SAILFISH SMACKDOWN 2024 RULES
How to Register?
Registration is easy on your computer, tablet or phone.
Anglers can register for a single event or all events. Just click Buy Now. That angler will be automatically logged into our data base and receive emails regarding event information two weeks prior to event date.
SUBSCRIBE to EKFT's online magazine for giveaways and up to date tournament information.
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Anglers can register for a single event or all events. Just click Buy Now. That angler will be automatically logged into our data base and receive emails regarding event information two weeks prior to event date.
SUBSCRIBE to EKFT's online magazine for giveaways and up to date tournament information.
All content included on this site, such as text, graphics, logos, button icons, images, audio clips, digital downloads, data compilations, and software, is the property of Extreme Kayak Fishing.com or its content suppliers and protected by international copyright laws. The compilation of all content on this site is the exclusive property of Extreme Kayak Fishing.com, with copyright authorship for this collection by Extreme Kayak Fishing.com, and protected by international copyright laws.
Unless otherwise provided for herein, the following rules shall apply to all Extreme Kayak Fishing Tournament (“EKFT”) events. These rules may be changed by EKFT AT ANY TIME. Notice of updates to tournament rules shall be published on the EKFT website at www.extremekayakfishingtournament.org. / www.extremekayakfishing.com
Interpretation and enforcement of these rules shall be left exclusively to the Tournament Director or his/her designee at a tournament. In the event of a rule violation, the Tournament Director or a rules committee may impose such sanctions as deemed appropriate by them, including without limitation, disqualification, forfeiture of prizes, entry fee and prohibition from participation in future EKFT tournaments. Subject to the protest & appeal process set forth below, the decision of the Tournament Director, his/her designee, or the rules committee, shall be final in all matters.
BY REGISTERING TO PARTICIPATE IN AN EKFT EVENT, ANGLERS CERTIFY THAT THEY HAVE READ THE TOURNAMENT RULES AND SHALL ABIDE BY THEM.
SAILFISH RULES
The Sailfish Smackdown tournament is based on time. The first angler to land his or her sailfish takes the lead and is in first place with the time the fish was landed & documented by the tournament boat. The first angler to land two sailfish will take first place. Angler with the most sailfish wins. In the event of a tie, The angler who caught the highest amount of sailfish first will be the winner of the tiebreaker. For Example, if two anglers are tied with three Sailfish, the angler that landed the 3rd Sailfish first will win the tiebreaker. All anglers must hook, fight, and catch their own fish.
In the event that all boats are busy documenting Sailfish catches, and the boat can't get to another angler that's hooked up, than he or she is required to either take a photo or short video WITH THE TIME of the leader touch and a clear shot for the judge to review. The sailfish must be in the shot. It's up to the angler to provide a camera, phone, etc to document your catch with the time. EKFT is NOT responsible for providing equipment for documentation. In the event the anglers documenting equipment malfunctions EKFT is NOT responsible & the angler is liable. If the angler lands the sailfish and they document it with their own device that angler is required to call it in on the tournament channel so that the EKFT committee will be ready to view the documented sailfish catch with the time landed when on shore.
Anglers must all launch from the same location south of the pier and come back to the same location. If there is fish to be weighed in, the weigh in station will be at Pavilion 1 south of the pier. Anglers have to be back to the beach by 3pm. ALL ANGLERS KAYAKS WILL BE CHECKED BY EKFT MEMBERS AND COAST GUARDS AND RECEIVE A STICKER UPON INSPECTION.
For anglers fishing the upcoming Sailfish Smackdown that wish to reserve bait call 954-LIVE-BAIT (954-650-7894)
GENERAL RULES
* Kayaks shall not have motors of any kind.
* Every angler must use a rod and reel to catch all fish in the tournament.
* No electric reels.
* No long lining from the kayak.
* No assistance from a boat, unless otherwise provided for in the tournament rules.
* No sharing rods.
* No splitting the winnings with another angler by sharing his or her fish.
* No diving from your kayak to spear a fish.
* Angler cannot buy a fish.
* Boats CANNOT chum for any kayak angler during the tournament.
* Anglers may not pass rods to fellow kayak anglers once a fish has been hooked. A fish considered hooked once a strike occurs and the drag is engaging or the bail is closed.
REGISTRATION AND ELIGIBILITY
Participation in EKFT tournament events is open to all anglers possessing a Kayak, Canoes & or SUP (Paddle Board). All anglers must pay the registration fee, complete an entry form at the captains meeting or the morning of the event if angler can't make it to the captains meeting. Only anglers that attend the captains meeting receive a goodie bag.
Every angler must possess a valid Florida Saltwater Fishing License unless the angler is sixty-five (65) and older. All prize winners may be asked to produce a valid license prior to receiving any award. Anglers under 16 must have a parent or guardians signature on the entry form. The kayak of every registered angler shall be inspected by the Coast Guard and the Extreme Tournament Committee before shoot off. Any angler refusing a kayak check shall be disqualified.
After registering online you will be added to the list of registered anglers and receive emails two weeks before the event with detailed event information.
PHOTO'S
For the organizers to take a picture of the sailfish, the angler must lean over the side and keep the fish mostly submerged instead of taking the fish out of the water and Do not grab or hold the fish by the gills. Extreme will also have an underwater photographer on hand. EKFT owns all rights to every photo & video taken by the EKFT photographers.
VHF radios are mandatory
All anglers and help boats will communicate on the same frequency to assure safety for both the anglers and fish. Tournament channel and Committee phone will be announced at the Captain’s meeting. The angler who successfully lands the most Sailfish will win.
