Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - Sportfishing fans are preparing their rods and reels to 'catch' one of the great prizes offered by the 13th International Marlin & Tuna Fishing Tournament, set to take place from July 18 through July 20 in the waters of Vallarta-Nayarit, and hosted by the Paradise Village Marina in Nuevo Vallarta.

Seasoned anglers consider this stretch of the Mexican Pacific one of the best destinations in the world for sport fishing, where wahoo, sailfish, dolphin-fish, tuna, three different species of marlin, sierra and snapper can be found throughout the year.

The Club de Pesca de Bahía de Banderas (Banderas Bay Fishing Club) recently disclosed the details of the 13th International Marlin & Tuna Fishing Tournament, which will offer prizes for the largest marlin and tuna, as well as for the largest number of fish caught in a "catch and release" mode, and a "fish in one" for the heaviest marlin, tuna and sailfish on record for the tournament. There is also an award for best crew.

Tournament enrollment and registration will take place on July 18 from 5 pm to 9 pm at the Paradise Village Yacht Club in Nuevo Vallarta. The cost of enrollment is $16,000 pesos per boat with up to four fishermen.

The fishing competition will begin on Friday, July 19, at 7:00 am with a flag ceremony, followed by an inauguration ceremony that will officially kick-start the tournament. At at 7:15, all the teams will board their vessels and depart from the Paradise Village Marina. The second day of fishing will start at 12:01 am on Saturday, July 20.

In keeping with their standards of excellence, the Bahía de Banderas Fishing Club requires all fishermen to comply with their minimum weight standards for catches and encourages them to practice eco-friendly fishing. They strive to protect the species so are only qualifying marlin weighing over 100 kg, sailfish over 25 kg, tuna over 30 kg and mahi-mahi over 10 kg.

Each day's catches will be received at the Paradise Village Marina pier from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Winners will be defined by the weight of the catch in each category. In case of a tie, judging will be based on the fish's size first, its length, and then its lineation. If the tie persists, the fish that was registered first will win. The Awards Ceremony will be held at the Paradise Village Marina Amphitheater on July 20th at 6:30 pm.

For more information about tournament registration, rules & prizes, visit fishingnayarit.com.