How to Register

1. The entry fee must be paid to Key West Sailfish Tournament $1000 early entry and $1250 after March 20, 2024 per Boat.. Junior anglers must not be over 16 years of age on the first day of fishing. There is no limit of anglers fishing aboard a vessel. The initial charge includes entry fee, sales tax, and gifts. There is no provision for the return of entry fees unless the Tournament Director receives a written request for such fees at least seven (7) days prior to the kick-off of the tournament.

2. The Key West Sailfish Tournament Rules will be strictly adhered to and all decisions of the Tournament Director will be final. Any Angler(s), Captain(s), or Mate(s) found to be in violation of any tournament rule might be disqualified from this tournament.

3. This entry is non-transferable and there can be no substitution of anglers unless so approved by the Tournament Director. The Tournament Director reserves the right to refuse tournament application or entry to any prospective entrant with or without cause at sole discretion.

4. This is a boat tournament. Although point scoring will be on both a cumulative and individual basis for trophy purposes. The angler(s) on the boat accumulating the most release points first will be judged the winner. All vessels and/or anglers must possess the proper licenses and permits.

5. This is a release format. Point scoring is as follows: 1 Point for each released sailfish.

6. Only manufactures stated 20 Lb. test line or less may be used. Only manufactures stated non-offset circle hooks may be used with live or dead bait. Hooks may not be altered.

7. Chumming is prohibited throughout the course of this tournament. Any bait, or portion thereof, not being fished or used as a teaser, shall be retained within the vessel. Live bait, dead bait or artificial may be used. No entangling device or similar material may be used. Fish must be caught by hook and line in a conventional manner aboard the boat from which it was hooked. Spin or conventional tackle may be used and no more than seven (7) lines can be in the water at any time.  This does not inckude teaser lines.

8. Hook and hand is legal in this tournament. Mate may cast or engage fish and hand off to another angler. This must be done in a prompt manner and immediately after the fish is engaged. Engaged fish is when the drag is set.Once the rod is passed, no one may touch the rod, reel, or line until leader is touched for release.

9. All sailfish releases must be reported immediately to and acknowledged by the Committee Boat. The angler will be given a number and a color which must be said a loud during video confirmation of release. Video must be time stamped. Video should be recorded last 15 minutes of the day for record of end of day fishing. The tournament channel is 78.

10. All fish must be documented with video and recorded on SD card. This media card as well as release cards filled out by anglers and signed by captain must be turned in no later than 5:30 pm end of fishing day 1 and 5:00 on day 2.

11. The double line shall be limited to fifteen (15) feet and the leader shall be limited to fifteen (15) feet. However, the combined length of the double line and the leader cannot exceed twenty (20) feet. No more than (1) single hooks may be attached to the leader.

12. For the purpose of this tournament a “Release” shall be considered to be accomplished when the captain, angler, or mate touches the leader. It is recommended that the leader be cut as close to the fish as possible. If a fish is subsequently tagged after being released according to the above criteria, the time of tagging shall be considered to be the same time as the release.

13. If a fish should become hooked on more than one line or become entangled in another line, then the fouled line or lines must be cut immediately. It is the intent of this rule that the fish is fought the majority of the time on a single line, if the fish is not fought the majority of the time on a single line, then the fish will not be scored.

14. Time limits are as follows: Other than bait catching, lines and teasers in the water at 8:00 A.M. and lines out of the water at 4:00 P.M. On day 2 of fishing, lines and teasers in the water at 8:00 A.M. and lines out of the water at 3:00 P.M. Fish may be fought after lines out provided, they have been reported to and acknowledged by the committee boat prior to lines out. Final disposition of fish must be reported to the committee boat no later than 5:00 on day 1 and by 4:00 on day 2  or it will be disqualified from the tournament.  All winning captains must be readily available for the polygraph as soon as possible after lines out.

15. Fishing boundaries are based on GPS latitude and longitude. The Easterly boundary is W081 26 000 shoreward, and Westerly Boundary is W082 26 000. Any boat that leaves the boundary area during fishing hours will have their day disqualified. Other than bait catching with the proper permits, no vessel will be allowed to engage in any fishing activity inside of a special preservation area.

16. All protests must be made in writing and filed with the Tournament director before 6:00 P.M. on the day of the protest to be considered. Protest cost is $300. On the final day protests must be filed by 4:15 P.M. The Tournament Rules Committee may rule immediately or reserve judgment until the end of the tournament. The final disposition of all protests, where judgment has been withheld will be determined by the polygraph examination.

17. All captains of boats having a winning angler(s) in any division of this tournament may be subjected to a polygraph examination. In the event the polygraph examiner is unable to make an accurate determination from the captain’s statements, the captain may at his option allow his angler(s) or mates(s) to be subjected to the examination. Any captain(s), angler(s), or mate(s) who fail or refuse to take this examination, by so doing, will be disqualified from winning any division of this tournament. By entering this tournament all anglers, captains and mates agree to abide by the results of the polygraph examination.

18. Participants in this tournament enter at their own risk. Officials, committee members and all persons connected directly or indirectly with the operation of the Key West Sailfish Tournament shall be exempt from any liability for loss, damage, negligence, harm or injury suffered to any participant, entrant, sports fisherman, their companions, boat captains, crew members, vessels and equipment, which may occur during this tournament.