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Viking Yachts Key West Challenge

April 5 - April 8, 2017

Tournament Rules

  1. Official Rules

  2. Mandatory Captain’s Meeting April 5, 2017 at the Dante’s Tiki Bar, 2nd Floor at 6:00 pm.
  3. Fishing days, April 6 and April 8, 2017. Lay day is April 7. No weather day.
  4. Fishing hours are 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM. You may clear the sea buoy anytime after 6:30 AM. Geographical boundary limits: Eastern boundary W 81.20 (Big Pine Key); Western boundary W 82.20 (35 miles SSW Key West)
  5. IGFA rules apply with the following exception: rod hand-offs permitted.
  6. Non-offset circle hooks must be used for billfish. All billfish must be released unharmed.
  7. There is no weather committee. Fishing is up to the decision of the captains who assume all liability for their decision.
  8. Live and dead bait may be used. No live bait chumming. No live bait teasers.
  9. No more than two kites are permitted to be used with live bait; two artificial teasers may be used with live bait; no more than two dredges, and two teasers for trolling.
  10. Only six rods are permitted in the water at any one time. This includes pitch bait rods.
  11. There are no restrictions on line tests.

  12. Fishing Regulations

  13. All anglers must comply with state and federal boating and fishing regulations with appropriate licenses and necessary documentation. All fish weighed must meet state and local minimums: Dolphin 20”, Kingfish 24” and Cobia 33”. To learn more about Florida fishing regulations go to myfwc.com/license. All boats fishing in the tournament are required to carry liability insurance.
  14. A release will be official when the mate touches the leader, or the leader reaches the inside of the rod tip. Honor system in effect.
  15. All billfish releases must be called in over the VHF radio channel 78 (80 backup) with boat and angler’s name. Once verbally acknowledged by the radio host the time of release will be noted. In case of a tie, earliest release prevails. In the event of a radio malfunction and another boat cannot relay your release, please call 609-703-1371.
  16. Any boat that hooks up between 3:20 and 3:29 pm MUST alert the radio committee and then confirm its release or break off time.

  17. Awards

  18. Grand Champion Award – Most Points Winner Take All Accumulated from all divisions. Boat and Angler.
    19.  
  19. First, Second, Third Places in all Categories
    20.  
  20. Team Awards
    21.  
  21. Sailfish, Billfish, Tuna, Dolphin, Cobia, Kingfish, Wahoo
    22.  
  22. Angler Awards
  23. Sailfish, Billfish, Tuna, Dolphin, Cobia, Kingfish, Wahoo
  24. Heaviest Bottom Fish Angler
  25. Largest Snapper or Grouper
  26. Top Female Angler
  27. Overall Releases & Meat
    28.  
  28. Top Junior Angler
  29. 15 and under
  30. Overall Releases & Meat
    31.  
  31. Point Scores
    32.  
  32. Sailfish 100; White Marlin 200; Blue Marlin 300
    33.  
  33. Tuna, Dolphin, Cobia, Kingfish, Wahoo, 1 point per pound
    34.  
  34. Anglers can qualify one fish of each species per day
    35.  
  35. Weigh in location is at Conch Harbor.
  36. Scales open at 3 pm and close at 5:30 pm

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