Rules

RULES ACCEPTANCE: Rules, including published rules in print or on the website, are subject to change without notice. It is the sole responsibility of the participating anglers, captains, crews and guests (“Participants”) to know and abide by the Tournament Rules as published and as amended during the Captain’s Meeting. By entering any Gulf Coast Sportfishing Club (“GCSC”) tournament and paying entry fees, Participants agree to abide by the Tournament Rules and accept decisions made by the Rules Committee as final. Tournament Start, Fishing Times, Eligible Ports of Departure are subject to change by tournament committee without advance notice, and the rules presented in the Captains Meeting trump written rules. The tournament committee may at its discretion elect to retain any fish for display, testing, or further study. GCSC has the right to use, publish, edit, and distribute any videos submitted to the club for any purpose.

​

REGISTRATION & MANDATORY CAPTAINS MEETING: Entry to the tournament can be made prior to June 12th on the website, gulfcoastsportfishingclub.com, or on June 12th by completing the Tournament Entry Form and submitting payment for the entry fee at the Captain’s Meeting. The entry fee is $500.00 per boat (plus applicable sales tax), and can be paid by Cash, Check, or Credit Card (subject to 3.5% processing fee). Each angler must be a GCSC member. Teams must have a representative present at the mandatory Captain’s Meeting and the representative must sign out following the conclusion of the Captains Meeting. Failure to sign out at the conclusion of the Captains Meeting will result in the offending boat being disqualified from the entire tournament without a refund. Any changes to rules will be discussed at the Captains Meeting.

By signing out at the Captain’s Meeting, the captain, owner, or registered angler acknowledges that they:

• Know the rules including any changes or clarifications made during the captain’s meeting.

• Have received the tournament designator.

• Understand and agree to abide by all rules.

• Understand that all Anglers, Captains, Mates, Crew (“Participants”) and Guests fish in the Tournament at their own discretion and at their own risk. All Participants and Guests agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Gulf Coast Sportfishing Club (“GCSC”) and its Members, the GCSC Board of Directors, Lighthouse Marina, Sponsors and their agents and employees and all other persons directly or indirectly connected with the tournament from any liability, loss, personal injury or property damage, including Attorney’s fees they may suffer arising from their participation in the Tournament and all other activities occurring at the tournament facility.

• Understand that tournament entries must be verified before leaving the weigh dock.  It is the responsibility of the angler, captain, mate, or crew to verify the appropriate species, weight, etc. and to sign off on the catch card or release card at the weigh station.

• No tournament refunds will be made after the official sign out.

​

WITHDRAWAL POLICY:

• If pre-registered and withdrawn prior to the start of on-site registration, you will be refunded everything less credit card fees.

• If pre-registered and withdrawn prior to signing out and after on-site registration begins, you will be refunded all cash award entries less credit card fees and entry fees less credit card fees and 10% for tournament expenses.

• If you withdraw after sign-out at Captain’s meeting, no refund of any kind will be given.

​

PERMITS, LICENSING & JUDGING: Judging for this tournament is based solely on tournament rules. Teams are encouraged to comply with all Federal and Florida state laws regarding fishing licenses, size limits, bag limits and any other regulations that may apply. All anglers must have a valid Florida Saltwater Fishing License. For information regarding Florida Saltwater Fishing Licenses refer to myfwc.com/license/recreational/saltwater-fishing/ or call 888.347.4356.

​

PORTS OF DEPARTURE: Boats may depart from any pass between Apalachicola, FL and Fort Walton Beach, FL following close of captains meeting June 13th. All boats must bring eligible fish to scales by boat. NO TRAILERING ALLOWED ONCE THE VESSEL IS LAUNCHED INITIALLY.

​

TOURNAMENT RANGE: All boats, regardless of division, are limited to a 100 mile range from the St. Andrews Pass, located at approx. N 30 07.142’ W 085 43.975’.

​

FISHING TIMES: Teams may begin tournament fishing at close of captains meeting. There is not an official “lines out” time but boats planning to weigh in an eligible fish must be recognized by the weigh master as in line by boat to weigh before close of scales at 7pm.

​

WEIGH IN PROCEDURES: Scales will be open from 5:00-7:00 PM (CT) on Saturday June 13th. Tournament Scales will be located at Lighthouse Marina, 5325 N. Lagoon Dr., Panama City Beach, FL 32408 (30.1493N LAT – 85.74454W LONG). All fish must be brought to the scales by water on the boat from which it was caught. A team member must remain with their fish until completion of the weigh-in procedure and must verify the weight on leaderboard prior to leaving.

​

TACKLE RULES: Rod & Reel Only. It is expected that teams will uphold the highest level of integrity and sportsmanship and compete in the spirit of the IGFA Saltwater Equipment and Angling rules. Any member of the team may set the hook and fight the fish or may set the hook and pass the rod to another team member within the first minute, but the rod may only be passed one time; the angler must then fight the fish unassisted. Electric reels may not be used to fight fish.

​

ELIGIBLE FISH TO BE WEIGHED:

• Heaviest Red Snapper – Pays out 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place

• Heaviest Ladies Red Snapper – Pays out 1st Place

• Heaviest Youth Red Snapper (17 Years Old and Younger) – Pays out 1st Place.

