Explore the world of Dorado through species information, fishing adventures, techniques, recipes, and stories from the water.
Fishing doesn’t always go according to plan — but the Fish Bueno Derby Rules keep things fair, simple, and fun.
These rules are used for Fish Bueno Challenges and friendly competitions on the water. Check event pages for specific rules for that event.
The goal is simple:
Go fishing. Catch fish. Stack points.
All fish must be caught using rod and reel.
Allowed platforms include:
Kayak
Boat
Shore/Jetty
Pier
Jet Ski/SeaDoo
Float tube
If your line hit the water, you’re in the game.
Every fish counted in the derby must have visual proof.
Acceptable proof includes:
Photo of the fish
Video footage of the catch
Photo showing the fish with the angler
Photos should clearly show the species and approximate size.
* Bonus points may be awarded for great fishing photos.
Fish are scored primarily by species points, not length.
However:
Longest fish may be used to break ties
Measurement photos are encouraged when possible
Fish do not need to be legal size to count toward derby points.
Because in fishing:
If you caught it — it still counts.
However, fish that meet legal size requirements earn a legal catch bonus.
All anglers must still follow local fishing regulations, including required releases.
The Fish Bueno Derby operates on the angler honor system.
That means:
No misidentifying species
No using old photos
No funny business
Fishing is supposed to be fun. Keep it honest.
Each species earns a set number of points.
Example scoring:
| Species | Points |
|---|---|
| Tuna | 50 |
| Yellowtail | 10 |
| Halibut | 9 |
| White Seabass | 9 |
| Sheephead | 7 |
| Calico Bass | 6 |
| Bonito | 5 |
| Barracuda | 4 |
| Spotted Bay Bass | 3 |
| Rockfish | 2 |
| Mackerel | 2 |
| Croaker | 2 |
| Perch | 2 |
| Everything Else | 2 |
| Jacksmelt | 1 |
| Lizardfish / Rays / Shark | 0 |
Legal Fish Bonus:
Fish that meet legal size requirements receive +2 bonus points. Fish with no limit size receive no bonus
Points accumulate throughout the challenge.
The angler with the highest total points wins.
Only the best fish of each species counts.
If an angler catches a better fish of the same species later in the challenge, it replaces the previous one.
This keeps the derby competitive until the final cast.
Individual Fish Bueno challenges may introduce additional rules such as:
Target Species Bonus
A designated species may earn additional bonus points for the challenge.
Time Limit
Challenges may run for a specific time period such as:
2 hours
24 hours
one fishing trip
Any special rules will be announced at the start of the challenge.
Fishing rarely goes exactly as planned.
The fish might be small.
The target species might not show up.
The best part of the day might be tacos after the trip.
But if you got out there and caught something…
It still counts.
And if it’s legal…
even better.
