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Rules & Regulations – Click HERE to Download Rules as a PDF.

Dates
November 29 – December 3, 2023

South Captain’s Meeting Venue
November 29, 2023 – 5:30PM-8:30PM
Bob Hewes Boats
12565 NW 7th Ave
North Miami, FL 33168

North Captain’s Meeting Venue (*New Location*)
November 30, 2023 – 6:00PM

*HMY Outboard Center
572 Northlake Blvd
North Palm Beach, FL 33408

Fishing
One Fishing Day (Saturday, December 2, 2023)
Fishing Time: 8:00AM – 4:00PM

Awards Brunch
December 3, 2023 – 11:30AM – 1:30PM
The Historic Maxwell Room
10 South New River Drive East
Fort Lauderdale, FL

Entry Fee & Prize Structure (Subject to change prior to captain’s meeting)
($650+ 7% tax Entry)

A percentage of entry fees will be retained by the tournament for event cost. Remaining entry funds will be split as follows after all expenses.

Overall
1st place boat- 40% & Fighting Belt Trophy
2nd Place boat- 30% & Med Fighting Belt Trophy
3rd Place boat- 10% & Mini Fighting Belt Trophy

*Charter boat Division
1st place boat- Big Check*

(*Min of 3 boats required in order to award charter division)

Professional Division
Top Pro – 10%

Semi-Professional Division
Top Semi-Pro – 10% 

(*Less than 3 paid team members to qualify for Semi-Pro)

Junior Angler
Award (16-18 years old)

Pee-Wee Angler (NEW)
Award (8 years old & under) (*assist allowed from one adult)

Lady Angler
Mini Fighting Belt Trophy

Top Angler
Custom Fighting Belt

Top Captain
Custom Fighting Belt

Criteria for Charter Boat
Licensed Charter vessel with paying customers.

(Minimum of 3 charter teams registered are required in order to payout and award the Charter Boat Division. If 3 are not registered, teams will be reimbursed the Charter Calcutta category amount paid in.)

Criteria for Professional Boat
None. Any team can choose to compete as a professional team.

Criteria for Semi-Professional Boat
Less than 3 paid personnel including captains, mates and anglers. Amateur teams also fall under the Semi-Pro division. (there is no separate amateur division)

(Note: Decision to enter divisions lays solely on the team within criteria. Note: a service fee via stripe app will be applied to all electronic transactions. Cash and checks will also be accepted at the Capt. Meeting. A 5% fee will be retained by the tournament for admin purposes.)

BoundariesFlorida’s East Atlantic Waters

Angler Substitutions – Angler substitutions must be completed before lines in via the Dust’Em Off app.

Check out This is not an inlet specific tournament. There will be no visual checkout however, an image of the catch/release sheet provided at the Captain’s Meeting (in your packet) along with a timepiece (cell phone or GPS) showing any time between 7:30 and 8:00 am will be considered checkout and verification you are fishing that day! Please text that image to one of the numbers below.

Lines in Saturday, Dec 2, 2023 at 8:00AM

Lines out Saturday, Dec 2, 2023 at 4:00PM

Comms – This will be a phone in tournament.   Phone numbers for the committee office will be provided at the captain’s meeting and listed below on your packet. All tournament comms between tournament boats will be on channel 74. (*Subject to changes prior to meetings).

Committee Phone #1: 561-667-9507

Committee Phone #2: 786-317-3019

Phone-ins: Please do not text both numbers! Choose one or the other to use for communication and releases to avoid double release entries.

Cameras and ProcedureBillfish must be identified via video only. Camera or cell phone video is acceptable. Video requirements: species confirmation of the fish, The fish must be leadered/released safely, then video of the angler stating the boat name, angler name and team COLOR (team color is the color of the registration folder your team received.) Each fish must be text/called in immediately after release for a committee issued fish number. In the case of a multiple hookup, angler must say fish number in video. Teams are permitted to release all fish before stating the release color/ number on video. There must be no break from identifying to release of billfish. Camera footage must be uploaded via the tournament App (by Reel Time Apps) no later than 8:30PM. Camera footage becomes property of the tournament. A cell phone may be used as long as video is consistent with all other rules requirements. Video can also be text or electronically sent to Courtney. Contact the committee if there are any issues sending video.

