2023 Bigg Sam Slam Tournament Series


Saturday, April 1, 2023 to Sunday, September 10, 2023


Rules


Catch & Release
This is a catch and release event. You will be able to submit catches via the iAngler Tournament app. With this app, you will use the supplied ruler as your token for the photos that let you take and submit them for judging. The only time you will not catch-and-release is when you attend the face-to-face monthly kick-off events and bring your in-slot catches to the researcher on standby.



24/7 Submissions
You will be able to submit all of your catches (regardless of the month's target species) via the iAngler Touranment app. With this app, you will use the supplied ruler as your token for the photos that let you take and submit them for judging. This "virtual" platform allows you to submit your catches 24/7 for the entire 6-month series.



Tournament Boundaries
The tournament boundaries are in the GTMNERR preserve and is In-Shore only. This is a very large boundary. The preserve stretches the intercostal waterways from the St. Mary's River in Fernando down to the Matanzas River in Palm Coast. Be sure to check the boundaries map online.

Anglers can fish by boat, kayak, or on land.



Scoring
Every month, we will select a target species that will go towards your overall tournament score. You will be scored on the length of the fish caught of the target species; however, ALL catches (whether the target species or not) will be submitted via the iAngler Tournament app for research purposes.

The total aggregate length of In-slot catches of the month's target catches will determine the tournament series winner.



Attend Meetings
Anglers are highly encouraged to attend the face-to-face monthly kick-off event where researchers will be on standby to analyze your physical catches. This the only time where you will be bringing in your in-slot catches. This is the most important part of the tournament for us as they will be gathering data from your catches. For the rest of the month, you will fish on your own time, recording catches virtually via the iAngler Tournament app.



Help Biologist Research
GTMNERR research biologists will be at each monthly kick-off event to gather important information about each in-slot catch. They will gather information such as fish species, length, and take samples of blood and scales to determine the health of our local fish and their habitats.

At the culmination of the series, biologists will reveal their findings at the Awards Ceremony.



Respectful
This tournament is designed to be easily accessible and fun. In saying that, we will attract anglers of all different backgrounds, ages, and genders. We ask all participants to please be respectful of one another.



Honesty
This tournament is based on trust, honesty, and respect. We are a 501c(3) nonprofit that works hard to serve our community an dour environment. We work hard to create a fun event that can make a real impact. We are trusting you to follow the rules and participate in an honest way by following the tournament rules, staying within the boundaries, and using your own catches.



Have Fun
This unique tournament was created for many reasons, but one of the top reasons is to have fun! We want to celebrate and encourage the sport of fishing!