OVERVIEW: The Southern Kingfish Association and its Sanctioned Tournaments are considerably lenient in regards to the Angling Rules, especially when compared to the standards set by the International Game Fish Association. Anglers are not out to set world records in tournament competition, and by allowing certain types of tackle and equipment, we allows them to increase their chances of boating a tournament winning King Mackerel. All anglers should keep in mind that if they are interested in setting a world record, they need to modify their tackle and equipment to conform to IGFA rules. Otherwise, during any SKA sanctioned tournament, the following set of Angling RuIes shall apply to all SKA members or non-members fishing an event.

A. LINE: Monofilament, multifilament, braided and lead core multifilament lines may be used. Fluorocarbon line may also be used. Wire lines are prohibited.

B. LEADER: The use of a leader is not required, but if one is used it must meet the following specifications: Single strand, multistrand and braided wire leaders are acceptable. Fluorocarbon leaders may also be used. There is no length restriction on the leader or shock leader. There are no requirements on the strength of the leader or shock leader.

C. ROD: Rods must comply with sporting ethics and customs. Considerable latitude is allowed in the choice of a rod, but rods giving the angler an unfair advantage will be disqualified. The rule is intended to eliminate the use of unconventional rods. There are no restrictions on the length of the rod or type of material in its manufacture.

D. REELS: Reels must comply with sporting ethics and customs. Power driven reels of any kind are prohibited. This includes motor, hydraulic or electrically driven reels and any device, which gives the angler an unfair advantage. Special consideration for physically impaired members will be given upon request. This rule does NOT apply to power driven kite reels providing the fishing line is attached via a release clip so the fish is not fought on the power driven reel. It also does NOT apply to power driven downriggers, providing the fishing line is attached via a release clip so the fish is not fought using the power driven downrigger. Ratchet handle reels are prohibited. Reels designed to be cranked with both hands at the same time are prohibited.

E. BAIT, HOOKS, AND LURES: Considerable latitude shall be granted concerning bait fishing and the selection of hooks and lures. It is, however, the overall intent of the SKA to prevent any angler from attempting to / or obtaining an unfair advantage over any type of fish, or other anglers. Any angler, who uses illegal methods in capturing fish, including baitfish, may be subject to disqualification and/or expulsion by the tournament committee and/or the SKA. Bait may be taken by any legal means, including the use of a cast net of legal size. Artificial lures, skirts and trailing materials may be used in the capture of bait or Kingfish providing such skirt, lure or trailer is attached to a qualified rod, reel and line. Teasers such as jig heads or skirts may be used in front of live bait rigs or attached to the front of any ribbonfish or eel. There will be a maximum of five (5) hooks allowed per rig. Each hook may be of a single, double or treble design, but will be limited to five hooks. This is primarily in the case of ribbonfish or silver eels. Anglers are encouraged to use as few a number of hooks as possible in order to increase the chances of survival for any kings released. This is especially important when pre fishing, where most fish will be released anyway. For all tournaments, pre-caught or bought bait must be on the participating boat prior to check out. Bait pens may be kept at locations other than with a vessel at a marina or a home dock, however, no bait from these pens can be removed after check out nor can a team stop on their way to the weigh in dock and put bait in a pen. The only exception to this rule is on Florida’s west coast. If red tide becomes significant to the point that bait cannot be kept alive in a given area, other arrangements would be announced at the Captain’s Meeting or if possible within three days of the event.

F. OTHER EQUIPMENT: Gaffs and nets used to boat or land a fish must not exceed an overall length of 12 feet. Flying or detachable head gaffs are not allowed. All gaffs must be equipped with a single hook. Harpoon or lance attachments are prohibited. Floats are prohibited with the exception of any flotation device attached to the line or leader for the sole purpose of regulating the depth of the bait. The flotation device must not in any way hamper the fighting ability of the fish. Entangling devices, either with or without a hook, are prohibited and may not be used for any purpose including baiting, hooking, fighting or landing the fish. Outriggers, downriggers, and kites are permitted, providing that the actual fishing line is attached to the device by a snap, clip, rubber band or other release device so the line is released upon the strike and the fish is fought unencumbered on an allowed rod, reel and line.

