2008 TREASURE COAST FLATS CIRCUIT RULES
Welcome to the Treasure Coasts first inshore flats circuit! The “TCF Circuit” was designed by anglers who decided that it was time for all Treasure Coast inshore anglers to have and enjoy a flats circuit that is designed for the everyday anglers of the area! Just as there are national, West Coast and offshore circuits, the TCF Circuit is set up for every participating angler to have a shot at winning cash & prizes at the end of the inshore year, with a minimal cost to the participants! Here are the details that everyone has been waiting for!
1. Rule changes
These rules will remain the governing rules during the year 2008. Interpretation of these rules will be left exclusively to the circuit directors. Decisions of the tournament director are final in all matters and are not subject to a re-appeal.
2. Treasure Coast Flats Circuit
Circuit rules are included herein with special notations. It is each individual's responsibility to read all items before entering the circuit. TCF Circuit tournament rules will apply in all TCF Circuit run tournaments and points standings. TCF Circuit directors reserve the right for any additions, deletions and changes in rules to maintain the quality and competitiveness for the promotion of the sport of fishing by the Treasure Coast Flats Circuit.
Sanctioned tournaments not run by the TCF Circuit will be govern by their own tournament rules according to the individual tournament committees, with the exception of not to overset, and in some cases, undercut limits defined by the TCF Circuit. Federal, state & local laws will also apply.
3. TCF Circuit Season
February 1, 2008 until November 1, 2008.
4. Membership
The TCF Circuit non-refundable individual adult angler membership is $50.00.
The TCF Circuit non-refundable individual junior angler membership is FREE.
5. Tournament Entry Fees
All tournament entry fees for the individually sanctioned TCF Circuit tournaments are not covered in your membership fee. Individual tournament entry fees are the responsibility of the angler.
6. Participation
Participation in any sanctioned circuit event is open to members of the TCF Circuit and non-member anglers alike. Any person entering a tournament under the age of fifteen (15) must also have the signature of their parent or legal guardian in the provided space on the entry form supplied at each tournament registration.
All contestants must have a valid fishing license and are required to follow all applicable federal, state and local regulations and laws. Any violation of such regulations and laws may result in disqualification from the tournament.
All anglers participating must have their entry fee for the tournament they are participating in paid in full on the night of the designated tournament registration.
7. Sportsmanship
All contestants are required to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy and conservation and to conduct themselves in a manner that will be a credit to themselves, to the TCF Circuit, TCF Circuit sponsors, the sport of fishing and TCF Circuits efforts to promote the sport. Examples of conduct not complying with those standards include, but are not limited to, the following:
Violation of, or failure to comply with, any of the official rules.
Over-consumption of alcoholic beverages during tournament fishing hours. The state law of 0.08% B.A.C. will be considered by all anglers.
Abuse of, or addiction to, mind-altering substances or alcoholic beverages.
Suspension/disqualification from any tournament or fishing organization.
Any other words, conduct or actions reflecting unfavorably upon efforts to promote safety, sportsmanship, fair competition and compliance with the tournament rules, or which fail to comply with the standards set forth in the first sentence of paragraph 7.
In case of any conduct not complying with these standards, TCF Circuit shall have the right to refuse any application, or to deny a confirmed application, by refusing the entry fee for a tournament, or to suspend an angler from competing in the circuit for a minimum period of 1 tournament, up to a life suspension.
Any disqualified/suspended angler from individual tournaments and/or the TCF Circuit may be reported as being so to other area fishing tournaments and any other circuit/organization involved in the promotion of the sport of fishing as being “disqualified from a tournament/circuit for violation of tournament/circuit rules.”
8. Safety
Safe boating must be observed at all times. Each contestant is required to have within easy access, a U.S. Coast Guard approved, personal flotation device anytime the combustion engine is in operation from the start of the tournament until weigh-in. It is recommended that all anglers wear your PDF on the water prior to sunrise and after sunset.
All boats must be equipped with an emergency ignition shut-off device that must be securely attached to the driver's body whenever the combustion engine is in operation.
While anglers are wade fishing from a tournament vessel, the engine must not be running.
At the discretion of the tournament director tournament days may be shortened, postponed or canceled due to unsafe weather or water conditions.
The tournament will not take place with a N.W.S. "storm, gale, hurricane warning and/or watch" in effect for the immediate area.
