Rules are subject to change. Final instructions will be given at the Captain’s Meeting, which takes place May 22, 2009 at 7:00pm at C-Quarters Marina.

The Reelpro Big 4 Offshore Tournament fishing days will be on Saturday, May 23rd and Sunday, May 24th, 2009.

It is the responsibility of the captain, crew and anglers to understand and abide by the Tournament’s rules including any special instructions or changes that may be announced during the Captain’s Meeting. The Reelpro Big 4 Offshore Fishing Tournament expects the highest level of integrity and sportsmanship from its participants.

Registered boats and anglers must comply with all Federal and Florida state laws regarding fishing licenses, size limits, bag limits, permits and any other regulations that may apply.

This is a Team event. Entry fee is $200.00 per team if received before 5:00 pm, May 8, 2009. After May 8, 2009 the entry fee is $300.00. The final deadline for entry by any means is 7:00 p.m. Friday, May 22, 2009 EDT at the Captain’s Meeting. Tournament entry allows up to four (4) anglers to fish in the tournament. Extra anglers may be added for an additional fee of $75.00 per angler. No changes are permitted in team members after the conclusion of the Captain’s Meeting. All team members must fish from the same boat. Entry fees are nonrefundable.

A representative from each Team must attend and sign the attendance sheet at the mandatory Captain’s Meeting held at C-Quarters Marina on May 22, 2009 at 7:00 pm.

7:00 am – 6:00 pm Saturday
7:00 am - 5:00 pm Sunday

(see Shotgun Start details below).

The Tournament Awards Ceremony will be held at C-Quarters Marina on Sunday May 24th, 2009 at approximately 6:00 pm.

Eligible species for the tournament are Kingfish, Grouper (Red, Black & Gag), Cobia and Spanish Mackerel. The Grouper category is a single category (there are not separate categories for Red, Black and Gag Grouper).

The boundaries are from Gulf County, Florida to Taylor County, Florida.

All fish must be caught on rod and reel (no electric reels or bandits on vessel). No line (mono or braid) restrictions. Live, dead and artificial baits are permitted. Tournament officials may come aboard your vessel and inspect at any time.

All Tournament registered boats must check out with the tournament committee boat prior to fishing. Each boat will be furnished a large numbered card, which must be visibly displayed to the committee boat each day. It is the team’s responsibility to make certain that the committee boat has acknowledged your team number each day of fishing. The committee boat will remain at location until 8:00 am each morning: After 8:00 AM, teams must check out with tournament officials at C-Quarters Marina. No prize money will be awarded to a team that fails to check out. Once the Tournament has started, no boat shall make landfall, congregate with another boat, and/or pass anything between boats after checkout or before weigh-in each day. Any boat requiring assistance shall notify tournament officials at C-quarters Marina and obtain assistance from Tow Boat U.S. or other Tournament approved towing service. No prize money will be awarded to a team that renders or receives assistance to or from another boat.

All fish to be considered for scoring must be weighed on the official scale at C-Quarters Marina. Scales will be open daily at 2:00 pm and will remain open until all fish are weighed, however, all boats must pass the designated check point and be recognized by the committee boat by the end of each fishing day. Teams entering fish must return to the weigh station in the boat they fished from. Only one (1) fish per division per day will be weighed. All fish must be weighed on the day they were caught.

All fish entered must be in acceptable condition. The Tournament Committee will reserve the right to disqualify any fish entry because of poor fish condition, mutilation, being frozen or being tampered with in any way. All fish weighed by the tournament may be subject to a gut check after weighing at the discretion of Tournament officials. Any fish found to be in violation of this rule will be disqualified. The decision of the Weigh Master/Tournament Committee shall be final and non-negotiable.

Winners will be determined by weight. Teams may improve their standing in a given category with subsequent entry of a larger fish on the second day of fishing. In the case of a tie (identical weight), the first fish weighed will be determined the winner.

Only one (1) prize per team per division. Prizes will be determined after the close of weigh-in on Sunday, May 24th at C-Quarters Marina. Prizes will be awarded at the Tournament Awards Ceremony. All prizes must be claimed by at least (1) member of the winning team in person at the Awards Ceremony. Prizes not claimed in accordance with these rules remain property of the tournament.

All protests must be in writing and submitted to the Tournament Director or designated Tournament staff member on the day of the alleged violation by 6:00 p.m. with a deposit of $500.00 (cash only). If the alleged violation is found to have occurred, the deposit of $500.00 will be refunded. If the Tournament Director/Tournament Committee finds no violation, the deposit will not be refunded. The decision of the Tournament Committee will be final.

The decision to fish is solely the captain’s choice. All anglers fish at their own discretion and risk. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Tournament committee shall have the sole discretion to cancel either or both of the Tournament fishing days for (hurricanes, tropical storms, small craft advisories, etc.) This is a two (2) day tournament. One full day of fishing constitutes a tournament.

In the event the first Tournament fishing day is canceled then prizes will be awarded in the respective categories for eligible species weighed in on the second Tournament fishing day.

In the event the tournament is canceled after the first day of fishing then prizes will be awarded for eligible species as posted at the conclusion of the first Tournament fishing day.

In the event the tournament is canceled for both fishing days then the tournament will be rescheduled on the first available date.

All registered participants agree to submit to a polygraph test if requested to do so by Reelpro Officials. Refusal to take the test will result in immediate disqualification. Polygraph test results are final and winners are not official until test results are obtained. Individuals who are judged by the polygraph examiner to be impaired by drugs or alcohol will be disqualified. Disqualified anglers/teams forfeit any and all entry money, prizes or prize money, and are refused entry to future Reelpro events. The decision of the polygraph examiner is final.

Ship-to-shore communication will be maintained throughout the tournament on marine VHF channel 08.

All persons participating in the Tournament hold harmless and indemnify Reelpro, Inc., Tournament Staff, Tournament Sponsors, C--Quarters Marina and their respective officers, directors, members, agents and employees and all other persons directly or indirectly connected with the operation of the tournament from any liability, claim, loss, damage, injury or harm to any entrant, participant, their companions, family, boat captains, crew members, vessels or equipment arising from any act, omission or negligence whether directly or indirectly arising from the operation of the tournament.

As additional consideration for participation in the Tournament, All team members agree to be bound by the Tournament Rules as amended and hereby authorize and grant to Reelpro, Inc., the Tournament Sponsors and Tournament Staff their employees, agents and assigns the right to photograph them and use their picture, silhouette, and other reproduction of their physical likeness or voice (as it may appear in any still camera photograph, and or motion picture film or videotape recording) in and in connection with it’s use in video recordings, television, advertising or other publicizing of the Tournament.