G. ANGLING REGULATIONS: A harness may be attached to the rod and reel, but not to a fighting chair. The harness may be replaced or adjusted by a person other than the angler. The angler may pass the rod to another angler during anytime in the fight and for any reason. This is primarily in the case of junior anglers who may tire easily. The use of a rod belt or gimbal is allowed. The angling and equipment regulations will apply throughout a sanctioned tournament.

H. ANY OF THE FOLLOWING MAY DISQUALIFY A CATCH: Failure to comply with any local, state, federal, tournament or Tournament / SKA angling regulations. Hand lining or using a hand line or rope attached in any manner to the angler’s line or leader for the purpose of holding or lifting a fish. Shooting, harpooning, or lancing any fish during any stage of the catch is prohibited. Using a boat or other device to beach or drive a fish into shallow water in order to deprive the fish of its normal ability to swim. Intentionally foul hooking a fish. Using a size or type of bait that is illegal to possess. Attaching the angler’s line or leader to any part of the boat or other object for the purpose of holding or lifting the fish. Mutilation of the fish prior to landing or boating the catch, caused by sharks, barracuda, any other fish, mammals, or propellers that hampers the fish’s natural fighting and swimming ability. Injuries caused by line or leader, gaff marks, old healed scars or regeneration deformities are not disqualifying injuries.

SOUTHERN KINGFISH ASSOCIATION
SANCTIONED TOURNAMENT & SKA PRODUCED TOURNAMENT RULES

I. GENERAL TOURNAMENT RULES: Any King Mackerel caught and presented at a tournament scale for tournament participation must be fit for human consumption. Please ice your catch. The weigh master, Tournament Director, or SKA management may disqualify any fish kept improperly after capture. If a tournament does not collect your catch, you are responsible for disposing of the fish in an appropriate manner. All King Mackerel must be off loaded at the end of each fishing day. Any boat found possessing King Mackerel in weighable condition prior to any check out would be subject to disqualification.

In the event of identical weights, the first fish weighed in shall break the tie. In a two day, two fish aggregate event, the tie will be broken on the basis of the team’s largest fish of the two weighed in. In the event that the largest fish tie in weight, the winner will be determined by the first of the largest fish weighed in. No altering of a fish’s weight in any way is allowed, i.e. stuffing the fish, chemical treatment or injection of any substance, etc.

No boat shall make landfall, congregate with another boat, and/or pass anything between boats or land after checkout or before weigh in each day. Any boat receiving assistance is disqualified for that day only. Any boat rendering assistance will not be disqualified but notifying the tournament committee, committee boat, or another tournament participant, is recommended. The boat rendering assistance must still make any time schedules and/ or weigh in hours. In the event of a no checkout tournament, the above shall apply at the tournament’s designated time for lines in the water. After checkout (or once fishing hours have started in the case of a no-checkout tournament), no boats are to pass, throw, float, airlift or otherwise transfer ANY object to any other boat, whether it be a gallon of oil, bait, cigarette lighter, engine parts, tools, etc. during tournament competition hours. This form of congregation is reserved for dire emergencies at sea, such as onboard fire, sinking or danger of sinking, medical emergencies, etc. and required by Maritime Law. If any team knowingly weighs or attempts to weigh a fish after receiving assistance from any other vessel, they will be disqualified from the SKA and / or disqualified by Tournament Officials upon protest from any other team or member.

Law enforcement officials may board tournament vessels without penalty to the team at any time during a tournament. However, receipt of a citation from any law enforcement official during tournament hours will cause that team to be disqualified from that day’s fishing only. All Captain’s should, at all time, keep boat registration, proof of insurance, and any other boat ownership information in a zip lock plastic bag in a safe dry place on the vessel.

SKA officials and/or tournament representatives reserve the right to inspect all boats entered in competition at any time.

SKA tournament participants agree that by entering a tournament, all rule protests and management decisions are final within the time frame allowed by the SKA / Tournament rules and not subject to any further interpretation and/or litigation.

Any tournament official, tournament sponsor, SKA executive and/or employee entering a tournament, in compliance with the tournament rules and SKA rules, is eligible for any and all prizes.

Winners, or any anglers may be requested to submit to and pass a polygraph test and/or sign an affidavit prior to being presented any prize. This must be done in a timely fashion. Failure to submit to a polygraph test automatically revokes all claims to any prizes won. All members of any SKA team or tournament participants entering and participating in an SKA sanctioned or produced event agrees that all polygraph results are final and agree that the subject of the polygraph will not be challenged beyond the posting of the results.

