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Mongo Offshore East Coast

Mongo Offshore East Coast

May 1 - September 30, 2022

Platinum SPONSOR

Tournament Rules

  1. Rules Acceptance - Rules, including published rules in print or on the website www.MongoOffshore.com, are subject to change. It is the sole responsibility of the participating anglers, captains, crews and guests (“Participants”) to know and abide by the Tournament Rules as published. By entering the Mongo Offshore Challenge and paying entry fees, Participants agree to abide by the Tournament Rules and accept decisions made by the Rules Committee as final.                                                 

  2. Nature of Tournament -The Mongo Offshore Challenge is a fishing team competition. Participants enter at their own risk, and understand the possibility exists that there may be no winners if no qualifying fish are caught. Therefore, in the event no qualifying fish are caught in a given Tournament category, the Tournament entry pot will be rolled over to the following year. Teams are required to enter the rolled over category in order to compete for that pot for that year. 
    “Optional” bonus category pots will be refunded less 15% if no qualifying fish are caught in the “optional” bonus category.

  3. In Good faith - In any unforeseen events, like Acts of God, major regulatory changes, Gulf closures etc. that could affect the schedule or categories of the tournament. The tournament committee will act in good faith and take all efforts to make fair and equal decisions that could affect the tournament our participants and sponsors.                                 

  4. Anglers and Team boats - There is no limit to the number of anglers on a team. Team members can change, however, if the owner of the (team boat) decides to use a different boat than registered during the season, then the Mongo Tournament committee needs to be notified in writing and approved in order to roll the MOC entry fees onto the (new team boat). One entry per team boat. The owner cannot use 2 team boats at once for 1 tourney entry. The owner can use 2 team boats for 2 tourney entries, etc.                                                                               

  5. Cancellations

    • All entry fees must be paid in full and funds cleared prior to April 29, 2021 to be entered in the Tournament. 

    • Cancellations -100% refunds will be made prior to April 29, 2021, No Refunds for Cancelations after May 1

  6. Winners and Prizes - Official Winners will be announced on November 1, 2021, All Cash Prizes will be paid to winners by their choice either by check, or wire transfer only.

    • Prize money is equal to entry fees minus 15%.              

  7. Permits, Licenses & Judging - Judging in the Mongo Offshore Challenge is based solely on             tournament rules. Teams are encouraged to comply with all Federal and State laws regarding fishing licenses, size limits, bag limits and any other regulations that may apply. For information regarding State laws and regulations refer to your state’s regulation departments. For information regarding Federal, HMS Permits call 877.376.4877 or refer to hmspermits.noaa.gov.

  8. Weather – Participants fish at their own risk, teams are urged to make sound decisions utilizing marine forecasts to assist and taking in the seaworthiness of their own vessel solely deciding on their own when it is safe for their team to fish.

  9. Fishing Days, Times, and Boundaries – Fishing starts 12:01 am (Central time) April 29, 2021 Fishing ends September 30, 2021 must be at a MONGO weigh dock by 5:00 pm (central) Fishing Boundaries Gulf of Mexico, all areas North of LATITUDE LINE 25n.

  10. Equipment & Angling Rules - The MONGO Offshore Challenge tournament organizers expect the highest level of integrity and sportsmanship from their Participants and for them to compete in the “spirit” of the IGFA Saltwater Equipment and Angling rules. Any member of the team may set the hook and fight the fish or may set the hook and pass the rod to another team member in the first 2 minutes of setting the hook, but the rod may only be passed one time; the angler must then fight the fish unassisted.        

  11. SWORD FISH - Electric assist reels with a handle can be used only if unplugged from power source while fighting the fish. Max 75' leader may be used for swordfish only.

  12. BLUE MARLIN END GAME - Blue Marlin end game needs to be captured on video. In one continuous video, film the angler, the mate and the boating of the fish, GPS time and date and position. The Videos should be emailed to or uploaded to a given drop box account within 48 hours after weigh-in. Teams are encouraged to use their best conservation efforts to ensure not killing short or underweight tournament legal fish.

    • “Let the small ones go so they can GROW”

  13. Eligible Species, Disqualification & Points - Blue marlin minimum length 118 inches, from tip of lower jaw to fork of the tail.  Fish caught not according to tournament rules are disqualified. Fish cannot be transferred onto another boat. Fish under minimum weight and/or length do not qualify. Mutilated fish, mutilation defined as anything that impairs the fighting ability of the fish, are not eligible to weigh. Fish’s internals may be inspected to ensure no hidden foreign objects were added for weight. Fish minimums are as follows;                

    • MONGO Minimums:

      • BLUE MARLIN - 118 inch (tip of the lower jaw-fork of tail)

      • SWORDFISH - 200 lbs minimum

      • TUNA (No Bluefin) -150 lbs minimum

      • MAHI  MAHI - 40 lbs minimum

      • WAHOO - 60 lbs minimum                                                                                                                          

  14. Check out and Weigh process:

    • Check out for a Mongo fishing trip by using the MONGO Mobile App, follow instructions under your team account to check out prior to your trips and weigh a fish.  Also you are allowed to text or email a picture or video of your crew, and of your GPS position, with time and date shown.

    • **Official certified and published weights from all Gulf Coast MONGO approved tourneys will be accepted.

