PKT JACKPOT SHOOTOUT RULES:

1- Eligible species for competition purposes is king mackerel (Scomberomorus Cavalla).
2- Winners shall be determined by the heaviest two fish, combined aggregate weight. Top 3 teams not qualified for the PKT Championship will earn an invitation to participate.

3- Competition is open to all PKT Teams and shall take place on Tuesday, October 24th and teams are permitted to weigh up to two king mackerel to achieve the two fish aggregate.  In the event the weather is deemed unfavorable for competition on Tuesday, October 24th, then Wednesday, October 25th will become the competition day; In the event Tuesday, October 24 and Wednesday, October 25 are deemed unfavorable for competition, Then the Wildcard competition will be cancelled and the field will not have 3 additional participants. All decisions will be made by the PKT Committee.

4- Registration. $500 paid via VENMO or CC link that will be emailed to all participants due by 11pm Monday October 23^rd. Email will confirm registration and will provide a boat number. No paper number is needed.

5- Boat Inspections. All teams are subject to boat inspections. Any team that refuses a boat inspection will be disqualified.

6- Check Out. There is NO CHECKOUT for the WILDCARD event. Lines in @ 7am.

7- Check In. Each boat will be required to Check In by 4pm on the competition day. Teams must verbally check-in on VHF Channel 72 with the tournament committee member located on the corner of A Dock and A Extension, which is the south west! corner of Charleston Harbor Marina. Boats should be off plane and not wake the marina by the time they pass Red!

8- Buoy #34 which is located 250 yards south of Charleston Harbor Marina. Boats that do not check in by 5:00 p.m. on each competition day will not be eligible to weigh their fish. GPS time will be the official time.

9-Weigh-in. Scales will open at 4:00pm. Each team can weigh up to two fish per day. Weigh In will take place at the Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina. The Captain or Co-Captain is responsible for unloading and presenting their fish for weighing. After unloading the fish, team representatives will form a line to weigh. Boat slips will be available for teams that wish to dock and attend weigh in. You must unload your fish before docking.

10-.Sponsors, tournament directors, tournament committee members, volunteers and employees of all affiliated events and host sites including the Palmetto Kingfish Tour are eligible to participate and win primary prizes just like any other entrant.

11- No mutilated fish will be weighed. A mutilated fish is one in which the injury impacts the fish’s ability to fight. Hook and gaff punctures are acceptable.

12-Any fish weighed-in found to contain lead or any other foreign matter will be subject to disqualification as decided by the tournament committee.

13- All fish must be brought to the Charleston Harbor Marina, by the registered Palmetto Kingfish Tour boat, under its own power. Fish cannot be transported over land or by another boat. !

14- The top three fish weighed will become property of the Palmetto Kingfish Tour. These fish will be donated.

15- A replacement boat will not be authorized after Wildcard registration. No exceptions.

16- A boat MAY NOT make landfall during tournament competition hours. 7am – 4pm. No person and no items may be added to the boat during competition hours.!

17- Two (2) or more boats congregating during fishing hours maybe disqualified.  Safety consideration is the only reason this rule can be overridden:  The boat receiving assistance will be disqualified and the boat giving assistance will be allowed to continue.

18- If a boat has to be towed or receives assistance for any reason, it will be disqualified from competition for that particular day.

19- Polygraph: By entering the tournament all captains, anglers, and occupants of their boats voluntarily consent to submit to a polygraph examination as deemed necessary by tournament officials. All decisions of the polygraph examiner will be final. Any captain, angler, or occupant of a registered boat who refuses to take a polygraph or provides untruthful answers as determined by the examiner will be disqualified from the tournament. Such a disqualification will eliminate payment or provision of any prize money, awards, and/or refund of entrance fees.

