Tournament Format
The Herman Lucerne Memorial Backcountry Championship is strictly a catch-and-release fishing tournament. All anglers fish at their own discretion and risk.
Location
Fishing must take place within the boundaries of Everglades National Park.
Fishing within Flamingo Marina is prohibited. For purposes of this tournament, Flamingo Marina includes the area from the marina to the end of the first minimum-wake area on either side of the marina.
Anglers fishing within designated No Motor Zones must comply with all Park regulations and applicable laws. Canoes or other vessels may not be stored illegally within Park boundaries, including at No Motor Zone entrances.
All members of a team must remain together and fish from the same boat during tournament fishing hours.
Fishing Dates and Hours
Saturday, September 19, 2026
Lines In 7:00 a.m.
Lines Out 3:30 p.m.
Sunday, September 20, 2026
Lines In 7:00 a.m.
Lines Out 3:30 p.m.
No eligible fish may be caught or entered outside the official fishing hours.
Captains and Anglers Meeting
All captains and anglers, must attend the Captains Meeting and Kick-Off Dinner on Friday, September 18, 2026, unless previously excused by the HLM Board of Directors.
Day 1 score sheets and Day 1 official tournament markers (wristbands) will be distributed at registration and the mandatory Captains Meeting.
Daily Check-In and Departure
Each angler must physically check in at one of the two official tournament departure points before departing each morning.
At morning check-in, each angler will receive the official tournament marker required for that day. Day 2 score sheets and Day 2 official tournament markers (wristbands) will also be distributed during Sunday morning check-in.
Don’s Bait & Tackle
Teams may not leave the parking lot before 6:00 a.m.
Lorelei
Teams may not leave the parking lot or dock before 6:30 a.m.
Departing before the permitted time will result in forfeiture of that day’s score.
Each angler is responsible for having the following items aboard:
- Official tournament marker for the applicable day
- Daily score sheet or “catch card”
- Official tournament measuring device
- Digital camera or cellphone capable of recording photographs and timestamps
Each team must declare its official launch location, Don’s Bait & Tackle or Lorelei, at registration and the mandatory Captains Meeting on Friday, September 18.
Each angler must physically check in at the team’s declared launch location before departing each morning. Teams must launch from and report their catches at that same location each day.
Daily Catch Submissions
Each team must be prepared to show its camera memory card or cellphone photos and catch card (score sheet) to the tournament scorers located at the Lorelei, Islamorada or Don’s Bait and Tackle Shop, Homestead on Saturday, September 19th and Sunday, September, September 20st between 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
All measuring devices must be returned with the catch card on Sunday, September 20th in order to enter the day’s final catches.
Each angler must physically check out and report all catches at the same official location from which their team launched that day. Anglers must be in line with their completed score sheets and supporting photographs no later than 5:30 p.m.
Eligible Species
The seven eligible species categories are Tarpon, Snook, Redfish, Seatrout, Snapper, Bonefish, and either Largemouth Bass or Black Drum.
For purposes of overall scoring and species count, Largemouth Bass and Black Drum collectively represent one eligible species category. Both remain eligible for separate species-specific awards.
General Scoring
In all applicable award categories, the number of eligible species caught supersedes total score. When two or more anglers or teams catch the same number of species, the highest total score will determine the winner.
Only the largest eligible fish entered in each applicable tackle category will be used when calculating non-tackle-specific awards.
Except for Bonefish, Tarpon and Snook, each entered fish must meet applicable minimum-size requirements under Florida law.
Measured fish will be recorded to the nearest half-inch, rounded down to the closest whole or half-inch.
Bonefish, Tarpon and Snook Scoring
A Bonefish, Tarpon or Snook of any size will qualify as a catch for that species and receive the following flat-point value:
- Bonefish: 20 points
- Tarpon: 30 points
- Snook: 28 points
Applicable tackle multipliers may be applied.
These species will not be measured and cannot be removed from the water unless doing so is necessary to protect the fish from a shark or another immediate threat.
The photograph must show:
- The official tournament marker for that day
- The angler or teammate holding the leader no more than 12 inches from the hook
- Sufficient detail for tournament officials to verify the catch
A net may be used when appropriate, provided the official daily tournament marker is clearly visible in the photograph.
Measured Species and Upgrades
Redfish, Seatrout, Snapper, Largemouth Bass and Black Drum are measured species.
An angler is permitted one upgrade for each measured species during the tournament.
The upgrade may occur on the same day as the original catch or on the following day.
Once an angler measures and submits a second fish of the same species, that fish becomes the angler’s upgraded scored fish for that species, regardless of whether it is longer than the first fish. No additional upgrade will be permitted for that species.
Tackle Multipliers
Actual inches must be recorded in the appropriate tackle column on the score sheet. Tournament staff will calculate all applicable multipliers.
- Artificial tackle: 1.125×
- Fly tackle: 1.25×
Artificial and fly multipliers do not apply to species-specific Largest Fish awards.
Tackle Divisions
Artificial Division
An Artificial Division catch must be made using an artificial lure cast by the angler using a plug or spinning rod.
