33rd ANNUAL SWAMP GUIDES BALL FISHING TOURNAMENT & AUCTION

PRESENTED BY

All Release – Redfish, Snook, Bonefish
Feb 3-4, 2023

Feb 3rd – 5 pm Kick-off at Angler House Marina, Friday  – Register, pick up Scoring Packets/Measuring Devices, and enjoy refreshments and live music by the Carousers!

Feb 4th – 7 am Leave the dock and lines in. You can launch from anywhere between Key Largo and Marathon (excludes Flamingo)!

3 pm Lines out and must be back to the dock by 5 pm. Must return all scorecards to the scorekeeper by 5 pm in person at Angler House.

The silent auction will take place online and the awards can be attended in-person at Angler House at 6:30 pm.

2023 SWAMP GUIDES BALL RULES AND AWARDS

• Acceptable species: Bonefish, Redfish & Snook – 100 Points per release.
• All fish must be released unharmed – NO Harvesting allowed!
• Any tackle, including fly or bait may be used. NO chumming. Fly caught fish do not receive additional points.
• Snook and Redfish must be 20” minimum measured from tip of the nose to longest portion of the tail.
• Any size bonefish will score.
• Each entry except bonefish must be photographed on the provided measuring device and the measuring device must be returned to the scorekeeper. Bonefish should be photographed in the water or net.
• Anyone may fish including guides. If three people in the boat, the guide does not fish, only the two anglers. Guides do not have to be licensed.
• Boats may leave the dock/ramp of their choosing between Key Largo and Marathon (excluding Flamingo) at 7 a.m. Lines in at 7 a.m. Lines out at 3 p.m. Score sheets to the scorekeeper by 5 p.m.
• Score sheets must be returned IN PERSON at Angler House Marina to the scorekeeper at 5 PM
• Must also be returned to home port by 5 p.m.
• I.G.F.A. rules apply in instances not covered by tournament rules.
• This is a team tournament. Two anglers per team. Use of a second boat is prohibited.
• Fishing is prohibited in manmade basins, canals and in no-motor zones within the Everglades National Park with the exception of East Cape/Snake Bight canals which are allowed to be fished.
• Awards will be given based on accruing the most points with the most species, with the exception of individual species awards.
• To qualify for team awards, each team member must catch at least one of the qualifying species.
• Photographs: Anglers must show scorekeeper photos on cellphone between 3 – 5 pm or provide a digital camera with memory card or text or email photo to the phone number provided during the tournament with the name of the angler and time fish is caught.
• Each fish entered on a scorecard must be photographed with the measuring device visible except bonefish which may be photographed in the water or net.
• Team awards will be based on the highest team point score with all three species.
• Teams with all three species supersede teams gaining more points without catching all three species.  Once you catch 1 slam (Bonefish/Snook/Redfish) you will then be scored on how many points you earn regardless of species. There are NO ADDITIONAL POINTS FOR ADDITIONAL SLAMS. In the event of a tie, the tiebreaker will be based on who caught the last fish first AKA “On Time”.
• If no team catches all three species, the team with the most points with two species will determine the winner. If no team catches two species, the awards will be given based on one species.