It is the owner’s responsibility to make sure that their vessel is in safe operating shape. More than two (2) major issues of breakdowns and/or unsafe events from the same vessel that put anglers in an unsafe environment will be cause for suspension from the circuit until the corrections have taken place.
9. Boat and horsepower regulation
Each boat must have all required U.S. Coast Guard safety equipment with a serviceable VHF radio or cell phone being recommended for all tournament boats.
The official TCF Circuit channel/cell phone number will be assigned at the captain's meeting.
Boats should contain a properly aerated livewell space to maintain alive a limit catch of fish of each adult angler, along with the vessel being in safe seaworthy shape for the angler(s).
Maximum horsepower for all single outboard vessels used in tournament competition will be 350 horsepower per vessel, not to exceed the horsepower capacity set forth on the "Maximum Capacities" placard.
By signing the entry form, each contestant agrees to submit their boat and/or motor to an inspection at any time requested, by certified personnel assigned by the TCF Circuit.
Falsifying information on entry forms or altering the horsepower numbers on the motor or rating plate and refusal of vessel inspection will be cause for disqualification from the tournament and/or circuit, which may result in ineligibility to compete in future TCF Circuit events.
10. Registration and captain's meeting
At least one member per vessel and/or fishing buddy (for wade/kayak) must register in person at the designated site during the official registration hours, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time. Anglers registering between 7:00pm to 8:00 p.m. will pay a $25 late fee per angler. Anglers more than 1-hour late for registration will not be permitted entry in the tournament. It is mandatory that at least one member of a vessel and/or fishing buddy (for wade/kayak) attend the captain’s meeting that will be held at 7:00 p.m. local time the day before the tournament.
When registering, each angler will receive a 3x5 index card with a number on it. For anglers registering a fishing partner(s), there will be multiple numbers on the card. Each angler that receives a card must return their card after the conclusion of the captains meeting to tournament officials. If that card is not returned, you and any other fishing partners listed on that card are disqualified from the tournament for not being present at the mandatory captains meeting.
11. Permitted fishing methods
All fish must be caught alive in a conventional sporting manner.
Fishing or being within 150 feet of another boat is not permitted, unless “invited” in as described in section 12, sub-section A.
Artificial lures and live bait may be used, with the exception of any individual tournament rules set as being “artificial bait use only.”
All fish must be caught alive and in a sporting manner. Foul hooked fish cannot be weighed in.
The term “foul hooked” is defined as- any fish that does not have one hook that penetrated “from the inside out”, or stuck inside of the mouth region when the fish was caught.
The practice of trading fish from one vessel to another, unless the angler that caught the fish is present due to an unsafe major equipment failure (engine breakdown, steering failure, etc…) or emergency from their vessel, is strictly prohibited and is grounds for disqualification “for life” from the Treasure Coast Flats Circuit, Inc.
The practice of altering any fish by length or weight with the intention of gaining advantage over another competing team is strictly prohibited and is grounds for disqualification “for life” from the Treasure Coast Flats Circuit, Inc.
The vessel you start in is the vessel you show up in for the weigh-in. No angler may transfer their catch from their vessel into another vessel for the advantage of arriving at the weigh-in in a shorter time period compared to what they would have traveled from their original vessel. The only exception to this rule is “an unsafe major equipment failure (engine breakdown, steering failure, etc…) or emergency.”
The practice of “penning or staking” fish is strictly prohibited and is grounds for disqualification “for life” from the Treasure Coast Flats Circuit, Inc.
The term “penned” is defined as- “any Snook, Trout, Redfish, Jack Crevalle, Ladyfish and/or Sheephead caught and placed into any means of confinement and left unattended by any angler, that is retrieved at a later time and/or date by the same or different angler.”
The term “staking” is defined as- “any Snook, Trout, Redfish, Jack Crevalle, Ladyfish and/or Sheephead caught and secured by means of a hook and/or line/rope tied to a wood/metal/plastic stake or weighted object and left unattended by any angler, that is retrieved at a later time and/or date by the same or different angler.”
12. Permitted fishing locations
Tournament #1, #2, #3, #5, #6, #7 and #10 have these fishing boundaries-
North Boundary –
Pineda Causeway.
South Boundary -
Southernmost point of land on Sewalls Point. No fishing in the St. Lucie River or St. Lucie Inlet.
