RULES
By your participation in this Tournament, you agree to comply with the following rules, and agree to submit to and pass a POLYGRAPH TEST or similar truth test in order to qualify for the receipt of any prize. Tests will be given to teams at Jiganomics Outdoors discretion.

 TEAMS: You may enter alone or with a partner of your choice. No more than two (2) persons will be allowed in a participating boat during tournament hours..

WEATHER: In the case of extreme weather/water conditions or National emergencies,Jiganomics Outdoors shall have the right to postpone or cancel any tournaments with the return of entry fees by mail.

FISHING HOURS: Fishing hours are posted on the Tournament Information Page and will be announced at Crappie Fest.

ENTRY FEES/REFUNDS: Tournament entry can be done by mail, phone, internet, or at Crappie Fest. Late fees do apply if received after 7 days prior to tournament date. Late fees are $25.00 for one day qualifiers and$50 for championship. Fees must be paid 1 week for events.

STATE LAW: Teams must comply with all State and boating regulations throughout the entire year, including the use of P.F.D.’s and kill switches. Fishing, boating regulations, and licenses are the responsibility of team members. State fishing laws and boating regulations supersede tournament rules. Violation of State or Lake laws is grounds for disqualification.

MINORS: Any minor (under 18) who participates, must make arrangements to have a parent or guardian present at the weigh-in to sign a release form or have the release on the entry form signed prior to the tournament.

BIG FISH: Big fish entries are NOT included in the tournament entry. Only one (1) Big Fish entry per team. Only one (1) big fish will be weighed in. Teams will have that fish marked and designated as their big fish at weigh-in.

PRIZES: Prizes will be given after the tournament. Teams must be present to receive prize. A team member fishing alone can qualify for the championship, for points, and for placement in the overall tournament.

FISHABLE WATERS: Fishing within 50 feet of a Marina gas pump or within 50 feet of a competitor’s boat, which is first anchored, is prohibited (Trolling motors must be in up position and anchor rope visible or any shallow water anchoring device must be deployed to be considered anchored). A safe and courteous distance (50 feet) should be maintained when trolling motors are in use. Fishable waters are defined as waters in Lake Okeechobee and Kissimmee River accessible by boat EXCLUDING areas where you need to pass through a lock to access . Boats may fish anywhere except areas designated as “off limits” or “no fishing” by Local, State or Federal officials or as posted on the Tournament Information page or announced at the Seminar. Any violation of off-limits water will result in disqualification. Participants are not allowed to exit the boat to gain access to fishable waters.

ALCOHOL: Alcohol beverages are not allowed during the tournaments. Use of alcohol or non-prescribed drugs during tournament hours is prohibited and will result in disqualification. 

COMPENSATION: No one can be hired, compensated, or offered compensation in any way to fish with you, mark fishing spots for you, or help you gain a competative advantage in anyway 30 days prior to any tournament.

FISHING

BOATS: You must fish from a boat. Rubber Rafts, Canoes and Go-Devils are not allowed. Two-person teams (one boat per team) must stay within 25 feet of each other while fishing.

POLES: Limit of eight (8) poles per team during tournament. Teams may use rod and reel combos, hand-held pole and reel combos or hand-held poles.

BAITS: A maximum of two baits per pole may be used during tournament hours if in accordance with Local and State laws. Live and artificial bait may be used.

MOTORS: All tournament boats are required to have a minimum 6 HP or greater motor.

SPOTTING: During tournament hours no one may spot fish for you or mark fishing spots for you.

LANDING FISH: Crappie must be hooked and landed with a rod or pole by team member(s). Crappie must be hooked through the lip or in the mouth. Landing nets may be used.

HOLE- SITTING: No hole sitting by a competitor or non-competitor boat during the tournament will be allowed.

LIFE JACKETS: Life jackets or personal flotation devices must be worn while on plane. All State and Local rules and regulations supersede tournament rules.

WEIGH IN

VOUCHER: A weigh-in voucher will be issued to each registered team at the Registration/ Seminar sign-up. That voucher must be presented back to the tournament official at the weigh-in.

SCALES: Scales will be set up and open 1 hour before the end of the official fishing hours for all tournaments.

EARLY WEIGH IN: Teams are allowed one (1) weigh in on tournament day. Scales will open 1 hours before the end of the official fishing hours for teams to weigh in early if needed.

FISH: All fish must be brought to the official weigh-in line in a cooler or weigh bag. Teams may weigh in seven (7), live crappie on tournament day. Teams seven (7) crappie must be alive when entering the official weigh-in line. Teams presenting more than seven crappie will be disqualified. Once you have entered the weigh-in line, your fish will be counted and be verified dead or alive by the tournament official. Dead fish will be removed and you may then continue to the scales for your official weigh-in. Once your fish have been verified alive, and entered on the weigh-in voucher, you will then be allowed to weigh those fish, even if one or more die before reaching the scales. The tournament official has sole responsibility for the declaration of dead or alive crappie. No mutilated fish may be weighed. Mutilation is defined as any damage that impairs the fish’s fighting ability. All decisions regarding mutilation will be made by Jiganomics Outdoors tournament officials. Jiganomics Outdoors has the right to keep weighed in fish for further evaluation at our own discretion without explanation or cause.

