EVENT INFORMATION AND OFFICIAL RULES

SCHEDULE:

Saturday, February 12

• Last day to register for guaranteed Paddlepalooza shirt

Monday, March 7th

• Registrations including an additional $10.00 late fee will begin

Friday, March 11

• 6:00pm – Pastalaya Dinner for Anglers & Captain’s Bag pickup
• 7:00pm – Captain’s Meeting
• 8:00pm – Tournament Registration Closes
• 8:00pm til’ – Hangout

Saturday, March 12

• 12:00am – Launch (anytime after midnight)
• 6:00am – Lines in (fishing begins)
• 3:00pm – Weigh in line opens at Delta Marina
• 4:00pm – Weigh in line closes at Delta Marina
• 5:00pm – Dinner
• 5:30pm – Polygraphs for projected winners (must be present at Delta Marina)
• 6:30pm – Awards followed by raffles
• 8:30pm til’ – Hangout

 

CAJUN SLAM CATEGORY:
The contestant who weighs in the heaviest Cajun Slam stringer wins.

1-99 paid participants – 5 places awarded
100-149 paid participants – 7 places awarded
150+ paid participants – 10 places awarded
As determined at the close of preregistration.

A cajun slam is:

One redfish that must be 16” or longer and UNDER 27”
One speckled trout that must be 12” or longer AND
One flounder that must be 11” or longer
The length requirements above must be met AT THE TIME OF WEIGH IN. Full three fish slams supersede any two fish slams for placement and awards.

SINGLE FISH DIVISIONS AND PRIZES:

Single fish division prizes will be awarded for heaviest overall weight for each species. Prizes will be determined and announced prior to tournament. The minimum prize value for any prize is $50.

STUD RED: Heaviest redfish that is 16″ or longer AND that is LESS than 27″ long. 1st- 5th place will be awarded.

MULE TROUT: Heaviest speckled trout that is 12″ or longer. 1st- 5th place will be awarded.

SADDLE FLOUNDER: Heaviest flounder that is 11″ or longer. 1st- 5th place will be awarded.

LEOPARD RED: Redfish with the most spots. 1st- 5th place will be awarded. NOTE: If any part of the black inner spots is touching then it is counted as a single spot. There must be a break between the black portions for spots to be counted as individual spots.

NOTE: Contestants will be allowed to win only one category (exception for Ladies and Senior Divisions as noted below). The weigh-in team, utilizing our computer software, will determine if your submission will place better in the slam division, a single fish division, or in the leopard red division. An individual angler can submit up to 4 fish – one of each species to enter the slam category and an additional redfish to enter the leopard red category. If an angler’s heaviest redfish is also a multi-spotted redfish, that redfish can be used as best benefits the angler to put him/her in a position to win the biggest single prize for which he/she might be eligible.

OTHER CATEGORIES:

SENIOR CAJUN SLAM BONUS: The angler who is 65 years of age or older (on the day of the tournament) who catches the heaviest Cajun Slam wins a bonus prize. This angler also remains eligible to place in any of the regular categories listed above.

LADIES CAJUN SLAM BONUS: The female angler who catches the heaviest Cajun Slam wins a bonus prize. She also remains eligible to place in any of the regular categories listed above.

*FREE KID’S CAJUN SLAM DIVISION: Junior anglers can participate in the Jr. Angler Division for free. An adult who is a paid participant must accompany them. The same rules as our regular Cajun Slam Division apply. Kids age 12 and under who have elected to pay and register to fish the general Cajun Slam will compete at the adult level and will not be eligible to fish the Jr. Angler Division. Kids fishing the Jr. Angler Division are permitted to ride and fish in a kayak with another angler, however any fish caught must be kept separate or clearly and plainly marked so as to make them readily distinguishable from the other anglers catch. Simply put, do not store all the fish in the same ice chest or ice bag unless they are placed on separate stringers or otherwise marked so that each angler can clearly identify his/her catch. Use of different colored zip-ties is a popular method of marking fish.

PAYOUTS / PRIZES:

CAJUN SLAM TOURNAMENT PAYOUT: $20 of each entry fee will be paid out to cash prizes. The remainder of each fee pays for expenses related to hosting the event.
*** Any late registered entry fees collected after 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, March 6th, 2022 will not be entered into the tournament payouts and will be deposited into the club’s general fund. Late entries will also be subject to an additional $10.00 late fee. ***

CAJUN SLAM CATERGORY PRIZES:

1st Place Cajun Slam – Hobie Mirage Lynx + $1,000 gift card to The Backpacker

2nd Place Cajun Slam – $2,000 gift card to The Backpacker

3rd Place Cajun Slam – $1,000 gift card to The Backpacker

Remaining Cajun Slam Places – Cash payouts based on entry fees
**Minimum value of any price is $50.

SINGLE FISH CATEGORY PRIZES: Stud Red, Mule Trout, Saddle Flounder, and Leopard Red prizes will be determined prior to the tournament weigh in.