East Boundary -
Sebastian Inlet A1A Bridge & Ft. Pierce Inlet U.S.C.G. Station.
West Boundary -
None within the boundaries.
Tournament #4, #8, and #9 have their fishing boundaries set by the individual tournament director, not to exceed the set boundaries of the TCF Circuit.
a) Contestants may fish in designated tournament waters available to the public, except areas designated as “off limits,” “no boats,” “no motors” or “no fishing” by local, state or federal officials or within 150 feet of any boat that was first in the area. If the said boat is drifting, you are not permitted to be within 150 feet of that vessel while drifting the same path of said vessel. If “invited” within the 150 foot radius by the first vessel in the area, you shall not come closer than 25 feet of said vessel.
Any contestant returning to the check-in point will be eligible to restart after weighing in fish to resume competition under the supervision of the tournament director or his designated tournament official. After weighing in fish, you can go back out to better the species weighed in. If you weigh in a second fish of the same species, that fish automatically becomes your new weight for that species, so be careful what you re-weigh...
Major unsafe equipment failures that happen more than two (2) times during the course of the season will be look at with discretion and possibly for expulsion due to the vessel not being in safe operating shape fit for the angler(s).If an angler must violate any part of this rule other than a validated reason, their catch will be disqualified from the tournament.
13. Official checkpoint
There will be only one official check-in point in the afternoon unless otherwise designated. Failure to check-in at the check-in point will result in disqualification. All fishing must cease upon check-in. Cutting in line during check-in will result in disqualification. Official weigh-in times will be disclosed at the captains meeting to all tournament anglers.
14. Late penalty
Teams who are not at the official check-in area by the appointed time and location as described in the individual tournament rules will not be permitted to weigh-in their fish.
15. Live fish
Every effort must be made to keep fish alive through the use of a properly aerated livewell. The TCF Circuit recommends the use of Rejuvenade, which promotes the healthy return of fish to their natural habitat. One-half pound (.50) will be deducted from the total weight for each fish that is unable to swim off healthy “under their own power” and/or after spending over 5-minutes in the aeration tank with no change to the health of the fish, during the 2008 season.
16. Scoring
Scoring will be determined by the measurement of pounds and ounces, measured in increments of .01, of each anglers catch during qualifying tournaments. Anglers possessing more than the tournament limit during the weigh-in procedure will have their catch disqualified. Each team's catch must be presented in an official weigh-in bag supplied by the tournament.
State law dictates slot lengths, with exception to the TCF Circuit Trout ruling.
Adult angler species are-
One (1) Snook per angler, 28" to 32".
One (1) Trout per angler, 20" and over.
One (1) Redfish per angler, 18" to 27".
Junior angler species are-
Jack Crevalle, no slot limit.
Ladyfish, no slot limit.
Sheepshead, minimum length 12”.
Fish presented for weigh-in that fail to measure the prescribed listed length limits over or under by ¼ inch will be penalized 1-pound (1-point) for each non-legal fish presented. The penalty will be deducted from the largest legal fish weighed in from the tournament and/or a prior tournament listed on the rankings page on the TCF Circuit website.
17. Ties
For all events, the first fish weighed in wins the tie.
18. Polygraph
Each contestant agrees to submit, by signature on the official tournament entry form, to a polygraph examination to be administered at a date/location determined by the tournament director following the close of competition in each tournament and to abide by its conclusion. Failure to pass the examination will result in disqualification. Solely the TCF Circuit will make determination of the meaning of the results. In team events, at least one member of the winning team will be given a polygraph examination.
19. Insurance
Liability insurance, with coverage in reasonable amounts, is required of all contestants.
20. Violations of rules
Violations of any rules by any participating angler will be dealt with when-
An individual angler is able to capture the violation of another angler by a photograph and/or videotape.
A TCF Circuit director, board member and/or individual tournament official from a sanctioned tournament witnesses the violation of an angler.
Circuit directors reserve the right to disqualify an angler from a single tournament “on the spot”, with any other rulings of the violation(s) handled with a special board session, no later that seven (7) days, weekends and holidays excluded, after the violation was committed. The angler of the violation will receive a certified letter notifying them of any internal actions, or any civil or criminal actions, depending on the type of rule violation(s) that will be taken on the angler found in violation.
