2024 Official Tournament Rules.


Rules are subject to changes. Listed below includes both the JJBILLFISH Quest for the Ring Guaranteed Purse Tournament Rules and the JJSportfish Tournament rules. Final rules to be provided at Packet Pick Up/Captain’s Meeting: Tuesday, March 5, 2024. Any addendums will be listed during the Captain’s Meeting and available below before the start of tournament fishing on Day 1.

 

1. Registration:

Entry registration for the tournaments should be completed on CatchStat, the official registration partner of Jimmy Johnson’s Championship Fishing Week. Forms and fees should be paid online on CatchStat, but can also be emailed to info@jjfishweek.com or mailed to Fish Hard Events at 7150 sw 139 St, Miami, Fl 33158 via a paper entry form provided by tournament officials.  Checks are to be made payable to Fish Hard Events. Registrations paid at Tuesday, March 5th Registration and Packet Pick Up Kick Off must be paid by cash, Mastercard, Visa or American Express. Checks will not be accepted on March 5th.  Entry fees are not refundable for any reason.  For questions regarding registration, call (305) 255-3500.

2. Entry Forms/Online Registration:

Entry forms or online registration are to be completed by a representative with appropriate fees and registration information to compete in the tournaments. The entry form can be completed with the assistance of a member of the tournament officials committee or online via CatchStat on behalf of the team. Officials in the Jimmy Johnson’s Quest for the Ring Championship Fishing Week (JJFISHWEEK) reserve the right to refuse application or entry into the tournaments at their discretion with or without cause. Registration for the tournaments can take place via CatchStat online, through a tournament official who completed the CatchStat registration on behalf of the team, via a paper entry form sent in by email or mail, via a sponsor paying on behalf of a team, or any other form which allows for a team to verbally, digitally, or manually enter to participate into JJFISHWEEK. By registering for the JJFISHWEEK tournament via one of the above ways or through any sponsor of the tournament, the captain, owner, anglers, observers, minors, videographers, photographers, and occupants (“Participants”) of a registered boat are explicitly stating that they have reviewed and consent to the terms below as a condition of participation in the tournaments and all  occupants of their team’s boat and any observers, photographers, and spectators will abide by all tournament rules.For 2024, there will be three tournaments coinciding during the JJFISHWEEK event week, JJBillfish Catch & Release, JJSportfish Weighted Tournaments, and the Hard Rock Invitational. Teams participating in the JJBillfish Tournament ARE eligible to participate in the JJSportfish Tournament and vice versa. Fish caught in one tournament can count for the other tournament as long as you are registered in advance for both tournaments. IGFA Rules will apply to both tournaments with the following exceptions listed below.

3. Date & Location:

Tournament competition will be held on Thursday, March 7 & Friday, March 8. Tournament kick off, to include registration and boat packet pick up as well as the official captain’s meeting, will be held Tuesday, March 5TH at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – Hollywood, Fl. A representative from your team MUST be present at the Captain’s meeting and attendance will be recorded. Wednesday, March 6th will be a pre-fish day.  Friday, March 10th, there will be a welcome reception at Hard Rock after the close of tournament competition to welcome guests to the property and Saturday, March 11th will be the official all day gifting suite experience and overall tournament closing awards bash in the evening. JJBillfish – Quest for the Ring Tournament Rules – Guaranteed $1Million + Purse

4. Eligible Species:

Sailfish, White Marlin, Blue Marlin, Spearfish, Dolphin, Yellowfin Tuna, Blackfin Tuna, Wahoo, Cobia and Kingfish.

5. Maximum Anglers:

All anglers must be listed on CatchStat or a list must provided to tournament officials committee prior to the start of tournament competition on Thursday, March 7 to be entered into CatchStat. There is no limit on anglers. Additional crewmembers or mates may accompany the team if desired.  Any teams with angler changes or substitutions must notify a member of the tournament officials committee prior to the start of fishing on each competition day in order for the angler to be eligible to participate and for their releases to be counted.

6. Maximum Lines:

All boats are permitted to fish up to seven lines in the water in the tournament.

7. Tackle:

All fish must be caught on rod and reel.  Max test line is 20lbs. No electric reels (except kite rods and downriggers).  All teams must use a non-offset circle hook in the tournament.  The length of the leader may not exceed 15 feet.  The combined length of the double line and the leader may not exceed 20 feet in length.  Up to 2 artificial dredges are permitted in the tournament. No live or dead bait on dredges or teasers.