• Heaviest Red Snapper (Optional Cash Awards) – Pays out 1st Place

• Heaviest 3 Fish Aggregate – Red Snapper Only (Optional Cash Awards Only) – Pays out 1st Place

• Target Weight Red Snapper (Optional Cash Awards Only) – Pays out 1st Place

• Grouper (All Legal Species) (Optional Cash Awards Only) – Pays out 1st Place

​

TOURNAMENT AWARDS: The tournament purse shall be the sum of the base entry fees collected, minus 10% for tournament expenses. Payouts are subject to change depending on the number of entries. Awards will be presented to the angler/boat for the top three (3) Red Snapper weighed in. (50%, 30%, 20% split). Awards will also be presented to the angler/boat for the top Ladies Red Snapper weighed in and the top Youth Red Snapper weighed in.

​

OPTIONAL CASH AWARDS: This is a separate entry and not required to complete for tournament awards. There will be a $50.00, $100.00 and $250.00 Optional Cash Award entry fee for each category. Optional Cash Award fees can be paid by Cash, Cashier’s Check, or Credit Card (subject to 3.5% processing fee) on the day of registration. Optional Cash Awards are the sum of the money received for each division, minus 10%, which is deducted for tournament expenses. All categories will pay out 1st place to the biggest eligible fish. If no eligible fish are weighed in a category, a full refund (minus 10% for tournament expenses) will be issued to the teams entered in the category. If only one team enters a category, the team will receive a full refund for that division.

​

PAYMENT OF TOURNAMENT AND OPTIONAL CASH AWARDS: During registration, each tournament boat must designate a representative payee who provides their tax ID to receive payment for all cash awards. GCSC accepts no responsibility for the division of any cash awards between team members.  Cash award winners will be announced at the end of the awards ceremony. Results at the awards ceremony are unaudited and subject to change. Cash award checks will be issued approximately 2 weeks after the tournament is complete provided there are no outstanding appeals or disputes. No cash award checks can be issued unless the cash award sheet is filled out including a valid Driver’s License Number and Social Security or tax ID number. An IRS form 1099 will be sent to all Cash Award Winners at the year’s end.

​

WEATHER – TOURNAMENT DELAY OR CANCELLATION: In the event the tournament committee feels that fishing is unsafe, most notably a Small Craft Advisory, the tournament may be canceled or delayed. If delayed, a new start time or date will be announced should weather conditions improve. If canceled, entry fees will be refunded less a prorated share of tournament expenses. One day or part thereof of offshore fishing by one-third of the boats entered constitutes a complete tournament. Entrants shall have no claim against the Gulf Coast Sportfishing Club for return of paid entry fees. All teams and participants should make their decision to fish based solely on their own judgment. Fish at your own risk.

​

POLYGRAPHS: Polygraph tests may be administered at the discretion of the tournament committee. All tournament entries are non-transferable and non-refundable. Payment of the entry fee constitutes a representation by each entrant that he/she has read and fully understands the tournament rules and that he/she will abide by such rules and the decisions of the tournament committee.

​

TIE BREAKERS: For ties of weighed fish, placement is determined by the order of time of weigh-in at scales.

​

PROTEST: Disputes, protests, claims, differences or controversies relating to any aspect of the Tournament including without limitation Tournament Rules must be submitted to the Rules Committee no later than thirty (30) minutes following the close of the Weigh Station or are deemed waived. All protests must be submitted in writing with a $500 protest fee. Only a successful protest will result in a refund of the $500 protest fee. All decisions of the Tournament Committee are binding and final and known to be subjective. GCSC reserves the right to make exceptions to any rule when the Tournament Committee decides it is in the best interest of the participants, spectators and anglers.  If the Tournament Committee cannot render or refuses to render a final and binding decision with respect to any dispute, protest, claim, difference or controversy under review, the matter shall be resolved by binding arbitration under the commercial arbitration rules of the American Arbitration Association. The decision rendered in arbitration shall be in writing and shall be final and binding upon all parties. The parties shall have no further recourse except as provided for by the commercial rules of the American Arbitration Association. Once the decision is rendered it produces the effect of “res judicata” and the parties shall fully comply with the decision without delay. The Participants specifically waive any right to a trial by judge or jury.

​

WAIVER/DISCLAIMER: It is expressly understood that all participants in this tournament enter at their own risk, and that the Gulf Coast Sportfishing Club, its Officers and Directors, and all persons connected directly or indirectly with the operation of said Tournaments, shall be exempt from any liability for libel, slander, loss, damage, negligence, harm, injury or death suffered by any participant, entrant, sport fisherman, equipment which may occur during or in conjunction with the Tournaments. Registration in the tournament, whether online, in person, or by mail provides express consent that the Gulf Coast Sportfishing Club may use without payment or restriction, any photographs in which he or she and/or their crew may appear for any purpose whatsoever, including, but not limited to resale, advertising, commercial or promotional material. The captain, crew, or any registered anglers further release the Gulf Coast Sportfishing Club, its Officers and members from any injury, loss, or damage which may result. All entrants agree to submit to a polygraph examination at the request of the Tournament Committee. Failure to submit to such an examination will result in the disqualification of the entrant at the sole discretion of the Tournament Committee.