Rules

Tournament Entry

Entry Fee is $1,500 per team through January 1st. Beginning January 2nd, there will be a $250 late fee per team. Payment of the entry fee constitutes a representation by each entrant that he/she has read and fully understands the tournament rules that he/she will abide by such rules and the decisions of the Tournament Director and/or Committee. The Louisiana Tuna & Wahoo Classic is a sportfishing 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. Once the tournament starts, there are no refunds or rollovers for entry fees.

Permits and Licenses

An Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling Permit is required when targeting or possessing HMS species. Participants should be familiar with and follow HMS regulations. https://hmspermits.noaa.gov/home The location of the tournament weigh stations are in multiple Gulf Coast states, therefore, anglers are responsible for knowing and obtaining state permits and licenses required by each state where they fish and where they land their catch for weigh-in to the tournament.

Tournament Start, Fishing & Scale Hours

Each team will be eligible to fish a maximum of 6 days, from Saturday January 6 – Saturday April 6, 2024. You are allowed to declare 4 single days. The Captain must declare their fishing days and team members no later than 9:00 pm the day before by notifying the tournament committee via email or text. You may email rfcarter4@gmail.com or text 337-849-8642 to declare your fishing days and team members. Teams are allowed to depart from any port in the Gulf of Mexico. You may begin fishing at 12:01am and must return to one of the 13 weigh stations by 6pm on your designated fishing day to weigh in.You are allowed to fish overnight into your second day, but must return to the weigh station by 6:00pm on that second day. Fish cannot be transferred to and from any vessel. Weigh stations are:

Alabama

Orange Beach Marina – Orange Beach: Jimmy 251-747-5753

Dauphin Island Marina – Dauphin Island: Josh 205-635-6625 or Greg 251-599-0261

Louisiana

Cypress Cove Marina – Venice: Greg 504-912-8314

Venice Marina – Venice: Bubba 504-255-8314

FishHeads La – Cocodrie: Todd – 601-606-6937

Hurricane Hole Marina – Grand Isle: Lan 985-271-1185

Florida

Destin Harborwalk – Destin: Steve 850-210-5585

Mississippi

Mary Walker Marina – Gautier: 228-497-3141

Gorenflo’s Tackle – Biloxi: 228-669-2845

Texas

Surfside Marina – Surfside: Santos 979-418-1768

Fisherman’s Wharf – Port Aransas: Capt. Dee 361-815-1612

Matagorda Harbor Bait & Tackle – Matagorda: Mark 979-637-0962

Pelican Rest Marina – Marita 713-249-3022 or Rob 713-252-3097

Qualifying Fish

The following species are eligible for competition when caught by registered anglers in accordance with tournament rules:

Eligible for Weigh-in at Scales

Yellowfin Tuna – 20 lbs minimum weight
Blackfin Tuna – 10 lbs minimum weight
Wahoo – 20 lbs. minimum weight
King Mackerel – 20 lbs. minimum weight

Fish can only be weighed on a declared day and the weights can be recorded to the tenth of a pound. No electric reels permitted for trolling any hooked bait or lure. Electric reels may be used for hookless teasers. Wire Lines are allowed. 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. No mutilated fish will be weighed. The condition of the fish will be left to the scrutiny of the tournament director and committee. THEIR DECISION IS FINAL.

Tournament Awards

All Tournament Awards are based on 75 registered tournament teams. Payouts are subject to change depending on the number of entries.

Awards for Heaviest Fish will be presented to the team for fish caught in the following categories:

Optional Awards

This is a separate entry and is not required to compete for Tournament Awards. Participants may pay an Optional Entry fee in one or more of the following:

**Aggregate is defined as the combined weight of your 2 heaviest fish overall.

Payout amounts will be the total amount of the monies received, less 10% deducted for administration fees with the remaining 90% to be awarded.

Yellowfin Tuna, Yellowfin Tuna Aggregate, Wahoo, Wahoo Aggregate, King Mackerel and Blackfin Tuna 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 a 60/40 split and 10 or more teams will be the standard 50/30/20 split. Participants who wish to pay an Optional Betting Fee, may submit a credit card, cashier’s or business check made payable to the Louisiana Tuna & Wahoo Classic by 11:00 p.m. of registration day, or make payment arrangements with the Tournament Director. Optional Awards for Yellowfin Tuna, Wahoo, Swordfish, King Mackerel and Blackfin Tuna are determined by weight according to Tournament Rules. In the event that no qualifying fish are weighed by an Optional Entry participant in a given Division eligible for an Optional Award, 90% percent of the Optional Entry Fees collected for that division are returned to the participant(s) who paid Optional Entry Fees for that division.

Payment for Cash Awards

Prior to fishing, each tournament team must designate a representative payee to receive payment of all cash awards. Payment of cash awards is by check. A single check will be written to the team’s representative payee for the combined total of tournament cash awards and optional cash awards. Checks will be written after the Awards Ceremony on Sunday.Louisiana Tuna & Wahoo Classic accepts no responsibility for the division of any cash awards between team members.

Delays: Mechanical/Weather

You may un-declare a fishing day by 8:00 am via cell phone or email for the following situations: You may un-declare first fishing day of a trip only once throughout the tournament for mechanical failure. You may un-declare your first fishing day of a trip multiple times due to weather before leaving the port. Anytime you un-declare you must take photos of the GPS Time/Date/Location. You may not un-declare for any reason once a fishing line has been deployed. When fishing consecutive days, you may not un-declare after the first day of trip. You may substitute a boat once if the substitute boat is not registered in the tournament. All teams and participants should make their decision to fish based solely on their own judgement. Fish at your own risk.

Tie Breakers

For fish weighed in, any category of fish brought to the scales, placement is determined by the order of weigh-in at the scales. The recorded time of weigh-indetermines placement.

Protest

Any protests relating to the tournament must be submitted in writing along with a $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 Louisiana Tuna & Wahoo Classic. Any violation of these rules resulting in disqualification will result in forfeiture of entry fee and prize money.

Waiver/Disclaimer

It is understood that all participants in the Louisiana Tuna & Wahoo Classic 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 Louisiana Tuna & Wahoo Classic may use 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 Louisiana Tuna & Wahoo Classic, officers and directors, and all persons from injury, loss or damage which may result. All state record winners 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.