Green & Speckled Trout Summer Showdown

Presented by Massey’s Outfitters

Register here: https://tourneyx.com/app/dashboard/tourney-registration/21265/

FORMAT:

The longest stringer of up to 5 speckled trout and/or bass.

Your stringer may be 5 of the same species or any combination of the two species for a total of 5 fish.

ENTRY FEES:

The entry fee is $8 per participant. This amount is only to cover the costs incurred from TourneyX and Paypal fees.

PRIZES:

Prizes are provided courtesy of Massey’s Outfitters and will be in the form of Massey’s gift cards.

Prizes will be awarded for the top 3 overall finishers in three different categories: Overall (longest combined 5 fish stringer), longest individual speckled trout, and longest individual bass. Prizes for each category will be:

1^st – $150 gift card

2^nd – $100 gift card

3^rd – $50 gift card

Anglers may only win one prize in this event. If an angler is in the top 3 for multiple categories, they will be awarded in the category in which they placed highest.

Bonus prize: Registered anglers who did not already earn a prize in one of the above categories will be entered to win a $50 Massey’s gift card. Winner will be chosen via random drawing at the awards ceremony and must be present to win. Awards ceremony will be held at one of Massey’s locations with the exact date, time, and location to be announced at a later time via BCKFC and Massey’s Facebook pages.

CATCH, PHOTO, SUBMIT (CPS) FORMAT:

Bayou Coast is running this tournament as a “catch, photo, submit” (CPS) tournament on the TourneyX Pro app. As compared to “CPR” tournaments, there is no requirement for the angler to “release” their fish back into the water. However, anglers are required to follow the strictest interpretation of Louisiana law regarding the keeping of fish as it relates to size and creel limit for all species.

BOUNDARIES:

Anglers may fish statewide throughout Louisiana in any publicly accessible waters.

You may not fish neighborhood ponds, private lakes, gated areas of marsh, or any other waters not accessible to the general public.

PRIVATE LAUNCHES:

Anglers must launch from publicly accessible launch locations. There is an exception that an angler may launch from private property as long as it is not further than ½ mile from the nearest publicly accessible launch location. Combat launches are allowed so long as all anglers have the legal right to launch from that location.

TIME:

The tournament begins at 12:01 AM on April 25, 2024 and concludes at 11:59 PM on July 31, 2024. All fish must be caught and submitted during this time frame. Photo submissions after July 31, 2024 will be rejected.

APPROVED MEASURING DEVICES:

Ketch Boards – All Ketch models, both plastic and metal, are accepted except for the folding / hinged models.

Check-It Stik Kayak Elite Series – Only this specific model Check-It Stik is accepted

These boards are expected to be clean with all lines and numbers clearly visible for the judges who review your submitted photos

PHOTO SUBMISSION RULES / INFO:

“TourneyX Pro” is the official app and tournament scoring method for Bayou Coast CPS Tournaments. It is available for Apple iOS and Android operating system smartphones. Make sure to download the PRO version as it is the only one that works. For more information on how to use the TourneyX Pro APP please visit https://tourneyx.com/app/help/ for information on the app, as well as the TourneyX Youtube page for some of their video tutorials.

The following photo submission rules are as follows:

– Photos of fish may be submitted from 12:01 AM on April 25, 2024 until 11:59 PM on July 31, 2024

– The fish must be on a tournament approved measuring device, the body centered between the rails, and alive.

– Caught fish must be photographed before your next cast. This means an angler must bring a caught fish into their kayak and take a picture before they begin fishing again. A fish that the tournament directors suspect is dead due to being out of the water too long may be rejected. Examples of issues that may result in a disqualified fish are faded color, no slime coat, shriveled tail, etc.

– The fish must be facing to the left with the tail to the right and the belly of the fish facing the angler.

– The fish must be submitted at 0.25” incremental measurements

– If the tail is not obviously touching or crossing a measurement line, it will be rounded down to the next lower quarter inch length.

– The nose must be pressed up against the post of the measuring device. Please ensure that shadows do not obscure the nose and post. If the judge cannot see that the nose is clearly up against the post, the angler will face a 0.5” length deduction

– You can submit pictures of as many fish as you like; however, you can only submit one picture of the fish you want judged.  In the event that a submitted fish picture is denied, you can request that the judge review another picture(s) of the same fish

– FOR SPECKLED TROUT AND BASS, no minimum or maximum length. The mouth must be entirely closed with the nose pressed firmly against the post of an angler’s measuring board. If the mouth is open at all, a 0.5” length deduction will be taken.

– There may be no lures or fish retaining tools in the fish’s mouth for the picture or the angler will face a 0.5” length reduction. This reduction may be inclusive or in addition to the open mouth penalty at the judge’s discretion.

– No other tools, devices, materials etc. may be touching or under the fish for any reason

– The mouth, eye, and edge of tail must be visible for the picture to be accepted, with the tail flat on the measuring board. The angler is not allowed to place their hand or fingers under the gill plate of the fish. 

