Tournaments Rules

Terms and Conditions

Fishing in Faith Kayak/Paddle Board Benefit Tournament Rules

1. PARTICIPATION AND ELIGIBILITY: Participation is open to anyone 18 years of age or older. Minors are eligible to participate with a parent or legal guardian signature on the release form. A completed entry form, waiver, and entry fee must be received no later than the published event date. Entry fee is $25.00.

If you’d like to make an additional donation, those can be made during registration or on event day.

2. PRE-REGISTRATION. REGISTRATION, AND CAPTAINS MEETING: Registration will begin at 5:00 am at the launch site and will continue until 5:30 am on the day of the event. Early registrations can be printed and mailed along with the $25.00 (Cash only) registration fee.

If you would like to meet before the event to pre-register email mooreflatsfishing@gmail.com to make arrangements.

Address: Fishing in Faith, PO BOX 251, Shalimar, FL 32579.

Attendance at the Captain’s Meeting is MANDATORY for all Competitors. Captain’s Meeting will be Saturday September 16th at 5:30 am. Unique tokens will be distributed at the Captain’s Meeting. Fishing begins at sunrise Saturday September 16, 2017 or 6:00 am.

3. SAFETY: Safe boating must be observed at all times. During competition, each Competitor is required to comply with US Coast Guard regulations including the possession of a PFD and sounding device. All USCG and FWC regulations are in effect at all times.

A. During the Fishing in Faith tournament PFD’s must be worn at all times by all Competitors.

4. CHECK IN: Check in will be at 12:00 pm (Noon). Competitors do not have to be back at Official Launch location, but all pictures must be submitted by Noon (12:00 pm) on September 16, 2017. Photos submitted after 12:00 pm will not be accepted. Winners will be announced when all photos have been scored or no earlier than 1:00 pm to allow for Competitors to get back to the official launch location.

5. CANCELLATION/REFUND: Registration fee will only be refunded in the event of the cancelation of a tournament. A weather postponement does not constitute a cancelation. The Tournament Director has the right to postpone or cancel the start of an official tournament day because of bad weather or other factors that would endanger the safety of the Competitors. Tournament waters may also be restricted at any time because of bad weather.

The Tournament Director has the discretion to terminate Competition early due to hazardous weather conditions. An Early Termination Announcement with an Adjusted End Time will be broadcast to Competitors via Email and Group Text Messaging. The Announcement will specify a report-in time and location. If safe to do so, upon receiving the Announcement, Competitors should make their way to the specified location at the time identified. Competitors are required to stop fishing as soon as they receive the Early Termination Announcement. No fish caught after the Adjusted End Time time may be submitted for scoring; however, to accommodate those seeking shelter immediately, Competitors have up to 15 minutes after the Adjusted End Time to take a photo of the fish caught before the Adjusted End Time. Only photos with time stamps 15 minutes or less after the Adjusted End Time, verified by the photo time stamp on the Competitor’s camera or camera phone, will be eligible for scoring regardless whether the Competitor was in cell range and received the Announcement at the Adjusted End Time.

If postponed due to weather the Tournament Director will reschedule the event for the next Saturday following the canceled event, weather permitting.

6. SPORTSMANSHIP: All Competitors are required to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, and conservation. No alcoholic beverages or use of illegal drugs is allowed. Any use of drugs, participation in criminal activities, or other conduct reflecting unfavorably upon our efforts to promote safety, sportsmanship, fair competition, and/or compliance with tournament rules are grounds for immediate disqualification and return of any prizes awarded.

This is a fundraising event for a local family to assist with adoption fees and all remaining proceeds after cash payouts are made to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers will be donated to the Holloway family.

7. Eligible Species: Redfish, Speckled Trout, Flounder

8. PERMITTED FISHING METHODS: All fish must be caught via hook and line. The selection of baits is up to the discretion of the participant. All fish must be caught from the kayak. No wade fishing or shore fishing is permitted unless the kayak is tethered to the angler. All rod holders with rods being fished must be on the kayak or the angler.

9. NO MOTORS: The use of a boat or motorized water vehicle to transport your boat on the water is prohibited. All craft must be self-propelled – no engines are allowed. Canoes and paddle vessels designed to be paddled (not powered by motor) are permitted.

