Fishing Tournament Rules

OUR TOP PRIORITY IS THE SAFETY OF ALL PARTICIPANTS. THE PUBLIC AND EVERYONE INVOLVED MUST ADHERE TO ANY AND ALL GUIDELINES SET BY LOCAL, STATE, OR FEDERAL AUTHORITIES.

 

  1. ENTRY FEE PER BOAT: $300 per boat paid on or before May 25, 2025. $350 if paid after May 25, 2025. No exceptions, unless a discount is applied. Register and pay online at PBFB.org
 
  1. REGISTRATION: Entries should be filled out on the website PBFB.org. No entries (tournament and Calcutta’s), angler changes, or angler additions can be made after the Captain’s meeting on June 26, 2025. The registration fee is nonrefundable for any reason.
 
  1. CAPTAIN’S MEETING: Boathouse Marine Center Thursday, June 26, 2025, register/check-in from 6:00-7:00, rules announced TBD. One angler from each boat must be present, you will not be able to fish this tournament if not present. Official rules will be reviewed, and any rule changes will be given at this meeting.
 
  1. TOURNAMENT HEADQUARTERS & OFFICIAL WEIGH STATION: Pompano Beach Firefighter Benevolent Association (PBFBA) scales at Alsdorf Park Boat Ramp will constitute the official weigh station. Regular weigh-in hours: Saturday, June 28, 2025, will be from noon to 4:00 pm, if you wish to weigh in sooner, contact our weigh master on channel 68 (all discussions among competitors should be conducted on alternate channels). All boats must be visible to the scales by no later than 4:00 pm. No fish hooked or boated after the hours stated above will be eligible.
 
  1. FISHING BOUNDARIES: The fishing limits of this tournament are in territorial waters of the U.S. North Boundary is St. Lucie Inlet and the South boundary will be Government Cut.
 
  1. ANGLERS PER BOAT: Four (4) registered anglers are permitted per boat this includes the captain and mate; additional anglers are $50.00 per person.
 
  1. COMMUNICATIONS: All participating boats should be equipped with a working VHF marine radio. The tournament committee will monitor VHF channel 68 (all discussions among competitors should be conducted on alternate channels), and official times or special notifications will be announced during the tournament on this channel. NO WEIGH-IN STATISTICS WILL BE AVAILABLE ON VHF RADIO.
 
  1. START and HOURS OF FISHING: Saturday, June 28, 2025, Gentlemen’s Start, lines in @ 7:00 am and all lines out of the water by 3:00 pm. Weigh-in closes promptly at 4:00 pm. All boats must be visible to the scales by no later than 4:00 pm. You may use any inlet to fish in this tournament. Just remember this tournament is for charity and we are relying on everyone to abide by the rules.
 
  1. ELIGIBLE FISH: Dolphin, Kingfish, Wahoo (No Yellowfin, Skipjack Tuna, Bigeye Tuna, Bluefin Tuna, or Billfish will be eligible to be weighed). See Calcutta’s for additional species of fish. Mutilated fish will not be eligible for any category. Mutilation is determined by the weighmaster.
 
  1. Number of weighable fish: Only three (3) fish per category can be weighed. Only one (1) fish per category, per boat can be entered in the Kingfish, Dolphin, and Wahoo (K, D, W) categories. Only one boat can win one prize per category (K, D, W).  The Lady Angler, Junior Angler, and Average Joe winners are still eligible to win all other categories. If a category remains vacant that prize will not be awarded.
 
