ROUGH RIDERS 28th ANNUAL FISHING TOURNAMENT ANDY BROWN MEMORIAL RULES AND REGULATIONS

A REPRESENTATIVE FROM EACH BOAT ENTERED IN THE TOURNAMENT MUST ATTEND, SIGN IN AND PICK UP A MEASURING BOARD AND BOAT NUMBER AT THE RULES & REG’S CAPTAIN'S MEETING:

FRIDAY JUNE 2, 2023 6:00 PM

ROUGH RIDERS 28th ANNUAL FISHING TOURNAMENT ANDY BROWN MEMORIAL RULES AND REGULATIONS

A REPRESENTATIVE FROM EACH BOAT ENTERED IN THE TOURNAMENT MUST ATTEND, SIGN IN AND PICK UP A MEASURING BOARD AND BOAT NUMBER AT THE RULES & REG’S CAPTAIN'S MEETING:

FRIDAY JUNE 2, 2023 6:00 PM

Tournament Rules

  1. This is a catch, photograph, and release tournament. Contestants photograph their catch on a tournament measuring board, release the fish, and send the photo to the Scoring Committee. See Scoring Procedure. One may keep a catch as long as it complies with the FWC regulations as of tournament day Saturday June 3, 2023.
  2. SAFETY FIRST: Registered captains are responsible for all members of their crew and have the discretion to determine the seaworthiness of their vessel with regard to existing sea and weather conditions.  Participants are urged to stay abreast of marine and weather advisories by monitoring VHF Channel 16 and readily available weather and maritime mobile apps. All registered vessels must comply with State, Federal, and USCG safety and fishing regulations. The Rough Riders are not responsible for any violations of any State, Federal, and/or USCG safety and fishing regulations.
  3. This is a captain’s choice tournament. Therefore it is up to the discretion of the registered captain to determine whether his or her craft is seaworthy for existing sea conditions. Participants are encouraged to scan channel 16, in addition to the tournament channel (68) to keep abreast of any marine or weather warnings. The captain is responsible for all members of his/her crew both on and off the water.
  4. Tournament hours are 6:00 AM to 4:00 PM EDT (lines in the water), Saturday only June 3 rd .  Scoring ends promptly at 4:00 PM EDT, and the awards presentation will begin approximately 4:30 p.m. poolside or as soon as scoring is complete.
  5. Tournament boundaries: The north end of Anclote Key. South side of Venice Inlet. West 50 NM at 270 degrees out of Long Boat Pass (N27 26.648  W83 30.799)
  6. Eligible fish species: Snook, Redfish, Trout, Mackerel (Spanish and King), Grouper (Red, Black or Gag, NO goliath), Snapper. (all except Cubera) and Tarpon.
  7. All fish must be caught with handheld rods and reels. Bent-butt rods are prohibited.
  8. Casting the bait on behalf of a registered angler is permitted, as is the netting of a fish by another person when landing a fish. When fishing from a boat, trolling, drifting, and anchoring are permitted. While trolling, drifting or still fishing, a rod secured in a rod holder may hook a fish; however, the angler who initially touches or removes the rod from the rod holder must thereafter continuously fight and land the fish without assistance from any other person. Assistance from any other person is limited to casting a line to position a bait, leadering the fish, and/or netting the fish caught by the participating angler.
  9. No transfer of fish among Competition participants shall be allowed.
  10. This is a boat tournament, which means prizes are awarded to the boat’s team, not individual anglers.
  11. Each boat and non-motorized craft will be assigned a boat number (Non-Guided) or boat letter (Guided), an official measuring board and will need a device capable of recording and transmitting photographs to the Scoring Committee.
  12. Ties are not awarded. In the event of tied measurements, the submission’s time of reception by the Scoring Committee will be used. The earlier reception time will take precedence.
  13. All scoring decisions are at the sole discretion of the Scoring Committee, comprised of three judges and scoring personnel, and all decisions are final and not subject to challenge.
  14. Tournament Rules may be changed at any time through the conclusion of the Captains meeting.
  15. No refund of entry fees unless the tournament committee cancels the tournament.

