The Dive Division has been organized to permit certified divers to compete for cash awards that will be presented for the heaviest Grouper, Snapper (other than Red Snapper), Amberjack or Barracuda speared and surrendered to the Tournament. Divers also receive a welcome and entertainment package and are invited to enjoy all Tournament festival activities.

Click for Printable Rules (PDF format)

Entry Fee:
$106 (including sales tax)

Fishing Days: October 4 and 5, 2008

I. TERMS AND DEFINITIONS

The following terms and definitions are incorporated in and made a part of the rules of the 2008 Grand Lagoon National:

Boat
A vessel from which a Diver competes in tournament.

Cash Awards
Awards for which a Diver is eligible to compete.

Category
Each eligible species of fish in each Division is a Category.

Class
A subdivision of a Category, by way of example ... first place, second place and third place.

Crew
Any person employed or otherwise compensated to provide a service on a Boat during Fishing Hours.

Dates and Times
Tournament dates are October 3 through October 5, 2008. Time shown is Central Daylight Savings Time.

Diver
A person registered to compete as a Diver.

Diver Fee
A fee paid to Foundation to register a Diver.

Disqualification
Violation of Rules may, determined at the sole discretion of Rules Committee, result in disqualification and forfeiture of Cash and Optional Awards and all Fees paid to Foundation or Tournament.

Division
A division of competition, by way of example: Big Game, Flats, Dive. The Tournament Shall consist of eight Divisions. Each Division shall be organized and operated as a separate and independent Tournament.

Eligible Fish
Fish eligible for Cash Awards and Optional Awards.

Fishing Days
October 4 and 5, 2008.

Fishing Hours
Hours during which fishing is permitted by Rules

Foundation
Grand Lagoon National Foundation, Inc., a Florida not-for-profit corporation.

Host Marina
A marina located on the Grand Lagoon at Panama City Beach, Florida, that has contracted with Foundation to provide the location for Tournament and to implement the policies and programs of Foundation.

Optional Awards
Cash awards paid to Optional Divers.

Optional Diver
A Diver eligible to compete for Optional Awards as a consequence of the payment of an Optional Entry Fee.

Optional Fee
The Optional Fee paid in the name of a Diver to compete for Optional Awards.

Registration Fee
A fee paid to Foundation to register a Boat to participate in Tournament.

Rules
The rules governing the Tournament.

Rules Committee
A creation of Foundation that is the sole authority of interpretation and enforcement of Rules.

Tag
An identification tag attached to a fish surrendered to the Tournament that contains the name of the Boat from which a fish was caught, the name of the Angler who caught the fish and the species of fish.

Tournament
2008 Grand Lagoon National

Tournament Committee
A creation of Foundation charged with organizing and managing Tournament.

Weigh-in Report
A report prepared by a Diver itemizing all fish speared by that Diver and surrendered to Tournament to be weighed.

II. SPIRIT OF THE TOURNAMENT

Rules have been adopted to create a level playing field upon which Divers may compete fairly for the honors and awards bestowed by Tournament. Divers are permitted to compete in Tournament in reliance of their reputation for integrity. It is the intent of Foundation that Tournament activities demonstrate respect for the resources of the Gulf of Mexico.

Grand Lagoon National is committed to fair competition, good sportsmanship and the conservation of our natural resources.

III. SPORTSMANSHIP AND LIABILITY

Poor sportsmanship is grounds for Disqualification from this and all future tournaments sponsored, in whole or in part, by Foundation. Registered Participants, on behalf of their invitees, associates, employees, agents and guests, accept the following conditions:

1. Divers and Crew enter at their own risk.

2. Foundation, Tournament Committee members, Rules Committee members and all persons directly and indirectly connected with the operation of Tournament shall be exempt from any liability for loss, damage, harm or injury suffered by a Diver, Crew, Boat owner, vessel or equipment which may occur during Tournament.

3. All cash awards will be paid by check issued by Foundation and mailed to the winner Angler announced at the awards ceremony. Checks shall be mailed during the week of October 6 and shall be in the amount specified by the Rules; adjusted, if required, to comply with IRS regulations.

IV. COMPLETED TOURNAMENT

One day of fishing by one-half of Divers constitute a completed Tournament. In the event of inclement weather, Tournament will be completed on the first day Tournament Committee declares acceptable for competition. Foundation reserves the right to reschedule Tournament in event of recognized emergency.

V. DIVER FEE

1. One Division Only - No Boat may compete in more than one Division. Diver may not compete in more than one Division on any Fishing Day.

2. Entry Fee - A fee paid by Diver to participate in Tournament.

3. Diver Fee - $106.00

4. Diver Registration - All Divers must be registered. No fish will be weighed in the name of a person not registered as a Diver.

5. Payment of Diver and Boat Fees - Divers and Boat owners may register and pay Fees in any of the following manners:

a) Before September 29, by completing the on-line registration form at the Tournament’s website www.grandlagoonnational.com and sending payment by personal or company check to: Grand Lagoon National Foundation, Inc., 1120 West Beach Drive, Panama City, Fl 32401.

b) After September 28, by registering at Tournament and making payment by cash or approved credit card.

c) Credit card charges subject to a 3.5% factoring fee.

d) Fees subject to 6 % sales tax.

e) Taxes - Entry and Angler Fees are subject to 6% sales tax.