8. Bait & Bait Fishing:

Fishing with live bait is permitted in the tournament; however, live chumming is not permitted.   No dead baits (whole or chunk) may be used for chumming.  Bait fishing is permitted during the day however, teams cannot be sail fishing at the same time they are bait fishing. Any bait removed from a hook must be kept in the boat. Casting repeatedly and jerking the bait off is considered chumming and may lead to disqualification. The intent of this rule is to prohibit throwing anything in the water to attract fish, whether it is natural or synthetic. The use of glitter in any form is prohibited.

9. Hook & Hand:

Hook and Hand is permitted this year with the following stipulations: Once a fish is hooked, it must be immediately handed off to the angler. The angler must then fight the fish to completion until it is properly released, boated, or lost.  The hand off can only occur once and happen at the beginning of the fight. A fish is considered to be hooked once a strike occurs and the drag is engaged or the bail is closed.  The use of a rod holder to hook a fish is allowable, but not when fighting a fish.

10. Tournament Channel:

The tournament officials committee will operate on channel 74.  Channel 68 will be used as an alternate.  The tournament channel is reserved for specific announcements and the report of angler releases.  All discussions among competitors should be conducted on alternate channels.

11. Boundaries:

ALL Participating boats entered into the JJBILLFISH tournament are limited to the waters off the coast of Florida no more than 35 miles offshore.  North Boundary is 26°56.553N, 79°59.622W and the South/West Boundary is 24°43.876N, 80°46.238W.  A boat may not exit the boundaries when fighting a fish. Turn on GPS Tracking on your GPS. This may be used to verify the boat stayed inside the boundaries, in the event of a protest. If your tracking is not on or available, you may be disqualified for any day there is no tracking.

12. Prize Structure:

The tournament prize structure for the JJBILLFISH tournament is based on a hybrid payout, which includes a guaranteed payout and an accruing prize structure. See entry prize structure for details on the prize structure breakdown. A minimum of $1 Million is guaranteed to be paid out for the tournament. Additional payout prize will be added based on the number of boats entered as noted in the official prize structure chart available on the tournament website and provided to tournament participants. The JJBillfish tournament will only be a Catch & Release tournament that will have one meat fish optional included. The previous Weighted Division has been moved to it’s own tournament, the JJSportfish tournament, which will coincide with the tournament days, but will be run separate from the guaranteed payout. The number of boats entered is based on entries in the Catch & Release division. Prize structure and guarantees are subject to changes per the guarantor up until Wednesday, March 6th. Final prize structure will be provided in your packet at packet pick up on Tuesday.

13. Check-Out:

JJFISHWEEK will not have a land based check-out location.  At the start of fishing each day, all JJBILLFISH teams must video the time and their GPS coordinates to confirm that they are within the stated boundaries for the tournament.  Be sure to initialize all video recording devices you may use throughout the day. If you have to change video recording devices, all new devices need to be initialized. Video must show time, date and GPS location.  Boats may not deploy any lines in the water until they are within the stated boundaries.

14. Lines-In:

8:00 am on both Thursday, March 7 and Friday, March 8. No boats may be trailered to or from their fishing locations during the tournament hours.

15. Lines-Out: 

4:00pm on both Thursday, March 7 and Friday, March 8.

16. Check-In:

Boats with release cards and video memory cards to turn in or fish to be weighed must do so by 6:00pm on Thursday and 6:00pm on Friday.  There will be 4 official check-in locations to turn in your release cards and video memory cards and that will have weigh scales to weigh fish: Ocean Reef Marina Fuel Dock, Miami Beach Marina Fuel Dock, Bahia Mar Marina Captain’s Lounge, and Sailfish Marina floating dock. Ocean Reef Marina is for members only. If you are fishing nearby and are not a member, the Bucked Up Energy boat will be positioned at the top of the point to collect media cards and fish to be weighed. You will be considered checked in once you arrive to the Contender boat, but you must arrive prior to 6PM. Dropbox upload is available both days. Any changes to the Check-in locations will be announced at the captain’s meeting as well as Dropbox shared details.  Check-in locations will be based on the location of where most boats are docked for the tournament.

