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Leg 1: Entry Fee is $1,500 per boat through April 15. After April 15 there will be a $250 late fee per boat.
Leg 2: Entry Fee is $1,500 per boat through June 30. After July 1 there will be a $250 late fee per boat.
All tournament entries are non-transferable and non refundable. If your vessel is unable 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 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 Swordfish Showdown 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 will conclude by 10pm on April 30 (Leg 1) and July 30 (Leg 2). Rules are subject to change. Any changes to the rules and final instructions will be provided on the final day of registration. All participants are encourage to register online via the Catchstat System. If there are any questions about rules, please contact the Tournament Director, Robbie Carter. 337-849-8642. RFCarter4@gmail.com
An Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling Permit is required and participants must be familiar with and follow HMS regulations. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/permit/atlantic-highly-migratory-species-angling-permit-open-access
Teams will declare two fishing days between May 1 – May 31 (Leg 1) and August 1-31 (Leg 2). Teams can pick single days or choose them consecutive. Lines in at 12:01am. Boats cannot be trailered during fishing hours and must return to weigh-in by water. You must declare your fishing day(s) no later than 9pm the day prior to your declared day(s). You can do this on Catchstat. If you are not going to make it back to the dock in time on your first declared day, you may declare the next day in order to continue fishing and weighing in. All swordfish must be caught and weighed at tournament authorized scale on a team’s declared fishing day.
Scales will be open until 7:00pm on the allowable fishing day. All fish caught during the tournament must be weighed before scales close on the teams declared day. Teams will be allowed to weigh in 13 different marinas.
Orange Beach Marina – Orange Beach: Jimmy 251-747-5753
Dauphin Island Marina – Dauphin Island: Josh 205-635-6626 or Greg 251-599-0261
Cypress Cove Marina – Venice: Greg 504-912-4754
Venice Marina – Venice: Bubba 504-255-8314
Hurricane Hole Marina – Grand Isle: Lan Tibet 985-271-1185
Mary Walker Marina – Gautier: Michael 228-806-6453
Gorenflo’s Tackle – Biloxi: 228-669-2845
Destin Harborwalk – Destin: Steve 850-210-5585
Marina Jacks – Sarasota: Joe 586-770-0955
Surfside Marina – Surfside: Santos 979-418-1768
Fisherman’s Wharf – Port Aransas: Capt. Dee 361-815-1682
Matagorda Harbor Bait & Tackle – Matagorda: Mark 979-637-0962
Pelican Rest Marina – Galveston: Marita 713-249-3022 or Rob 713-252-3097
Swordfish – 60″ minimum (LJFL)
The fish must be hand-cranked via conventional rod and reel, or an electric reel can be used.
The fish must be caught in the Gulf of Mexico and well documented with official tourney identifier.
Harpoons are permitted but not allowed to use on free swimming fish.
Hooking and fighting a fish from the gun wale is permitted.
This is a boat tournament, not an angler tournament. Anglers may switch during the fight.
Each vessel can weigh 4 fish per declared day.
Vessels may not travel further South than 25.0W
All tournament swordfish catches must be documented as follows: A continuous video clearly showing the fish coming into the boat, the measuring of the fish (LJFL) and a shot of the GPS showing date/time of the catch. To reiterate, we need conclusive video evidence of the catch, the length of the fish in inches and the date/time on the GPS console to verify the catch.
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 30 registered tournament boats. Payouts are subject to change depending o the number of entries.
| Swordfish | 1st $20,000 | 2nd $10,000 | 3rd $5,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Fish over 250# | $1,000 |
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:
| Biggest Fish | $3,000 | $1,500 | $500 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-Fish Aggregate | $3,000 | $1,500 | $500 |
| 3-Fish Aggregate | $3,000 | $1,500 | $500 |
Biggest Fish, 2 Fish Aggregate and 3 Fish Aggregate 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, 205 teams will be winner-take-all, 6-9 will be 60/40 split and 10 or more teams will be the standard 50/30/20 split. Optional Awards for boated Swordfish 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% of the Optional Entry Fees collected for that division are returned to the participant(s) who paid Optional Entry Fees for that division.
To qualify for a 2 fish aggregate category you must weigh two fish. To qualify for a 3 fish aggregate category you must way three fish.
All teams and participants should make their decision to fish based solely on their own judgement. Fish at your own risk.
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-in determines placement.
Any protest 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 Swordfish Showdown. 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 Swordfish Showdown 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 captain, mates, crew members, vessels and equipment which may occur during or in conjunction with the tournament. By tournament entry, the captain consents that the Swordfish Showdown 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 Swordfish Showdown, officers and directors, and all persons from injury, loss or damage which may result.
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