Tournament Rules

These rules will remain in effect for the duration of the 2023 Red Drum Rodeo, presented by Coastal Virginia Fishing Tournaments. Interpretation of these rules will be left exclusively to the Tournament Director. In the event of a rule violation, the Tournament Director may impose such sanctions, as he deems appropriate including, and without limitation, disqualifications, forfeiture of prizes and prohibition from participation in subsequent tournaments. Decisions of the Tournament Director are final in all matters and are not subject to appeal or review by any court of law. Coastal Virginia Fishing Tournament Officials reserve the right to make needed changes to these rules in order to ensure the safety and welfare of registered anglers and/or the public. Any rule changes will immediately supersede all previously published copies of rules. It is each registered angler’s responsibility to read and understand the following rules and how he/she may be affected by not complying with them. Every competitor will be required to sign these official rules prior to the first day’s competition.

1. ENTRY FEES AND PAYMENTS: An Entry Fee of $75 per individual angler, $45 per junior angler (if you register before April 1st) and $400 per boat up to 6 anglers is required to fish in this event for the duration of the tournament. All 6 anglers must be registered by name at the opening tournament meeting to be eligible for prizes. All entry fees are NON-TRANSFERABLE and NON-REFUNDABLE. NO EXCEPTIONS.

2. CHECK-IN AND TOURNAMENT MEETING:

   Virginia Beach: Smartmouth Pilot House (313 32nd St, Virginia Beach, VA 23451) 
   Registration opens at 5pm. Meeting starts at 6pm, May 31st. 

   Eastern Shore:  Cape Charles Brewing Company (2198 Stone Rd, Cape Charles, VA 23310)
   Registration opens at 5pm. Meeting starts at 6pm, May 31st. 

All individuals/teams are expected to attend the tournament meeting and sign in at the designated time and location. If a team is unable to attend the tournament meeting, the will still be responsible for the information discussed including any alterations to the written Red Drum Rodeo rules and must deliver a signed copy of these rules prior to the beginning of the tournament. Regardless of attendance, it is the responsibility of each participant to understand all information presented and discussed at the tournament meeting. The Red Drum Rodeo tournament will begin directly following the tournament meeting.

3. FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LAWS: All competitors are expected to obey all applicable federal, state, and local regulations and laws. Violation of such rules may result in disqualification from the tournament. Repeated or flagrant violations will result in said competitors being banned from future participation in Coastal Virginia Fishing Tournaments sponsored events.

4. SPORTSMANSHIP: Competitors in the Red Drum Rodeo are expected to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, safety, and conversation. Any infraction of these fundamental sporting principles may be deemed cause for disqualification. Maximum courtesy must be practiced at all times, especially with regard to boating and angling in the vicinity of non-competitors who may be on tournament waters. Any act of a competitor, which reflects unfavorably upon Tidewater Independent Schools Young Life (TISYL) shall be reason for disqualification. Evidence of chemical substance addiction or abuse, conviction of a felony or other crimes involving moral turpitude, or other conduct reflecting unfavorably upon TISYL’s efforts to promote safety, sportsmanship, and compliance with tournament rules shall be grounds for rejecting any application for participation and for disqualification. Any act noted by Red Drum Rodeo Officials that gives a team or angler an unfair advantage not specifically covered under this set of rules shall be grounds for disqualification. Any violation by an angler deemed intentional or preconceived by the Tournament Director to gain an unfair advantage would be grounds
for permanent disqualification.

5. PARTICIPATION AND ELIGIBILITY: Participation in the Red Drum Rodeo is open to all registered anglers. Any person under the age of 18 must have written consent from a parent or legal guardian.

6. SAFETY: Safe boating will be observed at all times. Boats are required to carry
sufficient U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal floatation devices for all individuals on board. Although continuous fishing from the end of the Tournament Meeting until 11:59 pm June 3rd, 2023, is allowed, Tournament Officials reserve the right to shorten or cancel the tournament in the event of unsafe weather or water conditions. The decision to shorten or to cancel will be left totally to the discretion of the Tournament Director. Up to date information will be posted on the tournament website: www.reddrumrodeo.com

7. HORSEPOWER REGULATIONS: Maximum horsepower for all outboards used in the tournament will not exceed the horsepower limitations as set by the U.S. Coast Guard horsepower rating plate attached to the boat by the manufacturer. By registering to participate in an event, each contestant agrees to submit his or her boat and/or motor to an inspection by an inspector designated by the Tournament Director. Falsifying information on entry forms or altering the horsepower numbers on the motor or rating plate will be cause for disqualification from the tournament.

8. PERMITTED FISHING METHODS: All Red Drum must be caught alive in a conventional sporting manner. An angler may fish up to 3 rods at a time. Foul hooked fish are not eligible during competition. A foul hooked fish is defined as a fish that does not have at least one hook in its mouth and it must be released. Competitors may not catch fish or measure fish that have been caged or confined in an area prior to the tournament. All anglers must adhere to VA fishing regulations.

