Rules
Tournament Rules
Only 4 rods in the water at all times. To be eligible, tarpon must be hooked and caught by one person on a manually operated rod and reel. No other person may touch the rod, reel, line or bobber until the leader is at the boat. At this time, another person may touch the leader for the purposes of gaffing, handling and releasing the fish. All Tarpon must be measured by the angler who is reporting the caught fish. However, the rod, reel and line still should not be touched by anyone accept the angler in case the fish was able to get free, continuing the fight.
- All anglers must cast for themselves.
- No fishing is allowed from land-locked ponds.
- Only one hook per line may be used. Use of more than one hook, hooks in tandem, or treble hooks (except on standard plugs) are not permitted.
- Leader length of up to 10 ft in any combination in all divisions.
- Witness of measurement must be 16 years of age or older.
- Any intentionally boated tarpon (fish in or on the boat) will disqualify the angler for the entire tournament.
- All tarpon entered will be measured in the water laying flat on their side horizontally by girth only and measured to the closest quarter of an inch, no smaller increments may be used. The measurement will be taken around the widest portion of the tarpon’s midsection excluding fins. *All Tarpon entered must be measured by the Angler who caught the fish.
- Any handling of a fish by the gills in any fashion may result in disqualification.
- No dead fish may be entered in the tournament.
- Eastern boundary is the west side of US-41 stretching from the northern to the southern boundaries.
- To compete for most releases a leader touch witness and registered may qualify. Angler and witness may be subject to a polygraph. All other tournament rules apply. Fish released by leader touch only qualify for the most released division.
Polygraph Testing
For 2024 Polygraph testing dates are as follows. Testing begins promptly at 9 a.m. each day.
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Week 1 – May 14th
Week 2 – May 21st
Week 3 – May 28th
Week 4 – June 4th
Week 5 – June 11th (+3 people releases/fly)
Polygraph testing is mandatory.
There will be no changing of dates and times, so please plan accordingly.
Should a registered angler refuse to take, or fail the polygraph test, he/she will be disqualified from the tournament and forfeit his/her rights to all winnings and/or awards from the tournament. Every angler will be required to sign the entry form with the understanding that he/she has read and accepted all the rules and decisions of the tournament committee as final in all matters and are not reviewable by any court of law.
The administration and interpretation of a polygraph test shall solely be at the discretion and be the responsibility of the Tournament Committee and the individual who administers such polygraph test.
Reporting Process
- Catch an eligible fish under the aforementioned guidelines.
- Within 24 hours of releasing an eligible fish, fill out and sign an official release form at an official Report & Register station.
- The official entry time is the time that the release form is filed at the Report & Register station.
- An angler and witness must sign the release form. Witness must be 16 years of age or older.
- You must also complete the online form under the “Release Form” tab within 24 hours of releasing your fish.
Report & Register Station Locations
Cannon’s Marina
6040 Gulf of Mexico Dr., Longboat Key FL
(941) 383-1311
CB’s Saltwater Outfitters
1249 Stickney Point Rd., Siesta Key, FL
(941) 349-4400
The Crow’s Nest
1968 Tarpon Center Dr., Venice, FL
(941) 484-9551
Marina Jack’s
2 Marina Plaza, Sarasota, FL
(941) 365-4232
Fishing Boundaries
Northern Boundary
East side of Anna Maria Island to Manatee Ave. (Hwy 64)
West side of Anna Maria Island from a point
N 27˚ 32.15’
W 082˚ 44.644’
Southern side of Stump Pass
N 26˚ 53.668’
W 082˚ 20.484’
Fish Off
The winner of each of the five weeks, the winner of the most releases division (as outlined below) and the winner of the fly fishing division will be entered into the Fish Off that will take place on Saturday, June 15th, the rain-date is Sunday, June 16th, with Saturday, June 22nd as the first alternative date. Anglers cannot occupy two or more Fish Off spots. In the event this happens, other slots will default to 2nd place finishers. This Fish Off will decide the overall winner of the entire tournament. Only 4 rods in the water at all times. The Fish Off will have a shotgun start @ 6:00am and will be over at 12:00pm that day. If there are no fish measured or landed by 12:00pm, there will be Sudden Death from 12:00pm-3:00pm.
Standings and Angler Info
Weekly results are posted on this website and our Facebook page by the following Wednesday of every week during the Tournament. Weekly winners, winner of the Fly Division and the angler with the overall most releases are posted. Second and third place weekly winners will also be posted.
Overall Prizes
1st Place (Winner of Fish Off)
- Engraved Plaque
- $3000 Cash Prize
- Two Tarpon Spinning Rod & Reels
2nd Place
- Engraved Plaque
- $1500 Cash Prize
3rd Place
- Engraved Plaque
- $1000 Cash Prize
4th Place
- Engraved Plaque
- $500 Cash Prize
5th Place
- Engraved Plaque
- $300 Cash Prize
6th Place
- Engraved Plaque
- $200 Cash Prize
7th Place
- Engraved Plaque
- $150 Cash Prize
Additional Special Division Tournament Winners TBA Include:
- His & Hers : winners receive a Rod & Reel Combo plus an Engraved Plaque.
- Ladies : 1st through 3rd Place winners receive a St Croix Rod and Reel plus an Engraved Plaque
- Junior : winner receives a Tarpon Rod and Reel Combo and Engraved Plaque.
- Fly : winner receives Entry to the Fish-Off plus an Engraved Plaque.
- Most Releases : winner receives Entry to the Fish-Off plus an Engraved Plaque.
- Smallest Catch : receives FREE entrance into the following year’s Tournament and an Engraved Plaque.
For more information please contact:
- Event Chairman Bryan Kelly (941) 650-4063
