2008 Tournament Rules - Inshore Division

The Inshore Division has been organized to permit fishing enthusiasts in boats of thirty-two (32) feet or less in length to compete for Cash Awards that will be presented for the heaviest Red Snapper (other than Red Snapper), Grouper, Amberjack, and King Mackerel caught and surrendered to the Tournament. Participants also receive a welcome and entertainment package and are invited to enjoy all Tournament activities.

Click for Printable Rules (PDF format)



Entry Fee (Includes fees for two Anglers):
$530.00 (includes 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:

Additional Angler Fee
A fee paid to Foundation to register an additional Angler.

Angler
A person registered to compete as an Angler on a Boat.

Boat
A fishing vessel registered for use in Tournament.

Cash Awards
Awards for which Anglers are eligible to compete according to Rules.

Category
A Category of competition eligible for Cash Awards or Optional Awards. Each Eligible species of fish is a Category.

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

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

Disqualification
Violation of Rules may, at the sole determination 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, Inshore, Big Game. 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.

Fees
Entry Fee and Angler fees.

Fishing Days
October 4 and 5, 2008.

Fishing Hours
5:30 a.m. through 7 p.m. on October 4 and 5:30 a.m. through 4 p.m. on October 5.

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

Host Marina
A marina that has contracted with Foundation to provide the location for Tournament and to implement the policies and programs of Foundation.

Junior Angler
An Angler who has not yet reached the fifteenth anniversary of their birth.

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

Optional Awards
Cash awards paid to Optional Participants.

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

Participant
Registered Participants and Anglers.

Registered Participant
Individual registering a Boat for participation in Tournament. Registered Participant shall be responsible for the actions Anglers who take part in Tournament as a result of registration of a Boat.

Registration Fee
The fee paid to Foundation to register a Boat.

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 the Registered Participant and presented to weigh-master that includes an itemization of all fish to be weighed.

 

II. SPIRIT OF THE TOURNAMENT
Rules have been adopted to create a level playing field upon which Participants may compete fairly for the honors and awards bestowed by Tournament. Participants 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. Participants 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 Participant, vessel or equipment which may occur during Tournament.

3. All cash awards will be paid by check issued by Foundation and mailed to the winning participant 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 Boats 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. ENTRY AND ANGLER FEES

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

2. Entry Approval - All entries are subject to approval of the Tournament Committee.

3. Checks and Money Orders -Should be made to the credit of Grand Lagoon National Foundation, Inc.

4. Payment of Fees - Registered Participants 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.

 

VI. BOAT LENGTH
Registration in the Inshore Division is restricted to Boats of a nominal 32 feet or less in length. Bow pulpits, swim platforms and thick rub-rails shall not be considered in determining the boats overall length. The length of a boat as advertised by the manufacturer shall be considered to be the true length and Tournament shall have no responsibility to measure the length of a boat for which manufacturers' specifications are available.

 

VII. DEPARTURE

All Boats must depart from a location in the St. Andrews Bay system.

 

VIII. ELIGIBLE FISH, ENTRY AND ANGLER FEES

Class by Weight
1st and 2nd place - Snapper (other than Red Snapper), Grouper, Amberjack, King Mackerel

Junior Angler Competition
1st and 2nd place - All Eligible Fish

Optional Awards
1st, 2nd and 3rd place - All Eligible Fish

Entry Fee $500.00 per Boat (includes 4 Anglers)
Additional Angler Fee
Additional Angler Fee $50 per Angler, $30 per Junior Angler

 

 

IX. TOURNAMENT REGISTRATION AND FISHING DAYS

1. Angler Registration - All Anglers must be registered. No fish will be weighed in the name of a person not registered as an Angler or Registered Participant.

2. Complete Registration - No Boat shall be qualified to take part in Tournament until and unless the Registered Participant completes the check-in process and provides Tournament with all information and payments required by Tournament.

3. Check-in - Regardless of when payment of Fees and registration has occurred, Registered Participant, or an individual designated and authorized by Registered Participant, must check-in on October 3 between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the Treasure Ship Restaurant.

 

X. ANGLERS MEETING

An Anglers Meeting will be held on October 3 at 6 p.m. at the Treasure Ship Restaurant. Attendance at this meeting by the Registered Participant, or an individual designated by Registered Participant, is mandatory.

