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Rules and Regulations

1. Entry Fees and Registration

  • $200 per event
  • Fees must be paid by 5:00 PM on the Friday prior to the tournament (In-store or online).
  • A $50 late fee after applies after the deadline (LATE REGISTRATIONS CAN ONLY BE DONE IN STORE) until 9:00 PM Friday; after this, registration is closed.
  • NO REGISTRATION AT ON TOURNAMENT DAY—no exceptions.

2. Membership

  • A $50 per-team membership fee is required each season. 

3. Participation and Eligibility 

  • This is a team tournament—no fishing alone.
  • 4 Open Qualifiers: To qualify for the championship, teams must fish in 3 out of 4 qualifiers with the same partner or an alternate if necessary. Alternates pay a $50 membership fee. (one alternate per season per team)

4. Rule Changes and Violations 

  • Rules may be updated at any time by Lake and Trail USA. Changes will be effective immediately upon notice.
  • Violations may lead to disqualification, forfeiture of prizes and entry fees, or prohibition from future events.
  • All competitors are required to report any rule infractions to the Tournament Director immediately. Written protests must be submitted within 15 minutes after the “scales are closed” announcement.

5. Insurance

  • Liability insurance of at least $100,000 per occurrence is required. Proof of insurance must cover all passengers and be available for random checks.

6. Safety 

  • Coast Guard-approved life vests must be worn whenever the engine is running.
  • Kill switches must be attached to the operator.

7. Sportsmanship

  • Competitors must observe courtesy to others and refrain from alcohol or stimulants before weigh-in and polygraph completion.

8. Hole Sitting

  • No competitor shall enlist others to reserve or scout spots for them. Violations lead to disqualification.

9. Fish Limits and Penalties 

  • Limit of 5 fish, each a minimum of 12 inches.
  • Dead fish incur penalties as follows:
    • 1st dead fish: 0.50 lbs
    • 2nd dead fish: 0.50 lbs
    • 3rd dead fish: 0.50 lbs
    • 4th dead fish: 0.75 lbs
    • 5th dead fish: 1.00 lbs
  • Short fish result in disqualification.
  • Only live fish are accepted at weigh-in. Teams must release all fish. 

10. Tournament Boundaries

  • No locking through the upper basin of the Kissimmee River.
  • No locking through to the Caloosahatchee River.
  • No locking through to the St. Lucie Waterway.
  • Locking into J&S Canal is permitted.
  • No fishing is allowed on the other side of the orange barrels by any locks or spillway areas.

11. Late Penalty 

  • Late arrivals to weigh-in are penalized 1 pound per minute.
  • More than 15 minutes late results in disqualification.

12. Ties

  • Tied prizes will be combined and split equally. Each team will receive full points.

13. Truth Verification

  • Participants may be required to take a polygraph test. Failure to pass results in disqualification.

14. Tackle and Equipment

  • Only artificial lures are permitted.
  • No trolling or dragging allowed. Only one rod may be used at a time.

15. Permitted Fishing Areas

  • Fishing is limited to Lake Okeechobee; no angling is allowed outside the boat or in restricted areas.

16. Emergency Protocol

  • In case of emergency, anglers must contact the Tournament Director. Properly marked fish are required if transferring to a rescue boat.

17. Communication Devices

  • Communication devices for sharing fishing locations are prohibited during the tournament.

18. Boat Check and Numbering

  • Mandatory boat check is required prior to fishing.
  • Boat numbers will be assigned randomly the night before each event and texted to participants.

19. Minors

  • Minors require parental consent and a boater’s safety card if operating a vessel.

20. Entry Fees and Refunds

  • Entry is $200 per qualifier per team and $300 for the championship.
  • Fees are non-refundable.

21. Points System

  • Points are awarded based on placement, with 200 points for 1st, 199 for 2nd, and so on.
  • The points leader will receive the Team of the Year title.
  • In the event of a tie for Team of the Year, the tie will be broken by the team with the most cumulative weight over the five (5) qualifiers.
  • In the event of a tie for first place in the Tour Championship, the tie will be broken by the team with the heaviest Day 1 bag.

22. Re-Weighs

  • Each team may request one (1) re-weigh of their bag. The weigh master has discretion over this process.
  • The second (re-weigh) weight will be the official recorded weight.
  • No re-weighs are allowed for big bass.
  • 22. Re-Weighs

23. Liability/ Release Waiver

Liability Release – Please Read and Acknowledge 

  1. Signing this Agreement 

I hereby release Lake and Trail USA Okeechobee, LLC ,its officers, agents, employees, and sponsors (herein referred to as Lake and Trail) from any and all damages, claims, demands, costs, or expenses relating to injury of any person(s) or any property, which may be sustained or which may arise out of of participation in or in connection with any and all Big O Showdown events.  

  1. Covenant Not to Sue and Waiver of Subrogation 

I further agree that I will never sue Lake and Trail for damages on account of any injury or damage arising from any Big O Showdown event, whether known now or which may develop in the future. If Lake and Trail is sued because of my actions, I expressly agree to indemnify and hold Lake and Trail harmless from any liability whatsoever, including court costs and attorney’s fees, arising with respect to such actions. I understand that in waiving my rights to sue Lake and Trail, I am also waiving my rights to recovery from Lake and Trail for any claims they may made on my behalf. I further understand that by signing this agreement, I waive any rights my heirs or relatives have or may have to sue Lake and Trail for liability.  

  1. Verification of Liability Insurance 

I state that I maintain liability insurance on the boat I will use in this or any Big O Showdown event.  

 

Name of Insurance Company: ______________________ 

Policy Number and Effective Dates: ___________________________ 

 

  1. Truth Verification 

A polygraph or truth verification may be given at any time at the discretion of the officers of Lake and Trail. Refusal or failure of polygraph or truth verification will automatically eliminate team members from participation in all future Big O Showdown events.  

  1. Media Release 

I hereby grant Lake and Trail the unconditional right to use my voice, photographic likeness, biographical information, as well as fishing tips and instructions in connection with all Big O Showdown video/audio production, promotions, and/or any other compensation in connection with such use.  

  1. Agreement to Rules 

By signing below, I certify that I have read, understand, and agree to abide by all rules and regulations and decisions set forth by Lake and Trail.  

Lake and Trail reserves the right to refuse membership and/or participation in any event for any reason. 

Signature: _________________ 

Print name: __________________ 

Date:_____________________