WEIGH IN SITE: Crappie must be weighed at the official Jiganomics Outdoors tournament Weigh-In site. You must check in at the official check in site by the announced time on the Tournament Information Page or as announced at the seminar. Example: Must be in the check in line by 3:00pm; You must be in the check in line by 3:00:00pm. If you make it to the official check in line at 3:00:01 or later, then you will be disqualified. The Tournament Director will make the announcement when the check in line is closed and the last team in line will have their voucher marked.

TOURNAMENT HOURS: All crappie brought to the scales for weigh-in must have been caught during the tournament hours from tournament waters by the team bringing them to the scales. Tournament hours are posted on the Tournament Information Page and announced at the Crappie Fest. Teams will be allowed to be on the tournament waters, on tournament day,1 hour prior to the official starting time of the tournament. Example: Fishing hours 6:00am-3:00pm; teams will be able to launch their boat beginning at 5:00am. Teams may begin fishing at 6:00:00am and your baits must be out of the tournament waters at 3:00:00pm. If your baits are in the tournament waters at 3:00:01pm, then you will be disqualified.

LENGTH: All crappie brought to the scales for weigh-in must meet State length requirements for the State in which they are being weighed and may not have any weight enhancements. Any team bringing in illegal crappie to the weigh-in line will be disqualified.

TIES: In the case of a tie for first place, big fish of each team will determine the winner. Second place and on down, all ties split the combined purse of that prize level.

AWARDS: Team members must be present at the official weigh-in to be eligible for prizes. 

CHAMPIONSHIP

QUALIFYING: A team can qualify for the Championship by fishing 3 qualifiers. Team Of The Year automatically qualifies to fish the championship.

PRE FISHING: No one can be hired or compensated in any way to fish with you or mark fishing spots for you 30 Days prior to the Championship.

TEAM CHANGE: If a qualified team member has sickness, loss of death or other reasonable personal tragedy, they may fish the Championship with another Championship qualified member. This must be approved by the Tournament Director.

SPORTSMANSHIP

Team members/Jiganomics Outdoors members are required to follow high standards of sportsmanship, honesty, courtesy, safety, conservation and to conduct themselves in a manner that will be a credit to themselves, Jiganomics Outdoors, Jiganomics Outdoors sponsors, the sport of fishing, and Jiganomics Outdoors efforts to promote the sport. Examples of conduct not complying with those standards include, but are not limited to, the following: • Violation of or failure to comply with any of the official rules. • Consumption of alcoholic beverages or any kind of mind-altering substance during registration or during tournament hours. • Conviction of a felony. • Suspension/disqualification from any tournament or fishing organization for cheating, refusing or failing a polygraph. • Any other words, conduct or actions (including and not limited to discussion forums and internet sites) reflecting unfavorably upon efforts to promote safety, sportsmanship, fair competition and compliance with the tournament rules, or which fail to comply with these standards set forth in the first sentence of this paragraph.

CONDUCT: In case of any conduct not complying with the standards,Jiganomics Outdoors shall have the right to refuse any entry application, deny a paid entry application, or revoke a membership by returning the entry fee/membership fee of a previously accepted application, or to disqualify a team. 

UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT: Unsportsmanlike conduct can be grounds for disqualification if circumstances require and will be at the discretion of the Tournament Director. Unsportsmanlike conduct could result in membership revocation.

PROTEST: Protest must be made in writing to the Tournament Director within 30 minutes following the end of the Official Weigh-In. Protests must cite the rule allegedly broken. Protests must be given to the Tournament Director. Protest must be deemed a legitimate protest by Tournament Director. Both parties may be subjected to a polygraph. All parties involved and all grievances, protests, and complaints shall be handled in house with confidentiality.

COMPLAINTS: Complaints about teams outside of protest times should be made directly to Jiganomics Outdoors. Complaints must be in written format. Jiganomics Outdoors decisions in handling complaints is final in all matters.

SPOTTERS/OBSERVERS: Jiganomics Outdoors shall have the right to place a spotter boat/and/or an observer in the boat with any competitive team at any time during the competition, from the start of competition to the finish. Any refusal will be grounds for disqualification.

BOAT/LIVEWELL/STORAGE: Jiganomics Outdoors tournament officials shall have the right to at random, board and inspect the boat of any competing members, at any time from Registration until the end of the tournament. Refusal to allow inspection is grounds for disqualification.