Hooks must be removed from all fish prior to bringing fish to the scales. It is for the safety of the weigh master and fish handlers. It is the weigh master’s discretion whether you need to remove embedded hooks or not before weighing. No fish less than 10 (ten) pounds will count toward a team’s score, regardless of fork length. Such fish may be entered into Divisional tournament competition, provided that they meet the tournament’s minimum size length requirements, but no fish less than 10.00 pounds will be count toward a team’s overall SKA divisional score.

All boats are responsible for getting their fish to the weigh station under their own power and on the boat that caught the fish. Transferring fish to another boat for any reason will cause immediate disqualification and/or expulsion from the SKA. Fish must be turned in on the same day they are caught. Fish to be weighed in must be accompanied by a member of the boat’s crew, who will stay with the fish to verify the weight and sign any weigh ticket.

Captains and crews are responsible for following any local, state, and federal fishing and boating laws. No tournament fishing is allowed in foreign waters at any time. Tournaments have the right to set boundaries.

SKA sanctioned Tournaments or SKA produced events, plus the SKA reserve the right to refuse entry to any person or persons.

Participants in tournaments should have a working VHF radio and scan VHF channel 16 along with the tournament channel to keep abreast of any marine warnings or dangerous weather conditions. We encourage tournament participants to heed any weather warnings, as safety is paramount. It is also suggested that all vessels carry the prescribed Coast Guard approved flotation devices for all people on board (it’s the law) plus an approved epirb, and an approved fire extinguisher.

Payment of the entry fee into a tournament constitutes a representation by each entrant that they have read and understood the tournament rules and will abide by such rules and the decisions of tournament committees and their directors plus SKA management.

ALL TOURNAMENTS ARE CAPTAIN’S CHOICE EVENTS!

It is up to the discretion of the participating captain to determine whether their craft is seaworthy for the existing conditions. The captain is responsible for the safety and conduct of their crew both on and off the ocean from the time the tournament begins (Registration) till it ends (Awards Ceremony). The Tournament Director has the right to enforce any and all rules and their penalties without a formal written protest from other contestants. ALL SKA SANCTIONED TOURNAMENT DIRECTORS EXCERISE THEIR RIGHT TO REFUSE ENTRY TO ANY CAPTAIN OR TEAM!

J. PROTESTS: ANY AND ALL PROTESTS WILL BE ADDRESSED THRU THE TEAM CAPTAIN ONLY! In SKA sanctioned or SKA produced tournaments; all participants must follow the tournament rules, concerning protests. The decisions of the tournament director(s) and tournament rules committee are final. Should the tournament director or rules committee elect to disqualify a team or fish, the SKA will uphold their ruling without question or hesitation. Based upon the circumstances and severity of the disqualification, SKA management may, at their discretion, choose to disqualify that team for that season, or may even choose to revoke that team’s membership in the organization for a time period of their choice. In tournaments managed and produced by the SKA, the SKA Angling, Membership, and Code of Conduct Rules shall apply at all times. Tournament protests must be made within one hour after the last fish is weighed in, and must be accompanied by a $200 cash deposit. If the protest is upheld, the deposit will be returned. Otherwise, the deposit becomes property of the tournament or SKA. The decision to uphold or deny the protest will be made within one hour after the protest, and any and all decisions will be final.

ANY TEAM VIOLATING TOURNAMENT RULES, EXPELLED OR DISQUALIFIED FROM AN EVENT, OR ATTEMPTS TO INAGURATE LITIGATION WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO FISH ANY SKA SANCTIONED EVENT! TOURNAMENT PARTICIPANTS AGREE THAT BY ENTERING A TOURNAMENT SANCTIONED OR MANAGED BY THE SKA, THAT ALL RULE PROTESTS AND MANAGEMENT DECISIONS ARE FINAL, WITHIN THE TIME FRAME ALLOWED BY SKA AND / OR THE TOURNAMENT, AND TOURNAMENT RULES ARE NOT SUBJECT TO ANY FURTHER INTERPRETATION AND / OR LITIGATION.

It is the responsibility of SKA to notify any and all tournaments of who these fishermen are each year.

ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND / OR ILLEGAL DRUGS: The consumption of alcoholic beverages during tournaments is strongly discouraged by the SKA and Tournament Officials. Anglers and members are expected to practice good sportsmanship and because of the families fishing with us, are expected to set good examples. Abuse of alcohol or illegal drugs will result in disqualification and/or expulsion from the tournament at the discretion of Tournament Management. Members smoking or drinking during picture taking will not have their photos used in Angler magazine.

VHF RADIO USE: Members are asked to practice common sense when using the VHF radio. Bad language with children possibly listening, poor sportsmanship, and the demeaning of other anglers on the air can result in points not counting for that event. Frequent abuse can also result in expulsion from the organization or tournament, at the discretion of SKA management and/or Tournament Directors.

CONSERVATION: Each and every member is encouraged to practice and set examples of good conservation. Take only fish that you intend to weigh and release the rest unharmed to grow and reproduce. No angler shall unnecessarily kill a King Mackerel during a tournament or while pre-fishing unless said fish is to be weighed or used as table fare. Abuse can result in disqualification from a sanctioned tournament and/or expulsion from the organization.

BREAKDOWNS: If you start a tournament in your registered boat and you have a breakdown, you will be allowed to switch boats for the remainder of that event, providing you notify the Tournament Director and the SKA representative in attendance of your intention to switch boats, and providing that the sanctioning tournament allows such a substitution, limit two breakdowns per season once you have entered an event. If your boat breaks down before an event, you will be allowed only one boat substitution per Division. Remember that this is a team and machine contest. The ability to keep your boat in running order is equally important to your success. Exception: In the event your boat cannot be repaired because of circumstances beyond your control, you must get special approval from the SKA management to change boats for the remainder of the season or till the problem is resolved. For example, you blow a power head and parts are unavailable for an extended period of time. You will be required to provide proof of the problem for verification.

WHO CAN BE CAPTAIN: Members who register as captain or co-captain must be at least 16 years of age and must have had their sixteenth birthday prior to fishing their first sanctioned event of that season. It is highly recommended that if you register as captain with the SKA that you also register as captain with the sanctioned tournament’s officials in order to eliminate any confusion in score keeping.

CLASS OF 23: This is a division for boats whose manufacturer classify, advertise, and publish the manufacturer’s length as a 23'11" foot vessel or less (Cannot exceed 23'11" waterline). The SKA will not physically measure any boat to determine its length. If the manufacturer classifies its product as something greater than 23' to 23'11" then the vessel will not be eligible to compete in the Class of 23 regardless of the boat’s overall length. Horsepower will not exceed the manufacturer’s recommendation for that boat for it to be allowed to compete in the Class of 23. The boat cannot exceed 23’ 11” waterline length regardless of the manufacturer’s size claim. You will be automatically be placed in this class upon registration of your boat with the SKA at the first tournament you fish. You must declare your boat category on the registration form for each tournament you enter. (SKA ONLY) You may choose to fish the Open Division in a Class of 23 boat, however, SKA must have your written authorization on file to change classification in the SKA Corporate Office and this must be done before you fish your first tournament of the season.

JUNIOR ANGLER: Junior Anglers sixteenth (16th) birthday must not fall prior to May 1st of that calendar year in order to be eligible for competition in the Junior Angler Division.

RESPONSIBILITY OF MEMBERS: By registering as a member of the Southern Kingfish Association, LLC., or fishing an SKA Sanctioned Tournament, the member consents to the use, without payment or restrictions, of any photographs, and his or her name, in which the member, their crew and / or boat appears for any purpose whatsoever. The member further releases the Southern Kingfish Association, LLC., its officers, directors, committee members, sponsors, sanctioned tournament personnel, from any liability for libel, slander, loss, damage, negligence, injury and / or death suffered by any member, family, crew, boat and / or other person which may occur during the term of membership. Any member or member’s who threaten or pursue any form of litigation against the Southern Kingfish Association, LLC, or any of the SKA Sanctioned Tournaments, will be permanently expelled from the organization and its Sanctioned Tournaments. It is the responsibility of every member to read the membership rules, angling rules, and the code of conduct, and practice same in SKA sanctioned events they fish. By joining the SKA every person agrees to abide by the rules set forth in the membership rules, code of conduct, and angling rules whether they have read them or not. Furthermore, member agrees that all decisions on disputes and/or protests are final and cannot be judged by any court or other authority.