 

XI. SCALES OPEN

Tournament scales will be open for the purpose of weighing competitive fish at the following hours:

Treasure Island Marina October 4 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
  October 5 3 p.m. – 6 p.m.

 


XII. CASH AWARDS

1. Distribution - Cash Awards payout shall be equal to eighty percent (80%) of paid Entry Fees.

2. Open Class or Category - 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. 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.

3. 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.

4. Payout Percentage - Based on the total Cash Awards available, the payout for the Inshore Division shall be divided according equally to each eligible fish and then apportioned to the following percentages:

Each Eligible Category 1st Place 2nd Place
  16% 9%

5. Junior Angler Awards shall be prizes, but not cash prizes

 

XIII. FISHING AND WEIGH-IN RULES

1. Angler at weigh-In - Angler must accompany their fish to weigh-in scale.

2. Boarding - Tournament reserves the right to board and inspect Boats.

3. Cast nets - Cast nets can be used only for catching bait.

4. Change in Rules - Rules may be changed, altered or modified by Rules Committee at any time prior to the conclusion of the Anglers Meeting.

5. Condition of Fish - Only whole, undamaged fish which are fresh and in edible condition shall be qualified to be weighed. Tournament reserves the right to reject any fish due to poor condition or mutilation. The decision of the weighmaster shall be final.

6. Equipment - All fish must be caught with rod and reel, hook and line. Electric reels, deck reels, winches, traps, bicycle rigs, cables, harpoons, long lines, entangling devices and nets, except as otherwise provided in Rules, are not permitted.

7. Departure and Fishing Hours - Shall be by flare released in the St. Andrews pass at 5:30 a.m. on October 4 and 5. No overnight fishing. Boats must return to harbor at the conclusion of Fishing Hours.

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

9. Government Rules - Registered Participant is responsible for the enforcement of government rules and regulations which may apply to the conduct of Participants during Tournament.

10. Maximum Number of Fish - No Boat shall be permitted to weigh more than two fish from a Category per weigh-in day.

11. Minimum Weight, Size and Limits - Federal and State regulations shall determine minimum weight, size and bag limits. Weigh master reserves the right not to weigh fish that Angler agrees is not in contention for a Cash Award or Optional Award.

12. Polygraphs - At the sole discretion of the Rules Committee, winning Anglers shall be subject to submitting and successfully passing a polygraph test and signing an affidavit attesting to the circumstances under which their fish was caught. Registered Participants must make themselves available, if requested by the Rules Committee, for the purpose of polygraph testing.

13. 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.

14. Publication - All Participants 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.

15. Raft Up or Exchanges - Following the initiation of Fishing Hours, Boats shall not be permitted to congregate, raft-up, or in any way be in such proximity to another Boat as to permit the exchange of equipment, supplies, fish or other materials.

16. Radio and Telephone - Official Division telephone numbers and radio channels will be announced at the Anglers Meetings.

17. Safety - Boats must meet all US Coast Guard and Florida safety standards and regulations. Registered Participants must be familiar with all applicable government boating regulations.

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

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 not have a properly completed weighs-in tag.

21. Weigh-in Procedures - Boats shall follow the instructions of Tournament officials when approaching the weigh-in dock and take a designated place in any waiting line that may form. Boats shall vacate the weigh-in dock at the instruction of Tournament officials.

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

 

XIV. OPTIONAL ENTRY FEE AND OPTIONAL AWARDS

1. Award Division - Each Optional Award category shall be divided into first, second and third place according to the following proportions: First Place 60%, Second Place 25% and Third Place 15%.

2. Categories of Fee and Awards - Registered Participants may pay an Optional Entry Fee in one or more of the following Categories: Each eligible fish in Division (each species) - $500, $250 and $100 categories

3. 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.  

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

5. Payments - All Optional Award payments shall be by check made to the Registered Participant. Foundation accepts no responsibility for the division of Optional Awards between Anglers, or any other party.

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

7. Registered Participant - Optional Entry Fees will be accepted only in the name of a Registered Participant.

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

9. Winners - The winner of an Optional Award will be the Optional Participant credited with the win according to Tournament Rules. Notwithstanding this rule, payment of the Optional Award will be made to the Registered Participant of the Boat upon which the winning Angler competed.

10. 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.

 

XV. OTHER AWARDS

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



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