The 27th Pirate's Cove Billfish Tournament (Part 1)
The 27th Pirate’s Cove Billfish is one of the world’s premier sports fishing tournaments. Lasting for four days, from August 9 -13, 2010, the tournament is a great way to enjoy quality time with family and friends, have a good friendly fishing
competition, and get a chance to earn some money.
Packed with beach parties, family, and fishing, the tournament is one of the main attractions in North Carolina. Sponsored by Bacardi, the tournament attracts fishing enthusiasts of all ages, from experienced fisherman to amateurs, but with the water packed
with different types of fish, there are very good chances that every single participant, even first-timers, will be able to catch a prize fish. This tournament aims for the conservation of the environment, so there is a strict catch and release policy for
all participating fisherman.
This tournament has six categories, each with their own specific entry fee and possible prizes. Category I is mandatory. With an entry fee of $4,850, and a maximum of 100 entries, there are three possible prizes. The first award is the Team Award for Total
Billfish Points by Boat, with a 1st place prize of $111,750, 2nd prize of $67,050, and 3rd prize of $44,700.
The second award is the Game Fish Award, with prizes going to those who capture the three largest fish per species by weight. The three species are Yellow Fin, Wahoo, and Dolphin, with a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prize of $6,974,
$4,125, and $2,750, respectively. Getting the first catch and release of each day will earn a participant $6,000 per day, and those who earn the most points per day will earn $18,750.
Category II has an entry fee of $1,650, for those who think that they can catch the heaviest Blue Marlin out of a maximum of 90 boat entries. The boat that is able to catch and release the biggest blue marlin by weight will win a $60,885 1st place
award, while the 2nd spot will earn the participant $36,531 while the 3rd will leave you with $24,354. Category III is the same as Category II, including an entry fee, although it is out of 72 entries. 1st place earns $48,708,
2nd has a prize worth $29,225 and the 3rd has $19,483 up for grabs.
Category IV has an entry fee of $2,750 for those who want a shot at the $66,523 1st prize, $39,914 2nd prize, and the $26,609 3rd prize. Those three boats that earn the highest billfish points win the prizes, out of 59 boats,
are known as the Team Jackpot 1 Prize.
The Team Jackpot 2 Prize of Category V also has a $2,750 entry fee, but the prize goes only to the boat that has the most billfish points out of 50 boats, with a winner-take-all prize of $137,500.
Category VI is the small boat award, with a small prize going to the three smallest boats, out of five, that are less than 38 feet. 1st prize is $1,594, 2nd is $956, and 3rd is $638, with an entry fee of $750.
The point system is also fairly easy to understand. Fisherman must release all fish below 400 pounds. Each fish which is caught and released in this way will earn the team 70 points, but only if it is a Blue Marlin, White Marlin, Sailfish, or Spearfish.
A captured Blue Marlin weighing over 400 pounds will be weighed once the day is over and will have added points based on weight. For Blue Marlins between 400 and 599.9 pounds, teams will receive an extra ½ point per pound. Those weighing in at between 600
to 999.9 pounds will receive and extra point per pound, while those weighing over 1000 pounds will receive an extra 1½ points per pound.
Now that the award and point system is understood, for those who do not know about the Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tournament, the next article will feature the four wonderful days of fishing, and a rather surprising outcome in first, second and third place of
the Grand Prize of the tournament.
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