Tournament Rules

  1. This is a catch, photograph, and release tournament. Contestants photograph their catch on a tournament measuring board, release the fish, and send the photo to the Scoring Committee. See Scoring Procedure. One may keep a catch as long as it complies with the FWC regulations as of tournament day Saturday June 3, 2023.
  2. SAFETY FIRST: Registered captains are responsible for all members of their crew and have the discretion to determine the seaworthiness of their vessel with regard to existing sea and weather conditions.  Participants are urged to stay abreast of marine and weather advisories by monitoring VHF Channel 16 and readily available weather and maritime mobile apps. All registered vessels must comply with State, Federal, and USCG safety and fishing regulations. The Rough Riders are not responsible for any violations of any State, Federal, and/or USCG safety and fishing regulations.
  3. This is a captain’s choice tournament. Therefore it is up to the discretion of the registered captain to determine whether his or her craft is seaworthy for existing sea conditions. Participants are encouraged to scan channel 16, in addition to the tournament channel (68) to keep abreast of any marine or weather warnings. The captain is responsible for all members of his/her crew both on and off the water.
  4. Tournament hours are 6:00 AM to 4:00 PM EDT (lines in the water), Saturday only June 3 rd .  Scoring ends promptly at 4:00 PM EDT, and the awards presentation will begin approximately 4:30 p.m. poolside or as soon as scoring is complete.
  5. Tournament boundaries: The north end of Anclote Key. South side of Venice Inlet. West 50 NM at 270 degrees out of Long Boat Pass (N27 26.648  W83 30.799)
  6. Eligible fish species: Snook, Redfish, Trout, Mackerel (Spanish and King), Grouper (Red, Black or Gag, NO goliath), Snapper. (all except Cubera) and Tarpon.
  7. All fish must be caught with handheld rods and reels. Bent-butt rods are prohibited.
  8. This is a boat tournament, which means prizes are awarded to the boat’s team, not individual anglers.
  9. Each boat and non-motorized craft will be assigned a boat number (Non-Guided) or boat letter (Guided), an official measuring board and will need a device capable of recording and transmitting photographs to the Scoring Committee.
  10. Ties are not awarded. In the event of tied measurements, the submission’s time of reception by the Scoring Committee will be used. The earlier reception time will take precedence.
  11. All scoring decisions are at the sole discretion of the Scoring Committee, comprised of three judges and scoring personnel, and all decisions are final.
  12. Tournament Rules may be changed at any time through the conclusion of the Captains meeting.
  13. No refund of entry fees unless the tournament committee cancels the tournament.

Prize Categories and Payouts (no minimum or maximum length for any species)

  • 1st Place – Longest Snook, Redfish, Trout, Mackerel, Grouper, Snapper and Tarpon.
  • 2nd Place – Second longest Snook, Redfish, Trout, Mackerel, Grouper, Snapper and Tarpon.
  • 3rd Place – Third longest Snook, Redfish, Trout, Mackerel, Grouper, Snapper and Tarpon.
  • Eligible Grouper species are limited to not include Goliath.
  • Eligible Mackerel types are limited to Spanish and King.
  • Snapper species exclude Cubera.
  • All entries will include 1st , 2nd and 3rd place awards, per scored species, for all boats and kayaks.
  • All boat and kayak entries are limited to one prize per species.
  • Payouts will be awarded for all six species in each of the two divisions (Guided & Non-Guided): 1st Place: $500, 2nd Place: $300, 3rd Place: $200

Scoring Procedure (Except Tarpon)

  • When you catch an eligible species of fish, do the following:
  • Place the fish on the official measurement board with the nose at “0.”
  • Take a photograph of the entire fish, ensuring that the boat number, the nose and tail of the fish, and the size graduations on the measuring board are all visible.
  • Once satisfied with the measurement and photograph, release the fish safely. Anglers are permitted to keep fish for personal use within the current applicable FWC guidelines.
  • To score a fish use the mobile app. Open the app on a mobile phone before leaving the dock. Using the app, select your boat name, select the species, enter the length, upload the photograph through the mobile app including the boat number and catch on the measuring board. Submittal must contain the boat name, species, length of fish and photo of the fish on the measuring board. (i.e. Boat Name, Redfish, 31.5”). A link to the mobile app will be emailed to all fishermen and explained at the Captain’s Rules & Reg’s Party Friday Evening.
  • Receipt of submissions will be acknowledged by the Scoring Committee, and the app shows all submissions from the boat.

Rough Rider Office - 813-248-1898 - 601 N 19th St . - Tampa, FL 33605

Tarpon Scoring Procedure and Rules - Most releases WINS!

  • Tarpon must be an adult, approximately 50 pounds or more. Anglers will only be photographing and releasing Tarpon, and not weighing or measuring the fish.
  • A Tarpon will be judged a “release” when the angler (or one of the team members), while the fish is boat side, touches below the leader knot (NOT the double line) and secures a photograph.
  • Photos of each release should include boat number and be submitted using the mobile app including the boat name. 
  • The Tarpon must be released alive to be counted. Bringing a Tarpon aboard the boat is prohibited.
  • Bait – Artificial and live bait are allowed. Circle hooks are required for natural bait (dead or alive).
  • Leader - Any size leader material may be used. The leader may be no longer than 10 feet from the main line and/or double line. If a rod is broken while playing a fish, the fish may still be landed and counted.
  • The use of gaffs on a Tarpon is not permitted. Jigging is not permitted.
  • In the event of a tie, the earliest time-stamped picture of the last tarpon release picture once received (by or before 4:00 pm) by the Scoring Committee will take precedence. (e.g. Boat catches its 6th tarpon at 2:30 pm, another boat catches its 6th tarpon at 3:30 pm; the 2:30 pm boat wins.)

If you have a question or an emergency, please call any of the Scoring Committee members below.

Robin Conn 813-239-4501

Joe Dato 813-433-4175

Frank Frierson 813-629-6447

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