Tournament Rules

The following rules shall apply to the Miami Physicians Fishing Tournament 35th Annual Dolphin Tournament (the ‘Tournament”). These Tournament Rules may be changed by the Tournament Director / BOARD at any time and will be effective immediately following posting on the online Tournament Registration website. Interpretation and enforcement of these Tournament Rules shall be left exclusively to the Tournament Director / Board or designee. In the event of a Tournament Rule violation, the Tournament Director / Board will impose such sanctions, as deemed appropriate, including, without limitation, disqualification, forfeiture of prizes and/or entry fee, probation and prohibition from participation in subsequent tournaments. The decision of the Tournament Director / Board will be final in all matters. Each Tournament participant shall immediately report to the Tournament Director any violation or infraction of any Tournament Rules. Failure to report violations or suggestions to another Tournament participant that they violated these Tournament Rules will be cause for disqualification. All protests must be reported to the Tournament Director on site and in writing within 15 minutes after the announcement “the scales are closed”.

Penalties may include, but are not limited to the following:
(a) Loss of fish in question;
(b) Loss of catch for the day;
(c) Disqualification from the Tournament;
(d) Disqualification from future fishing tournaments, which may be from a specific number of events, a specific period of time, or may be a lifetime disqualification.

PARTICIPATION, ELIGIBILITY & BOATS: Anyone may participate in this Tournament who is not otherwise prohibited by these Tournament rules. Specifically, employees, vendors or customers of any Tournament Sponsor may participate as well as the employees, vendors and volunteers. However, any minor entering this Tournament under the age of 18 years must be paired with a parent, legal guardian, and be designated in the official entry form. Tournament Directors reserve the right to refuse Tournament registration to any individual or team. Each Tournament participant must provide their own boat that is acceptable to the Tournament Director; no john boats, pontoon boats, or those of questionable seaworthiness will be allowed.

SPORTSMANSHIP & CONDUCT: All Tournament teams are required to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, safety and conservation. Any infraction of these fundamental sporting principles will 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 also be on Tournament waters. Any act of an angler which reflects unfavorably upon effort to promote fisheries conservation, clean waters, and courtesy, shall be reason for disqualification from this Tournament.

The following conduct will not be permitted, and cause for disqualification:

• Inappropriate Social Behavior

• Consumption and/or possession of illegal drugs of any kind during Tournament hours.

• Any previous conviction, charge, arrest, or investigation for a felony, a crime involving moral turpitude, or a crime related to, arising out of, or involving any fishing tournament or event.

• Actions or words which reflect unfavorably upon efforts to promote safety, sportsmanship, and fair competition;

• Disqualification from any fishing organization resulting from alleged rule violations and/or the questioning of an angler's honesty, integrity and character.
   

Remember, this Tournament is a charity event. We are all coming together to raise funds and awareness for THE MIAMI BRIDGE which benefit kids in Miami-Dade County, some of whom will be present during portions of our Tournament.

ON-SITE CHECK-IN & MEETING: Onsite check-in is the morning of both days of the Tournament. It is mandatory that one member of each team register in person at the designated site during onsite registration and be present for any Rules and Safety updates. Live wells must be checked before your boat is cleared to take off.

SAFETY: Safety is paramount and Tournament participants must recognize that fishing from an open boat is inherently dangerous, and as a result the Tournament organizers and the Tournament Director seeks to limit and minimize those hazards with reasonable safety rules.

 

• Safe boating conduct must always be observed by all Tournament participants. During the official practice and competition, each Tournament participant must have available a US Coast Guard-approved chest-type life preserver.

• The Tournament Directors or his designee may delay, shorten, or restrict Tournament waters or cancel the start of the Tournament because of bad weather or other factors that would compromise the safety of Tournament participants.

• In the event of an emergency, teams should call 911, and or hail appropriate authority on radio channel 16, immediately and then notify the Tournament Director or one of his designees.

 

REGISTRATION AND FEES: Entry fee is per boat, which includes up to four (4) anglers. Each boat is allowed a maximum of eight (8) anglers and eight (8) lines. An additional 4 anglers can be added to your boat for a fee. Each registered boat is eligible for general prizes.

RULES & LAWS: All registered anglers must also comply with all applicable Federal and Florida laws regarding fishing licenses, size limits, bag limits, speed limits, etc. Refer to the Florida Basic Recreation Saltwater Fishing Regulations https://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/. Any infractions of the applicable rules will disqualify the registered angler(s) and boat from the entire tournament, and any disqualified angler(s) will not be entitled to any refund. Fines may apply. All teams must have a valid fishing license for Tournament waters and are required to obey all federal, state and local laws and regulations at all times.

PERMITTED FISHING LOCATIONS: Tournament waters include state of Florida inshore and offshore waters out to 20 miles. No entry of foreign waters is permitted. Specifically, any water within boundaries posted “Off-Limits” or “No Fishing” by state or federal agencies , or area established by the Tournament Director, will be OFF-LIMITS and will be announced at the Tournament Captains Meeting and updates. Only that water open to all public fishing will be considered tournament waters. All angling must be done from the boat.