ANGLER ASSISTANCE
If angler has to be helped to shore that angler is disqualified. The help boat will no longer hold and tag fish. No angler can be helped back to the launch point from any engine of any kind (trucks, cars, boats, kayaks etc...) All anglers must return to launch point under his or her own power. The help boat shall remain on the water to provide emergency assistance to participants only.
BAIT
EKFT does not provide live bait for any Florida tournament. Live bait from other sources may be available on the shore or within the buoys until 8:30 a.m. sharp on both days of the tournament. It is up to the angler where he or she gets bait. EKFT is not responsible for anglers bait & tackle. There are plenty of options in Pompano Beach.
No live bait can be purchased on the water after 8:30 a.m. if an angler is caught receiving live bait on the water then that angler is disqualified. The same penalty as receiving a fish on the water.
To pre order bait you may contact Tyler at 954-650-7894
(Disclaimer - Tyler is not employed by EKFT and EKFT is not liable for bait issues of any kind on tournament day, anglers are free to purchase bait from wherever and whoever you please)
TACKLE
All fish must be caught on rod and reel. Wire lines & leader are NOT permitted. No electric reels. When an angler hooks up to a Sailfish, they must radio to the help boats so that the catch can be monitored, documented and verified. The help boats will also assist in the release of all Sailfish. For a landed Sailfish to count, the angler must touch the leader. The maximum leader length allowed is 15ft. Stinger rigs are NOT permitted! Circle Hooks are required for all live, dead, artificial, jigs & natural baits, only single hook rigs are permitted on all tackle. No wire rigs! We recommend the use of non-offset circle hooks when used with live or dead bait. The committee will check each kayak before shoot off in the morning each day! The tournament committee will be checking the length of everyone's leader on the beach in the morning and once a Sailfish is caught. In the event of a Sailfish being landed with no help boat around, The angler must keep the fish in the water until a help boat arrives to document and assist in the release.
SPORTSMANSHIP
All anglers are expected to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, safety, and conservation. Any angler who displays poor sportsmanship, violates these rules, or any state or local laws, or brings unfavorable publicity to the sport of extreme kayak fishing will be disqualified and may be disqualified from participating in future tournament events.
Specifically, the use of obscene language or gestures is strictly forbidden at any time prior to, during, or after the event. This includes the use of obscene language directed at the EKFT team or over the tournament channel. Any infraction of these fundamental sporting principles may be deemed cause for disqualification or other penalty. Maximum courtesy must be practiced at all times, especially with regard to angling in the vicinity of non-competitors who may be on tournament waters.
Any act or inflammatory statement by any contestant that, in the opinion of the Tournament Director, is detrimental to the operation of tournament, damaging to organized extreme kayak fishing, to EKFT, or any of its sponsors, permitting agencies or their officers, including Coast Guard inspectors, during or after the tournaments may result in temporary or permanent suspension and disqualification from all future EKFT tournaments.
EKFT reserves the right to reject any angler’s registration at anytime. EKFT reserves the right to refuse service to anyone.
TANDEM KAYAKS
Tandem kayaks are allowed, BUT each angler is competing against one another and each angler must pay an entry fee. Anglers cannot pass rods to the fellow kayak angler once a fish has been hooked. A fish considered hooked once a strike occurs and the drag is engaging or the bail is closed. Anglers cannot help one another in any way! The winning angler is subject to a polygraph test.
Anglers MUST check out with the EKFT committee at the end of each tournament day.
If an angler does not check out, they will be disqualified for the whole tournament.
PROTEST AND APPEAL
All protests must be submitted in writing to the Rules Committee on the day of the alleged violation by 5pm with a deposit of $200.00. If the alleged violation is found to have occurred, the deposit of $200.00 will be refunded. If the Rules Committee finds no violation, the deposit will not be refunded. The decision of the Rules Committee will be final. If an angler is caught protesting during the tournament without following the process set forth herein, that angler may be banned from every EKFT tournament event for life.
RELEASE AND HOLD HARMLESS
It is expressly understood that all registered participants of EKFT tournament events participate voluntarily and at their own risk. Each registered participant, on behalf of other family members and/or executors, agrees to release and hold harmless Extreme Kayak Fishing Tournament, its agents, employees, tournament officials, sponsors, and all other persons connected directly or indirectly with operation of said tournament from any and all liability for libel, slander, loss, damage, negligence, harm, injury, or death suffered by any participant, entrant, sport-fishermen, their companions, vessels or their equipment during the tournament.
TAXES
Anglers are responsible to pay all taxes on both cash and merchandise awards where and when applicable. EKFT assumes no responsibility for the payment of taxes related to any tournament awards.
CASH PRIZES
4 to 6 week wait time on cash and merchandise prizes. Winning anglers will receive a check by mail.
TOURNAMENT CANCELLATION, ENTRY
EKFT reserves the right to cancel and/or reschedule any tournament events. In case of bad weather (lightning / thunder storm), the Tournament Committee will reschedule the event at a different date. Any schedule adjustment due to inclement weather will be made at the sole discretion of the tournament committee. No refunds will be made in the event of cancellation. There are NO refunds once an angler is registered (signed up). NO transferring funds from one event to another & an angler cannot give their entry to another angler. The only exception is if an angler gets deployed to the military and proof is provided.
PARKING
Anglers are responsible for their own parking fees on both tournament days. There will be plenty of parking for everyone.