Postcard Inn Beach Resort & Marina
Mile Marker 84, Islamorada, FL
2017

MAD DOG MANDICH FISHING CLASSIC
2016 RULES

GENERAL TOURNAMENT RULES:

RULES & LAWS: I.G.F.A. rules shall apply to the Mad Dog Mandich Fishing Classic ("MDMFC") except where they are inconsistent with these MDMFC rules that follow, in which case these MDMFC rules shall apply. It is the responsibility of each angler to be familiar with these MDMFC rules and the I.G.F.A. rules. All registered anglers must also comply with all applicable Federal and Florida laws regarding fishing licenses, size limits, bag limits, speed limits, etc. 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.

CAPTAIN'S MEETING: An official Captain's Meeting will be held Friday, September 30th, 2016, at 7:00 pm at the Celebration Tiki Hut at Postcard Inn, MM 84, Islamorada, Florida. At least one 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.

COMMUNICATIONS: All participating boats should be equipped with a working VHF marine radio. If it is necessary to contact the tournament committee during the official hours of fishing, participants must call 305-812-2179.

WEATHER CONDITIONS: MDMFC 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. If Saturday is "weathered out", the tournament will be moved to the same hours on Sunday. Notice of cancellation and/or resumption of fishing will be broadcast over VHF radio channel 72 at 6:30 a.m. A determination permitting fishing by MDMFC officials should not be interpreted to mean that the MDMFC 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.

HOLD HARMLESS: All registered anglers and non-registered occupants of their boats enter and participate in this MDMFC voluntarily and at their own risk. In consider-ation for the MDMFC’s acceptance of his or her entry, each registered angler, for his or her heirs, executors, and administrators, agrees to release, hold harmless and indemnify the MDMFC, its officers, managers, directors, agents, polygraph examiners, sponsors, donors, the city and county where the event is held, and all other persons connected directly or indirectly with the operation of the tournament, from and against any and all liabilities, claims, actions, damages, costs, fees or expenses which he or she may have against any above-described party, or which his or her captains, crew members, family members, companions or non-registered occupants of their boat may have, arising out of or in any way connected with his or her participation in this MDMFC, including any injury or death suffered by any registered angler, boat captains, crew members, family members, companions or other occupants of any boat, and including any damage to vessels and equipment, which occurs during or in conjunction with the event. Each registered angler understands and agrees that this release specifically includes and waives any claims based on libel, slander, negligence, action or inaction of any above-named party. Each registered angler further understands and agrees that this release specifically includes and waives any claims arising from the MDMFC’s use of any photographs.

SIGNING OF THE ENTRY FORM: By signing the entry form, each registered angler agrees to follow the above tournament rules and that the tournament and/or it's sponsors may use without payment or restriction any photographs or video in which he or she appears for any purpose whatsoever but not limited to resale, advertising, commercial or promotional material. All anglers are required to sign the entry form as certification that they have read and agreed to abide by all rules and the above liability release.

POLYGRAPH: Each registered angler specifically agrees and consents to voluntarily submit to a polygraph examination or examinations to be conducted by a polygraph examiner selected by the MDMFC at any time until all prize winners and awards are determined and announced. Further, each registered angler agrees to obtain the agreement and consent of each and every occupant of the boat from which he or she fishes during the tournament (including but not limited to the captain and crew) to submit to a polygraph examination or examinations as described above. The method and conduct of all polygraph examinations, and the interpretation of the results thereof, shall be in the sole judgment of the polygraph examiner appointed by the MDMFC, whose opinion shall be final. If any registered angler or occupant of a vessel refuses to submit to a polygraph examination, or if any registered angler or occupant gives a response which, in the sole opinion of the polygraph examiner, is untruthful, then all registered anglers on the boat shall be immediately disqualified without further notice from the MDMFC. Any registered angler so disqualified shall not be entitled to any prize, award, or entry fee refund.

HOURS OF FISHING: Official fishing times for the MDMFC is from 7:00 am – 4:00 pm. Official fishing ends at 4:00 pm. All registered anglers on any boat with lines in the water before or after official fishing time will automatically be disqualified from the tournament.

HOOKING FISH: Each eligible Funfish entered must be hooked and caught by a single registered angler only. All male, female, and junior anglers must hook, fight, and catch their own fish. Once a fish is hooked, that angler must fight the fish until it is properly released, boated, or lost. Anglers may not pass rods to fellow anglers once a fish has been hooked. A fish is considered to be hooked once a strike occurs and the drag is engaged. The use of a rod holder to hook a fish is allowable provided the individual that engages the drag is the same person that fights the fish until release, catch, or loss.

