Rules and Regulations for King/Spanish Divisions

1. All decisions made by the executive tournament committee are binding.
2. All fish will be weighed at EI Wildlife Ramp, 6800 Emerald Drive, Emerald Isle, NC.
3. Scales will open at 1:00 pm Saturday, September 16, 2023.
4. Fish to be weighed must pass the check-in boat located at the first no-wake buoy off the point of Archer’s Creek by 4:00 pm.  It is the entry’s responsibility to ensure their boat number is acknowledged and the time recorded for weigh-in purposes by the check-in boat.
5. King mackerel must be 26 inches minimum fork length, and Spanish must be 12 inches minimum fork length.
6. Weigh-in procedures will be discussed at the captain’s meeting.
7. In the event that more than one fish of the same weight are brought in, the fish with the earliest time recorded by the check-in boat will be the winner.
8. All fish weighed in become the property of the tournament.
9. Tournament is the captain's choice.
10. Fish must be weighed in from the boat in which they are caught, arriving under its own power.
11. Only one (1) Primary King Prize per boat.  Only one (1) Primary Spanish Prize per boat.  Any Primary Prize winning King may also qualify for one (1) Secondary King Prize. A King can only win one (1) Secondary Prize.
12. Prizes are based on weight of the fish, not length.
13. Fish subject to review by the executive tournament committee.
14. Fish must be caught by rod & reel, maximum of 6 lines in the water. Fish may not be caught on electric reels or hand lines.  Down riggers and Kites are to be used as accessory only.
15. Fish brought to weigh-in must not be mutilated, cut, speared, etc.  The only marks acceptable are gaff holes.  All hooks must be removed.
16. Boats in tournament are limited to fishing boundaries west of 76 30 00 and east of        77 40 00.
17. All official times will be determined based on the GPS time.
18. All complaints must be submitted in writing to the weigh master within 1 hour after the last fish has been weighed on Saturday, September 16, 2023 with a $200 cash deposit.  If the protest is not upheld, the deposit becomes property of the tournament.
19. It is the captain’s obligation to make sure all participants follow USCG, NCDMF, NCWRC, state and federal regulations.
20. A boat may not be replaced after 9 pm on Friday, September 15, 2023.
21. No entries will be accepted after 9 pm on Friday, September 15, 2023.
22. All participants entering are subject to a polygraph exam.
23. Boat numbers must be displayed at the weigh station.
24. Any boats seen congregating during competition time may be disqualified.
25. Any boat violating tournament rules will be disqualified for the entire tournament.
26. The executive tournament committee will place a boat or angler where they will receive the largest prize.
27. One member of each boat MUST accompany any fish to be weighed in.
28. Boats will not be allowed to tie up at weigh area.
29. All boats should be represented at captain’s meeting.
30. All activities on Saturday, September 16, 2023 will take place at EI Wildlife Boat Ramp, 6800 Emerald Drive, Emerald Isle, NC.
31. Primary king prizes are based on 50 boat entries & 1st place prize $5000 guarantee minimum. Primary Spanish prizes are based on 25 entries. Final prize amounts will be adjusted based on the number of entries.
32. In the event the tournament is canceled and not rescheduled by the executive tournament committee in 2023, all entry fees  will be refunded within 45 days. The      tournament will announce via social media by 7:00 pm Thursday, September 14, 2023 if weather or other issues lead to a cancellation or other schedule changes.
33. Juniors are defined as 15 years of age or younger. Juniors are recommended to accompany the fish to the scales and identify themselves as a junior at weigh-in.
34. Ladies are recommended to accompany the fish to the scales and identify themselves as lady participants at weigh-in.
35. Seniors are defined as 60 years of age or older. Seniors are recommended to accompany the fish to the scales and identify themselves as a senior at weigh-in.
36. No checkout is required. No lines in the water before 7:00 am Saturday, September 16, 2023.
37. All secondary prizes are based upon the largest king caught by each qualified entry.
38. All sponsors and executive committee members are eligible to participate in the event.
39. King mackerel are eligible to win secondary prize places only if they have been designated at weigh-in as by a JUNIOR, LADY or SENIOR. In addition JUNIOR, LADY or SENIOR may weigh in and designate fish (other than those weighed in for primary      prizes) to be considered for one of those categories, and they MUST give their name.
40. For a fish to be considered for the JUNIOR, LADY or SENIOR prize, the qualifying crew      member who participated in the process of catching the fish is recommended      to accompany the fish to the weigh station. The weigh master must be informed that      the fish is eligible to be considered for one of those categories, and they MUST give their name.
41. No boat may make landfall during tournament hours without the prior approval of the      executive committee.
42. Executive tournament committee will monitor VHF channel 72 and will be available by phone at a telephone # to be provided at the captains meeting.
43. Executive tournament committee reserves the right to refuse an entry into the tournament.
44. A signed sworn affidavit will be required of each individual who places a fish in      competition for tournament prizes. Once an affidavit is signed, the weight presented      on the form is final. All protests shall be made prior to signing the form if the individual does not agree to the weight at that time.
45. The tournament reserves the right to photograph any and all activities and to use those photographs for publicity on various media.
46. All prize $ winning captains must complete a Federal Tax Form W-9 prior to receiving payment from the tournament. The tournament will provide Federal Tax Form W-9.
47. Any participant that is fishing on a “Boat for Hire” must register the entry in the Name of the Boat & Captain for Hire.

Rev. 1…..2023