SENIOR SLAM PRIZE: $50 monetary value (cash or prize)

LADIES SLAM PRIZE: $50 monetary value (cash or prize)

KID’S DIVISION SLAM PRIZE: $50 monetary value (cash or prize)

 

BUY RAFFLE TICKETS HERE:

Our highly esteemed raffle is returning with LOTS of great stuff to be won! We’re VERY fortunate to have AWESOME sponsors and the raffle table is ALWAYS filled with great prizes.

Raffle tickets can be purchased for $5.00 each and are available through our website at this link. Approximately 25% of the prizes will be raffled off at the Captain’s Meeting on Friday night so be sure to buy tickets on Friday if you attend the meeting.

 

RULES:

PFD REQUIREMENT: You must properly wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved PFD while afloat, in your kayak, at all BCKFC events. Failure to comply with this rule during competition could result in disqualification from the tournament. Disqualification will be decided following receipt of a written complaint. The Tournament Director, after coordinating with other available board members, will make final decisions.

LEGAL TACKLE / BAIT: Artificial, live and/or or dead bait is allowed. Scent infused baits such as Gulp, etc… are legal. Scented dips, dyes and sprays such as Bang attractant, Pro-Cure, Dip-n-Glo, etc… are legal. Chum is allowed. If a bait or attractant is allowed by law, then it is allowed in this tournament.

PADDLE / PEDAL-CRAFT ONLY: No trolling motors / sails / gas engines or “mother ships” other than the very limited exception noted below. Your pedal or paddle craft must be human powered unless you fit the requirements below. Contestants are allowed to wade fish or fish off of the bank but ONLY as long as the area you’re fishing is within 100’ of your LAUNCHED paddle craft. Launched means your kayak is partly in fishable water, not a parking lot puddle.

TROLLING MOTOR WAIVER: Individuals who meet the following requirements can be pre-approved for a trolling motor allowance in the tournament to compete with full rights and privileges of any competitor: Applicants must be 70 years old or older (on the day of the tournament). Applicants must use a trolling motor thrust power of 35 foot-pounds or less. Anglers must be pre-approved before the end of the captains meeting. Contact the tournament director to seek approval. He/she will consult with the board and a decision will be made as soon as is practical.

WATER COURTESY: Do your best not to disturb someone else’s fishing area, by encroachment, or noise. If you come upon an angler in an egress area, as quietly as you can, ask which side he or she would like you to cross at. A good rule of thumb is that if you can both cast to a common point you’re too close. Respect others. Use the golden rule. Intentional interference with an angler’s activities is unlawful and can be grounds for disqualification. Do unto other as you would have them do unto you.

PROTEST: All protests must be made in writing and delivered to a tournament official within 30 minutes of the weighing of the last fish entered. The tournament director is the final authority in all considerations. All anglers are encouraged to report cheating.

POLYGRAPH / CHEATING / FOUL PLAY: There will be zero tolerance. ANY entrant and/or prize category winner may be required to undergo polygraph examination either by random draw or by order of the board of directors. Any refusal to submit to polygraph testing will result in immediate disqualification from the tournament and potential suspension and/or banishment from participating in all future BCKFC tournaments. If requested, a contestant must pass the polygraph exam to collect his/her prize(s). Prizes will not be awarded if any of the polygraph results indicate a participant’s reply or replies was/were deceptive OR “inconclusive.” There is no appeal process for those who do not pass the polygraph. Potential winners MUST remain available and sober for polygraph testing.

RELEASE OF LIABILITY AND COVENANT NOT TO SUE: A waiver, release of liability, and covenant not to sue are part of the entry form. It is required that all contestants take responsibility for themselves while participating in event activities. Please DO NOT let your competitive nature push you into doing dangerous things.

RULE CHANGES: Rules interpretation is exclusively left to the Tournament Directors and BCKFC Officers. The decisions of this group are final in all matters and are not subject to appeal.

PARTICIPATION AND ELIGIBILITY: Participation is open to anyone 18 years of age or older. Minors are eligible to participate with a parent or legal guardian signature on the release form. All participants represent that they are physically and mentally competent and fit and able to participate. By entering, all participants agree to assume all risks of personal injury, death, and damage to or loss of property and further agree to indemnify and hold BCFKC, its officers, members, agents, and sponsors harmless from and against any and all claims, liabilities, and causes of action resulting directly or indirectly from participation.

REGISTRATION AND CAPTAINS MEETING: Each contestant should register and pay BEFORE 11:59 PM on Sunday, March 6th, 2022. Late registrations will be accepted at the Captain’s Meeting on Friday, March 11th, 2022. There will be a $10 late fee. The Captain’s Meeting will begin at 7:00 pm Friday, March 11th, 2022 at Delta Marina, Empire, Louisiana. Attendance at the Captain’s Meeting is optional. At the meeting, we will go over the rules, boundaries, restrictions, and whatever concerns we feel should be addressed. Depending upon the availability of our wonderful volunteers, you may also pick up your shirts and captain’s bags that night. Delicious pastalaya cooked by “The Little Rascals” will be served AND we will raffle off several very nice items that night. Please join us for fun, tall tales, and festivities.