If you are turning in release cards and video memory cards at an official check-in location, release cards and video memory cards must be turned in, in your provided bag, by a team representative to the CatchStat representative at each official check-in location prior to close of check-ins at 6PM. Each CatStat representative will verify each card. Should there be a line during the verification process, the CatchStat representative will keep a sign in list to ensure you are checked in prior to 6PM. Each CatchStat representative will test the video memory card to ensure the videos are readable to be viewed by the tournament committee officials as confirmation and proof of your releases. The CatchStat representative will also verify the date/time stamp to ensure the videos was taken on the correct day. If the video memory card is not functioning, the tournament officials committee reserves the right to allow the team to provide a secondary form of video proof. Secondary evidence for verification can be done by any means deemed necessary and allowed by the tournament officials committee. Refer to rule #31 for further information on video requirements.

Online Check-In is available via Dropbox upload on Thursday, March 7 and Friday, March 8. If you are using the online check-in via Dropbox to upload your video and release cards, you must provide visual evidence to the tournament committee officials that you are tied up at the dock and you have started your upload prior to 6:00PM. This must be done by taking a picture of your boat tied up in the slip and a picture of your computer screen showing your upload has started. These pictures must be texted to a tournament committee representative prior to 6:00pm. Tournament officials’ information will be provided in your boat packet available at Tuesday, March 5 Registration and Packet Pick Up. If a tournament committee official does not receive these two photos by cut-off, your fish will not count. If you are in contention, it is advisable to turn in your video memory cards to a check-in point to insure the tournament committee officials received them on time.

It is each boats responsibility to get your release videos and release cards in on time. All video memory cards and release cards must be brought in on the boat in which they were caught. Names will be recorded by the CatchStat representative at your check-in location. You may not pass video memory cards and release cards to another vessel to bring in for you.  In the event of a boat mechanical breakdown, you must still be in on time.

If the tournament committee officials have trouble viewing your video or have questions about your video, the tournament officials reserve the right to give the team the opportunity to provide another device or mechanism to view the team’s videos of their releases given that the original video memory cards were provided to the CatchStat representative on time. Additionally, each captain needs to be available anytime throughout the evening of Thursday and Friday to connect with the tournament officials and bring any additional evidence requested, should the need exist given again, that the original video memory cards were provided to the CatchStat representative on time. This could include, but not limited to, a cell phone, GoPro, the camera used, or any secondary video evidence available that can assist in verifying a release.

17. Weather:

In the event that weather conditions arise deemed unsafe for the average registered boat, by the tournament committee officials, the tournament schedule may be altered to accommodate the best weather & fishing conditions available to participating teams.  Any schedule adjustment due to inclement weather will be made at the sole discretion of the tournament committee officials.  Best effort will be made to achieve a two-day fishing format on the scheduled weekend of the tournament.  In the circumstance, as determined by the tournament committee officials, where 2 days of fishing may be unachievable, the tournament may be reduced to a one-day format.  Captains, anglers, and all other members of registered boats must determine in their own judgment whether to fish under the given conditions based on factors including but not limited to the seaworthiness of their boat and their own seamanship.

18. Competition Day:

The schedule calls for hours of fishing from 8:00am to 4:00pm on Day 1 & 8:00am to 4:00pm on day 2.  Best effort will be made to ensure the full fishing schedule is met for each day of competition.  At least 4 hours of tournament fishing must occur on any given day in order for the points from that day to be factored into the overall score & standings for each team.  Should inclement weather or any other force majeure condition occur that limits the tournament to only 1 day of fishing, the daily calcutta money allocated for the cancelled day will be reallocated to the teams that won the daily calcutta of the full day of competition.  All other general prize and calcutta money will be paid according to standard procedure based on the standings from the single day of fishing. Tournament committee officials reserve the right to use their best discretion to reallocate the prize structure, should any changes be needed throughout the tournament.

19. Flying Devices:

The use of drones, planes, ultra lights, helicopters or any of this type of flying device used for observing the fishing grounds is prohibited. You may NOT have any of these aerial devices flying around looking for anything during tournament days. Including looking for fish, water conditions, other boats, etc.. This is grounds for immediate disqualification from the tournament. If you suspect someone is doing this; take a picture so we have something to track it with. Type of flying machine, color, tail numbers; anything to help track the owner will be important to prove any discretions.

