Registration Forms and Rules

FFO rules

Tournament Rules

1                     Safety First: This is a recreational event. We are here primarily to enjoy each others company. Do not push your training limits or violate safe practice. The Florida Freeshafters recommend that no competitors exceed the recreational diving limit of 130ft or your training experience. Please Keep Safety First!   

2                     Eligibility: Both men and women divers are welcome to participate. Divers under the age of 18 MUST have a signed release from their legal guardian. All spearfishing competitors must possess a valid Florida saltwater fishing license.

3                     Junior Division: Divers under 18 years old are welcome to compete in the tournament. They are also entered into the competition for the top Junior shooter. Junior competitors must be certified divers and have a signed release from their parent or guardian. Just like the Adult participants, all Junior participants should not exceed any depth or dive in any conditions that they are not trained or certified to dive. All Junior shooters should be properly supervised by an Adult.

4                     Registration: To properly register for this tournament, mail the completed registration form along with the waiver & payment to address supplied on the registration form or, if you wish, registration is available online at www.floridafreeshafters.com. The online registration gateway accepts payment via credit cards. All mail in registrations must be postmarked no later than May 11^th. All registrations must be completed by this date to receive early registration discount price! There will be a Kickoff party at the Obriens Irish Pub 701 W. Lumsden Rd Brandon 33511 on May 11, 2011 from 6:30-9:00pm.. Registrations will be accepted in person at this great event.

***Special Note: All participants who register prior to midnight May 11, 2012 will be entitled to a refund of their entry fee, less $15.00, along with their tournament shirt in the unlikely event this tournament is postponed or cancelled for any reason including weather.***

5. Late Registration: If you wish to register after May 11th, you may still do so online, until midnight on May 18, 2012, at www.floridafreeshafters.com .

6. Last Chance Paper Registration: This will be available only on May 18^th 5:30pm-7:00pm, in person, at Obriens Irish Pub 701 W. Lumsden Rd Brandon 33511, or at one of the satellite Captain’s Meetings to be announced. If turning in a “last chance” registration for someone on your boat, please make sure every part of the Waiver and Registration form is properly and completely filled out. (No Exceptions!)

7. Mandatory Diver Check-In: All Divers are required to check-in (or be checked in by a Representative Diver of their boat) and confirm registration on May 18^th 5:30pm-7:00pm, one of two (2) ways: By telephone: you may call (800) 824-2615 ext. 157 after 5:30 on May 18^th. In person: at Obriens Irish Pub 701 W. Lumsden Rd, Brandon, 33511or at one of the satellite Diver Check-In points.  Divers will receive all necessary information to participate in the tournament at the Diver Check-In.

8. Captain’s Meeting: Begins at the conclusion of Diver Check-In at approximately 7:15pm. While not mandatory, this is an opportunity to get any last minute rule changes, the official tournament time and verify entry paperwork.

9. Official Entry: No diver is officially entered into the tournament until the Florida Freeshafters have received a properly filled out Waiver, Registration, & all fees are paid. Electronic confirmation will be sent to the e-mail provided on the participant registration.

10. Spearfishing Tournament Dive Day: The Dive Day is Saturday May 19, 2012. You may leave any time after the Diver Check-In and dive from sunrise until official sunset Saturday.

11. Weigh-in: The weigh-in will take place on Sunday, May 21, 2012 at Obrien’s Irish Pub 701 W. Lumsden Rd. Brandon, FL 33511. Phone # is 813-661-9688 Weigh in starts at 10:30AM. All participant’s fish must be in the designated weigh-in line no later than 12:00PM (Noon), No Exceptions. Bring your coolers to the back of the designated weigh-in line.