9. FISHING LOCATIONS & BOUNDARIES: Competitors may fish from a boat, dock, pier, beach, rock, kayak, marsh, any legal location within the boundaries of the Inshore perimeter of the Red Drum Rodeo Tournament. This includes all tidal waters and tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay (VA) and in the Atlantic Ocean within 3 miles offshore of the Virginia State Coastline.

10. TOURNAMENT FISHING TIMEFRAME- 7:00 pm Wednesday, May 31st, night or day through 11:59 p.m. Saturday, June 3rd, 2023.

11. SUBMITTING FISH “Catch and Release Tournament” – Only Red Drum caught within the tournament timeline may be submitted. IGFA Measuring devices will be sold at the Tournament Meeting and must be used for all fish entries (no other measuring device can be used).
a. *The following pictures are required to submit your fish for the tournament:
i. 1. Full fish & Red Drum Rodeo Tournament Entry Card

12. MEASURING: Nose touching the measuring device with a closed mouth & Red Drum Rodeo Tournament Entry Card
iii. Fork of the Tail with measurement numbers clearly visible & Red Drum Rodeo Tournament Entry Card (International measuring format due to the provision of the IGFA measuring devices).
iv. The angler with the Fish
v. The rod and reel used to make the catch
b. The pictures submitted must be of good quality, allowing the Tournament Judging Committee to easily see the length of the fish on the measuring device.

13. SCORING: Red Drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) is the eligible game fish to earn prizes for The Red Drum Rodeo. Tournament standings, auxiliary awards and the length of fish
caught during the tournament shall determine final winners of all Red Drum categories. Tournament official length for Red Drum will be measured according to the International Game Fish Association measurement criteria. All Red Drum will be measured by the Fork of the tail with mouth closed. Any fish that appears to have been penned, mangled, mashed, mauled, or otherwise altered will not be weighed at the discretion of the Tournament Director. Red Drum must NOT be placed on a stringer at any time during the tournament.

14. TACKLE AND EQUIPMENT: Each individual angler may fish THREE lines in the water at a time; casting, spin casting, spinning rod and reel or fly rod at a time. Be
prepared to show your current fishing license at registration from the State of Virginia.

15. COMMUNICATIONS: A VHF radio is recommended for all tournament vessels. The VHF may be mounted or portable. The use of mobile communication devices such as cellular telephones, marine radios, walkie-talkies, CBs, pagers or any electronic device can be used for information/communication with our Tournament Director. In case of a medical emergency, contact an emergency response team for help and then a tournament official should be notified.

16. WEATHER: The Red Drum Rodeo tournament reserves the right to cancel one or all days of the tournament due to unfishable weather conditions. If all days are canceled, the tournament director will inform the boat captains and fishermen accordingly. All participation is the responsibility of the Angler/Captain and their discretion for safety.

17. CASH AWARDS: Prize money awards checks will only be paid out to the fisherman who catches the winning fish. A W-9 form must be completed with a social security
number or EIN number and given to Kala Herman at the awards banquet / Deck Party and checks will be issued promptly after the conclusion of the tournament. A 1099 form will be issued for all prize money to the person to whom the check is made payable.

18. TIES: Ties in all Red Drum categories shall be broken based on the earliest time of submission.

19. POLYGRAPH: Each competitor who fishes in the Red Drum Rodeo agrees to (1) submit to a polygraph examination at a time and location as determined by the Tournament Director following the end of the competition and (2) abide by its conclusion. Failure to pass the polygraph will result in disqualification.

20. PROTESTS AND REPORTING PROCEDURE: All protests must be submitted in writing along with a $200 cash deposit between 3 pm and 5 pm June 3rd, 2023, to the Tournament Director or designated Tournament Official. The protester also agrees that if there is a question of verifying the charge of a protest, then he or she also may be subject to take a polygraph and agree to testify in a court of law if necessary. If the Tournament Director, or polygraph, upholds the protest, the cash deposit shall be returned to the contestant submitting the protest. Each competitor agrees to report any rule violation to the Tournament Director immediately upon discovery of the violation.

21. WAIVER / DISCLAIMER: It is expressly understood that participants in this tournament enter at their own risk and that the Red Drum Rodeo along with Coastal Virginia Fishing Tournaments, Tournament Directors, Staff, Tournament Sponsors, Committees and all other persons connected directly or indirectly with the operation of said tournament (collectively “Tournament Hosts”), shall be exempt from any liability whatsoever for libel, slander, loss, damage, negligence, harm, injury or death suffered by any participant, entrant, vessel, and equipment, companions and guests, boat captains, mates, crew members, which may occur during or in conjunction with this tournament. The undersigned covenants not to sue the IGFA or the Tournament Hosts for anything relating to or arising directly or indirectly from participation in the tournament and agrees to indemnify the IGFA and the Tournament Hosts from any claims relating to or arising directly or indirectly from participation in the tournament. By signing the official tournament registration form, the boat owner, captain and mate(s), anglers and guests, consent that the tournament may use without payment or restriction, any photographs or video footage in which he or she may appear, for any purpose whatsoever including but not limited to resale, advertising, commercial or promotional material.