20- Hand Signal Photo: Teams will be required to provide a photo of the fish that they are weighing in with a designated hand signal. Hand Signals will be texted/emailed to all participating Captains and Co-Captains the evening before each day of competition. This photo must taken shortly after the fish has been gaffed, is on the deck or going into the fish bag. The fish must be “hot” and not iced down. Captain or Co-Captain must be in the photo and must show the hand signal in the photo.! Once in cell range the Captain or Co- Captain will be required to text or email the photo of the fish to the PALMETTO KINGFISH TOUR Committee at 843-834-5489 or email palmettokingfishtour@gmail.com Subject should include your boat name.  Each team will have until 9pm to submit their required photo. If a team fails to text or email a photo of their fish by the cut off time period they will be disqualified from the Championship. Each PALMETTO KINGFISH TOUR qualifying event will administer mandatory polygraph tests given reason for a potential rules infraction. No exceptions!

21- Boundaries: All teams must leave and return through SC inlets ONLY. No exceptions.

22- Official tournament time is determined by GPS time

23- Protests: All protests must be made within 1 hour of the conclusion of the weigh-in along with $750 cash or check made out to the Palmetto Kingfish Tour. Protests should be made based on first-hand eyewitness information. All decisions made by the tournament committee regarding protests are final. If the protest is validated, the $750 will be returned. If the protest is not overturned then the $750 becomes property of the Palmetto Kingfish Tour. All decisions are FINAL.

24- All fish must be caught on rod & reel. The maximum number of lines out at any one time is seven(7).                                       

25- Violation of any of the tournament rules shall constitute grounds for automatic disqualification from the tournament. The Tournament Committee shall be the sole judge of any violations of the rules and their decision shall be final.

26- Release: By signing the entry form, all captains, anglers, and occupants of their boat hereby consent that tournament officials may use without payment or restriction, any photographs, video, or interviews in which he or she may appear for any purpose whatsoever, including but not limited to resale, advertising, and promotional material.

27- Tournament Discretion: The tournament director or the acting tournament committee reserves the right to implement his discretion at any time during the tournament as it may apply to the rules or any other circumstance that should arise during the course of the event.

28- All anglers must have a valid South Carolina saltwater fishing license and comply with South Carolina and Federal Laws.

29- VHF Channel: Tournament officials will monitor VHF 72 during competition hours. VHF 16 is an international distress frequency and should only be used for emergency calls and Coast Guard assistance.

30- Weather: The PKT Tournament committee will monitor all weather sources including NOAA. Weather decisions including postponement and cancellations will be made by the tournament committee. Announcements regarding weather & other important tournament information will be communicated to team captains & co-captains via text messages, phone calls and email. It is expressly understood that the permitting of fishing by tournament officials does not ensure the safety of registered anglers or any other occupants of their vessels. Captains, anglers, and all other members of registered boats must determine in their own judgment whether to fish under the given conditions based on factors including but not limited to the seaworthiness of their boat and their own seamanship.

31- Release: By signing the entry form, it is expressly understood that all participants enter at their own risk and to the fullest extent permitted by law hereby release, discharge, and hold harmless the Palmetto Kingfish Tour, it’s parents, and affiliates, their officers, directors, owners, volunteers, and employees. By registering in the tournament, each team member consents to the use, without payment or restriction, any photograph, video, tape recording or sound in which he or she appears for any purpose whatsoever. By signing this entry form and paying the entry fee, my team and I acknowledge that we have read the release and are bound by the same.

32- Prizes are awarded solely on the basis of fish weight. In the event of identical aggregate ties, the winner will be determined by the team with the largest fish. For big-fish ties, the team that ranked higher in the top 40 qualifying shall be declared the winner.

33- Winnings: Checks for the winning teams will be made out to the individual on the team that filled out the W9 Form. 1099’s for all winnings will also be made out to the person listed on the check that was written for the team’s winnings. The Captain or Co-Captain from each winning team must be present to receive a check. If no one from the PKT team is able to attend the Awards Ceremony, please notify us.

  

PALMETTO KINGFISH TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP RULES:

1- Eligible species for competition purposes is king mackerel (Scomberomorus Cavalla).

2- Winners shall be determined by the heaviest two fish, combined aggregate weight.

