Panama City Beach Sportfish Classic Tournament Rules (2011)

Rules are Subject to Change. Changes to the rules and final instructions will be announced at the mandatory Captain’s Meeting at 1pm Friday, September 23rd, 2011

1. Entry fee: $1500 per boat (plus FL state sales tax). After September 20th, entry fee is $1750. (plus FL state sales tax)

2. Entry fee includes six positions in the tournament which may be a combination of captain, crew and anglers, or all anglers. No fee for additional anglers.

3. All anglers and crew members must be registered prior to departure.

4. Tournament Committee reserves the right to reschedule the event in case of unfavorable weather. If cancelled, entry fees will be refunded.

5. Final registration and check in will be at Lighthouse Marina from 8am – 1pm Friday September 23rd.

6. Captains meeting at Lighthouse Marina on Friday, September 23 at 1pm. Mandatory attendance by a team representative required. If Captain or team representative does not attend, boat will be disqualified.

7. Flare start at approximately 2pm at the Panama City Pass.

8. All boats must depart from the Panama City Pass.

9. The tournament is a “can to can’t” format beginning with the flare start and fishing up until weigh scales close on Saturday September 24th.

10. Report boated Blue Marlin and exceptional catches to Steve Arndt at (850) 628-1740.

11. Weigh in at Lighthouse Marina from 7pm until 10pm. Boats having fish to weigh must be inside Deepwater Point of Grand Lagoon by 10pm Saturday, September 24th.

12. Fish to be weighed must be brought to the dock on board the boat on which they were caught. Fish will be time stamped when unloaded and time stamp will be used in tie breaking situations.

13. The Tournament reserves the right to reject any fish due to poor condition or mutilation.

14. Fish weighed become property of the Tournament.

15. Fish are measured in pounds and recorded to two-tenths of a pound. In the event of a tie in weight, the fish with the earlier time stamp wins.

16. The Weighmaster’s decision is final.

17. Eligible species:

    • Blue Marlin, 101” minimum length as measured from tip of lower jaw to fork of tail. (tape placed over body method)

    • Swordfish. 50” minimum length as measured from tip of lower jaw to fork of tail.

    • Tuna, 15 lb minimum weight

    • Wahoo, 15 lb minimum weight.

    • Dolphin, 15 lb minimum weight.

18. Optional Catch and Release Rules

1. Only billfish caught and released according to these Rules are eligible for Optional Cash Awards. Eligible species are Blue Marlin, White Marlin, Sailfish and Spearfish. Swordfish are not eligible for Catch and Release Points.

2. A billfish is considered officially caught and released when either the swivel hits the tip of the rod or the mate grabs the leader.

3. Video verification is required for billfish to be eligible for competition. The video must show the billfish next to the boat, include the tournament designator, clearly identify the species as billfish, and record the official time of release by video verification of GPS. Fish must be visibly alive at time of release. Video must be continuous from time of release to verification of GPS time.

4. GPS time must be set to Central time zone and must be verifiable by judges on the video.

5. Verification Videos must be turned in at the weigh-in dock or fuel dock between the hours of 7:00pm and closing of the scales.

6. Anglers must submit video in digital format, or bring video camera and all necessary connection cables to allow display on a regular TV.

7. Catch and Release Points are awarded as follows:

   • All Billfish (Blue Marlin, White Marlin, Sailfish and Spearfish): 100 Points.

8. Billfish may not be removed from the water.

9. No line class bonus points.

10. Verification images become the property of the Tournament and may be used in future marketing campaigns.

11. Catch and Release winners are determined by total points. In the event of a tie in points, the following shall apply:

    • The tie will be broken by the team which reached the total tied points level first, as verified by GPS time recorded on video at the time of tied release. In the event the same two teams tied previously on the same day, only the last tie will be considered to determine the winner.

    • In the event unforeseen circumstances result in a tie situation which cannot be broken, the Tournament optional cash awards will be divided equally between tied teams and all tied teams will be recognized as co-winners.

19. Tournament Cash Awards:

    • 1st place, Blue Marlin. $40,000

    • Swordfish 1st place, $7500, 2nd place, $4500, 3rd place, $3000

    • Tuna 1st place, $7500, 2nd place, $4500, 3rd place, $3000

    • Wahoo 1st place, $7500, 2nd place, $4500, 3rd place $3000

    • Dolphin 1st place, $7500, 2nd place, $4500, 3rd place, $3000

20. In the event no eligible fish are weighed in the Blue Marlin, Swordfish, Tuna, Wahoo or Dolphin categories, the tournament cash awards assigned to that Category will be added to the tournament cash awards of fish caught in all other categories in a proportional manner as determined by tournament committee.

21. Payment of tournament cash awards is by check. Checks will be mailed to recipients within ten days of completion of tournament. The tournament accepts no responsibility for the division of any cash awards, whether tournament awards or optional awards, between team members.

22. Optional Awards for Blue Marlin, Swordfish, Tuna, Wahoo and Dolphin available in $1000, $500 and $250 levels paying 1st, 2nd and 3rd in each category (50/30/20 split) If there are only two qualifiers 60% of third place money will be added to first place and 40% to second place. Optional Cash Awards for Billfish Catch and Release Jackpot available at $500 level paying 1st place only.

23. 10% of Optional Entry Fees collected are used to underwrite the cost of tournament activities. (90% payback).

24. Optional Cash Awards are paid according to tournament rules.

25. If no fish are weighed in an Optional Awards category 90% of funds collected will be returned by form of a check within two weeks.

26. Payment for Optional Entries must be in cash or single check (multiple checks not accepted). All entries once placed are final.

27. Rulings made by the tournament committee are final in all disputes regarding optional entries, including tie-breaking decisions.

28. Anglers and crews must comply with all applicable State and Federal laws regarding fishing licenses, permits, size limits, bag limits or any other regulations which may apply.

29. Participants agree to compete in the spirit of IGFA Rules. Poor sportsmanship as determined by the Tournament Committee may be grounds for disqualification from this and all future tournaments hosted by Coastal Marina Management or Lighthouse Marina.

30. Protests must be presented in writing accompanied by a non-refundable $500 check no later than 1 hour after the official closing of the tournament scales on Saturday, September 24th. In the event the Tournament Committee cannot render or refuses to render a final and binding decision with respect to any dispute under review, the matter shall be resolved by binding arbitration as decided by an arbitrator designated by the Tournament Committee. Such decision shall be final and will take place in Bay County Florida within seven days of the conclusion of the tournament.

31. Participants agree to submit to polygraph examination. Failure to comply will result in disqualification from tournament and forfeiture of entry fees.

32. In consideration for being accepted by the Tournament Committee for participation in The Panama City Beach Sportfish Classic (“the Tournament”), Participants hereby release, forever discharge, and agree to hold harmless the Tournament, Tournament Committee, Coastal Marina Management, LLC, Lighthouse Marina, North Lagoon Partners, and their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, volunteers, partners, members, and/or attorneys for any and all losses, claims, or demands of any kind whatsoever arising from the negligence or gross negligence of the Organizers or from any other cause connected with or occurring during the Tournament. The Participants expressly acknowledge that he/she has received, reviewed, and agrees to abide by the Tournament Rules and this Release. Furthermore, the Participants expressly acknowledge that activities relating to deep sea fishing are extremely dangerous and involve the risk of serious injury or death. Having so acknowledged, the Participants hereby assume full responsibility for the risk of bodily injury or death due to the negligence or gross negligence of the Organizers or any other cause connected with or occurring during the Tournament.

Tournament Committee: Scott Burt, Chris Miller, Jim Hamilton, Steve Arndt and Tom Putnam.