21. Earning Points
Single fish per category, per tournament, is how you earn your "points".
"Sanction Points" - At the end of the tournament season, you will receive one point for each TCF sanctioned tournament that you participated in, even if you didn't weigh in a fish. The total of your "sanction points" will be added into your category with the highest amount of points.
"Category Points" - Example is, it's the first tournament of the circuit and you weigh in one Trout at 5.20 pounds, one Redfish at 7.20 pounds and one Snook at 11.10 pounds. Your "Trout Points" are 5.20 points. Your "Snook Points" are 11.10 points. Your "Redfish Points" are 7.20 points.
"Bonus Points" - Place on a tournament leader board in a TCF sanctioned tournament and you receive "bonus points". "First to third place per category" Take a first place spot and get 3 bonus points for that fish. Take a second place spot and get 2 bonus points for that fish. Take a third place spot and get 1 bonus point for that fish.
"Slam Points" -Win a Slam award in any TCF Circuit Sanctioned event and receive one additional bonus point tacked on to your lightest fish in the slam! Slam Points will only reflect on the 2008 Rankings Page.
"Dead Fish Penalty" - Any fish brought to the scales of a TCF sanctioned tournament that earns points in the circuit will lose 1/2 point if the fish is dead, reflected on the 2008 Rankings Page. in all TCF Circuit run tournaments, we will deduct 1/2 lb. off of your fishes weight.
22. End of season totals
The TCF Circuit will only use your "best 6 tournament showings" of each species to compile your end of season category totals. For tournament #7, points earned will not count against your “6-fish limit per species total” for 1st, 2nd, & 3rd places for the end of season category totals and will be counted as an allowed “7th fish”.
23. Guaranteed End of Season Payouts
Adult Angler Snook, Trout & Redfish categories-
1st Place each category- $500.00 cash & $500.00 merchandise.
2nd Place each category- $250.00 cash & $250.00 merchandise.
3rd Place each category- $125.00 cash & $125.00 merchandise.
Junior Angler Jack Crevalle, Ladyfish & Sheepshead categories-
1st Place each category- $150.00 savings bond, trophy, & 1/2 day trip w/ Capt. J.C. Henderson.
2nd Place each category- $100.00 savings bond, trophy, & 1/2 day trip w/ Capt. Jeff Brauer.
3rd Place each category- $50.00 savings bond, trophy, & 1/2 day trip w/ Capt. Larry Walter.
24. Top-25 anglers, 2-day, “slam” fish-off
The TCF Circuit will be hosting a "top 25 anglers fish-off" at the end of the season during the awards ceremony weekend. To be eligible for the fish-off, the circuit will take ALL of your points from your end of season totals, add them together and the top 25 members in the circuit will compete for free in the 2-day slam fish-off.
Anglers-
Each one of the top 25 anglers will be allowed to pick a second angler only from the pool of registered anglers “in good standing” of the Treasure Coast Flats Circuit. These anglers will fish as a team.
If a top-25 angler has another angler that has normally fished with them during the course of the regular season, and has also made it into the top-25, they can elect to fish with each other during the fish-off, or opt to split up and each choose a separate TCF Circuit registered individual angler to fish with them as described above.
Top-25 anglers that have normally fished the regular season by themselves can still elect to fish by themselves during the 2-day slam fish-off, or choose a separate TCF Circuit registered individual angler to fish with them as described above.
There will only be allowed up to two (2) anglers per vessel on each day of the fish-off.
Wade and kayak anglers making the top-25 wishing to elect a partner for the fish-off must use a motorized vessel that will take them from the check out to their fishing area. They can exit the boat and wade fish, and then return them to the afternoon check-in, all without setting foot on dry land.
Weigh-in-
Only a top-25 angler will be allowed to weigh in up to one Snook, Trout & Redfish on each day of the fish-off no matter which team member caught the fish.
Payouts-
The 1st place winner of the fish-off will win $1,000.00.
The 2nd place winner of the fish-off will win $500.00.
The 3rd place winner of the fish-off will win $300.00!
The winners of the fish-off are decided by each of their heaviest combined total weight of one Snook, Trout & Redfish within the 2-days, to make the anglers heaviest slam weight.
We want your Circuit experience to be as enjoyable as possible, so if you have any questions about these rules please feel free to email Jeff Brauer or call 772.633.8800
