Inshore/Offshore Tournament Rules

Revised 08.07.2024
	#1 RULES ACCEPTANCE

It is the sole responsibility of the Captain, crew and anglers to read, understand and abide by the Tournament rules; including any and all special instructions and/or modifications announced during the Captain’s meeting. The Suncoast Builders Association/Sarasota Slam expects the highest level of integrity and sportsmanship from its participants. 
	#2 ENTRY DEADLINE

Offshore entry deadline is 9:00 am Friday, August 9, 2024. Inshore Entry deadline is 4:00pm Friday August 9, 2024
	#3 ENTRY FEE

The entry fee shall be $650 per boat competing in the Offshore Tournament-included species: Grouper, Snapper, Warsaw and Wildcard. The entry dee into the Fun Fish division will be $500 per species: Wahoo, Tuna, Dolphine, Swordfish. The entry fee shall be $200 per angler competing in the Inshore Tournament-included species: Snook, Trout, Redfish, Slam and Trash Can. Optional Jr. Angler fee is $25 per Jr. Angler (see rules below)
	#4 JR ANGLER COMPETITION

Any boat entered into the Inshore or Offshore division of the Sarasota Slam may enter up to (5) Jr. Anglers per vessel. Jr. Anglers must be 14 years of age or younger and must be accompanied by a licensed boat captain. Inshore Jr. Anglers winners will be determined for each category as follows: the two largest Redfish, the two largest Trout, and the largest Snook. Offshore Jr. Anglers can weigh in one Grouper. Jr. Anglers will compete for title and trophy. There will be no cash prize for the Jr. Angler. Inshore division awards will be 1st and 2nd place for Snook, Trout, Redfish and 1st place for Slam. Offshore division awards will be 1st and 2nd place for Grouper.
	#5 REGISTRATION, CAPTAIN’S MEETING & TOURNAMENT START

Offshore Division: in person registration for anyone who has not preregistered will begin Friday, August 9,2024 starting at 8:00 am. There will be mandatory captain's meeting for the Offshore Division on Friday, August 9, 2024 at 9:00am. Anglers are released to fish at the close of the Captain’s meeting. Inshore Division: in person registration for anyone who has not preregistered will begin Friday, August 9, 2024 starting at 3:00 pm. There will be a mandatory captain’s meeting for the Inshore Division on Friday, August 9, 2024 at 4:00 pm. Inshore division anglers may begin logging at 6:00pm on Friday, August 9, 2024.
	#6 ENTRY NUMBERS

Entry numbers will be assigned in order of registrations received and paid in full. There will be no deviation from the numbering system. Each tournament vessel will receive their entry number at registration and shall be required to display that number in a manner easily visible to tournament officials.
	#7 HOURS OF COMPETITION

Participants in the offshore tournament may commence fishing following the conclusion of the captain’s meeting on Friday, August 9, 2024, continuing through Sunday, August 11, 2024. All participants must be present at the dock by 3:30 PM, using their boat number as identification. Failure to appear at the dock by the specified time will result in disqualification from the opportunity to weigh their catches. Registered catches will be weighed until the final fish has been processed. The official time will be maintained by the Weighmaster and will correspond with the time displayed on the Weighmaster's cell phone.
	#8 FISHING RULES

All angling gear and methods must adhere to the standards set forth by the International Game Fish Association (IGFA), with the exception of bent butts. Bent butts with manual hand crank reels are allowed for the entire duration of the fish fight. During competition hours, no more than six anglers are permitted on any entered boat. All fish must be caught using rod and reel; electric reels are strictly prohibited. When targeting Warsaw, only one species may be caught, and no floaters are allowed, as Warsaw cannot be vented. Goliath Grouper, Shark, and Tarpon are excluded from the Sarasota Slam. Wading is permitted, but vessels must remain moored whenever an angler is not on board. Chumming is prohibited in the Inshore Division only, while live baiting is allowed.	
	#9 PERMITS & LICENSES

Registered boats and anglers must comply with all Federal and Florida State Laws regarding fishing licenses, size limits, bag limits, and any other applicable regulations. For information regarding Florida Saltwater Fishing Licenses refer to www.FloridaConservation.org or call 850-487-0554. For information regarding NMFS permits refer to www.nmfs.noaa.gov or call 888-872-8862. A citation or written warning of any local, state or federal regulation during the tournament will result in disqualification. 
	#10 OFF-LOADING CATCH

All fish must be weighed-in off the boat from which they were caught. No trucking, trailering, or over land transportation of fish. Fish must be off-loaded only at designated dock at Marina Jack in order as called by Weighmaster. Inshore division of Trash Can will be the exception.
#11 RULER TOURNAMENT SCORING FOR INSHORE DIVISION

A point system based on the type and size of the fish will be used to determine the winning boat. Participants may log an unlimited number of catches into the iAngler App. Winners will be determined for each category as follows: the two largest Redfish, the two largest Trout, and the largest Snook. Each logged catch must include the tournament-provided ruler for validation. Photos submitted without the ruler will not qualify. Please submit your photos via the tournament app. Ensure you download the iAngler App on your phone. In the event the app is not functional, time-stamped photos should be brought to the weigh-in. Length measurements will be rounded to the nearest whole inch, with measurements of 1/2 inch being rounded up. Please refer to the attached scorecard for Snook, Trout, and Redfish.
	#12 ELIGIBLE SPECIES, POINTS AND LIMITS FUN FISH DIVISION