10. LAUNCH/FISHING LOCATIONS: The Official Launch location will be Lions Park in Niceville, FL. After the Captains Meeting the Competitors can choose to launch from any public boat ramp, state park, or other location that is available to the public for a fee not to exceed $20.00 in Okaloosa or Walton Counties. Any inshore location the contestant can pedal/paddle to is allowable during the event. Competitors may launch from any public-access shore. Crossing restricted property to reach eligible water is not permitted.

11. OTHER: During competition Competitors may not obtain or receive assistance including but not limited to following a non-competitor’s boat, the placing of markers by a non-competitor, being towed or riding motorized vessels, being paddled or propelled by a non-competitor, or receiving electronic, voice, or data communications from non-competitors.

It is the Competitors responsibility to follow all local, state, or Federal fishing regulations and obtain necessary licenses/permits needed to legally fish for saltwater fish in the state of Florida.

12. SCORING: The only allowable measurement device is the Hawg Trough, Frabill 1936 Expandable Bump Board 8 x 36-Inch, or similar device approved by Tournament Director. Only fish that fit your measuring board can be scored. The event uses catch-photo-release scoring determined by the length of each fish, in inches rounded down to the closet ¼ inch, from each eligible species. The total of all fish, maximum 2 (Two) from each species, will give the Competitors their final overall score in total inches. Each fish from same species must be different in length by ½ inch or have noticeably different appearance/markings. More than one photo of a fish may be taken/submitted, but only one of each fish will be scored. Length is determined from the forward-most point of the fish with mouth closed to the pinched end of the tail. Fish with un-pinched tail will be counted at un-pinched length. Fish must be above FWC minimums to count – fish may be above the slot limit, and all fish must be released. The maximum fish size is 36”, the length of the fish measuring device. In the event of a tie the entry checked in earliest will be declared the winner. The judging committee will review the photos to verify reported results and determine place winners. The tournament director is responsible for the final call/decision in all matters.

A. General Rules
i. No fish will be kept in ice chests, baskets, stringers, etc.

ii. No coolers larger than 15”x15”x15” are permitted on boats
iii. All fish will be immediately released unharmed after photo has been taken.
iv. Each fish can only be submitted once, and there must be ½ inch difference in length or noticeable difference in markings/appearance between fish of same species.
v. The Hawg Trough or Frabill 1936 Expandable Bump Board 8 x 36-Inch is the only acceptable measuring device unless similar device is approved by Tournament Director. Tournament Director will verify measurement markings at Captains Meeting before event for any device approved other than a Hawg Trough or Frabill 1936 Expandable Bump Board 8 x 36-Inch.

vi. A launch photo of kayak on water edge or in the water at launch. Bump board with MFF measuring device and tournament token must be clearly in photo. Angler must email launch photo to TD prior to launch.

13. DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY: Competitors may use digital cameras or smart phones for recording/scoring fish. Entrants must bring the storage chip from their camera to check-in or bring the download cable for their camera so that pictures may be retrieved. Competitors using phones must be able to email their pictures. It is the Competitors responsibility to make sure their devices are working properly for pictures to be scored.

Photo Standards Digital photographs of each eligible species submitted to judges for scoring must meet these criteria:

A. Unique. Each digital photo submitted by the same Competitor in each Competition must be of a different fish. Subsequent digital photos submitted by the Competitor of the same bass will be culled and, if determined to have been deliberately submitted with intent to defraud, will result in disqualification of Competitor and banishment from future MFF events.

B. Legible. Photo must be clear enough to read identifier, including required ID codes and marks, and judge the length accurately. After carefully examining photo details and cross-referencing other photos submitted for scoring by the same angler in the same event, if the event judge is NOT able to verify with 100% confidence that the event token and ID Codes or Marks in the photo are valid for both the competitive event and the competitor, then the photo will be denied.

C. Eligible. The entire fish must be visible on the measuring device. Each digital photo must be a first-generation image (not a photo or screen-shot of another photo) that was taken on or beside eligible waters within the official Competition Start and End Times. Photos must be time/date stamped.