20. Chumming:

CHUMMING IN ANY FORM IS PROHIBITED. Having another boat chum for you is also prohibited. Having another person or persons in another boat set up current from you and chum in any manner is prohibited. This is grounds for disqualification. The intent of this rule is to prohibit throwing anything in the water to attract fish, whether it’s natural or synthetic. The use of glitter in any form is prohibited.

21. Protests:

In order to file any and all protests related to the tournament competition, all protests must be submitted in writing along with $500 cash or check to the tournament officials within four hours of the conclusion of the day of fishing in which you are protesting. Protests must be made based on firsthand eyewitness information from the team or individual filing the protest and can only be submitted by a registered tournament participant. All participants agree and acknowledge by their participation that if a protest is filed, the protest shall be the sole remedy for any and all disputes arising from the competition. All participants expressly waive their right to trial and all decisions of the tournament officials regarding protests, prize structure, and purse disbursements are final.

22. Polygraph:

By entering the tournament, all participants, to include, but not limited to, captains, anglers, spectators, minors, and occupants of their boats voluntarily consent to submit to a polygraph examination as deemed necessary by tournament officials.  All decisions of the polygraph examiner will be final and are not eligible to be protested.  Participants chosen to be polygraphed may not have consumed drugs or alcohol prior to the polygraph exam. If there are any captains, angler, or occupants of a registered boat refusing to take a polygraph or if they provide untruthful answers as determined by the examiner, the entire team will be subject to disqualification from the tournament without further notice.  Such a disqualification will eliminate payment or provision of any prize money, awards, and/or refund of entrance fees. All decisions, from tournament committee officials, of disqualifications based on polygraph issues are final and are not eligible to be protested.

23. Tournament Discretion:

All tournament committee officials reserve the right to implement his or her discretion at any time during the tournament as it may apply to the rules or any other circumstance that should arise during the course of the event.

24. Release:

All participants, to include but not limited to, registered captains, anglers, spectators, minors, and occupants of their boats consent that tournament officials may use without payment or restriction, any photographs or video in which he or she appears for any purpose whatsoever, including but not limited to resale, advertising and promotional material.

25. Hold Harmless:

It is expressly understood that all registered participants and non-registered occupants of their boats enter into the events in Fish Hard Events, Inc., dba Jimmy Johnson Quest for the Ring™ Championship Fishing Week, Quest for the Ring™, or JJFISHWEEK, voluntarily and at their own risk. Participants understand and acknowledge that participation in the Event may expose them to inherently dangerous conditions, including but not limited to dangerous or unfavorable weather conditions, dangerous animals, equipment failure, seasickness, unforeseen illness, global pandemic, and navigation of vessels in or around inclement sea conditions, inlets, bridges, jetties, shoals, beaches, and divers, swimmers, kayakers, and other vessels.  Participants acknowledge and understand the inherent risk of participation in the Event, and assume all risk of such participation, and further release and hold harmless Fish Hard Events, Inc. and it’s DBAs from all claims of liability associated with any and all damages sustained of suffered from participation is the Event.Further, each registered and non-registered participant on behalf of other family members and/or executors agrees to release and hold harmless Jimmy Johnson, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, CI Foundation, and CI Management Group, Inc, its officers, directors, owners, members, representatives, agents, employees, independent contractors, volunteers, promoters, advertisers, sponsors, partners, joint ventures, affiliates, assigns, polygraph examiner, the city and county where the events are held and all other persons connected directly or indirectly with the operation of any event under Fish Hard Events Inc (collectively, “Released and Indemnified Parties”) from any and all claims, losses, damages, demands, causes of action, suits and liabilities of every kind arising out of, related to, or resulting from the tournament, activity or event, including but not limited to all events in the Jimmy Johnson Quest for the Ring Billfish Tournament, including without limitation, any claim for loss, damage or destruction of property, or injury (including death), regardless of whether such loss arises in whole or in part from the negligence of any Released and Indemnified Party. This release is intended to be as broad and inclusive as possible under applicable law, and if any portion of this release is held invalid or unenforceable, the balance shall continue in full force and legal effect. Jurisdiction over the tournament shall be exclusively that of the tournament committee. All parties agree to be bound by the tournament committee officials’ decisions without exception.