ENTRY FEES: $65 per person for the first 2 members of your immediate family. Each additional dependent can register for the discounted rate of $30 per person. A “dependent” for these purposes includes only those persons that you will claim as dependents on your tax filings for 2022. Please do not abuse this rule. EARLY entry fees include a tournament shirt as well as meals Friday and Saturday. Those who register late will NOT be guaranteed a shirt but we will TRY to accommodate you. Extra Shirts can be purchased for $20 when/where/if available. Additionally you can become a BCKFC member for $25 a year per person, or $40 per family household. Please specify size of shirt at the time of registration.

LEGAL FISHING TIME / BOUNDRIES: You may launch at any time but you must not make your first cast until 6:00 AM. You may fish any accessible waters in Plaquemines Parish (east or west). You may not fish gated areas that other anglers cannot access. You may launch from a private camp, etc… as long as other anglers can launch nearby (Within .5 miles of public launch) and reasonably access and fish the same area.

 

SIGN IN / WEIGH IN: Weigh-in will be held from 3:00:00 PM until 4:00:00 PM on March 12th, 2022 at Delta Marina in Empire, Louisiana. DO NOT BE LATE! You MUST physically appear WITH YOUR FISH and be in line to sign in NO LATER THAN 4:00:00 PM as per cell phone time of the appointed time keeper. Proxy sign-ins are not allowed. Weigh-in will continue until all participants who signed in on time have had their catch weighed. Any fisherman in line to sign in at the weigh-in station before the 4:00:00 PM cut-off time on March 12th, 2022 will be allowed to weigh their fish. At 4:00:01, any entrant not in line to sign-in will be considered late and will not be allowed to weight their catch and will not qualify for any awards. REMINDER: In case of any tie, the earliest sign-in time will be the tie breaker. The sign in / weigh in station will be operational starting at 3:00p.m. Sign-in closes promptly at 4:00p.m. Weigh-in will continue until all participants who signed in on time have had their catch weighed. Any fishermen in line to sign in at the weigh-in station by the 4p.m. cutoff time on March 12th, 2022 will be allowed to weigh their fish. There will be no exceptions to this rule. Anglers are strongly urged not to wait until the last minute to sign-in for the weigh-in.

LEGAL FISH: All competitors must check in with legal fish as per LDWF policy and regulations to be eligible for prizes. All fish submitted for weigh-in must be fresh and caught on the day of the tournament. The weigh master and weigh team will make decisions on accepting fish for weigh-in after consulting with available board members. These decisions are final. Any attempt to enter fraudulent catches, exchange catches and/or tamper with catches, or to hamper or threaten any official of the tournament will result in immediate disqualification and or prosecution when criminal fraud occurs.

All fish presented at time of weigh in must meet BCKFC tournament size requirements. Any fish presented to weigh-master that does not meet minimum/maximum size requirements will not be accepted as a tournament entry. A replacement fish will be allowed but has to be in your physical possession. You are not allowed to leave your position at the weigh table. If a second fish is presented and does not meet minimum/maximum tournament size requirements it will result in an immediate disqualification of the angler from the tournament. All gross negligence of the minimum/maximum tournament size limits will result in an immediate disqualification and the BCKFC weigh-master and Tournament Director will have final decision. Any attempt to enter fraudulent catch, exchanging catches, tampering with catch, or to hamper or threaten any official of the tournament will result in immediate disqualification. Only authorized persons will be allowed in the sign-in and weigh-in stations.

DRYING FISH: “Air drying” of fish or the tails of larger redfish is NOT allowed. All parts of all fish should be placed on ice and maintained for freshness. Remember, we eat these fish. Fish will only be accepted for the weigh-in if they are in a cooler bag, ice chest or other appropriate container that also contains ice. The entire fish should be in the container. Do not appear at the weigh-in with fish that are on a stringer and are not iced in a proper container or bag.

Only authorized persons will be allowed in the weigh-in station. Please try not to distract these volunteers while they go about their tasks. You will receive a weigh-in card when you check in at the sign in table. Once you receive your weigh card and have checked in, you may proceed to the scales to have your catch weighed. Weighed / Entered fish may or may not be returned as per the weigh-master’s discretion. Fish that are submitted will be used in the fish fry dinner that evening. The largest fish will be determined by weight. In the event of a tie, the first contestant to have signed in will be considered the winner while the other contestant will be dropped to the next position.

Fish will be bent, loosened and manipulated before being measured with a pinched tail. Tails of trout and flounder will be manually pinched to obtain maximum length as per the instructions found in the Louisiana Fishing Regulations, 2021 pamphlet. Tails of larger redfish will be pinched using the standardized tool attached to the measuring board, which, if needed and used, will be moved to the 26.5” line to pinch the tail of larger redfish.

DRONE/UAS USAGE: Tournament participants are not allowed to use unmanned aircraft systems (drones) during the tournament day to scout for fish, spy on other anglers, or any other means that may be viewed as benefiting/advancing their fishing.

WEATHER: Tournament days may be shortened or canceled due to unsafe weather or water conditions. The decision to shorten or to cancel will be left totally to the discretion of the Tournament Director. A 4-hour period shall constitute a day of fishing.