Big Time Tournaments

RULES

1  This is a flats, fly and bait, Tarpon only fishing tournament.
2. Licensed guides may fish as anglers. The boat may be guided by either a licensed guide or an unlicensed individual. Prior to the start of the tournament, an individual(s) must be designated as the “Angler(s)” and the angler’s guide must be designated as the “Guide or Captain”.
3. Only the Angler may touch the rod, reel or line while line is outside the boat. Exception: when the Angler is landing and releasing the fish, the Guide may then touch the line, but no more than the length of the rod from the hook.
4. All guides must grab the leader, measure and photograph the Tarpon with the measuring device provided and released alive. This is in the event that the fish is close to the 36’ minimum mark. The time the fish is caught and the approx. length must also be noted on the score card. Remember you will have to potentially pass a polygraph test.
5. Digital cameras must be provided by the Angler and/or Guide. A photograph on the digital camera’s screen, of fish caught, must be shown to the scorekeeper. The minimum length in 36 inches.
6. Fishing range is unlimited. You may trailer you boat.
7. Only “flats skiff” and “bay boat” type boats may be used.
8. Lines in at 8:00 am or anytime thereafter. Lines out at 4:00 pm. At 4:00 pm, if the boat is on a flat, the angler must sit down and the guide will pole the boat promptly off the flat. If a fish is hooked prior to 4:00 pm it may be caught after 4:00 pm but after it is caught, the Angler must sit down and the Guide must promptly pole the boat off the flat.
9. Score cards must be returned to Boatman’s Resort and Marina by 6:30pm. SHARP! Each day of fishing.
10. There will be no fishing after tournament hours.
11. IGFA rules apply to all fly tackle and leaders except where otherwise stated within these rules.
12. If a rod is broken while playing a fish, the fish may still be landed and counted.
13. Maximum tippet or leader strength is 20 pound as per manufacturer’s rating. Spinning reels can be spooled with 20 pound test max, stated line and a 20 pound stated test leader max. Braid is permitted.
14. No tipping the fly with scent or bait is allowed and NO chumming is allowed.
15. Tarpon must be cast to in water that is no deeper than eight feet. Tarpon must be on a flat or flat edge, but not in a channel. Catching fish over natural structure is permitted as long as the natural structure is on a flat in less the eight feet of water.
16. Wading is permitted.
17. All protests must be submitted in written with a $400 cash deposit to the tournament committee by 6:30 pm on the day of fishing that the proposed infraction occurred. If protest is validated then the cash deposit will be returned. All participants are subject to a polygraph test, with or without a protest. Any refusal or failure of a test will result in a DQ.
18. Ties shall be broken by the time of the last fish caught first.
19. The tournament directors reserve the right to refuse tournament entry to any perspective entrant with or without cause at his or her or their sole discretion.
20. 200 points for tarpon on spin and 300 points for tarpon on fly.

Overall Total Team Point’s Winner: $3000
Team 2nd place $1000
Team 3rd place $500
Most points for individual on FLY: $1000 
Most points for individual on SPIN: $1000

**Prize money based on a minimum of 10 boats being entered**