26. Agreement:

By registering for the JJFISHWEEK tournament via one of the above ways listed under Entry Forms/Online Registration or through any sponsor of the tournament, the captain, owner, anglers, observers, videographers, photographers, and occupants (“Participants”) of a registered boat are explicitly stating that they have reviewed and consent to the terms listed as a condition of participation in the tournaments and all  occupants of their team’s boat and any observers, photographers, minors, and spectators will abide by all tournament rules.  IGFA Rules apply with the following exceptions listed throughout these tournament rules.

27. Winnings:

All winners are required to provide their social security number or FEIN number prior to receiving any awards.  Awards and prize money will be withheld as required by law if a social security number or FEIN number is not presented to the tournament committee officials in the form of a W9. Awards and prize money are paid out typically within 45-50 days from the day the W9s are requested. JJBillfish – Quest for the Ring Tournament Rules – Guaranteed $1Million Purse and counting 28. JJBILLFISH Tournament Scoring: The 2024 tournament will be a Catch & Release tournament included in the $1 Million Guaranteed Purse and will have one optional entry category that will include one Meat Fish optional. 29.Scoring: Billfish Points – Registered anglers will receive 1 point for each eligible billfish released in the tournament.  All team and individual prize categories will be awarded based on the individual or team’s overall point standings.  In the event of a tie, winners will be determined by the team or individual that releases their last fish first.

30. Marina Challenge Optional Category:

If entered into the marina challenge optional category, a team will be assigned to the marina they are either docking at for the week or the marina they are planning to fish closest to based on where the boat is being docked during event week. In the event you plan to fish day 1 out of one location and day 2 out of another location, you will be entered into the marina challenge of the marina you are planning to be closest to at the overall start of the tournament competition on day 1. Your marina category assignment will be mutually decided by each boat and a tournament committee official. The category assignment must be finalized by end of day Tuesday, March 5. Changes cannot be made after Tuesday, unless a tournament official sees fit. All necessary changes of marina assignments completed by tournament officials are final and cannot be protested.

31. BIG FISH Optional Category:

The Big Fish Optional Category will be determined by the total weight of up to three heaviest fish on any boat and paid out to three places. Less than three fish can win this category. Only two fish per species per day can be weighed. Only two fish of any species can be included in the overall three fish aggregate. All fish must be a minimum of (10) lbs to qualify for this category. Qualifying Species include: Tuna, Wahoo, Dolphin, Kingfish, and Cobia.

32. Billfish Release Criteria:

All billfish must be properly released in order for the points to be scored to the registered angler and his or her team.  The requirements for a release are as follows: (1) The double line and leader must leave the tip of the rod once a strike occurs. (2) At the conclusion of the fight the fish must be brought close enough to the boat for a mate or crewmember to touch the leader, not the double line.  In the event the fish to be released is wrapped up in the leader, and the mate can’t touch the leader, you may use an 8’ Gadd or tag stick to touch the fish. This much all be clearly documented on video. (3) In a continuous sequence, video footage must clearly identify the fish as well as the leader touch by a crew member. (4) Evidence on video of the leader being cut at the time of release. (5) The proper color card and confirmation # must be displayed on video by the angler who released the fish to mark the completion of a catch.

33. Video Requirement:

Every billfish released in the tournament must be verified by video footage clearly identifying the release.  The first video clip to be shot by all teams should be to initialize the video device daily with the time, date and GPS location at the start of fishing.  If you fill your first video and need to switch to a 2nd video during fishing, please contact the radio room for a new establishing shot to begin your video.

Each team is responsible for providing their own video device and the appropriate video memory cards to record video footage that documents the releases on their boat.  Video media will not be provided to teams by the tournament committee officials.  All video must be date and time stamped in order to comply with the tournament rules. Video memory cards are considered the following, but not limited to, SD cards and GoPro memory cards. In the event of a discrepancy or issue, the tournament committee officials reserve the right to request and accept secondary sources of video, to include, but are not limited to, cell phone videos, the actual camera used to shoot video, GoPros, and any other formats the tournament committee deem appropriate as a secondary video format for use as verification for proof of releases for a team. The secondary back up release videos will be used only in the event that there is an issue with the video memory cards appropriately turned in during the times allowed for check-in at the official check-in locations provided and to the designated CatchStat representative at the location selected. In the event of a cell phone, camera, GoPro, or alternative devices being requested by a tournament committee official, the official will call the owner or captain to bring their device to be reviewed at tournament headquarters. The team representative will need to surrender his or her device until the release verification process is complete.

