Destin Swordfish Shootout Rules
Harbor Walk Marina, Destin FL.
Dates:
Captains Meeting - July 8, 2010 6:30 pm, The Emerald Grande Captains Deck
Fishing Times – Lines In: July 9, 12:00 pm - Lines Out: July 10, 6:00 am
Weigh - in – July 10, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm, Harbor Walk Marina, Destin FL.
Brunch – July 10, 12:00 pm, Harbor Walk Village
Awards - July 10, 12:00 pm, Harbor Walk Village
Registration: Entry fee is $800.00 per boat. Boats can pre-register by contacting Capt. Erik Anderson, Tournament Director at 850-974-5600 or by signing up on the website at www.destinswordfishshootout.com. Early entry fee is $ 700.00 per boat and is due by June 10, 2010. Entry fees are non-refundable two weeks prior to the Tournament.
TOURNAMENT RULES:
1. I.G.F.A. rules will apply (NO HARPOONS, ELECTRIC REELS OR BOUY GEAR). All participants should be familiar with these rules and a current copy will be given to each boat at registration.
2. There is no limit on anglers.
3. Baits may be live, dead or artificial.
4. Six rods are allowed.
5. 130lb. Manufactures stated line Maximum.
6. Anglers must have a current Florida Saltwater Fishing License. All vessels must possess a current HMS (Highly Migratory Species) Permit for the specified Tournament vessel. You can access the National Marine Fisheries Services via the web at www.nmfspermits.com or by phone at 888-872-8862. Photocopied proof of each of these will be required at registration.
7. All fish to be weighed must be at least 48 inches from lower jaw to fork in tail. Fish shorter than the stated Tournament minimum will be disqualified.
8. One fish per boat may be weighed for the cash divisions. A second fish may be weighed for the Mystery Weight Division. All fish will be gutted and inspected.
9. Only swordfish will be counted.
10. Flagrant rule violations, as deemed by the Committee, will result in disqualification from the Tournament. There will be no refunds as a result of disqualification.
11. Scales open at 9:00 AM on Saturday, July 10, 2010.
12. No early weigh-ins.
13. Fish must arrive at the dock in edible condition
14. All vessels will be assigned a Control Number and will be given the 2010 Tournament Designator/Release Cards (Release Division) at the Captains Party. Other Tournament details will be given during Late Registration at the Captains Party.
15. All Anglers and Captains should attend the Captains Meeting and Registration on Thursday, July 8 at 6:00 p.m. The meeting will be held on the Captain’s Deck at The Emerald Grande. Either the Captain or at least one registered Angler must attend; preferably both.
16. Tournament Vessels may depart from any Home Port they wish so long as: (1) All Vessels check out with Tournament Officials by radio (ch.72) or by phone (850-974-5600) no earlier than “Lines In" at 12:00 pm Friday, July 9 2010 - 1AND - (2) At least one registered angler is present to sign in at the Captains Party Thursday July 8, 2010.
REPORTING
1. Tournament vessels must be north of the Destin East Pass Jetties by 11:00 am Saturday July 10, 2010 for their boated fish to be eligible.
2. All boated fish must be weighed at Harbor Walk Marina prior to the close of scales, Saturday July 10, 2010 at Noon. Fish must be brought to the scales on the boat on which they were caught.
3. The Tournament Committee will settle any protest or discrepancies. Their decision will be final.
4. Winners will be subject to a polygraph test.
5. All protests must be made no later than Noon on Saturday, July 10, 2010. Protests must be in writing, along with $500.00 cash.
6. There will be no weather committee. All boats fish at their own risk. In the event of a Small Craft Advisory or Hurricane/Tropical Storm, the Tournament will be rescheduled for the following weekend.
7. All release videos (Mini DV tapes/Mini DVD-R Discs) must be accompanied by their corresponding release cards.
8. Each boat will be issued Mini DV Tapes or Mini DVD-R Discs by the Tournament Committee for use in their own digital video camcorder in order to record the fish before its release. All fish caught and released are to be videoed at least once during the fight and at the time of release. Failure to video a fish will result in disqualification of that particular fish.
NO VIDEO = NO FISH
9. A Stomach Content Inspection will be performed on all weighed fish.
DIVISIONS
1. This is a boat tournament. Anglers should be registered at sign-in. You may change anglers at any time prior to the start of the tournament.
2. There will be no differentiation between professional and amateur.
3. Winners will be determined by overall weight:
- Heaviest fish prevails
- Ties are broken by the combined length and girth of each fish
- One fish per boat may be weighed to count in a cash division. A second fish per boat may be weighed for the Mystery Weight Division Prize.
- If any places are left “open” and no fish is weighed, the corresponding purse will be divided evenly among the remaining places within the respective division.
4. All releases must be verified by video (supplied by the entrant) as well as the Tournament Designator, which will be given out at the Captain’s Party.
5. RELEASE VIDEOS MUST CLEARLY SHOW:
1. TOURNAMENT DESIGNATOR
2. HEALTHY RELEASE OF THE FISH
3. GPS DATE AND TIME AND/OR VIDEO CAMERA DATE AND TIME
6. Release footage and all release cards must be turned in to the committee no later than the close of scales on Saturday, July 10, 2010 at 12:00pm.
7. Release Division ties will be broken by the recorded time of the release. Earliest time prevails.
PARTICIPANTS RESPONSIBILITY
1. All Anglers, Captains, Crew and Guests fish at their own discretion and at their own risk. All participants and guests agree to indemnify and hold harmless The Tournament Committee, Legendary Marine, Harbor Walk Marina, Sponsors, Press and their agents and employees from any liability loss or damage including Attorney's fees they may suffer arising from their participation in this tournament.
AWARDS:
Cash awards are paid by check and mailed within two weeks following the event. If you win a cash award you must check in with tournament officials at the Awards Brunch to provide payee name, address and SSN/EIN. The award amount will be announced at the Awards Brunch. A 1099-MISC will be issued for all prize money to the person or company to whom the check is made payable.
Overall Division - $800.00
1ST Place: $10,000.00
2nd Place: $ 5,600.00
3rd Place: $ 4,000.00
4th & 5th: Sponsor Prizes
* Based on 35 boat entry *
35ft & Under Division - $200.00
50/30/20 split for the top three boats in this Division
Release Division - $100.00
60/40 split for the top two boats with the most releases
Calcuttas- $100, $300, $500, $1,000
50/30/20 split for the three heaviest fish entered in each of these divisions
Big Money - $5000.00
60/40 split for the two heaviest fish entered in this division
Big Fish - $500.00
Winner takes all for the heaviest fish entered in this division
Mystery Weight - Free
All weighed fish will be entered in this division. A Prize will be awarded to the winner of this Division at the Awards Brunch.