PDF VERSION PYGMY RULES
4/17/2022
1. REGISTRATION AND ELIGIBILITY
Participation in PYGMY, is open to all adult anglers fishing from a kayak or a Stand-Up Paddle board.
Every angler must possess a valid Florida Saltwater Fishing License in compliance with Florida law prior to launch on the day of the event. All prize winners will be asked to produce a valid license prior to receiving any award. If an angler does not have or produce a valid license, their winnings will rank down to the next eligible angler.
The kayak of every registered angler MAY be inspected by the Coast Guard and/or the GOAT tournament committee before shoot-off. Any angler refusing a kayak check will be disqualified.
2. ENTRY, RESCHEDULE, CANCELLATION
Each participant SHALL pay an entry fee of $150, in full, prior to participation in the event.
Inclement weather may cause a delay in tournament starting time, rescheduling to the next possible weekend day, or if rescheduled more than two full weekends full cancellation.
Inclement weather is defined as:
· Active lightning storm within the vicinity of the launch site
· Small craft advisory
· Forecast surf conditions greater than 3ft
· Expected landfall of a tropical storm or hurricane in less than 96hrs
All forecast weather will be assessed two days prior to the event
Additionally, the tournament committee will assess the active launch conditions the morning of the tournament and determine go/no-go based on their experience and the risks posed to the participants. Safety is paramount. This decision is final.
Refunds will only be provided in the event of a hurricane or if an angler is active-duty military, gets deployed, and proof is provided.
Entry fees are non-transferable.
3. CAPTAINS MEETING
The Captains meeting IS NOT mandatory.
The Captains meeting will occur at TBD
No registration will occur for any angler after 11:59p.m. on 06/16/2022.
Any angler that is unable to attend the Captains meeting may send a designated representative to pay any tournament or Calcutta fees; however, signature of the liability waiver and rules acknowledgement must occur prior to launch on tournament day.
4. SIGN-IN/OUT
All anglers MUST sign in and out on tournament day with the designated official. Failure to do so will result in disqualification.
Signature of the liability waiver and rules acknowledgement MAY occur at this time. Failure to do so will result in disqualification.
Shoot-off shall take place at first safe light (Exact time will be given at the kickoff party).
Anglers MUST be back at launch location and on the beach by 2pm.
Anglers MUST be in line for check-in no later than 3:00pm.
5. MANDATORY SAFETY (required by insurance)
Personal Flotation Devices (PFD’s) must be worn for the duration of the tournament interval from launch at first safe light to landing on the beach at the end of the day.
Visual Distress Signals (Flag) must be displayed for the duration of the tournament interval from launch at first safe light to landing on the beach at the end of the day.
Sound Producing Device (bell, horn, whistle, etc.) must be onboard.
VHF radios are not required, but highly encouraged.
Tournament radio channel will be 72.
6. GENERAL RULES
All anglers must launch AND land at Navarre Beach, access 40F.
Anglers shall not land in the designated swim areas.
Kayaks shall not have motors or sails of any kind. Pedals and Paddles only.
Tandem kayaks are allowed; however, they must only contain one angler.
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 barrel or jug fishing.
No assistance from any vessel or angler of any kind, except in the case of a safety or hazard situation is allowed. This includes and is not limited to sharing of catch, tackle, bait, chumming, gaffing, hauling fish, etc.
No diving from your kayak to spear a fish.
Anglers cannot buy fish.
NO FAD's (fishing attractive devices) whether permanent or temporary.
7. BAIT
Anglers may use any legal bait (cut, frozen, or live).
Anglers may launch with bait.
Anglers may not launch in an effort to secure bait the morning of the tournament starting at 12:01am 06/18/2022 and until the official shoot-off.
Anglers may secure bait from land or any structure permanently affixed to land at any time prior to shoot-off.
8. ANGLER ASSISTANCE
In the event of a rollover or other possible distress situation, any angler or person available may assist in restoring the original angler to a safe condition without penalty to anyone involved. However, once restored to a safe condition, assistance shall end. If an angler cannot resume fishing independently for any reason, the angler must return to shore and may weigh any fish they have already caught.
If an angler must be helped to shore, that angler is disqualified.
All anglers must return to launch point with their kayak under his or her own power. No angler may be assisted back to the launch point from any engine or device of any kind (trucks, cars, boats, kayaks, etc...).
Anglers may also assist each other to revive and captured sailfish; however, once the release has occurred all assistance shall end.
9. WEIGH-IN AND FISH ELIGIBILITY
Weigh-in will occur at Windjammer’s Grill on Navarre Beach starting promptly at 3:00p.m. and will proceed as long as necessary.
All fish bags will be tagged and checked into the secure storage area, which will open at 1:00p.m.. All anglers MUST be in line for check in with their fish bags no later than 3:00p.m. Once weigh-in starts, anglers will be called to the rear of the stage (“ON DECK”) by number and in the order they turned in their catch.
All species of bony fish (except Tarpon and Bill fish) are eligible to weigh for tournament prizes; however, they must be:
· A legal catch pursuant to current regulations listed on the FWC website
· At least 5lbs (except tagged snapper; see below)
· NO shark, ray, skate, bill fish, or tarpon
Up to ten (10) fish may be weighed per kayak.
Cash place prizes are determined by TOTAL WEIGHT OF FISH.
In the event of a tie, the angler with the earlier check-in time wins.
All other prizes are determined by their specific rules below.
All fish presented for weigh-in must be whole, fresh, in edible condition and must be caught on tournament day.
Mutilated fish, sharked or otherwise, are not eligible.
