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Emeril Lagasse Foundation's Line, Vine & Dine

February 9 - February 11, 2017

Tournament Rules

  1. Two-day fishing tournament: Friday, February 10th & Saturday, February 11, 2017.
  2. Times: Friday: Lines in at 8:00 AM and lines out at 4:00 PM. Scales open at 4 p.m. and close at 6 p.m.
  3. Saturday: Lines in at 8:00 AM and lines out at 12 NOON Scales open at 12 p.m. and close at 2 p.m.
  4. All registered anglers and vessels must comply with all applicable federal and Florida laws regarding fishing licenses, permits, size limits, bag limits, etc. Infractions of any of these rules will result in disqualification. The NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling Permit can be purchased at http://www.nmfspermits.com or by phone at 888-872-8862. In accordance with federal fisheries regulations, the results of the Tournament will be reported directly to NMFS; registered boats should therefore not report their catches during the Tournament. A photocopy of the NMFS HMS Angling Permit shall be required from each boat to register for the Tournament. All anglers must also have a valid Florida saltwater fishing license that can be obtained at http://www.myfwc.com.
  5. Eligible Tournament Species: Sailfish and White and Blue Marlin (Release Only) Dolphin, King Mackerel, Wahoo, Blackfin Tuna, Yellowfin Tuna, and Cobia
  6. The Tournament committee will appoint an official Weighmaster and rules committee, who will oversee all activities. The Weighmaster’s and committee’s decision on individual fish weights, species identifications and video review is final.
  7. Committee Boat Reporting: The tournament committee will monitor the official call-in Channel VHF station 74 (alternate 78) on VHF and via cell phone. The reporting cell numbers will be distributed at the Captains Meeting Thursday, February 9, 2017. Anglers calling in a release must include the boat number and angler name in their report.  A release will be official once the committee boat responds to the respective angler with a confirmation number. That confirmation number should be recorded on the official release card. Any boat unable to contact the committee should contact another boat for a relay or call via cell phone.  Boats that intend to fish in areas with poor cell phone coverage are still responsible for maintaining communication with the tournament committee on all releases.
  8. Check-Out: All boats may begin checking out with the Committee Boat beginning at 7 a.m. during both days of fishing from the fuel dock at Hyatt Regency Pier 66. No baits, teasers, or chumming with whole or cut baits are allowed in the water before the official start of the fishing day (“lines in”). Official announcements of “lines in the water” for the beginning of the fishing day and “lines out of the water” for the end of the fishing day will be issued on the official Tournament VHF channel 74.
  9. Boundaries: Participating boats are limited to the waters off the coast of Florida no more than 30 miles to the east, north to Lake Worth Inlet (26.7723° N, 80.0373° W) and south to Triumph Reef (25.486498°N, -80.115046°W ).
  10. Anglers: Only registered anglers may fish in the Tournament, with a maximum of six anglers per boat. Unregistered anglers may not substitute for registered anglers during the Tournament. All anglers must be listed on the angler registration form. Additional crewmembers or mates may accompany the team if desired. Any teams with angler changes or substitutions must notify the committee prior to the start of fishing each day.
  11. Maximum Lines: All boats are permitted up to six (6) lines in the water (at one time)in the Sailfish Tournament. (Not including non-baited teasers)
  12. Scoring: Registered anglers will receive 200 points for each eligible sailfish, (blue marlin/white marlin) released. One point per pound shall be awarded for all other eligible fish weighed in accordance with the procedure below. All team prize categories will be awarded based on the team’s overall point standings. In the event of a tie, winners will be determined by the team that releases their last fish first.  Trophies will be presented for the top 3 heaviest fish regardless of species.
  13. All boats with fish to be weighed must proceed directly to the weigh station at the end of the fishing day. The scales will open at 4:00 p.m. on Friday and at noon on Saturday. They will close at 6 pm on Friday and at 2 pm on Saturday. Fish to be weighed must be delivered to the weigh station by the capturing boat and official team member(s).
  14. In case of a tie involving two or more boats in the tournament, the boat with the highest number of points in the billfish category will be the winner. If two or more of the tied boats in the Tournament have the same score within the billfish category, then the boat with earliest catch time wins.
  15. Billfish — Each eligible billfish in the Tournament must be registered with the Committee Boat as described above. Points will be awarded for the successful release of each fish and awarded 200 points.
  16. Fun Fish — One point per pound will be awarded to any registered boat landing the following species (10-pound minimum per fish, with each fish weighed to the nearest half pound): Cobia, Dolphin (Mahi), King Mackerel (kingfish), Wahoo, Blackfin tuna, and yellowfin tuna. In case of a tie, the earliest boated fish will be the winner.
  17. Any mutilated fish will not be counted in the Tournament scoring. “Mutilation” does not include the normal wear-and-tear involved in captures with high-speed trolling or gaffing. Any fish that has been tampered with to increase the weight shall be disqualified and the vessel removed from the tournament.
  18. A maximum of 5 fish per boat can be weighed in. All boats must adhere to current Florida recreational bag limits for each species. To view current bag limits for each species, please visit http://www.myfwc.com. Check-In: All sailfish release results will be video verified. Boats must have their video cameras, as well as signed release cards, SD cards or USB’s, with their boat # to the scoring committee at Pier 66 no later than 6:00 PM on Friday, February 10th and by 2:00 pm on Saturday, February 11th.
  19. Tackle: All IGFA rules apply. All fish must be caught on rod and reel. Wire lines are permitted. No electric reels (except kite rods, downriggers, dredges/teaser reels, artificial teasers or dredges only). All teams must use a non-offset circle hook in the tournament. The length of the leader may not exceed 15 feet. The combined length of the double line and the leader may not exceed 20 feet in length - 20lb test maximum manufacturer stated. (Monofilament line only, no braid backing)
