SECTION I – GENERAL RULES
1. The Backwater Challenge is a 2-day ANGLERS tournament. The Backwater Challenge will be a heaviest fish tournament in each species, along with a slam category. To qualify for the slam category the individual ANGLER must weigh ALL three qualifying species. The angler’s heaviest fish of each species will count towards the slam weight. Qualifying fish include redfish, trout, and flounder. Only one of each species can be weighed per day. See Weigh-In rules below for more detail.
2. Registration is 4pm – 7pm Friday, July 12, 2013 at the St. Augustine Municipal Marina. All registered anglers must attend the mandatory tournament meeting at 7pm. All tournament rules will be reviewed at the Tournament Meeting.
3. Prizes are limited to one per Backwater Tournament Angler per category. All advertised prizes are subject to change based upon the number of registered entrants.
4. All anglers are responsible for following all Florida State fishing rules. Any angler receiving a citation from a law enforcement agency will be disqualified from the tournament.
5. All anglers may fish all coastal waters between St. Mary’s Inlet to the north and Ponce Inlet to the south. Anglers may only fish after safe light each day.
6. No transfer or pooling of fish shall be permitted between anglers.
7. All fish must be caught by rod and reel.
8. Go / No-Go weather decisions to fish is left to the angler. Safety should ALWAYS come first.
9. No refund of entry fees unless the tournament committee cancels the tournament. In that case, a prorated entry fee will be returned after expenses.
SECTION II – WEIGH-IN
1. Weigh-In will be at the St. Augustine Municipal Marina. Weigh-In times are 3-5 pm on Saturday and 2-4 pm on Sunday.
2. All anglers weighing in can come to the event by vehicle or vessel. However, the angler who caught the fish must
accompany his or her fish to the scale.
3. Anglers will be required to sign their weigh in slip and certify that they were the angler that caught the fish. All anglers shall have identification present at weigh-in.
4. Only 1 of each eligible species shall be weighed per day. Anglers are responsible to determine which fish will be
weighed.
5. No angler may fish after Weigh-In on Day 1 until safe light on Day 2.
6. The heaviest fish of each species will count towards the slam weight. If a heavier fish within a species is weighed on Day 2, the weight of the Day 1 fish will be eliminated from the slam total.
7. Fish must be weighed on the day caught in order to be eligible. All fish weighed in will be donated to the tournament.
8. All fish must comply with federal, state, and local water regulations. Any fish deemed to be spoiled, frozen, mutilated, or showing signs of unsportsmanlike handling may be disqualified by the Weigh Master. Weigh Master decisions are final.
9. In the case of a tie, the angler that accumulates his or her prize position first, as determined by the weigh-in number, wins.
SECTION III – PROTESTS
If a protest is made, it must be submitted no later than 30 minutes after the last fish is weighed for that day’s competition. A protest must be made in writing, signed by the person lodging the protest, and be accompanied by a $200 cash deposit. The decision to uphold or deny the protest will be made within one hour after the protest, and any and all decisions will be final and irrevocable. If the Tournament Committee upholds the protest, the deposit will be refunded.
NOTICE: ALL ENTRANTS ARE SUBJECT TO A POLYGRAPH TEST TO RECEIVE A PRIZE. THESE ARE THE BACKWATER CHALLENGE TOURNAMENT RULES. ANY LAST MINUTE ADDITIONS OR CHANGES DEEMED NECESSARY BY THE TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE WILL BE PRESENTED AT THE ANGLER’S MEETING. ANY RULES NOT SO PRESENTED WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED OFFICIAL.