D. Official: Event token shall be placed where it does not cover the fish’s eye or prevent measurement verification. Neither a hand-drawn token nor an image of the event token on a smart phone are acceptable.

E. Competitor’s kayak clearly visible in the photograph.

F. Fish as depicted below:

i. Fish facing left on a Hawg Trough, head to the left, tail to the right, left side of the fish visible, with dorsal fin toward the top of the photo

ii. Mouth completely closed with jaw and/or lip in contact with the Hawg Trough “fence.”

iii. Camera lens positioned directly over the center of the Fish’s body, which contributes to accurate measurement by judges. Photos judged to have been taken deliberately at an angle in order to make the fish appear longer may be disqualified at the Tournament Director’s discretion.

iii. Tail centered and in pinched condition and its tip in contact with the measurement device.

iv. To confirm that the fish is alive, the FIsh eye must be uncovered in the photo. Photos of fish that appear to be dead, mutilated, frozen or similarly damaged will be disqualified without scoring. Photos of fish that appear to have been mangled, mashed, mauled or otherwise altered in ways that increase their length will be disqualified or approved for scoring at the discretion of the Tournament Director.

v. No restraining device, clip, or band may be used to secure the fish being photographed. Securing the fish with any portion of a hand under the fish’s gill flap is prohibited.

14. TANDEMS/SHARING: It is permissible for more than one entrant to share the same paddle vessel. Each paddler must be a registered participant and is scored separately. Fish may NEVER be shared among entrants. If more than one person is in a tandem both must be registered anglers – use of an extra person strictly as a paddler/motor is forbidden.

15. PROTEST: All protests must be made in writing and delivered to a tournament official within 30 minutes of the check-in time. The tournament director is the final authority in all considerations.

16. RELEASE OF LIABILITY AND COVENANT NOT TO SUE: A waiver, release of liability, and covenant not to sue are part of the entry form. It is required that all contestants take responsibility for themselves while participating in event activities.

17. PHOTO RELEASE: Scoring photos remain the sole ownership of Moore Flats Fishing to be used at their discretion. Competitors grant Moore Flats Fishing and the sponsors the unconditional right to use their name, voice, photographic likeness and biographical information in connection with Moore Flats Fishing tournaments, production, promotion, and/or articles and press releases, and shall not be entitled to receive any royalties or other compensation in connection with such use.

18. RULE CHANGES: Rules interpretation is exclusively left to the Tournament Director. The decisions of the Tournament Director are final in all matters and are not subject to appeal.

19. WINNER/PRIZE STRUCTURE: Largest total of fish in inches submitted by a Competitor shall determine the winner, if there is a tie the Competitor that submitted pictures first is the winner. The next largest total of fish in inches will win second place and so on. Total inches wins not number of fish. 2 fish can beat 3 fish for example. Prize amounts will be based upon number of registered contestants. Prize amounts will be paid in cash.

If 50 (Fifty) Competitors are registered the prize amounts will be as follows:

1st Place - $200.00 (Two-hundred dollars)

2nd Place - $100.00 (One-hundred dollars)

3rd Place - $50.00 (Fifty dollars)

20. TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

Moore Flats Fishing

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

THE LEGAL AGREEMENTS SET OUT BELOW GOVERN YOUR PARTICIPATION IN ANY EVENT ORGANIZED AND SPONSORED BY Moore Flats Fishing DURING THE YEAR 2017 (THE “EVENT”). IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO THESE TERMS, DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE EVENT.

You agree to observe and obey all rules of the Event as set out on the Moore Flats Fishing website.

You agree that participation in the Event is at your own risk.

You agree, to the extent permitted by law, to indemnify and hold Moore Flats Fishing, its directors, officers, employees, agents and sponsors harmless with respect to any claims arising out of your participation in the Event. This means that you cannot sue or recover any damages from Moore Flats Fishing, its directors, officers, employees, agents or sponsors for any claims, including personal injury or property damage, arising out of your participation in the Event.

YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE READ THIS DOCUMENT AND UNDERSTAND IT. YOU FURTHER UNDERSTAND THAT BY AGREEING TO THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS YOU VOLUNTARILY SURRENDER CERTAIN LEGAL RIGHTS.

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