3- Competition shall take place on Friday, October 27 andSaturday, October 28; one fish weighed per day to achieve the two fish aggregate.  In the event the weather is deemed unfavorable for competition on Friday, October 27, thenSaturday, October 28th and Sunday, October 29th will become the competition days; one fish weighed per day to achieve the two fish aggregate.  In the event Friday, October 27 andSaturday, October 28 are deemed unfavorable for competition,Sunday, October 29 will become the single competition day, and teams will weigh two fish to achieve the two fish aggregate.Monday, October 30th, Tuesday, October 31st and the remainder of that week are potential reschedule dates if deemed necessary. All decisions will be made by the PKT Committee.!

4- Registration. Each qualifying Captain and/or Co-Captain will be required to register for the Palmetto Kingfish Tour Championship at the Hobcaw Yacht Club on Thursday October 26^th. Each team will receive an official boat number. Registration party will start at 5pm and close at 9pm. Mandatory Captains meeting will start at 7pm sharp.!

5- Boat Inspections. Mandatory inspections will take place from 6:30am to 7:00am at the Charleston Harbor Marina Fuel docks. No participant may refuse or impede a boat inspection or they will be disqualified. No fish are allowed to be on board caught from previous days. If a King Mackerel is found on board that team will be disqualified. Bait is permitted. Once checked-out, teams should proceed to the Charleston Harbor and hold around the Ravenel Bridge.

6- Shotgun Start. There will be a shotgun start at roughly 7:00am. Teams should also monitor VHF 72 for the countdown and “GO” signal. Please use caution while running.

7- Check In. Each boat will be required to Check In by 5pm on each competition day. Teams must visually and verbally check-in on VHF Channel 72 with the tournament committee member located on the corner of A Dock and A Extension, which is the south west! corner of Charleston Harbor Marina. Boats should be off plane and not wake the marina by the time they pass Red Buoy #34 which is located 250 yards south of Charleston Harbor Marina. Boats that do not check in by 5:00 p.m. on each competition day will not be eligible to weigh their fish. GPS time will be the official time.

8- Weigh-in. Scales will open at 5:00pm. Each team can only weigh 1 fish per day. If the tournament is deemed a 1 day event, then 2 fish are permitted to be weighed. Weigh In will take place at the Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina. The Captain or Co-Captain is responsible for unloading and presenting their fish for weighing. After unloading the fish, team representatives will form a line to weigh. Boat slips will be available for teams that wish to dock and attend weigh in. You must unload your fish before docking.

9- Sponsors, tournament directors, tournament committee members, volunteers and employees of all affiliated events and host sites including the Palmetto Kingfish Tour are eligible to participate and win primary prizes just like any other entrant.

10- No mutilated fish will be weighed. A mutilated fish is one in which the injury impacts the fish’s ability to fight. Hook and gaff punctures are acceptable. Any fish weighed-in found to contain lead or any other foreign matter will be subject to disqualification as decided by the tournament committee.

11- All fish must be brought to the Charleston Harbor Marina, by the registered Palmetto Kingfish Tour boat, under its own power. Fish cannot be transported over land or by another boat. The top three fish weighed will become property of the Palmetto Kingfish Tour. These fish will be donated. 

12- A replacement boat will not be authorized after Championship registration. No exceptions. A boat MAY NOT make landfall during tournament competition hours. 7am – 5pm. No person and no items may be added to the boat during competition hours.!

13- Two (2) or more boats congregating during fishing hours may be disqualified.  Safety consideration is the only reason this rule can be overridden:  The boat receiving assistance will be disqualified and the boat giving assistance will be allowed to continue. If a boat has to be towed or receives assistance for any reason, it will be disqualified from competition for that particular day.

14- Polygraph: By entering the tournament all captains, anglers, and occupants of their boats voluntarily consent to submit to a polygraph examination as deemed necessary by tournament officials. All decisions of the polygraph examiner will be final. Any captain, angler, or occupant of a registered boat who refuses to take a polygraph or provides untruthful answers as determined by the examiner will be disqualified from the tournament. Such a disqualification will eliminate payment or provision of any prize money, awards, and/or refund of entrance fees.

