2025 Rules

It’s the responsibility of all anglers and participants to read and understand these rules and regulations that govern the Ladies Annual Fish Off. On submission of your tournament registration you are acknowledging that you have read the rules and fully understand your responsibilities and obligations. If you have any questions, send an email to [email protected].          

IGFA International Angling Rules & World Record Requirements (PDF)

1. Anglers: The tournament is open to female anglers only. Men may join the fun as captain and crew. Registered anglers are responsible for providing their own fishing vessel and must have a valid Florida fishing license, unless the event is being held on the weekend when the state license is exempt. (1st Saturday & Sunday in June)
2. Early Registration per person; Adult/Junior/Peewee: $125/$100/$50 – Anglers may pre-register for the tournament online at www.fishingchaos.com or at Big Dog Tackle. Payment may be made by cash, credit card and online payments are accepted. On May 1, 2025, the registration fee goes to $150/$125/$50. On June 1st, 2025, the registration fee goes to $200/$175/$50. * Angler Registration fee is non-refundable. 
3. Late Registration: Registration may be paid until the night of the Captain’s Meeting June 5th, 2024 from 6pm-9pm. Entry fees are not refundable for any reason. At least one member from each team MUST attend the Captain’s Meeting at Galuppi’s Restaurant – 1103 N Federal Hwy, Pompano Beach, FL 33062.
4. Entry Forms: All entries must be completed online or at Big Dog Tackle. Tournament officials reserve the right to refuse application or entry into the tournament at their discretion with or without cause.
5. Eligible Species: Kingfish, Dolphin, Blackfin Tuna, Wahoo and Cobia. Bonito are ONLY  eligible BONITO CALCUTTA -OR- if the Bonito is caught by a Pee-Wee Angler. 
6. Fish Limit: Each fish must weigh a minimum of 10 lbs. Eligible Bonito have NO MINIMUM WEIGHT. Bonito does NOT count toward boat points. Fish that do not meet these requirements will not count. All boats must adhere to the State of Florida’s recreational bag limits as they pertain to all eligible species.
7. Tackle: All IGFA rules apply to the Ladies Annual Fish-Off. No wire MAIN lines are permitted. Treble Hooks are not permitted EXCEPT as part of a commercially manufactured lure. Total Leader Length may not exceed 15 ft total including the hook and the double line connection may not exceed 5ft. Electric reels (except kite rods and downriggers) are prohibited. Stinger hooks must be firmly embedded or firmly attached to the bait. Exception: Gaff may be up to 12 feet in length; this is contrary to IGFA rules but acceptable for the Ladies Annual Fish-Off.
8. Hook & Catch: Anglers must abide by IGFA rules by hooking and reeling in their own fish. Mutilated fish are not eligible. Any fish that has been tampered with to increase the weight shall be disqualified and removed from the tournament. The weigh-master’s decision is final.
9. Bait & Bait Fishing: Live bait, dead bait and lures are permitted. Live chumming is prohibited.
10. Tournament Channel: The tournament committee will operate on Channel 80. Channel 72 will be used as an alternate. All discussions among competitors should be conducted on alternate channels
11. Boundaries: Florida waters only. Boats fishing in the Bahamas will be automatically disqualified.
12. Check Out: There will be a gentlemen’s lines in @ 7:00 AM from whichever inlet you decide to leave from. This is a tournament that benefits a charity so please be honest and do not start fishing until 7:00 AM! ALL THE WINNERS WILL BE SUBJECT TO POLYGRAPH. LINES IN EARLY WILL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE DISQUALIFICATION!
13. Check In: All boats with fish to weigh must be visible from the weigh scales no later than 4:30pm & verbally checked in by displaying their boat # to the tournament committee, regardless of hookups. Boats that are not visible from the weigh-in scales by 4:30 PM will not be eligible to weigh their fish.
14. Weigh-In: located at Alsdorf Park/14th Street Boat Ramp in Pompano Beach. The scale will open at 3:00 PM. All fish must be brought to the weigh station in the boat that they were caught. Eligible fish must be caught during tournament times of tournament day. Transferring fish to another boat will result in disqualification. Mutilated fish will be disqualified. All decisions of the weigh-master are final. The weigh-master reserves the right to inspect any fish by any means including, but not limited to internal inspection.
15. Weather: If a small craft advisory has been issued by the National Weather Service for the tournament day, the tournament will be moved to the same hours on the next day, Sunday.  If Sunday’s weather conditions are also deemed unsafe, the tournament will be scheduled for the following date Sunday June 15th, 2025. If that date is not acceptable the tournament will be rescheduled to another date. The tournament committee, in its sole discretion, may cancel the tournament due to weather and no refunds will be made.  All proceeds will then be distributed to the tournament charities.
16.  Protests: All protests must be submitted in writing by 7pm of tournament day right after the conclusion of weigh-in along with $300 non-refundable fee to the tournament officials. Protests should be made based on first-hand eyewitness information. All decisions of the tournament officials regarding protests are final. 
17. Polygraph: By entering the tournament all captains, anglers, and occupants of their boats voluntarily consent to submit to a polygraph examination as deemed necessary by tournament officials. All decisions of the polygraph examiner will be final. Any captain, angler or occupant of a registered boat who refuses to take a polygraph or provides untruthful answers as determined by the examiner will be disqualified from the tournament without further notice. Such a disqualification will eliminate payment or provision of any prize money, awards and/or refund of entrance fees or calcutta’s.
18. Release: By signing the entry form, all captains, anglers and occupants of their boat hereby consent that tournament officials may use without payment or restriction, any photographs, video or interviews in which he or she may appear for any purpose whatsoever, including but not limited to resale, advertising, and promotional material.
19. Waiver:  It is expressly understood and agreed to by all participants that the permitting of fishing by the tournament committee does not ensure the safety of registered anglers or any other occupants of their vessels.  Captains, anglers, and all other members of registered boats must determine in their own judgment whether to fish under the given conditions based on factors including but not limited to the seaworthiness of the vessel, the weather conditions, and their own seamanship. It is expressly understood that all participants enter at their own risk. Directors, officers, committee members, sponsors, officials and all other persons directly or indirectly involved with the operations of the Ladies Annual Fish-Off shall be exempt from loss, damage, liability, negligence or injury suffered to any participant, entrant, sports angler, their companions, boat captains, crew members, vessels and equipment, which may occur during the Tournament.
20. Tournament Discretion: The tournament director reserves the right to implement their discretion at any time during the tournament as it may apply to the rules or any other circumstance that should arise during the course of the event. 
21. Prizes: Award winners over $600.00 MUST provide their social security number and will be REQUIRED to fill out a W-9 Form. ALL CASH & PRIZES will be awarded to the person or entity that paid the entry fee from the winning boat UNLESS that said person signs a release designating another individual to receive on their behalf.
22. Named Charity: The Billfish Foundation & Flite Center. Ten percent 10% of all entries and calcutta’s will be donated to the Charities. You can check out the charity at https://billfish.org/ & https://flitecenter.org/ 
23. In the Event of a Tie: Prizes will be split equally
24. Scoring: One point will be awarded per pound, per fish with a 10lb. minimum per fish. Fish not meeting minimum weight will not count.
    • A maximum of four fish per species, subject to state recreational bag limits, per boat may be weighed. 
    • A maximum of ten fish per boat can be weighed.
    • Bonito Calcutta optional entry category, only one fish per boat can be weighed.  Bonito do not count toward angler & boat points except for the pee-wee division. Bonito are NOT Subject to a 10lb minimum.

