BCKFC Championship Tournament

EVENT INFORMATION AND OFFICIAL RULES

This event limited only to those anglers who have qualified for the BCKFC Championship Tournament.

PAYOUTS:
First Place:  $2,000.00 Cash
Second Place:  $1,500.00 Cash
Third Place:  $1,000.00 Cash
Fourth Place:  $440.00 Cash (Estimated)
Fifth Place:  $200.00 Cash (Estimated)

BOUNDARIES: This is a shotgun launch from Top Water Marina. Anglers are allowed to fish any waters they can access by kayak from Top Water Marina. Anglers will be allowed to combat launch across the street from Top Water Marina, as long as a motorized vehicle is not used to transport the kayak.

PRE-FISHING BAN: This ban includes scouting the area by any type of vessel, regardless of whether you actually fish. There is a fishing ban prior to the tournament starting on November 6, 2019 through midnight on November 15, 2019, i.e., all anglers can start pre-fishing at 12:01 AM on November 15, 2019. The ban includes all waters within a five (5) mile radius of Top Water Marina regardless of your launch location. Anglers will be allowed to pre-fish the day before the tournament. We encourage all anglers pre-fishing on November 15, 2019 to participate in catch and release, especially with redfish. If anyone is caught pre-fishing during the banned period, they will be immediately disqualified from fishing the BCKFC Championship Tournament.

MOTORIZED VESSEL PRE-FISHING BAN: There is also a ban on pre-fishing from any motorized vessels (motorboats, kayaks with trolling motors, etc.) prior to the tournament starting on October 30, 2019 through tournament day, November 16, 2019.  The ban includes all waters within a five (5) mile radius of Top Water Marina regardless of your launch location.  Although you ARE allowed to pre-fish the day before the tournament (November 15) from a human powered kayak, please note that you ARE NOT allowed to pre-fish the day before the tournament from a motorized vessel.

MORNING CHECK IN: On the morning of the tournament, you must sign in with the Assistant Tournament Director, prior to the shotgun launch, to confirm that you are present and aware of any last minute rule changes that may occur due to weather, safety, etc.  If you are running late and will not make it to the shotgun launch to sign in, you must call the Assistant Tournament Director (Sean Rastanis 504-201-1200) prior to launching to confirm rules.

START TIME: The official shotgun launch time is 5:30 AM. DO NOT leave prior to the shotgun launch horn/announcement. You may launch and stage in the immediate area of the launch to clear boat ramps but DO NOT venture forth and do not cast before shotgun launch. You may launch later than 5:30 AM. REMINDER: Be courteous, DO NOT BLOCK LAUNCHES.

OBJECT: The heaviest stringer of up to 2 slot Redfish (16″ to less than 27″) and up to 10 speckled trout (12″ or over) wins. In other words, you can weigh in up to a TOTAL of 12 fish, but you CAN also weigh in less than 12 fish so long as they fall into these categories. The heaviest total weight will win. A slot Redfish will be measured with a closed mouth and a pinched tail; the longest point of the pinched tail shall touch the 16″ mark at a minimum length and shall NOT touch the 27″ mark at a maximum length.

WEIGH-IN: The weigh-in will begin at 2:00 PM at Top Water Marina. The weigh-in line will be cut off at 3:00 PM sharp. Upon your arrival at the weigh-in site, SIGN IN ASAP. Sign in time is a tie breaker in the event of a tie. Sign-in will begin by 2:00 PM and will end promptly at 3:00:00 PM. Any angler not signed in by 3:00:00 PM will not be allowed to have their catch weighed. There will be no proxy sign-ins, a participant must appear in person and physically sign-in.

ENTRY FEES:
The entry fee is $41.46 per participant with five places being awarded: $2,000 to first place, $1,500 to second place, $1,000 to third place, $440 to fourth place (estimated), and $200 to fifth place (estimated). The first place winner automatically qualifies for entry into the BCKFC 2020 Championship Tournament; subject to payment for entry to two Championship Series tournaments and entry for the Championship Tournament.

STUD REDFISH: There will be an option during registration to enter the STUD REDFISH category. Entry into the STUD REDFISH category will be $10.00 and the winner will take all. Winner is determined by weight. Redfish must be a tournament slot Redfish (slot defined above) at the time of weigh-in.

