FISHING DATES AND HOURS

CAPTAIN'S MEETING - MAY 30 @ NIPPERS BEACH GRILLE @ 7 pm

COMMUNICATION

All communication between judges at the tournament headquarters and fishermen during fishing times will be monitored on VHF channel 74. An inshore and offshore committee boat will be assigned at the Captain’s meeting. The tournament fishing day is May 31, 2014.  Fishing hours are from 5:30 AM to 5:30 PM for offshore participants and 5:30am to 3:00 pm for inshore participants. No lines of any kind are permitted in the water previous to the starting time.  Any fish hooked prior to the weigh in time of 5:30 may be played until boated or released. However, boats must be in line by 3:00pm (inshore) and 5:30pm (offshore) to count as eligible, no exceptions.

Rules and Regulations

This event is open to all anglers provided the angler operating the boat is at least 18 years of age.  All boats must be registered and paid in full prior to the end of the Captains Meeting on May 16, 2014 at 6:30 pm at Nippers Beach Grille. Registration fees are non-refundable if you cannot fish or due to weather conditions. The tournament will be conducted in accordance with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission rules for size and catch limits for the State of Florida and any other jurisdiction that may have regulations in effect within the tournament waters. All anglers are responsible for knowing and abiding by the state and federal laws governing fishing. This is a rod and reel event; nets are permitted only for catching baitfish.  There are no limits on the number of lines or teasers (Inshore and Offshore). No spear fishing is allowed. The Garrard Fishing Tournament only advocates catch and release on billfish.  All billfish will be qualified with a photo with date or video with date to be included in awarded points.

Tournament Prize Structure

Tournament Prize Structure ONE TOP PRIZE WILL BE AWARDED FOR THE HEAVIEST FISH IN OFFSHORE AND INSHORE CATEGORIES.

Inshore:  Single Heaviest Fish: Qualified species: Redfish, Flounder or Trout

Offshore:  Single Heaviest Fish: Qualified species: Mahi, Wahoo, Tuna or Kingfish

** A documented billfish catch and release wins offshore top prize over heaviest Mahi, Wahoo or Kingfish.
The overall winner is determined by the first catch and release called in to committee boat or weigh- in captain
that can also provide the proper documentation. The heaviest fish caught by each inshore and offshore Junior angler wins the Junior angler category.

*A boat can enter their two heaviest fish in inshore and junior OR offshore and junior*

TIEBREAKERS:
**IN THE EVENT WE HAVE THE SAME TOTAL WEIGHT UNDER A TIEBREAKER SITUATION, THE WINNER WILL BE DETERMINED BY THE EARLIER RECORDED TIME OF WEIGH – IN.

TOURNAMENT CHECK IN/OUT, BOUNDARIES AND WEIGH- IN: 

Offshore participants may not exceed 150 nautical miles from Mayport, however contestants are permitted to launch and to begin the tournament from any area, therefore boats are not required to leave from Beach Marine.  Participants are prohibited from laying out over night. All boats must depart on the morning of the fishing day and any boats not in compliance will be disqualified. Boats will be verified entered into Tournament by boat name. In the event we have duplication on boat names, the second boat will be verified by the Captain’s name. For safety reasons it is IMPORTANT that ALL boats also check in at the end of the tournament VIA RADIO if you are not weighing on to channel 74 or via cell to Tournament Director at 904-612.8280.

WEATHER OR KNOT:

Fishing will be on the scheduled day and is Captains choice. Fishing by any one boat on the fishing day or partial day constitutes an official tournament and prizes awarded. All participants enter this tournament at their own risk and discretion and will accept full responsibility for their own boat and crew.  By virtue of your paid entry all participants agree to the final decision of the Rules Committee.

The tournament and its sponsors are not responsible for the conduct, personal injury, damages or negligence on the part of any participant. The Tournament Committee reserves the right to inspect any boats entered into the tournament without notice. The Tournament Director reserves the right to make any last minute changes to the rules at the Captain’s Meeting on Friday, May 30, 2014.

WEIGHING YOUR CATCH: 

All eligible fish must be available for weigh-in no later than 5:30pm on the scheduled fishing day. Anglers are not required to dock at Beach Marine, but must report to the Beach Marine weigh station by the deadline for all eligible fish to count. If any question arises as to the qualifications of a fish, tournament officials have the option of retaining the fish for judges’ inspection. The Tournament Director’s decision is final. Scales open at 2pm for inshore weigh- in and 4:15pm for the offshore weigh–in. There will be no official check out in the morning but there will be an official check in for safety. All fish must be caught and weighed-in on the tournament day, during the tournament hours.

JUNIOR ANGLER

Must be on board and must act as angler, gaffer or other team member. Junior must be 15 years or younger. Fish must be identified before being weighed in, and must be accompanied by Junior Angler at weigh– in.

SPORTSMANSHIP:  

All contestants are expected to conduct themselves in a courteous and sportsmanlike manner throughout the event. Unruly conduct or un-sportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated and is grounds for immediate disqualification. Violators will be subject to disqualification at the sole discretion of the tournament committee without refund.