Pensacola Hawg Hunters

Tournament Rules

Under the leadership of the Tournament Director, it is the responsibility of each participant to police his own adherence to the Tournament Rules. The Tournament Director, prior to the start of the tournament will ask all participants to synchronize their watches and announce the weigh-in time.

Weigh-in time is announced by the tournament director prior to the start of each tournament. Unless providing assistance to another boater in distress, a member arriving back at the dock after the official weigh-in time will not be allowed to participate in that days weigh-in, but will receive credit for fishing and tournaments points for that day.

A participant is considered ON TIME for the weigh-in if he or his boating partner is on the dock and attempting to retrieve the boat for the weigh-in.

A disqualification shall result in the forfeiture of all points as outlined in section: A 1, 2 and section: B. 1, 2.

A. One day tournament:
1. Tournament points
2. Fishing points

B. Two day tournament
1. Tournament points for the day of Disqualification
2. Fishing Points for the day of Disqualification

No boat will leave prior to the official start of the tournament. The Tournament Director will use his own judgement to determine safe daylight. At that point, it becomes the responsibility of each boater to judge for himself whether or not safe conditions exist and to act accordingly.

1. In order to receive credit for fishing a club tournament, a member must be in good standing, tournament fees paid and actually fish the tournament. Members who notify the tournament director and are not at the blast off will not be penalized. Members who pay their fees and do not fish the tournament WILL NOT receive tournament points, nor credit for the tournament as one of the previous 6 tournaments fished to qualify for the fish-off or to vote. However, the $5.00 contribution paid toward the fish-off pot will count towards the fish-off.

2. There is a tournament entry fee. One Fourth of this fee will be placed in a "fish-off pot".

3. Normally there will be one monthly club tournament. The Tournament Director will have the authority to reschedule or delay the tournament due to emergencies, severe weather, etc. The future of the rescheduled tournament will be decided at a special club meeting or the next regularly scheduled meeting.

a. Summer season tournaments shall have a weigh-in time of 1:00p.m. during the months of June, July, August, and September. In the event that the tournament committee should schedule a two-day tournament during one of these months, the standard two-day tournament weigh-in of 4:00p.m. Saturday and 1:00p.m. Sunday will apply. Unless the board or by club member vote, decides to have the annual October fish off days changed to Friday & Saturday with weigh ins both days changed to 4pm each day Friday and Saturday or 4 pm Friday and 1pm Saturday as our weekend 2 day events have always been.

4. Tournament sites will be selected by a committee chaired by the Tournament Director, and comprised of the newly elected E-Board. Tournaments will include 8 one day tournaments and 4 two day tournaments (one of which will be the "Fish Off"). These sites will be published in the November newsletter for the following year. All members are encouraged to submit their suggestions for tournament sites prior to the November meeting.

5. Boaters have the option to fish solo or bring a partner of their choice. Non-member fishermen are eligible to participate in the “lunker pot” only.

6. A minimum of two boats is required to start a tournament.

7. All boats must be operated in a safe manner. Contestants "shall" furnish their own and wear a coast guard approved life jacket while the combustion engine is being operated above idle speed. All boats must have an operational "kill switch" . All safety equipment required by the Coast Guard, State and local regulation will be adhered to. Any infractions will result in disqualification of the offender.

8. No contestant will be allowed to fish within 50 yards of another club boat unless permission is obtained from the fisherman occupying the area in question. No fishing will be allowed in water prohibited by county, state, or federal regulations. All fishing must be conducted from the boat and contestants will not be allowed to portage boats.

9. A maximum of two rods may be used. Only casting, spinning or spincasting tackle may be used in conjunction with artificial lures or live bait. Other tackle such as flyrods or cane poles may be used during tournament hours for the purpose of catching live bait only. Any bass taken with this tackle must be released.

10. A five fish limit will be allowed each angler per day unless state or local laws restrict limits to less. When a person catches his 6th keeper fish, he must cull a fish before continuing fishing. Penalty for non-compliance is disqualification for that day. Fish length must be in accordance with State law. Any fish weighed in that is under 12 inches shall be known as a "Jeffrie." (2025 Season Only.  Reverts back to 12" minimun at the end of the 2025 Season automatically)  The decision of the Tournament Director is final. Contestants weighing in dead fish will be penalized 0.2 lb. per dead fish. This penalty will be assessed for both the total tournament weight and lunker weight. In the case of a breakdown, fish may be brought to the scales by the boaters partner provided he can get another club boater to bring him in. If a boater is fishing by themselves and his boat breaks down , his fish may be weighed in by another club boat. Tournament winners and places will be determined by the total weight of the catch less any penalties.

11. The three contestants recording the highest poundage at each tournament will be awarded cash prizes at the next meeting according to the following:

1st place 50% of Tournament Pot.
2nd place 30% of Tournament Pot
3rd place 20% of Tournament Pot
*In the event a place is not filled, any moneys from that place will be carried forward to the next "fish-off pot".

12. Points for each tournament and monthly meeting will count toward the Angler of the Year Award in October. Points will be accrued as follows:

1. 5 points for attending the monthly meeting.
2. 5 points will be awarded to any contestant that fishes a one day tournament, as defined in Tournament Rule 1, regardless if he has to leave early.
3. 10 points will be awarded to any contestant that fishes both days of a two day tournament, as defined in Tournament Rule 1. 5 points will be awarded if the member only fishes one day of the two day tournament.
4. 5 points - To receive shirt and hat points a member must have them on at the weigh in on a 1 day tournament, and on 2 day tournaments members must have them on the first day at the weigh in. Members not fishing the first day but fish the second day can receive the points provided they wear the shirt and hat at the weigh in and notify the tournament director.
5. 15 points for 1st place, 14 for 2nd, 13 for 3rd, 12 for 4th, 11 for 5th, 10 for 6th, 9 for 7th, 8 for 8th, 7 for 9th, 6 for 10th, 5 for 11th, 4 for 12th, 3 for 13th, 2 for 14th, 1 for 15th.

In the event of a tie for a tournament the fisherman who weighs in the largest fish will break the tie, should a tie still exist after this a mere flip of the coin will break the tie. In the event of a tie in the point standings (not the end of the year) the fisherman who are tied will be listed as tied in the standing (if, for example both are tied for 5th place both will be in the 5th place and there will be no 6th place and so on). In the event of a tie at the end of the year, the following tie breaker will be used in order:

1. The individual with the largest number of legal fish weighed in for the year.
2. The individual with the largest number of live fish weighed in during the year.
3. The individual with the heaviest tournament stringer of fish weighed in during the year.

13. Any protest must be filed within 15 minutes of the closing of the scales to the weigh master or any officer present. Protests will be arbitrated by the club officials present, provided none is involved in the protest. All decisions are final.

14. All tournaments shall be live release. Fish will be brought to the weigh master in a bag provided by the angler and given to the weigh master. Fish will be weighed and then returned to the water for release. Fish that show any sign of life will be considered live. Members may keep a lunker for mounting.

15. Nothing can be attached to a fish at the weigh in.

16. Only largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass will be allowed.