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2023 Annual DCFBA Fishing Tournament

2023 Annual DCFBA Fishing Tournament

June 5 - June 10, 2023

Tournament Rules

Dade County Firefighters’ Benevolent

37 th Annual Fishing Tournament

“Bare Bones”


Tournament Entry Fee:

Entry Fee is $300 per boat. This includes 4 angler shirts and tournament gift bucket,

and entrance to all the events. Captain’s meeting, weigh in’s, and Benevolent “Summer

Bash”/ Awards Party $50 each additional angler.

Tournament Registration deadline:

Registrations must be submitted by May 15th th 2023 in order to receive T shirts and Gift

Bucket.


Final registration closes 6pm. June 5th, 2023 @ Captains Meeting

Team Participants. Each angler will only be eligible to be an angler with one team and

one team only. Anglers can’t be anglers on other teams on other days of fishing.


Eligible Fishing Days: June 7 th , June 8 th , June 9 th . Each Team is eligible to designate

and weigh in on one of these days.

Designated fishing/weigh in day: Each team will Text tournament committee by 7am

on the day of, that they want to fish and weigh in. In the text you need to include your

team name, person’s name sending text and date you are choosing to fish.

Tournament committee member will confirm your text with a OK and a thumbs up emoji

Gabe Nemeth (305-281-1184) Gonzo Garcia (786-277-9686)


Fishing Time: Lines in the water - 7:00 a.m. (0700 hours) There is no designated time

for lines out. 


Boats must depart from United States waters the morning of the Tournament. Fish must

be delivered by boat or car to the weigh station at Matheson Hammock Fuel Dock

before 5pm on Fishing/weigh in day June 7 th ,8 th , and 9th.. Weigh tickets must be

turned into the Weigh Master before 5:00pm the weigh station will open at 2:00 p.m.

June 7 th ,8 th ,9th, 2023, Weigh-In tickets will be distributed at Captains meeting.


Eligible Fish: This tournament is limited to Dolphin only. All fish accepted for weigh-in

must be in fresh, edible condition of legal size, and caught on the tournament day. No


mutilated fish will be accepted. The weigh-in officials will make the decision on

accepting the fish for weigh-in.


Three Tournament Categories:

1) Aggregate 

2) Big Fish 

3) Largest “COW’ Dolphin (Largest cow must be a minimum of 10 lbs)


Aggregate Scoring: (the largest combined weight of three Dolphin). Up to but no more

than, three (3) Dolphin may be entered per boat. A fish must be of legal length (20” to

the fork) AND weigh a minimum of 5lbs to be entered. 


Big Fish: The heaviest Dolphin weighed 


Check-in: All boats entering fish for weigh-in must visually check in at the official check-

in point according to the Fishing Time Rule.


Weigh-in Station: Boats weighing in fish are to proceed in an orderly manner to the

Weigh-in Station. At the weigh-in station only three (3) fish will be off loaded. Either the

captain or a crew member must remain with the fish to verify the weigh-in and sign the

weigh ticket. To expedite the weigh-in, boats will not tie up.


Ties: In the event there is a tie at weigh-in, the winner will be determined by the earliest

weigh-in time.


Protest: Any protest concerning conduct of an angler or rules violations, must be filed in

writing the day of the alleged violation and within one hour after the last fish of the day is

weighed. All decisions of the committee will be final.


Registration: All boats must be registered by a State Certified Firefighter, Police

Officer, active or retired Military (boat may be owned by a non-firefighter, non-police

officer or non-Military). Registration may be made by EventBrite, electronic mail,

conventional postage or delivered in person to any Benevolent Officer or @ Captains

meeting. Registration must be in no later than 1800 hours June 5 th 2023. There will be

no changes permitted in the registered boat after the close of the captains meeting on

Monday, June 5th, 2023. All boats must meet USCG and FL. Dept. of Natural

Resources safety regulations for their size. 


Captains Meeting: Monday, “A” Shift June 5th, 2023. at “Lincoln Beard’s Brewery”

7360 SW 41st. Miami Fl. 33155. Doors open at 6:00 pm and the meetings will start

promptly at 7 p.m. The meeting will last approximately one hour or until all information is

passed. All participating Captains (or representatives) must be present at the meeting to

receive their tournament packets. The rules and regulations may be amended by

additional verbal and printed materials, which may be disseminated at the captains

meeting prior to the tournament.


Entry Forms: All Captains are required to fill out completely and sign their entry forms

as certification that all participants have read and agree to abide by all rules and

regulations. All entry forms MUST be completed and signed by the end of the

Captains meeting.


Awards: The tournament prizes will be given at the Awards Party. The awards party

will be at “Local 1403 Fire Tower” 8000 NW 21st. Miami Fl. 33122 , Winnings will be

paid by check from the Dade County Firefighters Benevolent.


Responsibility of Contestants: All fishing, conduct, protest, and rulings are to be with

the intentions and spirit of the tournament. It is intended to be enjoyable, in good

fellowship, and for everyone to have a great time. Unacceptable conduct ashore or at

sea will not be condoned and may be grounds for disqualification of your boat.


Release of Tournament from Liability: It is expressly understood that all

participants in the DCFBA’s Dolphin Tournament enter at their own risk, and that

the Dade County Firefighters Benevolent Association, Inc, Coconut Palm

Inn, their officers/directors and all persons connected directly or indirectly with

the operation of the tournament, or any sponsor of the tournament shall be

exempt from any liability for libel, slander, loss, damage, negligence, harm injury

or death suffered by any participant, entrant, sport fisherman, their companions,

by captains, mates, crew members, guest, vessels and or equipment which may

occur during this tournament. 


Tournament Prizes:


Largest 3 fish Aggregate

1 st Place $3500 plus entry for 2024

2 nd Place $2500

3 rd Place $1000

4 th Place $500


Biggest Fish

1st place $1500


Largest “Cow” Dolphin New Prize

1 st Place $1000 (if largest cow is not caught the prize money for this category will be

divided evenly over the other tournament prizes)

All prizes subject to increase upon participation