Species		Weight Points	Minimums	Bag Limit

Dolphin		1 per pound	10 pounds	2/team

Tuna		1 per pound	27” CFL		2/team

Wahoo		1 per pound	10 pounds	2/team

Swordfish		1 per pound	10 pounds	2/team
	#13 WEIGHING IN FISH

Scales open beginning at 11:00 am on Sunday, August 11, 2024 and closes precisely at 3:30 pm on the same day. Once a fish is entered, it may not be substituted for a larger fish that day. (Entrants will be allowed one trip to the scales, you may not resume fishing after weigh-in.) The deadline to be in the weigh-in line and to check in with tournament officials 3:30 pm for both divisions at Marina Jack. The weigh-in line will form in the mouth of the basin. Failure to be recognized and checked in by appropriate Weighmaster will disqualify fish. All fish are weighed to the hundredth of a pound. Fish must be in edible condition, and not marred or mauled in any way. No fish should leave the boat until they are in line to be weighed. Boats may weigh two (2) fish in each species per division, (excluding the snook division). All fish to be weighed must be listed on the Weigh-In Form. Before leaving the scale area, the presenting angler must sign the Official Tournament Weigh-In form. The Weighmaster and the Tournament Official reserve the right to refuse to weigh any fish that does not meet the tournament requirements.
	#14 PRIZE PAYMENTS

Prize payouts will be 90% of entry fees collected. (70% for 1st place & 30% for 2nd place) All prize payments will be made directly to the captain of the boat on the Friday following the tournament. All checks will be issued to the Captain of the team and will require a W-9. You can pick up your check at the Manatee-Sarasota BIA office or we can mail it to you. The tournament will only submit the W-9's of the winners of any prize money that exceeds the amount of the entry fee of that category by $600. If less than a $600 difference, no W-9 is needed. Captains may then distribute winnings to the anglers on their boats as appropriate. Each boat/team per division is eligible for a maximum of one prize in each division per species. Should one boat/team have first and second place of weights for a single species, the next largest registered boat/team will be awarded 2nd place. BIG CHECKS will be awarded at the Awards Ceremony immediately following the tournament. Stay around for your photo op.
	#16 PROTEST

All protests regarding the determination of tournament winners must be submitted in writing to the tournament rules committee and accompanied by a $1,000 cash deposit. Protests must be lodged before the scales close on August 10, 2024. If a protest is upheld by the committee, the $1,000 deposit will be refunded. If the protest is not upheld, the deposit becomes the property of the tournament. Decisions made by the committee regarding protests are final.
	#17 INSPECTION OF BOATS

The rules committee reserves the right to inspect any and all boats entered in the competition. 
	#18 PROCEDURES IN THE EVENT OF A TIE

If two or more entries in any category are the exact weight or weights, the winner shall be determined by the earliest check in time for all tournament divisions. 
	#19 WEATHER DELAY

In the event that a Small Craft Advisory is issued by the National Weather Service, the tournament dates will be rescheduled. No refunds will be provided.
	#20 CONDITION OF FISH

Fish shall not be mutilated in any way other than hook/gaff marks and must be in edible condition. 
	#21 RULES VIOLATION

The penalty for any violation of any of the rules is disqualification with tournament fees non-refundable. 
	#22 DISCARDING OF FISH

The captain will be responsible for properly disposing of fish. NO DEAD FISH OR FISH PARTS WILL BE TOSSED INTO THE WATER AT MARINA JACK. Unwanted fish will be collected by charity at the top of the fuel dock.
#23 LIABILITY RELEASE

It is expressly understood that all registered participants and their companions, crew members and observers (the Participants) participate in the Manatee- Sarasota BIA / Sarasota Slam (the Tournament) at their own risk.
The participants hereby indemnify and agree to be held harmless the Tournament, Marina Jack, The Manatee-Sarasota Building Industry Association, and all Directors, Volunteers, agents, partners, members, sponsors, attorneys or any other person associated with this tournament from and against any and all claims that arise from or in connection with any negligent act or omission of the Tournament Indemnified Parties.
All persons connected directly or indirectly with the operation of the Manatee - Sarasota BIA/Sarasota Slam @ Marina Jack, whether individual or corporation, shall have no liability whatsoever for any special, incidental, consequential, punitive, exemplary and/or any other damage including without limitation, any damages arising from libel, slander, loss, damage, negligence, harm, injury and death.
Participants specifically consent to the use of any photography in which they appear, or audio recording by the tournament for any reason whatsoever including, but not limited to: resale, advertising and promotional material without compensation or restriction of any kind.
This Liability Release shall be binding upon the participants and their heirs, representatives, successors and assigns. By entering the above stated tournament and paying entry fee, participants acknowledge that they have read and are bound by same.