2023 GENERAL RODEO RULES, REGULATIONS & INFORMATIONN

Important Warning to all Tournament Participants: Targeted Species are set before final State and Federal Regulations are fully known. Fishing Regulations from both State and Federal Agencies are subject to changes without warning. It is the personal responsibility of each angler to know the current regulations and to abide by them at all times. Only legal fish will be allowed to enter the Rodeo.

Rodeo Hours and Dates: 5 a.m. Saturday, May 20th until 5 p.m. Sunday, May 21st.

Registration: All contestants, regardless of age, must have an registered ticket in order to win prizes.  This year’s ticket acquisition, registration and scorekeeping is being managed by Fishing Chaos, Inc.  There are three ways to acquire tickets.  Scan the QR code on one of our posters, go to gulfbreezeoptimistclub.org  or go directly to Fishing Chaos.   Each individual must have a separate ticket and must be registered separately.  Sales and registration for both Divisions end at 8 a.m. Saturday, May 20th. Tickets will be registered when an order number is obtained.  All Open Division tickets will be $25 and may be purchased by any person of any age. Only ticket holders registered in the Open Division are eligible for Open Division prizes and the $1000 Grand Prize Drawing. Tickets for the Junior Division are free but are restricted to children age 14 and under. Members of this division will compete for Junior Division prizes and a $500 Junior Grand Prize drawing. Anglers may enter only one Division.

Weigh Station: Shoreline Park South in Gulf Breeze. Scales will be open from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. All contestants will go to the Check In table to confirm that they are registered. Each angler will receive a weight ticket for each fish to be weighed.  The angler will fill in their name, division, and the species to be weighed and then proceed to the scales. The weigh master will confirm species, weigh the fish, and list the time weighed in on the weigh ticket.  The angler will present the completed weight tickets to the data entry person for official submission. At the close of weigh-in on each day, only those registered anglers who are in line at that time will be allowed to weigh their catch.

Inspection and Certification: Official Weigh Master and/or Official Biologist will certify all fish. Rodeo officials reserve the right to eviscerate any fish entered. Any fish appearing to have been frozen, drawn, or chemically treated will be ineligible for entry.

Standings and Prize Winners: All fish must be taken with Hook & Line. The top three fish in each listed Species Category in the Open and Junior Divisions will be awarded 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prizes. Standing of the top five entered fish will be continuously available by Division, species and weight/spots and displayed on the large TV screen in the Gazabo and on the Fishing Chaos website.  (Their app is freely available.)  Final results will not be available until approximately 30 minutes after the scales close on Sunday.  In keeping with the Gulf Breeze Optimist Club Family Rodeo tradition, anglers will be eligible for only one species prize.    In the case of a person placing in more than one species, the prize awarded will go to the highest monetary value.  In case of further ties, the logic is to pay the largest fish first and if still tied, then the fish that was weighed first. Prizes in the Open Division are valued at $100, $50, and $25. Prizes in the Junior Division are valued at $50, $30, and $20. First place winners in the Open Division will be entered in the drawing for the $1000 Open Grand Prize. First place winners of the Junior Division will be eligible for the $500 Junior Grand Prize drawing.

Awards Presentation: As soon as results are finalized (around 5:30 p.m. Sunday), awards will be presented. Those not claimed immediately will be held for pick up at Gulf Breeze Bait & Tackle for 10 days. Prizes not claimed within 10 days become the property of the Gulf Breeze Optimist Club.

Other Issues: Unsportsmanlike conduct will be cause for disqualification of the angler from this event without refund. All anglers must abide by these rules and all appropriate State of Florida and Federal regulations pertaining to Fishing and Boating, Rules of the Road, etc. Failure to comply will result in disqualification and forfeiture of all fees and prizes. Decisions made by the Event Director will be final.

Other Awards:  Kids’ Pin Fish Rod & Reel Awards are restricted to anglers 5 and under who catch a pin fish and are accompanied by a registered adult.

In the event of severe weather, the rodeo may be rescheduled, shortened to 1 (one) day, or cancelled. Notification will be made by email and assume that each participant has given an email address when obtaining their ticket. The Rodeo Chairman and Rodeo Committee will make the decision on any of the above. One fishing day constitutes a complete tournament.