on angling and release procedures and species of fish. Polygraph tests are final and winners are not official until test results are obtained.
4. Release: Proper release techniques must be used. Release is official only if the following conditions are met:
   1. All sailfish must be released. Fish must be fought on the specified class line (i.e., double line and the leader must leave the reel) for the majority of the time the fish is hooked up. The fish must be brought close enough to the boat for the mate, angler, or captain to touch the leader, you may not touch the double line only the leader.
   2. A recognizable video image MUST be taken for a qualified release.

COMMUNICATIONS & REPORTING:

1. The Committee Boat will monitor a channel to specified by each individual tournament.
2. All boats must report "releases" to, and be acknowledged by, the Committee Boat at the time of the occurrence. Failure to report your release in a timely manner will result in disqualification. All teams are required to report catches immediately, by radio. Your release may be relayed by another boat if you are out of radio range. If you are out of radio range and you have not received a relay, you need to report your release via cell phone. ALL cell phone reports will be relayed on the radio. It is your responsibility to get your fish number confirmation from the committee boat upon your release. No fish number, NO FISH. The phone number to call will be available at the Captain's meeting.
3. Any fish hooked 10 minutes before lines out must be called in. If any boat is "hooked-up" at the time the Committee Boat calls for "lines out," the boat must reaffirm the "hook-up" with the Committee Boat.
4. Memory Chips, line samples and angler's register must be submitted within one and a half (1 1/2) hours after the Committee Boat calls for "lines out of the water." An exception to this rule will be allowed in the event that a "hook-up" was reaffirmed with the Committee Boat at the time of "lines out of the water." In this case, the video camera, line sample and angler's register may be submitted two (2) hours after "lines out of the water." If the Memory Chips, line samples or Angler's register do not make it to the weigh station or are not acknowledged to be in the control area on time, no points will be awarded for that day. Control area will be determined by each individual tournament. Confirmation must be made by the Committee Boat.

Acts or situations that will disqualify a release: Any violation of these Rules or violation of the guidelines as published in the 2007 edition of the IGFA World Record Game Fish Book under "Angling Regulations" will disqualify a fish. All decisions of the Rules Committee are final.

PROTEST:

A Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) shall be formed prior to the start of the season. It shall consist of an even number of members representative of twenty five percent of team owners, plus one alternate, along with the Commissioner of the SPS. Mike Weinhofer shall serve on committee and shall act as Commissioner. Any and all disputes are to be submitted in writing (email is acceptable) along with $100.00 per dispute on the day of the alleged violation within one (1) hour of time allotted to turn in video release footage. If the alleged violation is found to have occurred, the deposit of $100.00 shall be refunded. If the DRC finds no violation, the deposit shall not be refunded. A DRC member shall not be permitted to vote on any matter in which he is directly involved or in which he may otherwise greatly benefit as a result of a ruling. The Commissioner shall determine which DRC members may have a conflict of interest for the purposes of dispute resolution. The Commissioner shall have tie-breaking authority with respect to disputes but shall not overrule a majority decision of other members of the DRC. The Commissioner shall be charged with enforcement of all rules and regulations contained in this document. Any and all deviation from the enclosed rules shall be subject to approval of the DRC.

TOURNAMENT SCORING*:

*based on 25 boats

Winners will be determined in accordance with the SPS Scoring System:

Regular Season Points

Each tournament on the schedule offers an equal amount of points (e.g. winning the Sailfish Cup scores exactly the same number of points that winning in World Sailfish Championship does.) This is why it is so important for the teams to fish hard at every tournament. There are no "unimportant" tournaments during the season.

After each tournament, points are awarded accordingly to the table at the bottom of this page.

SPS Bonus Points

Bonus points are awarded as follows:

Three (3) bonus points are awarded to the team that releases the first fish each day of fishing in the tournament. An additional three bonus points are awarded to the team that releases the most fish each day of fishing in the tournament. Therefore, any team has the opportunity to score up to twelve (12) total bonus points at any two day tournament.

