Reciprocity Cup: Tournament Rule

• Participating Events
• Club Náutico de San Juan (CNSJ) – International Billfish Tournament (IBT)
• Club Náutico de Santo Domingo (CNSD) – Torneo Aguja Azul
• North Drop Open – British Virgin Islands (BVI)

Official Competition Rules

1. Eligible Species
   • The only species eligible for the Reciprocity Perpetual Cup is the Atlantic Blue Marlin.
2. Scoring
   • The Reciprocity Perpetual Cup shall recognize only Atlantic Blue Marlin catches or releases that are officially validated under the rules of each participating tournament.
   • Each officially validated Atlantic Blue Marlin release shall be awarded one (1) point toward the Team’s Reciprocity Perpetual Cup Season total.
   • This simplified scoring system provides a consistent method of determining the annual Champion while fully respecting the official rules and scoring procedures of each participating tournament.
3. Team Definition
   • For purposes of the Reciprocity Perpetual Cup, a Team shall consist of the anglers competing together under a common Team name or boat name as officially entered in each participating tournament.
   • The Reciprocity Perpetual Cup Championship shall be awarded to the Team, not to an individual angler, vessel, or participating organization.
   • A Team may compete aboard a different vessel in another qualifying tournament, provided it complies with Rule 5 (Team Composition).
4. Participation Requirement
   • To qualify for the Reciprocity Perpetual Cup, a Team must participate in at least two (2) of the three (3) participating tournaments during the same calendar year (the Cup Season).
   • Should additional tournaments be admitted in future years, this participation requirement may be modified only by unanimous approval of the participating organizations.
5. Team Composition
   • Team members may change from one tournament to another; however, a minimum of two (2) members from the previous qualifying tournament roster must remain together on the qualifying Team.
   • Teams may charter different vessels for each participating event, provided this continuity requirement is maintained.
6. Annual Contribution & Prize Fund
   • Each participating organization shall contribute an annual fee of $5,000.
   • The combined contributions shall constitute the annual Reciprocity Perpetual Cup Prize Fund.
   • Any increase in the annual contribution shall require unanimous approval of the participating organizations.
7. Perpetual Trophy Custody
   • The Reciprocity Perpetual Cup trophy shall remain on permanent display at Club Náutico de San Juan unless otherwise agreed unanimously by the participating organizations.
8. Winner’s Replica Trophy
   • Subject to availability and sponsorship, the Champion Team shall receive a replica of the Reciprocity Perpetual Cup trophy crafted by David Wirth.
9. Tie-Breaking Procedure
   • Should two or more Teams finish the Cup Season with an equal number of points, the Championship shall be awarded to the Team recording the earliest officially validated Atlantic Blue Marlin release during the Cup Season, based upon the official tournament time.
10. Disqualifications
    • Any catch, release, or point disallowed by the official tournament committee of a participating event shall not be eligible for the Reciprocity Perpetual Cup.
    • The official results of each participating tournament shall be considered final for determining the Reciprocity Perpetual Cup Champion.
11. Amendments
    • These Official Competition Rules may be amended only by unanimous approval of the participating organizations.
    • Any tournament or organization admitted to the Reciprocity Perpetual Cup in the future shall accept these Official Competition Rules as a condition of participation unless otherwise agreed unanimously by all participating organizations.

Adoption of the Official Competition Rules

• These Official Competition Rules & Founding Charter are hereby adopted by the participating organizations to establish a consistent framework for determining the annual Reciprocity Perpetual Cup Champion while preserving the traditions and integrity of each participating tournament.
• Executed and adopted by the undersigned representatives in recognition of their commitment to preserving and promoting the Reciprocity Perpetual Cup for future generations of the Caribbean sportfishing community.
• Adopted this ______ day of ____________________, 2026.

Founding Signatories