RULES

1. Qualifying Areas: All of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries as permitted by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
2. Eligible Fish: Minimum length of eligible Rockfish is 19 inches. Maximum Length of eligible Rockfish is 24 inches. If a fish measures under 19 inches or over 24 inches, that fish will be disqualified from that day's stringer and there will be NO substitutions allowed for the disqualified fish for that day. Blatant disregard for the legal Slot limit placed by DNR at the discretion of the Tournament Committee may result in automatic disqualification and/or further action. 1 Rockfish per person. Tiki Lee's Rockfish Tournament Committee will NOT be tracking which angler on your boat catches the team's fish (ie. If one angler catches all of the fish, that is the team's choice), but you are NOT allowed more than (1) one fish per person on your boat (ie. 5 people, max 5 fish).
3. Any changes or substitutions to the crew (Captain, Mate and Anglers) must be finalized at the Captain's meeting. All changes after Captain's Meeting must be approved by the Tournament Director.
4. A copy of your valid boat insurance declaration page for the boat being used in the tournament must be uploaded with your Crew & Boat Information submission. In case of emergency last minute boat change, the new boat insurance declaration page must be  provided to a Tournament Committee Official prior to using the new boat on any Tournament Day.
5. All fish must be caught on hook and line.
6. Chumming, live bait and/or use of eels is permitted. All legal hook and line fishing methods are permitted.
7. IGFA all-tackle rules apply.
8. All Captains, Mates and Anglers must sign a Release of Liability form prior to departure. The Captain shall sign for the entire team. By fishing the Tournament, inclusive of the Captain & Mate, ALL anglers are subject to a Lie Detector Test. Anyone refusing a Lie Detector Test will result in the disqualification of the entire team/entry.
9. All winners will be subjected to a Lie Detector Test. Captains of the First, Second and Third place winning teams are subject to a mandatory Lie Detector Test. In the case of a "Failed" Lie Detector Test, there are two options for remedy:
   
   Option 1: At the Captain's expense, the Captain may choose to retake the Test one additional time. If the result is a "Fail" the team is disqualified and, at the discretion of the Tournament Committee, may be banned from future Tiki Lee's Rockfish Open Tournaments.
   
   Option 2: At the expense of the Mate and entire crew members, the entire team must take and pass the Lie Detector Test. If any one of the Mate or crew "Fails" the test, the entire team is disqualified and, at the discretion of the Tournament Committee, may be banned from future Tiki Lee's Rockfish Open Tournaments.
   
   The Tournament Committee and/or Director reserve the right to require all winning teams to take and pass a Lie Detector Test before being awarded their prizes. If any of the Captains "fail", the same rules apply as previously stated for the First, Second and Third place teams.
   
   The winners of any Tournament regulated Calcuttas are subject to the same Lie Detector Test requirements as the First, Second and Third place teams.
10. ‍Prizes: One prize per boat for 1st - 10th place. Excludes Calcutta.‍
11. Winners: Largest (5) five fish stringer determined by weight. In case of a tie, the winning Stringer will be determined by the combination of the length of the (5) five fish Stringer. From tip of closed mouth to furthest point of pinched tail.‍
12. Fishing Hours: No lines in before 6am on Friday (9/20/2024), Saturday (9/21/2024). Lines out at 3pm.
13. Check-in will begin at 5pm Thursday (9/19/2024) at Tiki Lee's Dock Bar. At least one registered member from each team must attend and sign the Rules and Waivers in person.
14. All tournament boats may leave from their home Port Of Call the morning of each tournament day. Any trailered tournament boat may be launched at a facility of their choice. Once the boat is launched and the official tournament time has begun, your boat may not be removed and relocated by trailer. All fish that are being weighed-in must be brought to the scales by water. All fish must be caught from the registered boat.
15. All Anglers must Check-In with Check-In Boat or table. At the completion of each day of competition, all boats must Check-In with the designated Check-In Boat, which will be anchored in front of Tiki Lee's. Do NOT return to your assigned slip without first Checking-In. If you return back to the dock prior to the Check-In Boat being anchored, you must Check-In with a Tournament Official.
16. All boats must be off plane and in naked eyesight of the check-in boat located anchored in front of Tiki Lee's by 5pm Friday (9/20/2024), Saturday (9/21/2024).
17. Scales will not be open prior to 5pm.
18. No Gaffing. No Culling.‍
19. Live Wells: All fish not immediately released must be stored on ice. Any use of live wells, or any form of aerated or non-aerated water to store your Rockfish is strictly prohibited.
20. Weather: It’s a Captain’s choice tournament. However, the Tournament Committee or Director reserves the right to cancel one or all of the original scheduled Tournament days due to inclement weather or anything beyond the Tournament Committee’s control. If (1) one Tournament day is cancelled due to inclement weather or anything beyond the Tournament Committee’s control, Sunday (9/22/2024) becomes the next official tournament day. If both, Friday (9/20/2024) and Saturday (9/21/2024), are cancelled due to inclement weather or anything beyond the Tournament Committee’s control, Sunday (9/22/2024) and Monday (9/23/2024) will become the official Tournament days. If all official tournament days are canceled, including Sunday (9/22/2024) and Monday (9/23/2024), the postponement dates are Friday (9/27/2024) and Saturday (9/28/2024). The Tournament Committee and/or Director reserves the right to extend the Tournament until at least (1) one eligible official Tournament day is completed.
21. The Tournament Committee and/or Director reserves the right to delay the start time of any or all official Tournament days due to any circumstances that warrant a delay.‍
22. Mechanical Breakdown: Your boat’s condition, electronics and efficiency are equally as important as your fishing skills. All boats/teams are responsible for getting their fish to the weigh in station, even if towed, aboard another Tournament boat or a back-up boat is used (If a back-up boat is used, the new boat name must be called in). No boats can be trailered at any point after fishing begins.‍
23. Refund Policy: There are absolutely NO REFUNDS on paid entries for any reason. The Tournament Committee may consider carrying over paid fees to next year if this year's tournament dates (original and postponement dates) are both canceled.
24. Tournament Officials reserve the right to refuse entry to any person or team at any time even after the team has paid and registered.
25. Any boat may be boarded by a Tournament Official for thorough inspection of fishing boxes, bilges, containers and compartments.
26. Any fish entered in the Tournament is subjected to disqualification if the Tournament Committee decide it bears suspicious marks or characteristics. All decisions by the Tournament Committee are final. The Tournament Committee reserves the right to cut open every qualifying fish weighed-in and inspect for suspected weight and length altering efforts such as inserted weights, ice, water, clipping of tail etc. Any suspected altering will be reviewed by the Tournament Committee and can result in disqualification, banishment from any future Tiki Lee’s Rockfish Open tournament. If warranted, legal ramifications may also be pursued.‍
27. Safety: All participants and guests of participants are responsible for their own personal safety and security of their personal property and expressly assume any and all risks to their personal safety and well-being. By electing to participate in Tiki Lee’s Rockfish Open, all participants agree to, and grant their Release of Liability and shall not be permitted to withdraw or disavow that Release of Liability.
28. Max 8 participants per boat (Captain, Mate, and 6 anglers). This does not include approved videographer or camera crews.
29. All captains MUST provide their own weigh-in bag. Please do not bring your fish to the scales or weigh-in line until directed to by a Tournament Official.
30. Qualified Videographers are only assigned by the Tournament Committee. The Tournament Director reserves the right to add more boats.