34. Continuous Video Sequence:

In reference to release requirements #3 and #4 in Rule 32, the Billfish Release Criteria, to ensure the authenticity of the releases, each team is required to maintain a continuous video sequence from the time video evidence of the fish is established up to the time the leader touch is verified on video.  If a break in the footage should occur, the team must reestablish video evidence of the fish again with a continuous video sequence up to the leader touch. In regards to the angler, the angler should remove buffs or face protection, briefly, so the committee can establish the angler’s face. It is not necessary to keep the camera rolling after the release while waiting for a confirmation # and color card verification from the tournament committee officials to create the Confirmation Break Image.

35. Confirmation Break Image:

In reference to release requirement #5 in Rule 32, the Billfish Release Criteria, once a release has occurred, the captain must contact the radio room for a confirmation # and instructions on which color card to create a video at the end of the release that includes the angler holding the correct color card and stating the confirmation # on video. This video should happen before footage of a subsequent release begins. The angler’s face should be visible with the color card in the video.

If a team is hooked up to multiple fish, a crewmember should state that on camera with video evidence to support it.  If both fish are brought boat side at the same time, the break image can be made once both fish are properly released and confirmation numbers are received.

36. Release & Catch Verification:

All billfish releases must be reported to the tournament officials committee immediately following the release unless circumstances arise of releasing multiple fish at the same time.  Individuals calling in a release must include the boat number and angler name in their report.  A release will be OFFICIAL once the radio controller responds to the respective angler with a confirmation number.  That confirmation number should be recorded on the registered angler’s release card with the time of release during the tournament day.  Any boat unable to contact the committee, should contact another boat for a relay. Cell phone #s for a number of tournament committee officials will be provided to teams in the boat packet and at the Captain’s meeting to be used to call in releases.  Boats that intend to fish in areas with poor cell phone coverage are still responsible for maintaining communication with the tournament committee on all releases. Should a boat relay their releases, it is the responsibility of each boat to ensure the tournament officials committee confirm their release and that they receive the correct color card and confirmation #.

37. The Last 15 Minutes:

The last 15 minutes of fishing each day, all hook ups must be reported to the tournament officials committee and a confirmation must be received from the tournament officials committee that you are hooked up. If you use another boat to relay, make sure that boat receives confirmation from the tournament officials committee of your hook up and confirms the relay back to your boat. It is advisable to record the name or number of the boat that assisted in the relay for additional assurance. It is each boats responsibility to make sure the tournament committee confirms you are hooked up. Call in your release as soon as possible and ensure your video can clearly show the hook up began prior to lines out. If you lose the fish, notify the tournament officials committee as soon as possible. The tournament officials have listed 3 phone numbers on your boat number card, the VHF channel, and additionally, call ins can be done with the complimentary Push to Talk Radios to get your fish called in. You must make every effort to contact the tournament officials committee with your last minute hook ups. If you cannot get through, we may still allow your hook up and release provided you have absolute video verification of the angler hooked up prior to lines out of the water. You will need continuous video footage of the entire fight up to and including the release and it must show via your cell phone or your GPS that the hook up began prior to lines out. All other release rules apply. If there is any break in the footage, the fish will not count. You must video the time on your GPS or cell phone to verify the time. Your time and date stamp on your video device or video memory card must be accurate. Your cameraman should be narrating with the angler name and all details and your team must continue to try to get through to the tournament officials committee to confirm you are hooked up so that we can provide you with a confirmation color and number should you have a release.

38. Prize Winnings:

Prize winnings will be paid out as stated under the Prize Structure. Should there not be a winner in one of the places in an optional categories, the money will be dispersed in that category evenly. Should there not be a winner at all in one of the optional entry categories, the money will be reallocated to the General Entry and dispersed at the tournament committee’s discretion. In the event of a tie, the prize winnings will be evenly reallocated between each team. Should any of the top places not be paid out in the general entry, the money will be evenly reallocated to the places that are being paid out. The tournament committee has final rights to reallocate the guaranteed purse dollars as they see fit. Payout may be subject to modifications up until the conclusion of the tournament and will be announced before or at the Closing Awards.  

