INVITATIONAL OFFICIAL RULES
These rules are subject to the sole interpretation, application, and discretion of the Tournament Chairman, after consultation with the Rules Committee.
This is a catch and release tournament and does not require that any fish be killed in order for an angler to accumulate points. Each team must come equipped with a digital camera (phone), and will be provided with measuring options at the Captain’s Check-in at 7 pm on September 27, 2024. Teams consist of up to 3 anglers plus the assigned Tournament Guide. the tournament begins with lines in at 5:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 28, 2024.
All Fish complete with a photo must be logged into the Michael Shields Memorial IAngler Tournament Page/App by no later than 3 p.m. on September 28, 2024. Officials from the Rules Committee will be present at River Palm Cottages, between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. September 28, 2024 to assist anglers who need help logging their fish and uploading their photos. If any team has a fish hooked prior to the 3:00 p.m. deadline, AND they contact any member of the Tournament Rules Committee prior to 3:00 p.m., they will be able to submit the fish for scoring if it is otherwise properly landed and measured, at the sole discretion of the Tournament Chairman after consultation with the Rules Committee.
There are no restrictions as to fishing locations, or means of getting there except that the mosquito ditches are out of bounds and all team members must be within either sight or shouting distance of each other and their assigned Tournament Guide without the use of technology.
The Guide is considered the captain of the team, and may fish, if the team chooses. The Guide must maintain professional conduct at all times. Consumption of alcohol or drugs by the Guide is strictly prohibited within 6 hours of the tournament start time and until all anglers are off the boat. Any violation of this rule will result in a permanent ban from all future tournaments.
All anglers must abide by all local, State and Federal Rules and licensing restrictions on fishing for game fish with hook and line. 10.
Anglers will target Snook, Tarpon, Redfish and Trout. Each fish will be measured by its Total Length. Total Length is defined as: the distance from the most forward point of the fish’s head to the hindmost point of the tail.
MEASURING FISH
Each angler bucket will include a “Tarpon Card” to be included in all photos submitted to the IAngler App for scoring. Anglers shall use their own measuring device, subject to inspection upon request by the Rules Committee and shall lay the tape measure flat on the boat deck or ground, with the “Tarpon Card” also flat on the boat deck or ground. The fish shall be laid on the boat deck or ground also above the tape and card, so that the tape measure can be clearly seen as well as the entire “Tarpon Card.” DO NOT PULL THE TAPE MEASURE OVER THE FISH OR LAY THE “TARPON TAPE” ON TOP OF THE FISH WITH ONLY ONE EXCEPTION: ALL TARPON THAT ARE LEFT IN THE WATER BECAUSE THEY ARE TOO BIG TO LAND PURSUANT TO CURRENT LAWS SHALL BE MEASURED BY ROLLING THE FISH ON ITS SIDE AND LAYING THE TARPON TAPE DIRECTLY ON THE TOP SIDE OF THE FISH. THE ENTIRE FISH MUST BE IN THE PHOTOGRAPH AND THE “TARPON TAPE’ MUST BE VISIBLE.

Photographs that do not include the “Tarpon Card” and/or that do not allow the Rules Committee to view the tape measure may be excluded at the sole discretion of the Tournament Chairman. The Committee will utilize all tools at our disposal, including a virtual ruler through the Iangler App to attempt to verify measurements for all fish in contention for a prize. If a fish or measurement is partially obstructed, the Tournament Chairman, after consultation with the Rules Committee has the sole authority to decide whether to exclude a fish in its entirety or give credit for the visible part of the fish.
SCORING
Snook caught on natural bait will be awarded 2 points per inch. Any tarpon caught on natural bait will  be awarded 1 point per inch. All large tarpon must remain in the water at all times during measurement, pursuant to Florida Law. Redfish and Trout caught on natural bait will be awarded 1 point per inch. Additional points will be awarded for catches on artificial baits and for filling the scorecard as set forth in the chart below. Scorecards should reflect the actual length of each fish to the half inch.
Each Team must be registered with the Michael Shields Memorial IAngler Tournament Page/App prior  to commencing. Officials from the Rules Committee will be present at River Palm Cottages at 7:00 p.m to assist in registering teams and anglers. Each team should log every fish caught, however only the top three scoring fish will be scored per species. Teams must photograph each scored fish on the team’s digital camera next to the “Tarpon Tape” and tape measure (see measuring above).
After 3 p.m. on Septempber 28, 2024, the rules committee will validate the team’s entries and apply the bonus points where appropriate as set forth below. Any submissions after 3 p.m. may be disqualified or incur a point reduction, at the sole discretion of the tournament chairman after consultation with the rules committee. Any technical difficulties with digital equipment will be dealt with on a case by case basis by the tournament chairman after consultation with the rules committee. In the event of a tie, the Rules Committee will re-measure each fish utilizing the Iangler Tournament measuring device to attempt to ascertain a more precise measurement. If there is still a tie the winner will be the first to log all of their fish. If there is a tie for the largest of a species even after review through the tournament virtual measuring tools, the first fish logged wins. Cheaters will be disqualified and subjected to public stoning, and shall wear a t-shirt that clearly states: I cheated at a charity fishing tournament.
4 species – Tarpon, Snook, Redfish, Trout

SPECIES	     NATURAL BAIT	     ARTIFICIAL	  FULL CARD BONUS

Snook	      2 pts per inch	  3 pts per inch	3 snook on card, 25 pts

Tarpon	      1 pt per inch 	  2  pts per inch 	3 tarpon on card, 50 pts

Redfish	     1 pt per inch	  2 pts per inch	3 redfish on card, 25 pts

Trout	     1 pt per inch	  2 pts per inch	3 trout on card, 20 pts 
Iron Man Slam - all 4 species caught (at least one of each) 100 pt bonus
Prizes
First Place Team

Second Place Team

Top Guide

Top Lady Angler (Individual Angler)

Top Junior Angler (15 years or younger)

Mystery Fish – Don’t forget to log all your catches!!!!

Best Overall Snook (Individual Angler)

Best Overall Tarpon (Individual Angler)

Best Overall Redfish (Individual Angler)

Best Overall Trout (Individual Angler)

Best Fish Caught on Fly (Individual Angler)