  1. CATEGORIES/MINIMUM WEIGHTS/JR Angler/Dana Katz LADY ANGLER/ Bill Elliott Aggregate/Average Joe Award: A) The minimum weight for any category is TEN (10) pounds. B) Fish not meeting these minimum weights will not count. All fish must meet state requirements. The Dana Katz Lady Angler, Junior Angler, and Average Joe Award can be the largest weighable fish accepted by the tournament and this fish can be eligible to win any other appropriate categories.
    1. The Bill Elliott Three fish aggregate can be any 3 heaviest fish from each KDW category (i.e., 3 heaviest kingfish can be weighed).
    2. The Dana Katz Lady Angler: This can be the largest weighable fish KDW, NOT a cash award category.
    3. The Junior Angler: This can be the largest weighable fish KDW, award recipients must be 12 years or younger, NOT a cash award category.
    4. Average Joe Award: This is only eligible for single outboard engine boats. This can be the largest weighable fish KDW

 

  1. Calcutta’s Fees: Calcutta’s Fees: 10% off all Calcutta fees will be given to charity which will be split 5% to named charity and 5% to benevolent. Payouts will be 70/30 of the remaining money but may be adjusted depending on the number of boat entries. In the event there is not a winner in a category, 50% of the prize money will be raffled off to one of the teams entered in that Calcutta. Need not be present to win. Must claim the prize within 30 calendar days of the drawing.
 
  1. TIES: In the event of a tie in weight, the prize will be split evenly.
 
  1. Named Charity: The Broward First Responder Support Dogs program uses therapy dogs to respond to traumatic scenes, helping our community and first responders. Ten percent 10% of all entries and five percent 5% of all Calcutta’s will be donated to them. You can check out their cause on Instagram @bfrs_dogs.
 
  1. Hook & Catch: For all participating Male, Female, and Junior anglers, you must Hook, Fight and Catch your own fish. Once the fish is hooked, you must fight the fish until it is on the boat, properly released, or lost. Anglers may not pass the rod once the fish is hooked. Rod holders are allowed if it’s hooked and reeled in by the original angler.
 
  1. BAIT & TACKLE: No bait restrictions. Live bait permitted. All fish must be caught on rod and reel. Wire lines permitted. Electric reels are only permitted for Kite reels and Downriggers! No live chumming!
 
  1. Prize Winnings: Any award winner receiving $600 or more will be required to provide a valid taxpayer identification number or social security number and will receive an IRS form 1099 at the end of the calendar year; a copy of such will be filed with the IRS.
 
  1. Integrity: Tournament winners may be subject to a polygraph test at the sole discretion of the Fishing Tournament Committee. All fish may be examined by any means necessary.
 
  1. ENTRY REFUSAL: THE PBFBA FISHING TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE reserves the right to refuse any tournament application or entry from a prospective entrant with or without cause. Any applicant refused entry, shall be entitled to a refund of the entry fee.
 
  1. WEATHER CONDITIONS: In the event of unsafe conditions at sea, the fishing tournament committee, in its best judgment, may call off the tournament until better conditions prevail. Such notice of cancellation and resumption will be broadcast on channel 68 and on our website www.pbfb.org. In the event of full cancellation, tournament prizes will be awarded by drawings for category prizes at the awards party, must be present to win. Captains are ultimately responsible for their crew and fish at their own risk.
 
  1. THE PBFBA FISHING COMMITTEE and all participants will abide by any federal, state, and/or local laws that pertain to the environmental control of the fisheries. All registered anglers must possess a current Florida saltwater fishing license and present upon request.

 

  1. Pompano Beach Firefighter Benevolent, the Tournament Director, officials, committee members, sponsors, and all persons connected directly or indirectly with the operations of the tournament shall be exempt from any loss, damage, negligence, harm, or injury suffered to any participant, guest, vessel or equipment which may occur during the tournament events. All anglers aboard understand the tournament rules and agree to abide by them. Captains are ultimately responsible for their crew, and all anglers fish at their own risk.
 
  1. NOTE: ALL Categories, Payouts, # of Payouts, etc., can and will be adjusted based on the number of boats based on whatever the Tournament Committee deems appropriate at their discretion. Tournament rules are subject to change without notice. ANY CHANGES WILL BE ANNOUNCED AT THE CAPTAIN’S MEETING.
Click here to download PDF Rules
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