Any illegal fish brought to weigh-in will result in immediate disqualification.
All decisions by the weigh master are final.
10. CASH PLACE PRIZES
The following cash prizes are guaranteed, regardless of number of entrants, and determined by total weight and full compliance to the tournament rules:
1st - $5000
2nd - $2500
3rd - $1000
4th - $500
Winning anglers of ANY cash prize (except calcuttas), must complete a w-9 and will receive a check by mail.
Any infractions upon these rules contained herein on social media or elsewhere that brings unfavorable publicity to GOAT or its officials, affiliates, volunteers, or the sport of kayak fishing will void the cash payout and any prize listed below.
11. $1000 YAHTZEE KING by the US Army
At weigh-in, before the first fish is weighed, 5 dice will be rolled and summed to determine the target weight.
If the sum is a 5, the smallest fish will win.
If the sum is 6 through 30, the closest fish without going over will win the prize provided by the US Army.
In the extremely unlikely event of a tie, those fish in question will be transported to the nearest scale that can read to the next decimal place, thus breaking the tie.
12. $1000 MYSTERY FISH by BERLEYPRO
At the end of weigh-in, all eligible species will be written on tokens, placed into a fishbowl, and the target species will be randomly drawn.
If no angler has caught the target species, a new token will be drawn.
If one angler has caught the target species, it is an instant win.
If two or more anglers have caught the target species, then heaviest fish will win the prize.
King Mackerel are not eligible to be the target species in this division.
Eligible fish must weigh at least 5 pounds and are:
Gag, Red, and Scamp Grouper
American Red, Lane, Gray, Vermillion, and Cubera Snapper
Jack Crevalle, Almaco jack,
Mahi, Cobia, Wahoo, Barracuda, Blackfin tuna, Skipjack tuna
Spanish mackerel, Remora, False Albacore, Lionfish
Redfish, Spotted Sea trout, Flounder, Pompano, Sheepshead, Tripletail
13. $1000 SAILFISH BOUNTY by Kayak 30A
The first angler to successfully Capture, Photo, and Release (CPR) a sailfish will win.
Anglers may receive assistance in the revival of any captured sailfish; however once the release occurs, all assistance shall end.
15. $250 BOMB COBIA by Submerse Outdoor Gear (cash and merch)
The heaviest single Cobia
16. JOKER’S WILD by 85th DAY
Poker rules: Full House Jokers over Kings. The heaviest combo of any 3 fish and 2 King Mackerel will win this division. (Prize is TBD)
(You MUST have at least 5 fish (2 must be Kings) to be eligible for this division)
17. (N/A for 2022) TAGGED SNAPPER by US ARMY
Twenty (20) American Red Snapper will be caught, tagged, and released in Navarre reef one week prior to the event. These snapper will be legal length but may not weigh 5lbs. IF they are not 5lbs, you may still weigh the fish for score. The total prize pool is $1000 and will be split evenly between all anglers successfully able to recapture these snapper.
18. $50,000 BONUS ROLL by 85th DAY
All attendees will be eligible to roll the 5 dice and chosen at random draw, throughout the tournament weigh-in. Each contestant will throw each die in successive order in an attempt to spell “P-Y-G-M-Y”. The odds of completion are 7776:1. Each die MUST make 1 complete rotation in the air before landing, come to rest at least 4’ from the throwing line, and land flat. One redo attempt will be afforded per contestant. In addition, no contestant may receive any practice rolls or touch the dice prior to the attempt. All attempts MUST be recorded via video for confirmation.
19. CALCUTTAS
Both American Red Snapper and King Mackerel will have a winner take all pot.
Calcuttas are $50 each and must be paid by the end of Captain’s Meeting
20. TAXES
Anglers are responsible to pay all taxes on both cash and merchandise awards where and when applicable. GOAT assumes no responsibility for the payment of taxes related to any tournament prize.
21. PROTEST AND APPEAL
All protests must be submitted in writing to the Rules Committee on the day of the alleged violation by 230 pm with a deposit of $100.00. If the alleged violation is found to have occurred, the deposit of $100.00 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 PYGMY tournament event for life.
22. 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 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 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 kayak fishing, to GOAT, or any of its sponsors, permitting agencies or their officers, and not limited to Coast Guard inspectors, lifeguards, EMS personnel, or any hosting venue staff during or after the tournament may result in temporary or permanent suspension and disqualification from all current and future tournaments.
GOAT reserves the right to reject any angler’s registration at any time.
GOAT reserves the right to refuse service to anyone.
23. TOURNAMENT DISCRETION
GOAT’s tournament director reserves the right to implement his or her 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. Unless otherwise provided for in the tournament rules, decisions and interpretations of the tournament director shall be final.
24. POLYGRAPH EXAMINATION
By entering the tournament all anglers voluntarily consent to submit to a polygraph examination as deemed necessary by tournament officials. Any angler of a registered kayak who refuses to take a polygraph or provides untruthful answers as determined by the examiner will be disqualified from the tournament without further notice. Such a disqualification will eliminate payment or provision of any prize money, awards, and/or refund of entrance fees. Anglers requested to take a polygraph examination shall be responsible to pay all costs incurred.
25. RELEASE AND HOLD HARMLESS
It is expressly understood that all registered participants of GOAT 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 Greatest Of All Time 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, to include but not limited to, 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.
26. PHOTOGRAPHY/VIDEOGRAPHY
All images obtained by GOAT may be used for promotional purposes in perpetuity, by GOAT, its sponsors, and affiliates, and without compensation to the subjects contained within.
27. And lastly…if you fail to follow any rules you will be disqualified.