CAPTAIN'S MEETING: A Captain's Meeting will be held July XX, 2023. At least one (1) representative from each boat/team must be present. All anglers are encouraged to attend. The rules of this tournament may be amended verbally or in writing at the time of the meeting. Anglers are responsible for being well informed of all rules.

ELIGIBLE SPECIES: The eligible species are Dolphin, Wahoo, Kingfish, Yellowfin Tuna, Blackfin Tuna, Snapper and Grouper. All the fish caught and weighed must be within the state and federal guidelines.

TACKLE & BAIT: All fish must be caught on rod and reel. Wire lines are permitted. No electric reels or treble hooks. Fishing with live bait is permitted in the tournament.

HOURS OF FISHING: See officials tournament schedule for times. All registered anglers on any boat with lines in the water before or after officials fishing time will automatically be disqualified.

WEIGH-IN: The weigh station will be located at the Fishing Village by the Reef Treats snack shop from the scheduled lines out of the water time until the time indicated on the officials tournament schedule. No Exceptions. All fish must be brought to the weigh station. All fish presented for weigh-in must be in fresh, edible condition and caught that tournament day. No mutilated fish (based on tournament committee's opinion) will be accepted. All sh must be entered for officials weigh-in in the presence of a boat representative. Please see Rule 4 for eligible species and weights. No exceptions will be made.

SCORING & PRIZES: Prizes awarded for FIRST $3000, SECOND $1500 and THIRD PLACE $750 for the heaviest combined 3 eligible species. The total aggregate weight of those 3 fish are counted for final scoring. (However there will be a 25% penalty for Charter Boats and Charter Captains used on private boats, as well as pro or semi-pro fishing teams) No more than four fish can be weighed, keeping the top three. No more than three (3) of any species overall per boat in all categories will count toward the total weight at the end of day two. In the event of an exact tie, the first fish weighed in will win. Awards will be given out for Top Fish overall (by weight), and Top Junior Angler (by weight).

WEATHER CONDITIONS: Tournament officials may cancel if, in their best judgment, unsafe conditions exist at sea for the average boat entered. No refunds of any sort will be made for any cause in the event of such cancellation. A determination permitting fishing by officials should not be interpreted to mean that it ensures the safety of any registered angler or occupant of any boat. Registered anglers must make their own judgments whether to fish under the prevailing weather conditions based on the size and seaworthiness of their boat, their seamanship skills and any other relevant factors.

ADDITIONAL RULES

CLUB CODE OF CONDUCT: Given that we are the guests of the Ocean Reef Club, adherence to Club rules is required, they can be found in detail here, https://www.oceanreef.com/wpcontent/uploads/2019/10/ocean-reef-club-dress-code.pdf, and are responsibility of all participants to follow. Failure to follow these rules is grounds for immediate disqualification of boat and team from the tournament.

MARINA BOAT STORAGE: Boat slip storage at the OCEAN REEF CLUB is available on a nightly basis, and can be arranged independently, and is not included in tournament entry

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DRESS REQUIREMENTS: The Dress Code has been a long standing and cherished tradition of the members of Ocean Reef Club. It is not overly demanding and is based on good taste and respect for the Club and its members. The Club’s standards of dress are required for all members and guests over 12 years of age.

 

DINING ATTIRE: The required attire for gentlemen in all restaurants is best described as Keys Casual – collared shirts and dress trousers in the winter season and equally appropriate attire for ladies. If worn, shorts must be of walking length. Please note that smart blue denim (jeans) is only allowed in Gianni, The Islander, Burgee Bar, Raw Bar, and during breakfast service in the Ocean Room. During the winter season, sport coats are preferred on gentlemen in the members-only Golf Clubhouse with neckties optional. 

 

HEADWEAR: Gentlemen are expected to remove their hats whenever entering a Club facility. 

 

CELLULAR TELEPHONES: Use of cell phones in any of the Club’s restaurants is not permitted. 

 

RECREATION ATTIRE: Each recreational area also has dress requirements, as shown below. 

Golf - Golf Courses and Practice Range require collared shirts for men (no mock turtle necks) and appropriate golfing shorts (Cargo shorts are not permitted). Sleeveless golf blouses with collars are permissible for ladies, as is other appropriate golfing attire. Golf shoes must have non-metal spikes and shirt tails must be tucked in at all times. 

Tennis & Croquet - Tennis requires appropriate tennis clothing and footwear and all-white attire must be worn on the Croquet Courts.

Bathing Attire - Bathing cover-ups, as well as footwear, must be worn in all areas away from the beach and pools on Buccaneer Island. Thong-style bathing suits are not allowed. 

Outdoor Exercise - Shirts must be worn for jogging, walking and other forms of exercise within the community. All shirts worn by gentlemen within the community must have sleeves.