Example#1

The maximum score a team can earn at a single tournament is 112points. (100 Points for First Place finish plus up to 12 bonus points for releasing first fish and most fish each day in a two day tournament.)

Example#2

If a team wins the tournament but does not earn any bonus points, the team would receive 100 points for the win. The maximum number of points the second place team could earn is 94 points (85 points for the 2nd Place finish plus up to 9 possible bonus points for first fish and most fish.) NOTE: It is not possible to win most fish each day without winning the tournament.

Last season it was possible for the second place team to beat out the first place team by receiving bonus points. There is NO guarantee that the winner of the tournament will have received any of those available bonus points, so to protect first place team from being surpassed by bonus points, we have restructured the points system

This point system rewards consistency more than it rewards winning.

REGULAR SEASON SCORING

If a team does NOT release any fish, they shall receive 10 points less what the last place boat finished.

Example:

Four (4) boats do not release any fish the last place boat to receive points was 10th place who received 47 points. Places 11, 12, 13 and 14 and would receive 37.

*Regular Season scoring format is subject to change based on upon participation. Bonus Points Category Points First Fish -Daily 3 Most Fish -Daily 3

PLAYOFFS/POSTSEASON:

*based on 25 boats

Once underway, the postseason format is based on the number of fish caught and NOT points. The second day of fishing at (World Sailfish Championship) will be the conclusion of the regular season. The 1st seed (team who earned the most points during the regular season) shall receive a bye into the Finale. The 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th place teams based on points shall be guaranteed a berth into the postseason playoffs. Teams placing 7th thru 12th* shall have the opportunity to compete on the third day of fishing at WSC for one (1) Wildcard position into the playoffs. The postseason will be held April 30-May 2, 2010 (location TBD).

Day 1: HEAD to HEAD SHOOTOUT

The 1st seed received a bye into the Finale. The other five (5) teams who earned a playoff spot along with the Wildcard winner, shall compete in a head-to-head, sudden death tournament. The six (6) teams are seeded based on the amount of points they respectively earned in the regular season. The bracket system is as follows: 2nd vs Wildcard 3rd vs 6th 4th vs 5th *2nd, 3rd & 4th seeded teams will receive a ½ fish advantage *The teams that did not win their fish off will be eliminated and not advance to the Finale round

Day 2:

The three (3) winners of the HEAD to HEAD SHOOTOUT and the Season Points Leader (#1 Seed) shall compete in a Final Four Fish Off, a single-day sudden death elimination tournament. The places shall be determined on the number of fish released that day.

*Ties will be decided based on earliest release time of final fish.

CANCELLATION POLICY:

All cancellations shall be made in writing via certified mail return receipt to: Sailfish Pro Series LLC, 635 Court Street, Suite 202, Clearwater, FL 33756 Attention: Christopher King.

For purposes of cancellation beyond CANCELLATION DATE, the following rule shall apply. Any team may cancel enrollment into the Sailfish Pro Series with written notification as described in the paragraph above. A thirty percent (30%) cancellation fee shall apply to all cancellations received after the CANCELLATION DATE but before October 1, 2011. A sixty percent (60%) cancellation fee shall be applied to all cancellations between October 1, 2011 and November 13, 2011. No cancellations shall be accepted once the season has begun (November 14th, 2011.)

PRIZES:

1st Place - Cash plus Trophy
2nd Place - Cash plus Trophy
3rd Place - Cash plus Trophy
4th Place - Cash plus Trophy

5th, 6th, Top Captain, Top Mate will be recognized and receive trophies.

Regular Season Points Leader – Trophy, Automatic Advance to Finale, possible additional Cash Prize based on sponsorship.

Official rules for each tournament will be distributed at each tournaments Captain's Meeting.

Prizes and Playoff format subject to change based on the number of Teams entered into the SPS.

Rules subject to change. Official rules for each tournament will be distributed at the Captain's meeting.

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