JJSPORTFISH COMPETITION RULES – Based on Boat Entry

39.Eligible Species:

Dolphin, Tuna (Blackfin and YellowFin), Wahoo, Kingfish, and Cobia.

40.Maximum Anglers:

All anglers must be listed on CatchStat or a list must provided to tournament officials committee prior to the start of tournament competition on Thursday, March 7th to be entered into CatchStat. There is no limit on anglers. Additional crewmembers or mates may accompany the team if desired.  Any teams with angler changes or substitutions must notify a member of the tournament officials committee prior to the start of fishing on each competition day in order for the angler to be eligible to participate and for their releases to be counted.

41.Maximum Lines:

All boats are permitted to fish up to seven lines in the water in the tournament.

42.Tackle:

All fish must be caught on rod and reel. Max test line is 20lbs so teams can participate in both tournaments. The use of wire line is not permitted. No electric reels (except kites, dredges, or downriggers).  All teams must follow state, federal, and IGFA rules in regards to hooks. As stated by Federal Law, an HMS permitted vessel must use a non-offset circle hook in the tournament when using natural bait, live bait or dead bait. When using lures, J Hooks are allowed. Gang Hooks and Treble Hooks are not allowed. Double line and leader length must conform to IGFA Rules, depending on the line test you are using. Up to two dredges are permitted in the tournament. No live bait teasers or dredges are permitted.

43.Bait & Bait Fishing:

Fishing with live bait is permitted in the tournament; however, live chumming is not permitted.   No dead baits (whole or chunk) may be used for chumming.  No chumming in any form is allowed. Bait fishing is permitted during the day however, teams cannot be sail fishing at the same time they are bait fishing. The intent of this rule is to prohibit throwing anything in the water to attract fish, whether it is natural or synthetic. The use of glitter in any form is prohibited.

44.Hook & Hand:

Hook and Hand is permitted this year with the following stipulations: Once a fish is hooked, it must be immediately handed off to the angler. The angler must then fight the fish to completion until it is properly released, boated, or lost.  The hand off can only occur once and happen at the beginning of the fight. A fish is considered to be hooked once a strike occurs and the drag is engaged or the bail is closed.  The use of a rod holder to hook a fish is allowable, but not when fighting a fish.

45.Tournament Channel:

JJSportfish teams do not need to call boated fish into the tournament committee throughout the day.

46.Boundaries:

ALL Participating boats entered into the JJBILLFISH tournament are limited to the waters off the coast of Florida no more than 35 miles offshore.  North Boundary is 26°56.553N, 79°59.622W and the South/West Boundary is 24°43.876N, 80°46.238W.  A boat may not exit the boundaries when fighting a fish. Turn on GPS Tracking on your GPS. This may be used to verify the boat stayed inside the boundaries, in the event of a protest. If your tracking is not on or available, you may be disqualified for any day there is no tracking.

47.Prize Structure:

The tournament prize structure for the JJSPORTFISH tournament is based on entry in the tournament. General Entry will be paid out by your top 3 fish combined total weight and will be paid for the Top 3 boats. Should any of the top places not be paid out in the general entry, the money will be evenly reallocated to the places that are being paid out. The optional entry categories will be paid out 100% of what is entered into those categories and each species optional will be paid out to 2 places. If a species does not have a second place winner, the money will be distributed all to the 1st place of that species. If a species is not caught, the money will be reallocated back to the general entry of the tournament.

48.Check-Out:

JJFISHWEEK will not have a land based check-out location.  All JJSportfish teams must be within the boundaries at the start of the fishing day. Video is not required. Boats may not deploy any lines in the water until they are within the stated boundaries.

49.Lines-In:

8:00 am on both Thursday, March 7 and Friday, March 8. No boats may be trailered to or from their fishing locations during the tournament hours.

50.Lines-Out:

4:00pm on both Thursday, March 7 and Friday, March 8.