Recap: Video Requiements:

• Species ID · Fish Leadered / Safe release / Angler Stating Boat Name, Angler Name, COLOR (Note: You DO NOT have to show a color just SAY your team color on video) (Example: “Boat DEO, Angler: Courtney, Color: RED)

Hooking Fish – Each eligible fish entered in this tournament must be hooked and caught by a single angler. No person may hook a fish, or assist in hooking a fish then pass a rod to another angler. If multiple strikes occur on separate lines, and if a single angler is capable of hooking and catching more than one of the fish without the assistance of any other person, then each fish may be eligible for entry by such angler subject to the other rules of this tournament. The use of a rod holder to hook a fish is permitted provided that no person other than the angler who ultimately enters the fish touches the rod or reel once the fish is hooked. If the main line or double line is touched by anyone other than the angler the fish is considered disqualified. Mate can “pop the ring out of the clip” and shake weeds off the main line.

Release – A “Release” is official once the mate touches the “Leader” material and cuts the leader. Tipping is not considered a release. In the event a fish is completely wrapped in the leader, the fish will count as a release if it is within touching range of the handle end of a gaff, tagging stick or extendable brush handle.  DO NOT GAFF THE FISH!!!

Final 15 minsThe final 15 minutes of the tournament ALL billfish hookups must be called/texted in. In addition all video in the final 15 mins must start with a time stamp at hookup to insure the fish was hooked before lines out.

Catch Cards – Form must be filled out to match with the confirmation number and time provided by the Release Committee. Incomplete or improperly completed cards may be rejected by the tournament committee. A photo of the release form must be texted to the comm phones by 8:30PM. Any forms sent after 8:30PM will be disqualified.

Scoring – All billfish count as 100 points. Time will determine the winner in the event of a tie.

General Information
Time Frame – 8:00AM – 4:00PM
Lines – 8
Leaders – Max length 15’ (ft.)
Hooks – Circle hooks Only
Anglers – No Limit
Bait – Live or Dead accepted. Chumming prohibited.

Weather – Tournament officials may cancel the tournament day if in their best judgment unsafe conditions exist at sea for the average boat entered. No refunds of any sort will be made for any cause in the event of such cancellation. If the day (or any portion thereof) is “weathered out”, the tournament results will be final based on the results of the official fishing time that can be completed. Notice of cancellation and/or resumption of fishing will be provided via Committee Phone. A determination permitting fishing by tournament officials should not be interpreted to mean that the tournament ensures the safety of any registered angler or occupant of any boat. Anglers must make their own judgments whether to fish under the prevailing weather conditions based on the size and seaworthiness of their boat, their seamanship skills, and any other relevant factors.

Protests – Any protests concerning the conduct of an angler or rules violations must be filed in writing with the tournament committee no later than the close of the fishing day on the day of the alleged violation. Along with a non refundable $300. Protests will be handled by the rules committee. The decisions of the rules committee are final.

RefundsNo refunds will be given for the entry fee. For any reason including, but not limited to acts of nature, war, national security, Covid-19, vessel malfunctions or travel restrictions.

Ties – All ties will be broken based on time. The earlier billfish release or earlier fun fish weigh-in will win the tie.

Hold Harmless – All registered anglers and non-registered occupants of their boats enter and participate in this tournament voluntarily at their own risk. In consideration for the tournament’s acceptance of his or her entry, each angler, for his or her heirs, executors, and administrators, agrees to release, hold harmless and indemnify the Tournament (Courtney Bowden, Contact Courtney Consulting, LLC), its officers, managers, directors, agents, sponsors, donors, the city and county where the event is held, and all other persons connected directly or indirectly with the operation of the tournament, from and against any and all liabilities, claims, actions, damages, costs, fees or expenses which he or she may have against any above-described party, or which his or her captains, crew members, family members, companions or non-registered occupants of their boat may have, arising out of or in any way connected with his or her participation in this tournament, including any injury or death suffered by any registered angler, boat captains, crew members, family members, companions or other occupants of any boat, and including any damage to vessels and equipment, which occurs during or in conjunction with the event. Each Angler understands and agrees that this release specifically includes and waives any claims based on libel, slander, negligence, action or inaction of any above-named party.

Signing of the Entry Sheet – By signing the entry form, the Boat Owner/Team Representative agrees to follow the above tournament rules. All Boat Owners/Team Representatives are required to sign the entry form as certification that they have read and agreed to abide by all guidelines and the above liability release.

Committee Office Phone Numbers

Committee Phone #1: 561-667-9507

Committee Phone #2: 786-317-3019

Tight Lines,

Courtney Bowden – Tournament Director
North Palm Beach, FL 33408
PH: 561.909.7868
EMAIL: hello@contactcourtney.com

Ben Sharpe – Founder
Miami, FL 33143
PH:786.366.7883
EMAIL: bensharpie@yahoo.com

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