Rules

31st ANNUAL SUNCOAST KINGFISH CLASSIC

Tiki Docks Skyway Bar + Grill at Maximo Marina & Boatyard
3769 50th Avenue S., St. Petersburg, FL 33711

Tournament Rules & Regulations – May 2-4, 2024

 

  1. Eligible species limited to King Mackerel. Eligible fish must measure 24″ in length nose to fork & must be brought by boat to weigh in scales.
  2. Entry feeis $400.00 (7% tax & cc fees included).  Early entry (suncoastkingfishclassic.com) fee is $350.00 (tax & cc fees included) if received before April 29, 2024 (No Exceptions).  “At the Captain’s meeting the Tournament Director will decide whether or not weather will require rescheduling of the Tournament and, if so, all participants are bound by that decision.”  Registration starts at 6:00 p.m. on May 2, 2024 followed by a Mandatory Captains meeting at Tiki Docks Skyway Bar + Grill at 8:00 p.m.  Cash, check or credit cards will be accepted.  Returned checks incur a $50.00 fee.
  3. Payment of the entry fee into a tournament constitutes a representation by each entrant that he or she has read and will abide by such rules.  Your signature is required at Registration when you receive your boat number.  All info must be filled out completely and printed legibly.
  4. Any tournament changes will be announced by the end of the Mandatory Captain’s Meeting, May 2, 2024,and will supersede all prior tournament rules and regulations.
  5. Tournament Committee reserves the rights to refuse entry to any person from entering the tournament for any reason.
  6. NO CHECK OUTS:  Fishing starts at 6:30 am on Saturday May 4, 2024. No lines in water prior to this time.
  7. Saturday, May 4, 2024, Boundaries: Homosassa SpringsNorth, 28’48.00’N, & Boca Grande Pass South, 26’39.00’S line and West, 83’20.00’W (approx. 30 miles West of Johns Pass Sea Buoy) on the West Coast of FL.
  8. Closest to 20.24 lbs. (over or under) will pay $2500. 
  9. A youth angler eligible for the “Youth Angler Awards” must be under 16 years old on the tournament date. Three (3) places awarded.
  10. A` lady angler eligible for the “Lady Angler Prizes” must be 16 years old or older on the tournament date.  Three (3) places paid ($2,500.00 total payout guaranteed).  1st – $1500.00, 2nd – $750.00 & 3rd – $250.00.
  11. This is a Captain’s choice tournament.  It is up to the registered Captain to determine whether his or her craft is sea worthy for existing sea conditions.  Participants are encouraged to scan channel 16 along with the Official Tournament channel 68 to keep abreast of any marine or weather warnings.  The captain is responsible for all members of his crew both on and off the water.
  12.  After tournament begins, if two or more boats come together, make landfall or pass anything between boats, it will result in disqualification.  The only exception is for a life-threatening emergency.  The exception will apply to the boat granting assistance, not to the boat receiving assistance.  This must be reported prior to weigh in to Tournament Committee.
  13.  “Spanish Mackerel Division” fees – $100.00 Entry Fee. Payouts are based on number of entries.  Three (3) places will be paid:  50/30/20% of total entries.  Only one (1) Spanish Mackerel per boat/team can be weighed.
  14. “Single Engine Division”:  Outboard only, 450 hp or less.  Included in overall registration fee. 1st Place up to $5000.00 cash & prizes.  Three (3) places paid.  1st – $2400.00, 2nd – $1000.00, 3rd – $500.00 and all Guaranteed.
  15.  Maximum of six anglers per boat with a maximum of six lines in use at any one time.  All fish must be caught only with hand held rods and reels.
  16. WEIGH IN: OVERALL TOURNAMENT WILL ALLOW two (2) FISH TO BE WEIGHED.  ONE (1) HEAVIEST FISH & ONE (1) CLOSEST TO 20.24 LBS.
  17.  All tournament boats must show their number to the designated check-in boat located at the second set of markers outside of MAXIMO MARINA in the channel by 5:00 p.m. to be in the check-in line.  If you are not recognized by your boat number by the tournament headquarters, you will not be allowed to come to the dock and weigh your fish.  No boat may break into the weigh-in line or leave and return to the line. All boats must stack up in order in the channel that they weigh in.
  18.  All fish weighed must be fit for human consumption.  Please ice your fish.  No mutilated or frozen fish will be accepted for weigh-in.  All fish weighed become the property of the tournament.  Donated fish welcomed.  All fish proceeds go to our charity.
  19.  All tournament fish must be weighed at the tournament site by the Weigh Master.  (NO EXCEPTIONS) Weigh scales open at 3:00 p.m.  A certified electronic scale is used.  In the event of a tie, the earliest fish weighed will be declared the winner.  All fish weighed must be free of hooks, wire, weights, ice or anything not natural to the Kingfish.  The Weigh Master’s decision is final.
  20.  All boats are responsible for getting their fish to the weigh-in by boat under their own power.
  21.  Fish will be brought to the dock by a registered boat angler and remain with the fish to verify the weight at the scale and sign the weigh-in slip.
  22.  Captains and their crews are responsible for following all local, state, federal fishing licenses and boating laws.
  23. Any protest concerning the violation of tournament rules of any kind, the decision of the Tournament Director is final.  It must be made in writing and turned in to the Tournament Director before the end of the weigh-in.  Each protest must be accompanied by a $500 cash fee. If the protest is upheld, the $500 will be returned.
  24.  By entering in the tournament, each contestant agrees to submit to Polygraph testing and abide by its conclusion. The polygraph test(s) will be issued at the discretion of the tournament committee. Up to three (3) test may be performed.  Overall and two random places.  The results of the polygraph are final and cannot be protested or reviewed by a court of law.  Polygraph test will be performed on 1st Place overall plus one/two random teams Sunday, May 5, 2024 at 1:00 pm at Tiki Docks Skyway. Failure to submit to a polygraph will result in disqualification from the tournament and forfeit of any winnings.  Checks issued after Polygraph is passed. Tournament Director has the right to board any boat and view any marine, fishing equipment and the boats GPS chart tracking.
  25.  NOTE:  ALL TOURNAMENT WINNERS MUST BE PRESENT AT TOURNAMENT AWARDS TO RECEIVE WINNING CHECKS.  Anyone receiving a check or prize from this tournament must complete a W-9 Form after weigh in before the check will be issued. (Minimum of one team member authorized to fill out paperwork and receive check must be present otherwise the winnings will be forfeited).  All awards not claimed by a boat team member at the Awards Ceremony will be donated 100% to our charity.