Panama City Beach Fishing Rodeo

2024 Rodeo Rules

Scope: These rules govern the 3rd Annual Panama City Beach Fishing Rodeo to be held October 5 through October 13.

GENERAL

  1. Contestants shall abide by the Rodeo rules. All rules are interpreted by the Rodeo Rules.
    Committee and/or Board of Directors. The decisions of the official Rodeo Rules Committee and/or Board of Directors shall be final.
  2. Rules may be modified, interpreted or changed without notice to meet unusual or emergency conditions by action of the Rodeo Rules Committee and/or Board of Directors.
  3. Any winning angler or captain is subject to a polygraph test to verify authenticity of catch. The Rules Committee and/or Board of Directors will determine cause for the test.
  4. Anyone who fails a polygraph test or is determined cheating (by the Rules Committee and/or Board of Directors) will be disqualified from participating in the rest of the year’s Rodeo and the following two years Rodeos. All catches in the current Rodeo will be disqualified.
  5. Scales are considered accurate to the point of failure. Failed scales will be substituted with State certified, calibrated scales. No fish will be re-hung or re- weighed.
  6. Land division: Anglers can only fish form piers, jetties, surf and land. All fish must be caught within the area between Phillips Inlet and Port St. Joe Bay.
  7. All boats must enter and return from the Gulf through the St. Andrew’s Bay Pass.
  8. Boat Entry: A copy of a State/Coast Guard issued Boat Registration Form must be on file with the Rodeo prior to first weigh-in. Boats and/or competitors entered after the beginning of the Rodeo in any division are not eligible for competition until the day following registration.
  9. All fish must be caught on rod and reel, using hook and line. Handheld electric reels may be used.
  10. Fish can only be weighed in the division the boat is entered in and caught on.
  11. Boats may not leave St. Andrew’s Bay Pass prior to 12:01 a.m. and must return to weigh-in by 7:00 p.m. daily. A daily bag limit will apply. Unless you are participating in the extended voyage category.
  12. Prize winning fish shall be the largest by weight. In the event of a tie, the first fish recorded shall be the winner.
  13. It is the responsibility of the angler to dispose of all fish.
  14. Angler must be clearly identified prior to weighing fish. Only two fish per species, per day, per person will be weighed. Boat captain and angler must be present, sign official entry form and verify the weight and angler of each fish officially entered in the Panama City Beach Fishing Rodeo at the time
    of weigh-in. The Angler’s SSN will be required prior to being awarded a cash prize. By signing the official entry form, the captain also attests the angler whose name appears on the entry form did catch the fish being weighed. The captain’s signature and initials at Division Line further attests to the division being entered. No changes in division will be allowed after the entry form is signed. The captain’s signature proves ALL information on the form is correct.
  15. Fish which have spoiled, been mutilated, frozen or appear or have been frozen, or chemically treated are not eligible for competition.
  16. In an effort to expedite the weigh-in process, the largest fish in each division should be presented first.
  17. The following persons are not eligible for awards (a) Captains/crew members related to revenue generation while underway on charter/commercial boats; (b) commercial fishermen returning from a commercial trip are ineligible to enter fish from that trip; (c) No fish caught on a Recreational
    Rodeo Trip may be sold, bartered or traded; (d) commercial fishing pier owners/operators may not enter a fish in pier, bridge, jetty and surf division; (e) Rodeo officials (See Definitions)
  18. To expedite the weigh-in process during heavy traffic times, all boats will be required to check-in with the DOCKMASTER and be visually recognized. Open Division contenders will be given a timestamp to avoid controversy in case of a tie. Order of weigh-in will be left to the discretion of the Dock Master. The Dock Master will be on VHF Channel 5
  19. Unsportsmanlike action by Rodeo participant may disqualify that individual from this and future events.
  20. Complaints and protest must be in the form of a written statement and personally turned in to the Rodeo officials on duty not later than 7:00 p.m., seventy-two (72) hours following the occurrence which occasioned the complaint. A cash deposit of five hundred dollars ($500) must accompany the protest. The burden of proof is on the Protestor. If the compliant or protest is found to be valid, the deposit is returned. If not, the deposit becomes property of the Panama City Beach Fishing Rodeo. Once a protest has been filed, the protested must be notified and has 72 hours to reply, in writing, their position on the protest. If the Board determines that a polygraph is required, the protested has 48 hours to inform the Board of their intentions whether to take the polygraph. The Board will strive to settle the matter within 14 days of the written position by the protested.
  21. Participants in the Rodeo may not possess in excess of the FWC Recreational bag limits. Commercial quantities may not be possessed even for boats commercially permitted.
  22. No charter/commercial crew members can compete in any other divisions other than the charters division.
  23. Kayak and paddle board division must launch from land and must be a non- motorized vessel.
  24. No one affiliated with the rodeo or Capt. Anderson Marina is liable for any damage to property or persons during the tournament
  25. State charter boat’s are not able to fish outside of state waters at any time while on a trip that is participating in weighing fish in the Rodeo
  26. Extended voyage trip category are for trips that are at least 24 hours long and no longer than 48 hours. This category is for anyone registered in the rodeo. To participate in the category you must send an email to info.pcbeachfishingrodeo@gmail.com the day before you leave no later than 7pm no exceptions. You can depart the dock anytime for these trips, the 48 hours just starts when you leave the dock.