51.Check-In/Weigh Station Check Ins and Times:

Boats with fish to be weighed must do so by 6:00pm on Thursday and 6:00pm on Friday.  There will be 4 official check-in locations open from 4:00PM-6:00PM that will have weigh scales to weigh fish: Ocean Reef Marina Fuel Dock (ORC Weigh Station is for members only. The Contender Boat will be positioned at the point to collect media cards and fish to be weighed), Miami Beach Marina Fuel Dock, Bahia Mar Marina Captain’s Lounge, and Sailfish Marina floating dock. Any changes to the Check-in locations will be announced at the captain’s meeting as well as Dropbox shared details.  Check-in locations will be based on the location of where most boats are docked for the tournament. You must have a team representative at the weigh in and check in with the Catch Stat representative by 6:00PM in order for your fish to count. In the event of a line, a waiting list will be started and your fish will be weighed in in the order of arrival. As long as you are checked in by 6:00PM, your fish may be weighed in after 6:00PM. Boats weighing in at the Marina Fuel Docks should drop off their fish with a team member and proceed to their slip. If you are not staying at one of the marinas, please move to a safe area to wait until your fish is weighed. Do not block the fuel dock area. If you drop off at the Contender Boat outside of Ocean Reef before 6:00PM, you will be considered checked in and on time.

52.Weather:

Same rules apply as the JJBILLFISH Tournament

53.Competition Day:

Same rules apply as the JJBILLFISH Tournament

54.Flying Devices:

Same rules apply as the JJBILLFISH Tournament

55.Chumming:

Same rules apply as the JJBILLFISH Tournament

56.Protests:

Same rules apply as the JJBILLFISH Tournament

57.Polygraph:

Same rules apply as the JJBILLFISH Tournament

58.Tournament Discretion:

Same rules apply as the JJBILLFISH Tournament

59.Release:

Same rules apply as the JJBILLFISH Tournament

60.Hold Harmless:

Same rules apply as the JJBILLFISH Tournament

61.Agreement:

Same rules apply as the JJBILLFISH Tournament

62.Winnings:

Same rules apply as the JJBILLFISH Tournament

63.Overall Rules:

All weighted fish will follow IGFA Rules unless otherwise stated in these rules. All local, state, and federal laws apply. Video is not required in the JJSPORTFISH tournament. Video can aide the tournament officials committee in the event of a protest, but is not required or requested.

64.Mutilated Fish:

Any fish, determined by the tournament committee officials to be mutilated, will be disqualified.

65.Weigh In:

All eligible fish must weigh minimum of 10 lbs to count in tournament. Two fish per species may be weighed in each day. Each eligible fish will be award one point per pound.

66.Weigh Station Officials:

All decisions of the tournament officials, to include the CatchStat representative and subsequent weigh station management team members at the weigh stations, are final.

67. Prize:

A boat may win more than one prize in any category.

68.Overall General Entry –Big Fish Bonanza:

The overall general entry is the Big Fish Bonanza which will be determined by the total weight of up to three heaviest fish on any boat and paid out to four places. Less than three fish can win this category. Only two fish per species per day can be weighed. Only two fish of any species can be included in the overall three fish aggregate. General Entry will be paid out by your top 3 fish combined total weight and will be paid for the Top 3 boats. Should any of the top places not be paid out in the general entry, the money will be evenly reallocated to the places that are being paid out.

69.Optional Categories – Heaviest of each Species:

Each of the optional categories will be paid out 100% of what is entered into the category. Each team can only weigh in two fish per species each day. Each team must decide which of their fish to weigh in. A fish may count towards the optional categories and the general entry. Should there not be a winner in one of the places in an optional category, the money will be dispersed in that category evenly. Should there not be a winner at all in one of the optional entry categories, the money will be reallocated to the General Entry and dispersed at the tournament committee’s discretion. In the event of a tie, the prize winnings will be evenly reallocated between each team.

70.Prize Winnings:

Prize winnings will be paid out as stated under the Prize Structure of the JJSPORTFISH tournament. Should there not be a winner in one of the places in an optional categories, the money will be dispersed in that category evenly. Should there not be a winner at all in one of the optional entry categories, the money will be reallocated to the General Entry and dispersed at the tournament committee’s discretion. In the event of a tie, the prize winnings will be evenly reallocated between each team. Should any of the top places not be paid out in the general entry, the money will be evenly reallocated to the places that are being paid out. The tournament committee has final rights to reallocate the guaranteed purse dollars as they see fit. Payout may be subject to modifications up until the conclusion of the tournament and will be announced before or at the Closing Awards.

Should there be any questions, please contact:

Fishing Tournament Director:

Bric Peeples , 305-282-1006, supersti@aol.com

Event Producer and Tournament Committee Officials:

CI Management, 305-255-3500, info@jjfishweek.com

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