15- Hand Signal Photo: Teams will be required to provide a photo of the fish that they are weighing in with a designated hand signal. Hand Signals will be texted/emailed to all participating Captains and Co-Captains the evening before each day of competition. This photo must taken shortly after the fish has been gaffed, is on the deck or going into the fish bag. The fish must be “hot” and not iced down. Captain or Co-Captain must be in the photo and must show the hand signal in the photo.! Once in cell range the Captain or Co- Captain will be required to text or email the photo of the fish to the PALMETTO KINGFISH TOUR Committee at 843-834-5489 or email palmettokingfishtour@gmail.com Subject should include your boat name.  Each team will have until 9pm to submit their required photo. If a team fails to text or email a photo of their fish by the cut off time period they will be disqualified from the Championship. Each PALMETTO KINGFISH TOUR qualifying event will administer mandatory polygraph tests given reason for a potential rules infraction. No exceptions

16- Boundaries: No Boundaries

17- Official tournament time is determined by GPS time

18- Protests: All protests must be made within 1 hour of the conclusion of the weigh-in along with $750 cash or check made out to the Palmetto Kingfish Tour. Protests should be made based on first-hand eyewitness information. All decisions made by the tournament committee regarding protests are final. If the protest is validated, the $750 will be returned. If the protest is not overturned then the $750 becomes property of the Palmetto Kingfish Tour. All decisions are FINAL.

19- All fish must be caught on rod & reel. The maximum number of lines out at any one time is seven(7).                                       

20- Violation of any of the tournament rules shall constitute grounds for automatic disqualification from the tournament. The Tournament Committee shall be the sole judge of any violations of the rules and their decision shall be final.

21- Release: By signing the entry form, all captains, anglers, and occupants of their boat hereby consent that tournament officials may use without payment or restriction, any photographs, video, or interviews in which he or she may appear for any purpose whatsoever, including but not limited to resale, advertising, and promotional material.

22- Tournament Discretion: The tournament director or the acting tournament committee reserves the right to implement his discretion at any time during the tournament as it may apply to the rules or any other circumstance that should arise during the course of the event.

23- All anglers must have a valid South Carolina saltwater fishing license and comply with South Carolina and Federal Laws.

24- VHF Channel: Tournament officials will monitor VHF 72 during competition hours. VHF 16 is an international distress frequency and should only be used for emergency calls and Coast Guard assistance.

25- Weather: The PKT Tournament committee will monitor all weather sources including NOAA. Weather decisions including postponement and cancellations will be made by the tournament committee. Announcements regarding weather & other important tournament information will be communicated to team captains & co-captains via text messages, phone calls and email. It is expressly understood that the permitting of fishing by tournament officials does not ensure the safety of registered anglers or any other occupants of their vessels. Captains, anglers, and all other members of registered boats must determine in their own judgment whether to fish under the given conditions based on factors including but not limited to the seaworthiness of their boat and their own seamanship.

26- Release: By signing the entry form, it is expressly understood that all participants enter at their own risk and to the fullest extent permitted by law hereby release, discharge, and hold harmless the Palmetto Kingfish Tour, it’s parents, and affiliates, their officers, directors, owners, volunteers, and employees. By registering in the tournament, each team member consents to the use, without payment or restriction, any photograph, video, tape recording or sound in which he or she appears for any purpose whatsoever. By signing this entry form and paying the entry fee, my team and I acknowledge that we have read the release and are bound by the same.

27- Prizes are awarded solely on the basis of fish weight. In the event of identical aggregate ties, the winner will be determined by the team with the largest fish. For big-fish ties, the team that ranked higher in the top 25 qualifying shall be declared the winner.

28- Winnings: Checks for the winning teams will be made out to the individual on the team that filled out the W9 Form. 1099’s for all winnings will also be made out to the person listed on the check that was written for the team’s winnings. The Captain or Co-Captain from each winning team must be present to receive a check. If no one from the PKT team is able to attend the Awards Ceremony, please notify us.

GOOD LUCK TO ALL PKT TEAMS & BE SAFE!