      • Official Weights used from a tournament -  info needed:

        • Tournament name

        • Species

        • Weight

        • Length if blue marlin 

        • Date, time

        • Angler name, and Team name

        • And photo of fish , and fish and team if possible.

    • Use your MONGO Mobile APP to score your fish  or also Email the information to the MONGO email-  or text info - 850-384-9452 within 48 hours of weigh-in

      • To weigh a Mongo at a Mongo approved weigh dock-

        • Please Try to Call, text, or email to notify a MONGO Offshore Challenge tournament committee crew member when in route to your local MONGO weigh dock, arrive between 3-5pm (central) daily (unless otherwise granted special approval by Committee and weigh dock). Send photos in route if possible. USE your MONGO MOBILE APP to upload weight score and photos. Record 2 witnesses names and phone numbers that were not on your vessel.

          1. With 2 witnesses, take a length and a girth measurement of your fish photo and enter info on the MONGO weigh card.

          2. Weigh your fish on a certified weigh scale. ( Teams should be prepared to weigh their MONGO on their own with the provided marinas certified scale unassisted, as marina employees may be assisting other patrons )

          3. Take a picture of your MONGO with official weight.

          4. Have the 2 witnesses that were not on the trip sign the Mongo weigh card with their contact info. (name, email, and phone number)

          5. IF YOU CANT USE THE MOBILE APP, for some reason, you may Email or TEXT your weigh pictures including a photo of the signed MONGO weigh card info to:  mongobluemarlin@gmail.com – 
            850-776-8384 within 24 hours of your trip.

          6. Leave the original Mongo weigh cards with the Marina weigh station manager.

        • Your weight info and pictures will be reviewed by the MONGO weigh masters and updated to the MONGO leader board daily.

        • Teams may keep their fish, but MONGO Offshore Challenge reserves the right to inspect all weighed fish, MONGO Offshore Challenge will assist in the removal of any Marlin weighed in and also accept donations of unwanted unspoiled fish which will be donated to charity.

        • ***Please make every effort to respect the Marina weigh stations property, rules, policies, employees and patrons while visiting and weighing in your MONGO. The tournament is dependent on the Marinas participation and allowing us use of their weigh docks.

  15. Weighed fish tie-breakers – In the event, there is a tied official weight in a category, the team who has weighed their fish first wins. 1st FISH OPTIONAL CATIGORY - 1st team with a fish to the dock that weighs over the minimum size limit wins the 1st fish optional pot. Teams must complete the check in process through the MONGO APP when arriving at a MONGO weigh dock.

  16. Polygraph Examination - All winning teams are subject to submit to and pass a Polygraph examination. Failure to comply or failure of the test results in disqualification of the entire team. Disqualified teams forfeit any and all entry money, prizes or prize money and, at the discretion of the Rules Committee, are refused entry to future MONGO Offshore Challenge events. In the event the winning team fails a Polygraph examination the second-place team will be considered the new winners and will have to submit to the same Polygraph rules.

  17. Release of All Claims -

    • This section must be carefully read by each Participant.

      • In consideration for being accepted for participation in the MONGO Offshore Challenge (the “Tournament”), the Participants hereby release, forever discharge, and agree to hold harmless the Tournament, The MONGO Offshore Challenge ; MONGO Offshore LLC ; any MONGO approved weigh docks ; or any approved MONGO participating Gulf coast tournaments;  and their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, volunteers, partners, members, and/or attorneys    (collectively the “Releasees”) for any and all losses, claims, or demands of any kind or character whatsoever arising from the negligence or gross negligence of the Releasees or from any other cause connected with or occurring during the Tournament. The Participants expressly acknowledge that he/she has received, reviewed, and agrees to abide by the Tournament Rules and this Release. Furthermore, the Participants expressly acknowledge that activities relating to deep-sea fishing are extremely dangerous and involve the risk of serious injury or death. Having so acknowledged, the Participants hereby assume full responsibility for the risk of bodily injury or death due to the negligence or gross negligence of the Releasees or any other cause connected with or occurring during the Tournament.

  18. Disputes - All disputes, protests, claims, differences or controversies relating to any aspect of the Tournament, including, without limitation, Tournament Rules, must be submitted to the  MONGO Offshore Challenge Rules Committee no later than 24 hours following the close of scales on the last day of the disputes tourney month ( 5pm central) or are deemed waived. All such disputes must be presented in writing along with a non-refundable fee of $1000. All such disputes shall be decided by the Rules Committee and shall be final and binding upon all parties.

  19. Photo & Video Release - The Participants specifically agree and consent to the use of any photograph, video or audio recordings, or MONGO Offshore Challenge related Blogs, or interviews in which they appear or are heard, by the Tournament, MONGO Offshore Challenge;    MONGO Offshore LLC; for any purpose whatsoever including, but not limited to, resale, advertising, and promotional material without compensation or restriction of any kind.

  20. Binding Arbitration - In the event the MONGO Offshore Challenge Rules Committee cannot render or refuses to render a final and binding decision with respect to any dispute, protest, claim, difference, or controversy under review, the matter shall be resolved by binding arbitration under the commercial arbitration rules of the American Arbitration Association. The decision rendered in arbitration shall be in writing and shall be final and binding upon all parties. The parties shall have no further recourse, except as provided for by the commercial rules of the American Arbitration Association. Once the decision is rendered, it produces the effect of “res judicata” and the parties shall fully comply with the decision without delay. The participants specifically waive any right to a trial by judge or jury.