Main Prize Award Criteria: The team that catches the heaviest dorado or tuna will win 85% of the total registration fees collected (minus applicable taxes). 

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1.- All participants aboard the vessel must be exclusively women. Only the captain and crew members necessary to safely operate the vessel according to its size may be men. No other men will be allowed onboard as anglers or observers. 

2.- A maximum of 4 anglers plus 2 crew members is recommended for cruiser-type vessels, and 3 anglers plus 1 crew member for super pangas. Female guests may come aboard as spectators as long as they do not participate in fishing and the vessel’s maximum capacity is respected. 

3.- It is the sole responsibility of the anglers to know and follow all tournament rules. By registering for the Ladies Shootout 2026, participants acknowledge they have read, understood, and accepted all rules. Registration deadline is Friday, July 24, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Hotel Palmas de Cortez. 

4.- The registration fee is $400 USD per team, or the equivalent amount in Mexican pesos based on the exchange rate on the day of registration. 

5.- There will be no restrictions regarding when or how much bait may be purchased before the shotgun start at 7:00 a.m. 

6.- All teams must display their team number to the tournament official before leaving the starting area. The official will be located on a boat in front of the Hotel Palmas de Cortez dock. Teams failing to display their number will be disqualified. Any vessel that does not start in front of the hotel at 7:00 a.m. will be disqualified. 

7.- The shotgun start will take place on Saturday, July 25, 2026, in front of Hotel Palmas de Cortez at 7:00 a.m. Weigh-in will be held at the hotel´s dock. The scale will open at 12:00 p.m. and close at 3:00 p.m. All vessels planning to weigh fish must be lined up before exactly 3:00 p.m. within the anchored boat area in front of the hotel. Vessels arriving after the deadline must unload at the Hotel Palmas de Cortez dock, not on the beach. 

8.- Any vessel operating in an unsafe manner will be disqualified from the tournament. 

9.- Minimum qualifying weight is 25 pounds for tuna and 20 pounds for dorado. There is no catch limit. 

10.- There are no restrictions on tackle or equipment as long as the fish is caught by hook and line using rod and reel. More than one team member may fight the fish. 

Team members and crew may assist by touching the main line at any time. Spectators are strictly prohibited from participating in fishing activities. 

11.- It is the team’s responsibility to decide which fish will be brought to the scale before arriving at the hotel. Only one fish per species per team may be weighed. 

12.- Between 7:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 25, no registered vessel may receive or transfer items to another vessel, whether registered in the tournament or not. The Tournament Director may authorize exceptions only in cases involving health or safety risks. In such cases, the vessel will be suspended and must contact tournament control on Channel 23. If a team needs to transfer its catch to another vessel, prior authorization must be requested before 3:00 p.m. 

13.- The official tournament channel is 12 USA. 

14.- No mutilated fish will be weighed. 

15.- In the event of a tie, the first fish weighed will be declared the winner. 

16.- Van Wormer Resorts reserves the right to deny entry to any individual or team. 

17.- All catches must be documented by video, using either a video camera or a mobile phone. The recording must be made during the fishing action and clearly show the catch, the fish being brought alongside the boat, the fish being brought aboard, and the team number assigned at registration. 

Submission of this video evidence is mandatory. All videos must be submitted via WhatsApp to +52 612 117 9691, and the WhatsApp message must clearly indicate the team number. Failure to provide video evidence, or submission of a video that is incomplete or of insufficient quality to verify compliance with this rule, shall constitute grounds for disqualification. The sufficiency, authenticity, and evaluation of all video evidence shall be determined solely by the Tournament Committee, whose decision shall be final. 

18.- Any verbal protest must be reported to the Tournament Director immediately upon arrival at the weigh-in area. A written protest must then be submitted within 30 minutes of the verbal protest. Any supporting evidence must be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 25, 2026. 

19.- Any verbal abuse or threats directed toward tournament staff will result in team disqualification. 

20.- The Tournament Director reserves the right to modify departure or arrival times due to weather conditions. 

21.- Teams that present a fish at the scale may not continue fishing afterward. 

22.- Wristbands will be issued to each team member during registration and must be worn at all times throughout the tournament. 

23.- In the event the tournament is canceled due to port closure, all registrations and jackpots will be refunded 100%. 

24.- All participants must possess a valid fishing license. Each angler’s license number will be requested during registration. Failure to provide a valid license will result in disqualification. All boats must provide their registration number upon entry. 

25.- Cash prizes or wire transfers require a minimum processing time of 72 hours after the conclusion of the event due to verification processes, result validation, and official administrative procedures. Winning teams will be notified as soon as prizes are available for delivery. 

26.- The awards dinner will take place at the Patio/Stage area of Hotel Palmas de Cortez on Saturday, July 25, at 7:00 p.m. Participants must wear their wristbands to attend the dinner and participate in raffles. Additional dinner tickets will be available for $20 USD, and raffle tickets for the general public will be sold for $5 USD each. 

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Additional Jackpot Information: Optional cash jackpots for dorado and tuna will be available at $200, $300, and $500 USD per species. If no dorado or tuna are weighed, jackpot entries will be refunded. 

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Each jackpot level will award the heaviest fish per species minus a 20% operational fee (one winner for dorado and one for tuna), provided the team is entered in that jackpot level. This means there may be up to three winners per jackpot tier, one per species. 

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REGISTRATION AND ENTRY INTO THE TOURNAMENT CONSTITUTE FULL AND UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE OF THESE TOURNAMENT RULES. LACK OF KNOWLEDGE, FAILURE TO READ, OR MISINTERPRETATION OF ANY PROVISION OF THESE RULES SHALL NOT EXCUSE ANY PARTICIPANT FROM COMPLIANCE.