TOURNAMENT ENTRY
Entry Fee is $2,500 per boat through December 31. A $250 late fee will be applied starting January 1. Payment of the entry fee constitutes a representation by each entrant that they have read and fully understand the tournament rules that they will abide by such rules and the decisions of the Tournament Director and/or Committee. King Master is a sport fishing tournament where participants agree to fish in a fair and ethical manner. While the tournament does not strictly enforce the use of IGFA rules, it certainly expects that only minor technical differences will be employed by anglers.
REGISTRATION
Registration is from 5pm-8pm on Wednesday. Captain’s Meeting is at 6:30pm.
PERMITS & LICENSE
EACH angler must obtain a Florida Saltwater Fishing License which can be purchased online https://myfwc.com/license/recreational/saltwater-fishing/
TOURNAMENT START
Boats will check out in Shotgun formation at 7:00am. Lines at 8:00am. Teams are encouraged to go live on their social media platforms during the start and document lines in for competition. Tag @fishkingmaster on Instagram, @kingmaster on Facebook and @cfishingevents on X
DAILY INDENTIFIERS
Competition Day 1 will have an identifier announced at the Captains Meeting and Competition Day 2 will have an identifier announced after conclusion of Day 1 Weigh-in.
VIDEO RECORDINGS
1. Initially deploying lines-in must be recorded. Record the deck showing no lines in with the daily identifier, with a continuous video initiating deployment of lines at 8:00am.
2. Each fish landed must be recorded. The daily identifier must be in sight at some point during this continuous video. Once the fish comes into the boat, immediately pan over to the GPS coordinates, time & date. Cell phone, iPad and Go Pro devices are allowed for video recording.
3. Download the Dropbox application to your preferred device and upload your recorded content for review. Email your tournament Dropbox folder to the tournament director, Robbie Carter rfcarter4@gmail.com.
4. You are only required to send your recorded content to us, if there is a protest filed against your vessel. This content is very important, in order for us to protect your results.
BOUNDARIES
Teams are not allowed to fish in the Northern and Southern Tortuga Ecological Reserves. If your team results are protested, be prepared to show your chart plotter. If you are found in this area, you will be disqualified. Click link for map https://floridakeys.noaa.gov/zones/ers/tortugas.html
Additional Notes
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No tournament category fish are allowed on board at time of check out.
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All fish must be taken on conventional rod and reel tackle.
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Electric reels are not allowed.
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Downriggers, outriggers and kites will be permitted as fishing line carries only.
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Teammates can pull the rod from the gunnel and hand to angler at beginning of fight.
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Chumming is not allowed.
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Live bait teasers are not allowed
WEIGHT STATION HOURS
Scales will be open at 3:30pm on Friday and Saturday. Boats must be in front of Mallory Square at 5:30pm, by Buoy Marker #23. Scales will close immediately after the last fish weighed. All fish submitted at the weigh scales will be returned to the team or the team can donate their fish to charity. All fish submitted for weigh-in must be caught must be in fresh, edible condition. No mutilated fish can be weighed in. The tournament rules committee reserves the right to disqualify any fish based on quality and freshness.
QUALIFYING FISH
The following species are eligible for competition when caught by registered anglers in accordance with tournament rules:
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King Mackerel – minimum weight is 10 lbs.
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Wahoo – minimum weight of 20 lbs.
Each boat will be allowed to bring to the scales a maximum of 4 King Mackerel and 4 Wahoo per day. The tournament committee reserves the right to reject any fish entry because of poor condition or one that does not meet the eligible requirements set by this tournament. The condition of the fish will be left to the scrutiny of the tournament director and committee. THEIR DECISION IS FINAL.
Tournament Awards
All Tournament Awards are based on 50 team field. Payouts are subject to change depending on the number of entries. Awards for heaviest fish will be presented to the angler/boat.
Top Junior Angler and Top Lady Angler awards will be presented for heaviest King Mackerel caught by the actual angler. The angler must reel the fish in to qualify for the award. The Junior Angler must not be older than 16 years of age on the day the fish is caught.
TEAMS ARE ALLOWED TO SWEEP THE BOARD and can place more than once. In other words, a team can place in 1st and 2nd or 1st, 2nd and 5th.
OPTIONAL AWARDS
This is a separate entry and is not required to compete for Tournament Awards. Participants may pay an Optional Entry fee in one or more of the following:
Payout amounts will be the total amount of the monies received, less 10% deducted for administration fees with the remaining 90% to be awarded. King Mackerel, 2 Fish Aggregate and Wahoo will pay 1st, 2nd, and 3rd with a 50%, 30%, 20% split. In the event of limited participation in any category listed above, the payouts will be modified as follows: One team entered will be refunded in full, 2-5 teams will be winner-take-all, 6-9 teams will be a 60/40 split, and 10 or more teams will be the standard 50/30/20 split. If no qualifying fish are weighed by an Optional Entry participant in each Division eligible for an Optional Award, 90% of the Optional Entry Fees collected for that division are returned to the participant(s) who paid Optional Entry Fees for that division.
Teams are allowed to sweep the board and can place more than once. When competing in the 2 Fish Aggregate the scoring system will pair the 2 heaviest fish, then the next 2 heaviest and so on. Teams cannot choose which fish to pair together.
PAYMENT FOR CASH AWARDS
Prior to fishing, each tournament boat must designate a representative payee to receive payment for all crash awards. Payment of cash awards is by check. A single check will be written to the boat’s representative payee for the combined total of tournament cash awards and optional cash awards. King Master accepts no responsibility for the division of any cash awards between team members.
WEATHER: TOURNAMENT DELAY FOR CANCELLATION
In the event the tournament committee feels in their best judgement fishing is unsafe due to severe weather, high seas, or any cause beyond control of the King Master, the tournament may be cancelled or delayed. If delayed, a new start time or date will be announced should weather conditions improve. If cancelled, entry fees will be rolled over to the following year in their entirety. All teams and participants should make their decision to fish based solely on their own judgement. FISH AT YOUR OWN RISK. One day of fishing constitutes a complete tournament. Entrants shall have no claim against the King Master for return of paid entry fees.
TIE BREAKERS
For any category of fish brought to the scales, placement is determined by recorded weight and time of the fish. In case of a tie for Top Lady Angler or Top Junior Angler on points, placement is determined by the first angler to reach the points based on recorded time.
PROTEST
Any protests relating to the tournament must be submitted in writing along with $500 deposit by the team captain to the tournament committee no later than 15 minutes after the last fish is weighed on the final day of the tournament. All entrants agree to abide by tournament rules and regulations. All disputes are decided by the Tournament Director and Committee. Their decision is final. Poor sportsmanship will be grounds for disqualification from the King Master. Any violation of these rules resulting in disqualification will result in forfeiture of entry fee and prize money.
WAIVER/DISCLAIMER
It is understood that all participants in the King Master enter at their own risk, and that the officers, committee members, sponsors, directors, tournament venue and all persons connected directly or indirectly with the operation of said tournament, shall be exempt from any liability for libel, slander, loss, damage, negligence, harm, injury or death suffered by any participant, entrant, anglers, his/her companions, boat captains, mates, crew members, vessels and equipment which may occur during or in conjunction with the tournament. By tournament entry, the captain consents that the King Master may just without payment or restriction, any photographs in which he/she or any of their crew may appear for any purpose whatsoever, including, but not limited to resale, advertising, commercial, or promotional material. The captain and his crew further release the King Master, officers and directors, and all persons from injury, loss or damage which may result.
ALL DECISIONS OF THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR AND COMMITTEE WILL BE FINAL.
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