– The top lobe of the tail of your fish must be inside the boundaries of your board. If using a Check It-Stik, the top lobe must be over the lines on the flat (bottom) portion of your board, and not over the slanted lip on the sides. Judges will make their best attempt to score the length of the fish in relation to visible numbers and lines which the tail clearly crosses.

– The picture must be taken overhead and not at an extreme angle.

– Pictures will only be accepted if they include original metadata which contains GPS coordinates.  Bayou Coast retains all metadata information which may be reviewed by a single designated tournament director in the event of a valid location or time-based protest as spelled out later in the rules.

– The 3-digit tournament identifier code must be visible in the picture (written on a card or the back of your hand). 

– If the judge deems your picture to be inauthentic or otherwise too problematic to accept, it will be rejected. Appeals may be made to the tournament directors as described below in the protests section. All submissions are subject to final review by the tournament director.  If the tournament director overrules the judge on a submission, the angler will have the opportunity to submit another picture of the same fish or a replacement fish before the standings will finalized.  

– Following completion of the tournament and awards ceremony, anglers may make a formal written request that their entry is deleted from TourneyX. Doing so will delete all of the fish pictures, metadata, GPS, and statistics from the angler’s TourneyX account. This means these pictures/metadata/GPS will no longer be accessible to anyone including the angler or tournament directors. This is a permanent irreversible decision. Making this request will not disqualify the angler from qualifying for awards in this tournament.

GENERAL RULES:

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.

FISHING LICENSE: 

All anglers are required to have current and valid fishing licenses as required by Louisiana law. Anglers who are fishing for trout OR fishing south of the saltwater line must have both the basic fishing license AND the saltwater license.

KAYAK/WATERCRAFT REGULATIONS:

-Vessel must be 9’ minimum and shorter than 18’.

-Vessel that the manufacturer identifies and sells as a kayak, including inflatable kayaks and modular kayaks, stand-up paddle boards (SUP) and canoes. NO solo skiffs or vessels marketed at skiffs allowed.

-Catamaran style personal fishing vessels complying with all other regulations will be eligible.

-No “homemade” kayaks, sailboats, johnboats, pirogues, coracles, rowboats, dinghies, skiffs, float tubes, inflatable rafts or rigid inflatable boats (e.g., Zodiac), pontoon boats, pontoon-style pond boats, twin-hull watercraft or similar.

-The use of a manual or motorized anchor system is permitted.

-Mother shipping, tethering, holding or any transportation coordination with a non-competitor is strictly prohibited.

-All fish must be caught and landed from your kayak

MOTOR ELIGIBILITY:

-All anglers will be allowed to use electric motors that meet the following criteria:

-Electric motor must be attached to the kayak in a safe manner for operation.

-An electric motor used to propel a watercraft may not exceed the lesser of (a.) manufacturer’s labeled Maximum HP/Thrust Capacity, (b.) 3 HP, or (c.) 155 foot-pound thrust.

-Competitors must comply with all boating regulations pertaining to motorized kayak/electric-propulsion watercraft registration, use, and operating restrictions for the designated fishing area.

-No more than one electric motor may be attached to a kayak regardless of combined horsepower/thrust/power rating.

-Motors with dual props operated by a single power source are permissible as long as the unit is manufactured and sold as a single unit.

-By officially entering, contestants agree to submit their kayak to an inspection by BCKFC personnel

WATER COURTESY / ENCROACHMENT:

 Do your best not to disturb someone else’s fishing area, by encroachment, or noise. An angler officially establishes his/her fishing area by having their craft anchored in place. 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 written and submitted electronically (text/email/direct message from social media) within 30 minutes of the photo submission deadline to be considered. The tournament director is the final authority on deciding the merits/outcomes of a protest.  All anglers are encouraged to report cheating.

CHEATING/FOUL PLAY: 

All anglers are encouraged to report violations. Cheating and contest fraud in a fishing tournament is a felony crime in the state of Louisiana. Bayou Coast 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 Bayou Coast 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: 

Live, dead, and artificial baits are allowed.  Commercially produced scented baits and attractants are also allowed. Basically if a bait or lure is legal per Louisiana law, then it is legal for this event.

PFD REQUIREMENT: 

You must properly wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved PFD while afloat in your watercraft during all Bayou Coast events. PFD’s must be worn outside of the angler’s outermost layer of clothing. 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. PFD’s may only be briefly removed on the water for the purpose of adding, removing, or adjusting clothing while an angler is stationary and not actively fishing.

RULE CHANGES: 

Interpretation of rules is exclusively left to the Tournament Directors and Bayou Coast 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.

LEGAL FISH: 

Each participant must catch their own fish. You may not give fish 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 (including pictures in CPS events). In CPS events, anglers (participant or not) may not aid in taking pictures of fish in any way.

DRONE/UAS USAGE: 

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

REFUND POLICY: 

There will be no refunds available