12. All fish: All participants must follow and abide by all local, State and Federal laws. All fish must be legally taken and landed by the diver who is awarded the points, and brought to the designated weigh-in line before 12:00pm. Power heading of fish is not allowed. The designated weigh-in line will constitute the physical location for the close of the tournament. All fish must be physically in the weigh-in line by 12:00 PM. All competitors’ fish must be presorted, fully and properly gutted, on individual shooter stringers, and iced. All fish turned in, must be in whole, gutted condition, and have all appearances of freshness. Fish that are shorter than Federal/State size regulations or that do not appear to be well iced and look fresh as per the judgment of the tournament Weigh Master, cannot be weighed, or if already weighed it will be disqualified. Only one participant of a tournament boat is required to weigh-in the fish for any fellow members of his boat.

13. Eligible fish: Categories, size and number that will be allowed are: NO GAGS

Category                                   Minimum Size                                                   Maximum Number

Grouper _________________20” (Red), 16” Scamp, 22” (Others) Overall       (3) Groupers

Snapper _________________12” (Gray), Mutton & Cubera 16” Overall                      (5) Snappers

Hogfish _________________12” to Fork ______                                           (5) Hogfish

Sheephead/Trigger ________12” Overall Triggerfish 14” to Fork                     (5) Sheep/Trigger

Cobia/cuda ______________ Cobia 33”to Fork, Cuda 24” to Fork                  (1) Cobia/Cuda

Pelagics: ________________See Below   ______                                           (1) Pelagic Category

Amberjack 30” to Fork; Permit 22” to Fork;

Kingfish, Wahoo, African Pompano (all) 24” to Fork

*Lionfish _______________ Any   *Not a category fish.   ______                   (Unlimited) Lionfish

1. 14.  Points: The participant must choose which fish to weigh, the officials cannot weigh your fish, individually, to determine, for you, which fish are the largest to turn in to the tournament. A diver will receive one (1) point per pound and five (5) points per fish weighed. There is a limit point value per fish of 20 points for weight and the Five (5) points awarded for the fish, with a maximum total point limit per fish of 25 points. Ties will be broken by dividing the diver’s total fish weight by the number of fish – the higher score wins.
2. 15.  Fish Donations: We will be collecting donated fish for our Charities. Two tickets will be given for each Grouper, Hogfish and Snapper donated, and one ticket for each fish of another species donated (Lionfish excluded). A separate drawing for prize(s) will be held for only Donated Fish tickets. The prize(s) will be exhibited at the weigh-in and award ceremony.
3. 16.  Lion Fish: Each participant is encouraged to present as many lionfish as possible. This will be a special category at the weigh-in and award ceremony.
4. 17.  Disqualification: Disqualification is automatic for latecomers. Any cases of cheating, as determined by the Protest Committee, will result in a disqualification. Presenting a fish for weigh-in, that is less than the minimum eligible size, is cause for automatic disqualification of that diver from the tournament. The Official Time shall be announced at the Friday Captain’s Meeting and kept by the Florida Freeshafters President.
5. 18.  Protest: Any diver may file a protest with the Florida Freeshafters President or Vice President. Any protest must be filed before the start of trophy issuance. A Protest Committee will be made up of the current Florida Freeshafters officers present: President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. All Protest decisions will be made in a timely manner, and all decisions will be final.
6. 19.  Prizes & Awards: Trophies and prizes will be awarded on Sunday, shortly after the weigh-in, when the computer computations are completed. The top 3 finishers (by aggregate score) will receive trophies. Additionally, trophies will be awarded for the largest fish in each category & the top aggregate scoring Freediver, Junior & Female.  Our sponsors have provided us with prizes to be awarded to participants in the tournament. These prizes are a bonus for the participants and the amount and type of prizes is dictated by the generosity of our Sponsors. Participants will be given a chance to pick from these prizes based on their total aggregate score at the weigh-in (highest first) Participant must be present to accept a prize. A Prize pick is never guaranteed for each and every person that participates.

Florida Freeshafters Officers

President — Pat Bennett / Vice President – Steve Sanders

Secretary – Ryan Brown / Treasurer – Mike Weinard