MANDATORY CAPTAIN’S MEETING:

  1. A mandatory Captain’s Meeting will be held on Friday October 4, 2024 at the Captain Anderson’s Event Center.
  2. At least one Crew Member from each registered vessel must attend to be eligible to weigh fish into the tournament, this includes all entry categories: Charter for Hire, Recreational, and Land-based.
  3. Teams/individuals can register for the tournament through 8:00PM on October 4, 2024.
  4. Teams will receive the final set of rules and be required to sign a tournament waiver.
  5. Each registered vessel or land based participant will receive a registration bag with 1 drink ticket, 1 meal ticket and their Rodeo t-shirt.
  6. Registered participants have the opportunity to win door prizes throughout the evening.
  7. Doors open at 6PM/Live music will begin at 6PM.
  8. Catered Dinner will begin at 6:30PM.
  9. Additional meals and drinks will be available for purchase.

AWARDING OF PRIZES:

  1. A prize not claimed within thirty (30) days after the date of the award ceremony shall revert to the
    Rodeo.
  2. DAILY prizes are for everyone registered in the Rodeo, no matter which division you are participating in. They must be claimed within 48 hours of the close of scales the day of the catch.
  3. Overall Prizes may only be picked up by the person who won the prize. The crew of the boats are able to come up with them to receive it. A signed letter from the prize winner indicating permission for a named other person to retrieve their prize may be emailed no later than October 15, 2022. 3.4 1099’s will be issued to the winners in accordance with the U.S.
    Internal Revenue Service.
  4. Kids awards will be given to any child 10 or under who presents a fish to the Rodeo Dock. Only 1 award per child per tournament.
  5. Jackpot category can be won by anyone who is properly registered in the Rodeo, regardless of division registered in.

DEFINITIONS:

Rodeo officials: Paid employees & the Official Rodeo Judges judging that day.

  1. Immediate Family: Father, Mother, Brother, Sister, Son, Daughter, and Spouse.
  2. Charter Boat: A boat owned and operated as a charter fishing business in Panama City/Panama City Beach as determined by the Rules Committee.
  3. Private Boat: Vessel that has not carried passengers for hire as determined by the Rules Committee.
  4. Party Boat: A boat owned and operated as a party fishing business in Panama City/Panama City Beach as determined by the Rules Committee.
  5. Non-motorized Vessel-ONLY human powered vessels will be allowed. NO gasoline or electric motor propelled boats, sail boats, airboats, float tubes, or poled boats may be used.
  6. 25 and Under-Any vessel 25’11” and below as per official state registration. Valid registration
    papers must be produced at the time of Rodeo registration.
  7. Open Awards Classification: Awards eligible to all anglers registered in the Panama City Beach
    Fishing Rodeo.
  8. Registered Entry: A registered entry is an entry that is recorded with an official Rodeo Judge
    and eligible to be recorded on the leader board at the weigh station.
  9. Crew member: Any person who collects over 50% of their annual income from the
    professional operations while underway of any commercial and or for-hire charter fishing vessel.
  10. The heaviest fish in each category from a boat, per trip, that takes a position on the
    leaderboard. In the event of a tie, the first fish weighed-in prevails.

FISH CATEGORIES & DIVISIONS:

Fish categories may be added or taken off prior to the start of the tournament due to fishing
regulations.

Federal Charter Boats

  1. King Mackerel
  2. Spanish Mackerel
  3. Vermillon Snapper
  4. Black Snapper
  5. AmberJacks
  6. Wahoo
  7. Mahi Mahi
  8. Gag Grouper
  9. Red Grouper
  10. All other Grouper
  11. All Tuna

Recreational Boats 26 feet and larger

  1. King Mackerel
  2. Spanish Mackerel
  3. Vermillon Snapper
  4. Black Snapper
  5. AmberJacks
  6. Wahoo
  7. Mahi Mahi
  8. Gag Grouper
  9. Red Grouper
  10. All other Grouper
  11. All Tuna

State Charter Boats

  1. King Mackerel
  2. Spanish Mackerel
  3. Vermillon Snapper
  4. Black Snapper
  5. Mahi Mahi
  6. All Grouper
  7. Speckled Trout
  8. Flounder
  9. Red Fish most spots
  10. All Tuna
  11. Amberjacks

Recreational Boats under 26’

  1. King Mackerel
  2. Spanish Mackerel
  3. Vermillon Snapper
  4. Black Snapper
  5. Mahi Mahi
  6. All Grouper
  7. Speckled Trout
  8. Flounder
  9. Red Fish most spots
  10. All Tuna
  11. Amberjacks

Land Base Division

  1. King Mackerel
  2. Spanish Mackerel
  3. Pompano
  4. Speckled Trout
  5. Flounder
  6. Red Fish Most Spots

Kayak and Paddle Board Division

  1. King Mackerel
  2. Spanish Mackerel
  3. Speckled Trout
  4. Flounder
  5. Red Fish Most Spots

Head Boat/Party Boat Division

  1. Vermillon Snapper
  2. All Porgy
  3. Black or Lane Snapper
  4. All Grouper
  5. All Tuna

Kid’s Division–New for 2024!

  1. Any child 15 and under is eligible for this division no matter the registration category. (Charter, Head boat, Recreational or Land – Based)
  2. Largest fish overall by weight (excluding sharks) will be awarded 1st and 2nd place categories.

Ladies Division–New for 2024!

  1. Any lady 16 and over is eligible for this division no matter the registration category. (Charter, Head boat, Recreational or Land – Based)
  2. Largest fish overall by weight (excluding sharks) will be awarded 1st and 2nd place categories.

Extended Voyage Division

  1. Amberjack
  2. All Grouper
  3. All Tuna
  4. Wahoo

Jackpot Fish $2500 for each

  1. All Species–Largest Fish by Weight
  2. Legal Shark Species–Largest Fish by Weight
  3. Inshore Largest Fist by Weight