  20. Bait & Fishing: Fishing with live bait and kites are permitted and circle hooks are required. Circle hook must be packaged “tournament approved.” LIVE CHUMMING IS NOT PERMITTED. Frozen chum is acceptable.  Registered boats may catch their own live bait at any time during the tournament. THERE IS A LIMIT OF SIX (6) LINES IN THE WATER AT ONE TIME PER BOAT.
  21. Hook & Catch: All anglers must fight, and land their own fish. Once a fish is hooked, the rod can be transferred only ONCE to the designated fighting angler within 30 seconds of hooking the fish. This angler must fight the fish until it is properly released, boated, or lost. Anglers may not pass rods to fellow anglers once the initial pass has been made. (A fish is considered to be hooked when he eats the bait.) It is allowable to place a rod in the rodholder with hooked fish ONLY in the event that the angler is engaged in a multiple hook-ups, but angler cannot crank handle in the holder.
  22. Release: Tip or touch. The Line, Wine & Dine Tournament requires the RELEASE of all sailfish. As such, only released sailfish shall count in the tournament. In order for a release to be official, the leader must be touched by the mate or team member or tipped. Your video must verify the catch as legal. The requirements for a release are as follows: (1) the double line and leader must leave the tip of the rod once a strike occurs. (2) At the conclusion of the fight the fish must be brought close enough to the boat for a mate or team member to touch the leader, not the double line. A qualified release requires that the fish to be released stay in the water at all times. Any fish that is removed from the water by holding it up for display or bringing it into the cockpit will be disqualified. (3) In a continuous sequence, video footage must clearly identify the fish as well as the leader touch by a mate or crew member. (4) Confirmation # must be displayed on video to mark the completion of a catch. In case of a tie, the earliest reported release shall determine the winner.
  23. All radios must remain on 25 watts. All releases must be called in by radio, and in the event you cannot reach the committee boat, you must call in by cell phone. All cell phone call details will be relayed to the fleet via radio.
  24. In the event of a multiple hook-up, and you can contact the radio committee for confirmation, and once the fish is released, the camera may be turned off until the next fish is ready to be filed for the release. Continuous filming from the release to the confirmation number is NOT required. Teams may break in filming while awaiting the committee boat to give the release number. It is the photographer’s responsibility to talk to the camera when multiple hookups occur, until confirmation has been confirmed by committee boat.
  25. Verification: Verification will be done by video cross-referenced with call-in log. Every sailfish released in the tournament must be verified by video footage clearly identifying the date, time, the release and positive I.D. of the fish. Each team is responsible for providing its own video camera and the appropriate media to record video footage which documents the releases on their boat. Video media will not be provided to teams by the tournament committee. Acceptable video formats are SD cards or USB.
  26. Awards will be presented at the Awards Reception, Saturday, February 11, 2017 6:00 pm – 11:00 pm at the Hyatt Regency Pier 66.
  27. Tournament awards will be awarded in the Individual & Team Angler categories as outlined below. The winning team will have custody of the Line, Vine & Dine perpetual trophy during their winning year and second & third place winning teams that will also receive trophies. There will also be individual trophies for top angler, second place angler and third place angler. As this is a charitable tournament, there are no official cash prizes. Trophies will also be presented for the top three heaviest overall fish caught regardless of species. (Dolphin, King Mackerel, Wahoo, Blackfin Tuna, Yellowfin Tuna, and Cobia) All proceeds from the tournament entry will benefit the Emeril Lagasse Foundation, ARC Broward and the Dan Marino Foundation.
  28. The Tournament Committee may cancel any tournament day if, in its best judgment, unsafe conditions exist at sea for the average registered boat. Notice of cancellation for the day will be broadcast on the Tournament VHF channel 74 at 6:30 am. However, the decision of the Tournament to allow fishing for the day shall not be interpreted as any assurance that the conditions are safe for any registered boat or angler. Registered participants must at all times make their own judgments regarding personal safety based on their boat, experience, seamanship skills, and any other relevant factors.
  29. All registered anglers, non-registered participants, including all guests and crew aboard any vessel expressly understand that they are voluntarily participating in the Line, Vine & Dine (LVD) Charity Fishing Tournament at their own risk. In consideration for the LVD’s acceptance of this entry, each participant accepts on behalf of his or her heirs, executors and administrators, agrees to release, hold harmless and indemnify the Emeril Lagasse Foundation’s Line, Vine and Dine Charity Fishing Tournament, its officers, managers, directors, agents, sponsors, charities, host facility, entertainment, celebrities, city and county where the event is held and all other persons connected directly or indirectly with the operation of the tournament, from and against any and all liabilities, claims, actions, damages, costs, fees or expenses which his or her captains, crew members, family members, companions or non-registered participants of their boat may have arising out of or in any way connected with his or her participation in this LVD Charity Fishing Tournament, including any injury or death suffered by any registered angler participant.
  30. Each registered angler understands and agrees that this release specifically includes and waives any claims based on liable, slander, negligence, action or inaction of any above-named party. Each registered angler and any participant in the event, understands and agrees that this release further specifically includes and waives any claims arising from the LVD’s use of any images, videos and/or photographs to be used in various publications, marketing and advertising materials, broadcast advertisements or for any other endeavors that are related to the LVD, the Emeril Lagasse Foundation and/or related participating charities. I also understand that this material may also appear on the Foundation’s and participating charities’ websites and/or multiple social media platforms. This authorization is continuous and may ONLY be withdrawn by my specific written rescission of this authorization. Consequently, the LVD may publish the materials, use my name, photograph, and/or make reference to me in any lawful manner.

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