TOURNAMENT RULES & IMPORTANT INFORMATION

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• Each boat entered must have at least one participant present at the Captain’s Meeting.

• It is suggested for all anglers to have a Georgia Fishing License.

• Fish one of two days available for your official Tarpon Tournament. Friday, August 25thth or Saturday, August 26th

• ALL TEAMS MUST DECLARE THEIR FISH DAYS BY NO LATER THAN WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23rd @ 10 P.M.           THE TEAM CAPTAIN   MUST TEXT RYAN MCKENZIE AT (912) 660-9821 FOR FISH DAY VERIFICATION OR SIGN FISH DAY SHEET AT THE CAPTAINS MEETING.   INCLUDE TEAM #, CAPTAIN NAME AND TARPON FISH DAY IN TEXT.  IF A DAY IS NOT DECLARED, SATURDAY WILL BE THE DEFAULT   TARPON TOURNAMENT DAY.

• All fish must be caught in a saltwater river or sound. NO LAGOON CAUGHT FISH. 

• Boats may leave the dock at 6:00 AM. IF NOT LEAVING FROM A SAVANNAH SOUND YOU MUST RUN TO A SAVANNAH SOUND AND   TEXT IN A VIDEO OF YOUR GPS SHOWING LOCATION WITH A DATE AND TIME STAMP TO RYAN MCKENZIE (912) 660-9821. 

• BOUNDARIES - The north side of Savannah River and south side of Sapelo sound.

• FISHING TIMES - Lines in the water at 7:30 AM and lines out at 3:30 PM both days.

• *NEW RULE - At the beginning of each Fishing Day the Captain will be sent a WORD OF THE DAY via Text, this word must be   repeated during the release video.  We must have (1) CONTINOUS video that includes the WORD OF THE DAY clearly repeated,   Tarpon sighting and a leader touch or leader reeled to the rod tip to confirm a caught fish. You do not have to call in for a   Release #.  RELEASE #’S ARE NOT NEEDED per Previous Tournaments Rule (2013-2022)

• A Tournament Committee Member MUST receive release videos for verification by no later than 4:30 on both fish days, Family   and Tarpon Day.  VIDEOS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AFTER 4:30 PM.  VIDEOS CAN BE TEXTED OR EMAILED TO RYAN MCKENZIE –   (912) 660-9821 / RYAN@RELEASEMARINE.COM

• *ALL TARPON RELEASES must be called in to Tournament Control – MELISSA PETERS (912) 429-8554.  PROVIDE YOUR ASSIGNED   TEAM # (THIS IS ON YOUR TOURNAMENT PACKET) AND ANGLERS NAME. RELEASE TIME WILL BE VERIFIED BY TIME/DATE STAMP ON   VIDEO. RELEASE TIMES ON CATCHSTAT ARE NOT OFFICIAL UNTIL VIDEOS HAVE BEEN REVIEWED.  THE BENEFIT OF CATCHSTAT IS TO   KEEP UP WITH TOURNAMENT STANDINGS, IF FISH RELEASES ARE NOT CALLED IN IMMEDIATELY, TIME DISPLAYED WILL BE   INACCUATE ON CATCHSAT.

• If you have rules questions, please refer to this sheet or speak with a Member of the Rules Committee. Melissa Peters and   Marvee McKenzie are NOT on the Rules Committee and cannot make a rules judgement.  All items in question will default to   the rules laid forth in this document.  Attending the Captain’s Meeting will acknowledge all rules are accepted & understood.

• Tackle: 8 FT leaders - Maximum Length.

• Live Bait must be caught on Fishing Days, not prior.

• Fish must be hooked and caught by one angler.  The only exception is a Junior Angler, a Junior Angler 16 years old and younger   may hand off the rod one time only during Family Fish Day.

• A legal catch is considered verified when the following continuous events occurring: fish sighting (TARPON), WORD OF THE DAY repeated clearly in the video, person touching the leader or reeling leader/swivel to the rod tip

• ALL VIDEOS ARE REQUIRED WITH TIME AND DATE STAMP – NO EXCEPTIONS

• ALL VIDEOS MUST BE RETAINED UNTIL THE END OF THE AWARDS CEREMONY

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Tournament winner will be determined by most releases and time of release on the day you fish.  In the case of a tie, the   earliest released fish wins by time.  For example, If Boat “A” releases a fish on Friday @ 10:00 AM and Boat “B” releases a fish   on Saturday @ 9:00 AM, and this is the only fish caught, Boat “B” would be declared the winner of the Tournament.