1. PRIZE STRUCTURE: Main Prize Categories (Teams may win multiple categories)

• • OVERALL WINNERS Top 5 Boats (Boat Total Points: Cobia, Dolphin, Kingfish, Wahoo and Blackfin Tuna)

• 1st Place

• 2nd Place

• 3rd Place

• 4th Place

• 5th Place

• • Top 3 Female Anglers Angler Total Points
    • 1st Place
    • 2nd Place
    • 3rd Place
  • Top 3 Female Junior Anglers (11-16yrs) Angler Total Points
    • 1st Place
    • 2nd Place
    • 3rd Place
  • Top Female PEE-WEE Anglers (10yrs & under) Angler Total Points: Cobia, Dolphin, Kingfish, Wahoo and Blackfin Tuna, & Bonito
    • 1st Place
    • 2nd Place
    • 3rd Place
  • Heaviest Fish: Top 2 Anglers 

• Heaviest Dolphin: Top 2 Anglers

• Heaviest Cobia: Top 2 Anglers

• Heaviest Kingfish:Top 2 Anglers

• Heaviest Wahoo:Top 2 Anglers

• Heaviest Blackfin Tuna: Top 2 Anglers

• Junior Anglers 11-16 years: are eligible for all awards. If a junior angler places in the Top 3 Anglers, she will not be eligible to place in the Top 3 Junior Angler Categories.
• Peewee Anglers 10 years and under: Peewee anglers may be assisted with reeling in their fish. Fish caught will ONLY be eligible for Top 3 Peewee Anglers. Only 3 fish may be weighed per Peewee. Fish must weigh a minimum of 5 lbs EXCEPT Bonito Peewee anglers fish do NOT count towards the top 5 boat categories. NOT SUBJECT TO IGFA RULES

CALCUTTAS & ENTRY FEES – Teams may win multiple calcuttas, Payout 60/40

• $200 KDW ROLLOVER: (All 3 Kingfish, Dolphin, Wahoo)

• • • If No Winner, Calcutta Prize will Rollover to 2026

• $100 Heaviest Fish: 

• $100 Heaviest Dolphin

• $100 Heaviest Kingfish

• $100 Heaviest Wahoo

• $100 Heaviest Blackfin Tuna

$50 Heaviest Bonito **10lbs Minimum does NOT apply to this prize**There will be a gentlemen’s lines in @ 7:00 AM from whichever inlet you
decide to leave from. This is a tournament that benefits a charity so please be
honest and do not start fishing until 7:00 AM! ALL THE WINNERS WILL BE SUBJECT
TO POLYGRAPH. LINES IN EARLY WILL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE DISQUALIFICATION!