PROTESTS: Any complaints, challenges, issues or protests are to be submitted in writing to the rules committee.

OFFSHORE DIVISION RULES

REGISTRATION AND FEES: Entry fee is $500 per boat if completed entry form and payment are received before September 16, 2016. Entry fee is $600 per boat after September 16, 2016. Each entry includes 4 Anglers per boat. Each registered angler receives a shirt, angler bag with goodies & social tickets for Friday and Saturday. Additional angler entries are $125, which includes a shirt, angler bag with goodies & social tickets. Each boat is allowed as many anglers as they want, but a maximum of 6 lines.

ELIGIBLE SPECIES: The eligible Funfish species in the MDMFC Offshore Division are dolphin, wahoo, kingfish, tuna (yellowfin and blackfin only), snapper and grouper. A ten pound minimum weight will be in effect for all dolphin, tuna, kingfish and wahoo. Snapper and grouper must be within the state and federal guidelines. Refer to the Florida Basic Recreation Saltwater Fishing Regulations (http://www.myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/). All boats are required to have a current Highly Migratory Angling Permit, required to fish for bluefin, bigeye, yellowfin, albacore, or skipjack tuna, unless the boat already has an HMS Charter/Headboat or commercial Atlantic Tunas or Swordfish "General" permit. The HMS permit are available at hmspermits.noaa.gov.

TACKLE & BAIT: All fish must be caught on rod and reel. Wire lines are permitted. No electric reels (except kite rods & downriggers) or treble hooks. Fishing with live bait is permitted in the tournament; however, live chumming is not permitted. Bait must be completely dead before it is placed in the water, if not attached to a hook. Frozen chum is acceptable.

BOATS: Any type or size of boat may be used in the Offshore Division. In case of breakdown, another boat may be substituted after approval by MDMFC officials.

BOUNDARIES: Participating Offshore Division boats are limited to the US waters off the east coast of Florida no more than 35 miles offshore. Boats may fish as far north or south as they wish. Boats may not fish in Bahamian waters

WEIGH-IN: The weigh station is located at the “Bimini Row”, the Southside of Postcard Inn Marina. The scale for Offshore Division opens at 4:00 pm and closes at 6:00 pm. 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 fish must be entered for official weigh-in in the presence of a boat representative. The decision of the weigh master is final.

TIES: In the event of a tie in weight, the winner will be determined by the earliest weigh-in time which correlated to the confirmation number.

OFFSHORE SCORING: Prizes will be awarded for heaviest eligible Funfish species as well as the total aggregate weights. A ten pound minimum weight will be in effect for all dolphin, tuna, kingfish and wahoo. Snapper and grouper must be within the state and federal guidelines. Refer to the Florida Basic Recreation Saltwater Fishing Regulations (http://www.floridasportsman.com/reference/regs_by_species/). No more than three (3) of each eligible species count toward the total aggregate weight per boat. Each boat will be provided with tail tags at registration. In order to determine top angler prizes the tag must be filled out with the angler's name/designated letter and assigned boat number. In the event of an exact tie, the first fish weighed in will be the winner.

OFFSHORE AWARDS: Offshore Division winners will be paid by check, which will be presented at the tournament awards ceremony.

TOP BOAT: The Top Boat will be determined by the total heaviest combination of Funfish accumulated by all registered anglers on each competing boat, or the heaviest single fish caught by a registered angler on a competing boat, whichever is greater. No more than three (3) of each eligible Funfish species count toward the total aggregate per boat.

TOP ANGLER: The Top Angler will be determined by the total heaviest combination of Funfish accumulated by a registered angler on each competing boat, or the heaviest single fish caught by a registered angler on a competing boat, whichever is greater.

TOP LADY ANGLER: The Top Lady Angler will be determined by the total heaviest combination of Funfish accumulated by a registered Lady angler on each competing boat, or the heaviest single fish caught by a registered Lady angler on a competing boat, whichever is greater.

TOP JUNIOR ANGLER: The Top Junior Angler will be determined by the total heaviest combination of Funfish accumulated by a registered Junior angler on each competing boat, or the heaviest single fish caught by a registered Junior angler on a competing boat, whichever is greater. A Junior Angler is defined as an angler that is less than 16 years old on the day of the tournament. Entry as a Junior Angler must be declared with a birth date on the entry form. Junior anglers must be accompanied by an adult registered angler.