 

Rules Committee: Sam Peters, Eric Horton, Chris Peters, Bill Bowers, & Ryan McKenzie. The Rules Committee will make the final   decision on any questionable videos.

 

We ask respectfully that all boats entered in the tournament fish in ethical and honest ways, while respecting all boats fishing   in the tournament.

 

Release Marine is not responsible for any damage or injury that occurs throughout the tournament or events coordinating   within it.

 

All Boaters are responsible for themselves and their party, the choice remains up to the Boat Captain whether to fish on either   of the Tournament Days.

 

In the case of inclement weather, a vote will be taken by each boat captain whether to fish on tournament days.

 

Tournament Payout - 1st Place (60%) 2nd Place (30%) 3rd Place (10%)  - 10% of Total Entry Fees Collected is designated for Charity​

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IMPORTANT RULES TIMES & DATES

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ALL BOATS MUST DECLARE THEIR “TARPON” FISH DAY & “FAMILY” FISH DAY BY TEXT NO LATER THAN WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23RD, 2023 AT 10 PM.  PLEASE TEXT TEAM #, CAPTAIN’S NAME AND FISH DAY TO RYAN MCKENZIE @ (912) 660-9821.  ALL BOATS WILL HAVE THEIR FISH DAY POSTED TO THE JOHN A. PETERS JR. MEMORIAL TARPON TOURNAMENT FACEBOOK PAGE.

 

ALL VIDEOS MUST BE SUBMITTED TO RYAN MCKENZIE VIA EMAIL OR TEXT BY NO LATER THAN 4:30 PM ON THEIR DECLARED FISH DAY.  THE TOURNAMENT REQUIRES A COPY OF THE VIDEO TO RETAIN. VIDEOS MAY BE SHOT ON PHONE, GOPRO, OR HANDHELD VIDEO RECORDER.  VIDEOS MUST BE TIME DATE STAMPED WITH A FISH SIGHTING, REPEATED WORD OF THE DAY, AND A PERSON TOUCHING THE LEADER OR REELING THE SWIVEL TO THE ROD TIP IN ONE CONTINUOUS EVENT.

 

ANY PROTEST MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE BY NO LATER THAN 5:30 PM ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 26th, 2023.

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JUNIOR ANGLER AND LADY ANGLER TOURNAMENT RULES

 

1.  A Junior Angler is classified as anyone 16 years old and younger

2.  There will be no cash prizes awarded for Junior Anglers on “Family Fish Day”

3.  A Junior Angler can be listed as an Angler on the Team’s “Tarpon Fish Day” and can win both Junior Angler Award and Top   Overall Angler ONLY if the Team designates the same day for their “Tarpon Fish Day” and “Family Fish Day”

4.  Junior Angler Awards will be given for the most Tarpon Released or Top 4 Largest Gamefish Caught by Species

   • Fish Hierarchy (Jack Crevalle, Redfish, Spanish Mackerel, Trout, & Shark)  

     • Example. A 20lb Jack will win over a 30lb Redfish

     • Example. A 20lb Shark will lose to a 5lb Spanish Mackerel

5.  Fish can be hooked and handed off ONLY on Family Fish Day.

6.  All caught fish (non-Tarpon) must be measured, and photo taken to submit to Tournament Committee Member. Text in   pictures to Ryan McKenzie @ (912) 660-921 by no later than 4:30 each day.  The measurement must be clear in the photo taken.

7.  If a Tarpon is caught by a Junior Angler on their official “Tarpon Fish Day” all Tournament rules above apply besides Rule 15.  If   a Tarpon is caught by a Junior Angler on “Family Fish Day” a video with time and date stamp must be submitted to a   Tournament Committee Member.  A release # is not required. Text video to Ryan McKenzie @ (912) 660-9821 by no later than   4:30 each day.

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