Entry Fee is $1,500 per boat. A late fee of $250 will be applied after May 1st
All tournament entries are non-transferable and non-refundable. If your vessel fails to compete in the event after submitting payment, your entry will be rolled over to the following year for full credit. Payment of the entry fee constitutes a representation by each entrant that they have read and fully understand the tournament rules that they will abide by such rules and the decisions of the Tournament Director and/or Committee. The King master is a sport fishing tournament where participants agree to fish in a fair and ethical manner. While the tournament does not strictly enforce the use of IGFA rules, it certainly expects that only minor technical differences will be employed by anglers.
Registration is from 5-10pm on Wednesday. Captain’s Meeting is at 5:30pm.
Anglers must obtain a Mississippi Saltwater Fishing License which can be purchased locally or online.
https://www.ms.gov/mdwfp/licensing/login
Boats must depart from Point Cadet Marina at 7am, and follow the DMR in the traditional boat parade down Casino Row.
Scales will be open 5pm-8pm on Thursday and Friday, and open at 6:00pm on Saturday. All fish caught during the tournament must be weighed before scales close on Saturday night. Boats must be within channel markers #34 to the East and inside #8 to the West by 5:30pm. Scales will close immediately after the last fish weighed. All fish submitted at the weigh scales will be returned to the team or the team can donate their fish to charity. All fish submitted for weigh-in must be caught using the tournament and must be in fresh, edible condition. No mutilated fish can be weighed in. The tournament rules committee reserves the right to disqualify any fish based on quality and freshness.
The following species are eligible for competition when caught by registered anglers in accordance with tournament rules:
Each boat will be allowed to bring to the scales a maximum of 9 King Mackerel, 3 Cobra, and 3 Wahoo.
The tournament committee reserves the right to reject any fish entry because of poor condition or one that does not meet the eligible requirements set by this tournament. The condition of the fish will be left to the scrutiny of the tournament director and committee. THEIR DECISION IS FINAL.
All Tournament Awards are based on 40 registered tournament boats. Payouts are subject to change depending on the number of entries. Awards for Heaviest Fish will be presented to the angler/boat for fish caught in the following categories:
| Species | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|---|---|---|
| King Mackerel | $35,000 | $10,000 | $3,000 |
Top Junior Angler and Top Lady Angler awards will be presented for heaviest King Mackerel. The Junior Angler must not be older than 16 years of age on the day the fish is caught.
This is a separate entry. The Optional Entry is not required to compete for Tournament Awards. Participants may pay an Optional Entry Fee in one or more of the following:
| Species | Divison 1 | Division 2 | Division 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| King | $3,000 | $1,500 | $500 |
| 2 King Aggregate | $3,000 | $1,500 | $500 |
| 3 King Aggregate | $3,000 | $1,500 | $500 |
| Wahoo | $1,500 | $500 | |
| Cobia | $1,500 | $500 |
Payout amounts will be the total amount of monies received, less 10% deducted for administration fees with the remaining 90% to be awarded. King 2 King Aggregate, 3 King Aggregate, Wahoo and Cobra will pay 1st, 2nd, and 3rd with a 50%, 30%, 20% split. In the event of limited participation in any category listed above, the payouts will be modified as follows: One team entered will be refunded in full, 2-5 teams will be winner-take-all, 6-9 teams will be 60/40 split and 10 or more teams will be the standard 50/30/20 split.
Prior to fishing, each tournament boat must designate a representative payee to receive payment for all crash awards. Payment of cash awards is by check. A single check will be written to the boat’s representative payee for the combined total of tournament cash awards and optional cash awards. King Master accepts no responsibility for the division of any cash awards between team members.
In the event the tournament committee feels in their best judgement fishing is unsafe due to severe weather, high seas, or any cause beyond control of the King Master, the tournament may be cancelled or delayed. If delayed, a new start time or date will be announced should weather conditions improve. If cancelled, entry fees will be rolled over to the following year in their entirety. All teams and participants should make their decision to fish based solely on their own judgement. FISH AT YOUR OWN RISK. One day of fishing constitutes a complete tournament. Entrants shall have no claim against the King Master for return of paid entry fees.
For any category of fish brought to the scales, placement is determined by recorded weight and time of the fish. In case of a tie for Top Lady Angler or Top Junior Angler on points, placement is determined by the first angler to reach the points based on recorded time.
Any protests relating to the tournament must be submitted in writing along with $500 deposit by the team captain to the tournament committee no later than 15 minutes after the last fish is weighed on the final day of the tournament. All entrants agree to abide by tournament rules and regulations. All disputes are decided by the Tournament Director and Committee. Their decision is final. Poor sportsmanship will be grounds for disqualification from the King Master. Any violation of these rules resulting in disqualification will result in forfeiture of entry fee and prize money.
It is understood that all participants in the King Master enter at their own risk, and that the officers, committee members, sponsors, directors, tournament venue and all persons connected directly or indirectly with the operation of said tournament, shall be exempt from any liability for libel, slander, loss, damage, negligence, harm, injury or death suffered by any participant, entrant, anglers, his/her companions, boat captains, mates, crew members, vessels and equipment which may occur during or in conjunction with the tournament. By tournament entry, the captain consents that the King Master may just without payment or restriction, any photographs in which he/she or any of their crew may appear for any purpose whatsoever, including, but not limited to resale, advertising, commercial, or promotional material. The captain and his crew further release the King Master, officers and directors, and all persons from injury, loss or damage which may result.
The champion of each leg must submit to and pass in a conclusive manner, a polygraph examination administered by a licensed polygraphist provided by tournament officials. All entrants agree to submit to a polygraph examination at the request of the tournament committee if there is a conflict involving said entrant. Failure to submit to such an examination will result in disqualification of the entrant at the sole discretion of the tournament committee.