VII. FISHING DAYS AND DIVER'S MEETING
October 3 at 6 p.m. at the Treasure Ship Restaurant. Boats in this Division may depart port at any time following the conclusion of the Diver’s meeting.

Tournament scales will be open for the purpose of weighing Eligible Fish at Treasure Island Marina during the following Dates and Times

October 4 - 6 p.m. –  9 p.m.
October 5 - 3 p.m. – 6 p.m.

IX. CASH AWARDS

1. Distribution - Cash Awards shall be the aggregate of 80% of paid Registration Fees.

2. Open Class - In the event no fish are weighed in for a given Class, the Cash Award assigned to that Class shall be added equally to Cash Awards of the other fish in the same Category.

3. Open Category - In the event no fish are caught in a given Category, the Cash Award assigned to that Category shall be added to the Cash Awards of fish caught in all other Categories in an equal manner.

4. Tie by Weight - In the event that fish of identical weight are weighed in the same Category, the first fish weighed shall be determined to be the larger fish.

5. Payout - 80% of all paid Fees shall be paid as Cash Awards and distributed according to the following percentages:

X. FISHING AND WEIGH-IN RULES

1. Certification - Divers must be certified.

2. Condition of fish - Only whole fish, which are fresh and in edible condition shall be qualified to be weighed. The decision of the weighmaster shall be final.

3. - Crews of Boats chartered or charging a fare may not be Divers unless individually registered as Divers.

4. Dive limit - No dive shall exceed Diver's certification limit.

5. Diver at weigh-in - Diver must accompany their fish to weigh-in scale.

6. Fish as property - All fish surrendered to the Tournament for the purpose of being weighed shall become the property of the Foundation.

7. Floats and Lines - Use of floats and lines is allowed.

8. Government rules - Divers are responsible for the enforcement of government rules and regulations which may apply to the conduct of Divers during Tournament.

9. In water only - Fish must be speared while the Diver is in the water and brought to Boat by that Diver.

10. Loading guns - Spear guns must be loaded and unloaded in water.

11. Minimum age - Divers must be at 18 years of age, or older.

12. Minimum Weight, Size and Limits - Federal regulations shall determine minimum weight, size and bag limits. Weighmaster reserves the right not to weigh fish that Diver agrees is not in contention for award of Cash or Optional Award.

13. Polygraphs - At the sole discretion of the Rules Committee, winning Divers shall be subject to submitting to and successfully passing a polygraph test and signing an affidavit attesting to the circumstances under which their prize fish was caught.

14. Protests - All protests must be presented in writing to the Rules Committee and accompanied by a check made to the credit of Foundation in the amount of $250 within one hour of the close of scales. Resolution of all protests will be declared at the Awards ceremony.

15. Publication - All Divers and Crew consent and authorize Foundation and Tournament Sponsors to use and reproduce names, voices and photographs taken or recorded in conjunction with Tournament activities for promotional and information purposes.

16. Rebreathers - Use of rebreathers is not allowed.

17. Regulations - Divers must adhere to current Federal and Florida Recreational Saltwater spear fishing rules.

18. Same Boat - All fish to be weighed must be brought to the weigh-in dock on the Boat from which the fish was taken.

19. Scale closing - Boats having fish to weigh in must be inside Grand Lagoon waters; specifically, at a location parallel to the entrance to the Bay Point channel by the designated closing hour for the scales.

20. Tags - No fish will be weighed which does not have a properly completed weigh-in tag.

21. Weigh-in limit - Not more than two fish per Category will be weighed for any one Diver per Tournament day.

22. Weigh-in Reports - Divers shall be responsible for the completion of a Weigh-in Report that shall be presented to the weigh master and shall include an itemization of all fish to be weighed.

XI. OPTIONAL ENTRY FEE

1. Optional Angler - Optional Entry Fees will be accepted only in the name of a Diver.

2. Payments - All Optional Award payments shall be by check to a Diver. Foundation accepts no responsibility for the division of Optional Awards between Diver, Crew or any other party.

3. Tax - Optional Entry Fees are subject to 6% Florida and local sales tax.

4. Payout - Ninety-five percent (95%) of all Optional Entry Fees paid will be distributed in the form of Optional Awards.

5. Optional Entry Fees may be paid at Tournament Headquarters on October 3 between the hours of 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Optional Fee payments will be accepted only in United States Currency, by Cashier’s Check or approved credit card.

XII. OPTIONAL CASH AWARDS

1. Cost of Optional Entry Fee - Divers may pay an Optional Entry Fee in one or more of the following Categories: Each Eligible Fish $300, $200 and $100 categories.

2. Award Payout - Each Optional Award category shall be apportioned between first, second and third place according to the following division: First Place 60%, Second Place 25% and Third Place 15%.

3. No Fish - In the event that no fish is weighed in a Category eligible for an Optional Award, 95% of all Optional Entry Fees paid for that Category shall be returned to the Divers who paid Optional Entry Fees for that Category.

4. Rules Committee - Rulings made by the Rules Committee shall be final in all disputes regarding Optional Rules.

5. Winner (Grand Champion) – Registered Participant shall be eligible to compete for the Grand Champion Optional Cash Award – winner take all – according to Rules published by Tournament and made available during Registration Hours at Tournament Headquarters.

XIII. OTHER AWARDS

Tournament is not responsible for awards, invitations or prizes offered or presented by third parties.

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