Families Recover FamJam Tournament – Official Rules

Entry Fee

Early Entry: $300 per vessel (includes up to 4 anglers) through May 17.
Late Entry: $350 per vessel (includes up to 4 anglers) beginning May 18.
If the captain wants to weigh-in fish, the captain must be listed as a registered angler.
$75 per additional angler beyond 4 anglers.

All fees are non-refundable.

Event Dates, Location, and Schedule

Location

Pirate’s Cove Resort & Marina

(Registration hub + weigh-in station)

Schedule

Friday, July 17 – Captain’s Party / Captain’s Meeting (Mandatory)
Official time and details announced in tournament communications (Captain’s Party begins at 7:00 PM, unless otherwise posted).
Saturday, July 18 – Tournament Day
Rain or inclement weather constitutes a fishing day. In case of unsafe weather, at the discretion of the tournament committee, fishing may be canceled or postponed. If canceled, purse will be added to the next FamJam Tournament.
Registration and Captain’s Party / Captain’s Meeting

MANDATORY FOR ALL CAPTAINS OR THEIR REPRESENTATIVES TO ATTEND Captain’s check-in will take place at Pirate’s Cove Resort & Marina to receive:

Vessel identification numbers
Tournament materials and instructions
VHF channel / phone number for committee boat
Final schedule reminders and announcements

The Captain’s Meeting will include official rules review, questions and answers, and any updates.

Ineligible Vessels

Vessels that are rigged or equipped for bulk harvesting of fish as a product are prohibited. All vessels must comply with all state and federal laws related to safety equipment, licenses, registration, and all other applicable requirements. All vessels should be equipped with an operative VHF radio.

Eligible Vessels

No minimum or maximum size restrictions. Vessels engaged in promoting the sport of fishing and the catching of fish in a sportsman-like manner are eligible.

Check-Out

(Tournament Day)

On Saturday, July 18, all vessels must check-out with the committee boat both by VHF radio and visually, by displaying their designated tournament number.

Official check-out time window and procedures will be announced at the Captain’s Meeting.
Failure to properly check-out or check-in will result in disqualification for that day.
Committee Boat

The committee boat will be identified by a tournament flag or banner and will monitor the VHF channel and mobile phone number published at the Captain’s Meeting.

Check-In

Check-in is by radio or mobile phone. The official check-in deadline will be announced at the Captain’s Meeting. Failure to check-in may necessitate contacting the Coast Guard and you will be billed accordingly.

Fishing License

Proof of fishing license is required.

Captain’s Responsibilities

Captains assume full responsibility for their crew and vessel. Fishing all day or partial day constitutes a tournament day.

Junior Angler

Applies to anyone 14 years old or younger.

Tournament Methods and Gear Rules (FamJam Rules)

Kites, wireline, live bait, manual downriggers, and planers may be used.
Electric and battery reels of any kind are not permitted to be used during the tournament nor shall they be on the fishing vessel at the time of the tournament.
Shooting, harpooning, or dynamiting of any fish is prohibited.

Tournament Categories and Eligible Fish

KDW Shootout
KDW stands for:

Kingfish
Wahoo
Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)

Bottom Fish Shootout
Bottom Fish means:

Snapper
Grouper

Weigh-In Limits

Weigh-in allows one fish, per category, per angler, per day.

All fish must adhere to all state & federal regulations (season, size, bag limits, and legal harvest methods).

Protected Species

It is unlawful to harvest, possess, land, purchase, sell, or exchange protected species including (but not limited to): Nassau Grouper, Goliath Grouper (Jewfish), Sawfish, Basking Shark, Whale Shark, Spotted Eagle Ray, Sturgeon, White Shark, Sand Tiger Shark, Bigeye Sand Tiger Shark, and Manta Ray.

In Case of Tie

First fish weighed in is the winner.

Catch Limits

All local, state, and federal laws apply. Applicable limits will be strictly enforced. Injured or mutilated fish are not eligible.

Weigh-In

Weigh station: Pirate’s Cove Resort & Marina

All fish must be transferred directly from the participant’s vessel to an official fish carrier or escorted by a tournament official for weigh-in by the posted weigh-in deadline (announced at the Captain’s Meeting).

A visual confirmation of the boat number by the committee radio operator with communication to the weigh master prior to the deadline may be required for fish to be weighed-in.

If participating in any other fishing tournament, weigh-in of fish must be at the Families Recover FamJam Tournament first. Failure to do so will result in disqualification of the fish.

Protests

Any protest must be submitted to the Weigh Master in writing prior to the closing of the weigh-in station on the day it occurs, by a Captain registered in the Tournament.

Each protest must be accompanied by a $100 deposit.

If upheld, the deposit will be refunded.
If not upheld, the deposit will be forfeited.

The decision of the Rules Committee is final and binding.

Polygraph

All entrants agree to submit to a polygraph at the request of the Tournament. The results of the polygraph will be considered by the Rules Committee, along with any relevant information, which in their sole discretion will determine whether the entrant will be disqualified.

Failure to submit to such an examination will result in disqualification of the entrant at the sole discretion of the Rules Committee.