OFFSHORE OPTIONAL ADDED VALUE CATEGORIES: The MDMFC offers three "added value" categories for registered anglers in the Offshore Division only. All MDMFC rules apply, and scoring in each of the three categories will be in accordance with the applicable MDMFC rules. Fees to enter these categories are on a per-boat basis and are in addition to boat entry fees. Participating boats must register for the added value categories of their choice at or before tournament registration closes. Fifteen percent (15%) of the gross entry fee in each category will be donated to the MDMFC named charities. The remaining eighty-five percent (85%) will be awarded and divided in each category. Actual cash prize amounts of each category are depen-dent on the number of boats entering that category. All prizes will be paid by check at the awards presentation.

FUNFISH FORTUNE ADDED VALUE CATEGORY: The "Funfish Fortune" will seek the same eligible Funfish species as the MDMFC. The winner will be determined by the heaviest combination of Funfish accumulated by all registered anglers on each competing boat, or the heaviest single fish caught by a registered angler on a competing boat, whichever is greater. A ten pound minimum weight will be in effect for all dolphin, tuna (yellowfin and black-fin only), kingfish and wahoo. Snapper and grouper must be within the state and federal guidelines. Refer to the Florida Basic Recreation Saltwater Fishing Regulations (http://www.myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/). No more than three (3) of each eligible Funfish species may be weighed per boat. Entry fee is $300 per boat. Awards for the Funfish Fortune will be distributed for first, second and third places on a fifty percent (50%), thirty percent (30%) and twenty percent (20%) basis.

MEGA MAHI ADDED VALUE CATEGORY: The “Mega Mahi” will be paid to the boat with the top total weight of dolphin caught by all registered anglers on a competing boat, or the heaviest single fish caught by a registered angler on a competing boat, whichever is greater. A ten pound minimum weight will be in effect for all eligible species. No more than three (3) dolphin may be weighed per boat. Entry fee is $150 per boat. The award for the Mega Mahi will be on a winner-take-all basis.

DOUBLE DECKER ADDED VALUE CATEGORY: The “Double Decker” will be paid to the boat with the top combined weight for two individual fish from two of the six eligible Funfish species. A ten pound minimum weight will be in effect for all dolphin, tuna (yellowfin and blackfin only), kingfish and wahoo. Snapper and grouper must be within the state and federal guidelines. Refer to the Florida Basic Recreation Saltwater Fishing Regulations (http://www.myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/). Entry fee is $100 per boat. The award for the Double Decker will be on a winner-take-all basis.

INSHORE DIVISION RULES

REGISTRATION AND FEES: Entry fee for the Inshore Division is $150 per angler (no more than 3 anglers per boat). Each registered angler receives a shirt, angler bag with goodies & social tickets for Friday and Saturday. Each registered angler is eligible for general trophies and prizes.

ELIGIBLE SPECIES: The eligible species in the MDMFC Inshore Division are Mangrove Snapper, Spotted Seatrout, Redfish, Snook, and Tarpon. This is a CATCH and RELEASE only division.

TACKLE & BAIT: Inshore line class is limited to 12lb. stated manufacturer test. Braided line can be used. No chumming allowed.

BOATS: Boats must be 24 ft. and under. Trolling motors are allowed.

BOUNDARIES: Fishing boundaries are restricted to Everglades National Park

SCORING: Species are to be measured on provided measuring boards with issued poker chip, photographed (must have quality readable picture) and released alive. Scoring is as follows: Length of fish x 1.0 for bait. Length of fish x 1.25 for artificial. Length of fish x 1.5 for fly. All fish must be measured with pinched tail in accordance with Florida State law. Regardless of Tarpon size, max is 36in. Large Tarpon are to be left in water and just photographed prior to release. Anglers are able to count only one fish of each species. Total points combined of all species will count as total score for angler. The number of species released TRUMPS total points of fewer species, so try to catch as many of the 5 species as possible. Each angler will be given a score sheet, measuring device and poker chips at registra-tion, Friday, September 30th, 2016. Anglers must return score sheets, measuring devices, poker chips and photos to the MDMFC committee at the Offshore weigh-in location at “Bimini Row”, the Southside of Postcard Inn Marina before 6:00 pm. No exceptions.

AWARDS: Inshore awards are as follows - “Top Inshore Boat” (combined score of the longest ONE fish of EACH species from all anglers on a boat. Number of species caught TRUMPS overall length), Champion Inshore Angler, 2nd Place Inshore Angler, Top Lady Angler and Top Junior
Angler (defined as an angler that is less than 16 years old on the day of the tournament).

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ABOUT US

The Mad Dog Mandich Fishing Classic is a family fun fishing tournament in Islamorada in the Florida Keys offering Offshore and Inshore Fishing Divisions. Proceeds from the event benefit Mariners Hospital's Oncology Services.

CONTACT US

305-667-0399

Postcard Inn
84001 Overseas Highway
Islamorada, FL 33036