MULE TROUT: There will also be an option during registration to enter the MULE TROUT category. Entry into the MULE TROUT category will be $10.00 and the winner presenting the heaviest speckled trout (12″ or over) will take all. Winner is determined by weight.

PADDLE/PEDAL CRAFT ONLY: This event allows human powered craft only. Trolling motors, sails, gas engines, and “mother ships,” are not allowed. Your pedal or paddle craft must be human powered and includes tandem kayaks, canoes, pirogues, and paddleboards. A participant is allowed to wade fish or fish from the bank but ONLY if they remain within 100’ of their LAUNCHED paddle craft. Launched is defined as your paddle/pedal craft being off of your vehicle/trailer and that a portion of the craft is in fishable waters.

PRIVATE LAUNCHES & PRIVATE FISHING AREAS: Private launches that offer an angler an unfair advantage are not allowed. Participants may only utilize those private launches where other anglers can readily access the same fishing grounds. Fishing behind gated areas of the marsh is not allowed unless the angler has arranged for all other participants to also fish the area that day AND has made that possibility known to all by posting appropriate information on our forums at least one week in advance.

WATER COURTESY / ENCROACHMENT: 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 and use the golden rule.

PROTESTS: All protests must be made in writing and delivered to a tournament official within 30 minutes of the official end of the weigh-in. The tournament director is the final authority in all considerations.

CHEATING/FOUL PLAY: All anglers are encouraged to report violations. Cheating and contest fraud in a fishing tournament is a crime in the state of Louisiana. BCKFC will enforce a zero tolerance policy with regard to cheating.

POLYGRAPH EXAMINATION: All participants, by signing up, agree to take a polygraph examination if requested. Any participant can be asked to submit to a polygraph examination. No explanation shall be required from the hosts of the tournament as to why a specific individual is asked to submit to a polygraph examination. Refusal to submit to or failure of a polygraph examination will result in disqualification from the tournament, forfeiture of any and all prizes / awards, and potential banishment from all future BCKFC events. No refunds for tournament fees will be granted for person(s) refusing to submit to or failing a polygraph examination.

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. You must agree to the Waiver to participate. The Waiver is in the online registration page linked below. BE SAFE, BE SEEN, AND WEAR YOUR PFD!

DEPTH FINDERS: Depth finders / fish finders are allowed.

BAITS: Only artificial baits are allowed. Commercially produced scented baits and attractants are also allowed. No live or dead bait. Chumming is not allowed. All fish must be caught using hook, line, rod, and reel. No trot lines, set lines, yo-yo’s, gill nets, hoop nets, drop lines, etc are allowed.

COMMUNICATION: Cell or electronic communication “to and from” non-tournament anglers during tournament hours will not be allowed except if it is not fishing related (Example: your wife, work, etc.).

PFD REQUIREMENT: You must properly wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved PFD while afloat in your watercraft during all BCKFC events. Failure to comply with this rule during competition could result in disqualification from the tournament. Disqualification will be determined by the Tournament Director based on investigation of any specific incident.

RULE CHANGES: Interpretation of rules 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. Please do your part in not providing a reason to place them in a position where they must make rulings, decisions, etc. Keep it simple, keep it clean, and when in doubt…do the right thing.

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. That parent or guardian, not BCKFC, is responsible for the safety and well-being of that minor. 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.

LEGAL FISH: All competitors must check in with legal fish as per LDWF regulations to be eligible for awards and prizes. 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.

All fish must be properly maintained for consumption. Fish that are not properly iced and/or kept “fresh” will not be accepted for the weigh-in.

DO NOT intentionally alter the length of a fish by “air-drying” any portion of the fish. The entire fish must be kept in an appropriate cooler or kept on a stringer while alive. Do not keep dead fish on a stringer. Do not cull dead fish. You are allowed to “take” (kill) ONLY five redfish per day. If you cull dead fish, you may be guilty of exceeding your daily limit. Exceeding your daily limit is a disqualifier. If you cull fish that are “weak” and will probably not survive, you would be committing an unsportsmanlike act. Please be responsible and do the right thing.

Each participant must catch their own fish. You may not give to another participant. You may not net a fish for another (adult) participant. Youths should hook and retrieve their own catch. A parent/guardian may net fish for them and may handle the fish once it is netted.

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.