Fly Division
A Fly Division catch must be made using fly tackle in compliance with the tournament’s tackle and IGFA requirements.
General Division
The General Division includes otherwise eligible catches that do not qualify for the Artificial or Fly Divisions, including catches made using permitted natural bait.
A fish entered in the Artificial or Fly Division may not be caught while chumming or trolling by boat.
Artificial lures and flies may not be “sweetened” through the addition of natural bait, whether dead or alive.
Line, Leaders, Hooks and Rods
The maximum permitted line test or tippet is 20 pounds. Line test will be determined by the manufacturer’s stated line test.
The leader, including any double line, may not exceed the length of the angler’s rod. Fly leaders and tippets must comply with IGFA rules.
Anglers fishing with bait or fly tackle must use single hooks.
Each angler may use or work only one fishing rod at a time.
IGFA Rules
An angler must hook, fight and bring the fish to the boat without assistance from another person.
Gaffing is prohibited.
All IGFA rules apply except where leader length and gaffing are specifically addressed by these tournament rules. Each angler is responsible for knowing and complying with both IGFA rules and these tournament rules.
Catch Photographs
Every fish entered on a score sheet must be photographed at the time of the catch. The photograph’s timestamp will establish the time the fish was landed.
For measured species, the photograph must clearly show:
- The head of the fish positioned against the end of the official measuring device
- The entire fish
- The fish’s total length
- The official tournament marker for that day
Hands, fingers or other objects may not obstruct the fish or its measurement.
Tails may be pinched in accordance with Florida regulations and should be positioned against the inch markings along the lower edge of the official tournament measuring device.
Daily Tournament Markers
Every catch photograph must include the correct official tournament marker for that day.
HLM recommends placing one marker on the measuring device and another on the wrist of the person who will leader non-measured species to ensure the marker is visible in all required photographs.
The 2026 tournament markers are:
- Day 1: “HLM Backcountry Championship Day 1” red-and-white wristband
- Day 2: “HLM Backcountry Championship Day 2” teal-and-white wristband
Award Categories
Overall Awards
- Tournament Grand Champion
- Herman Lucerne Award
- Sponsor Champion
- Next Generation Champion
- Top Guide
Top Angler Awards
- Male, Guided
- Male, Non-Guided
- Female, Guided
- Female, Non-Guided
- Junior, Guided
- Junior, Non-Guided
- Youth, Guided
- Youth, Non-Guided
Team Champion Awards
- Guided Team
- Non-Guided Team
Tackle Division Awards
- Fly, Guided
- Fly, Non-Guided
- Artificial, Guided
- Artificial, Non-Guided
- General, Guided
- General, Non-Guided
Species-Specific Awards
- Largest Redfish
- Largest Seatrout
- Largest Snapper
- Largest Largemouth Bass
- Largest Black Drum
- Most Bonefish
- First Tarpon
- First Snook
Grand Champion and Top Angler Awards
Grand Champion and Top Angler awards will be determined first by the number of eligible species caught and then by the angler’s highest total score, including applicable tackle multipliers.
To qualify for Tournament Grand Champion, an angler must catch at least four of the seven eligible species categories.
Herman Lucerne Award
The Herman Lucerne Award will be presented to the angler earning the highest score without the application of tackle multipliers.
The number of eligible species caught will supersede total score.
Team Champion Awards
A team must include at least two registered anglers to qualify for a Guided or Non-Guided Team Champion award.
Every member of the team must catch at least one fish used to calculate the team’s score.
Guided and Non-Guided Classification
A team or individual fishing aboard a boat with a licensed captain, guide or professional angler will be classified in the Guided category.
For purposes of these rules, a professional angler is:
- An individual who has accepted compensation as a guide or captain at any time during the two years preceding the tournament; or
- An individual who receives a substantial portion of their annual income from tournament fishing.
The Tournament Rules Committee will make the final determination regarding whether an individual is considered a professional angler.
Sponsor Champion
The Sponsor Champion award will recognize the registered sponsor team earning the highest score under the tournament’s standard species and scoring rules.
Guides and professional anglers may compete as registered members of a sponsor team but are eligible only for the Sponsor Champion award. Their catches will not qualify any other awards.
A sponsor team fishing with a guide or professional angler aboard will otherwise be classified as Guided.
Youth, Junior and Next Generation Awards
A Youth Angler is an angler who has not reached their 11th birthday as of September 18, 2026.
A Junior Angler is an angler who is at least 11 years old but has not reached their 18th birthday as of September 18, 2026.
The Next Generation Champion will be the highest-scoring angler across the combined Youth and Junior categories.
Species-Specific Awards
Largest Fish awards will be presented for Redfish, Seatrout, Snapper, Largemouth Bass and Black Drum. These awards are based on actual length without tackle multipliers or maximum-length restrictions.
The Most Bonefish award will be presented to the angler recording the greatest number of eligible Bonefish catches. If no angler catches more than one Bonefish, the award will go to the angler who recorded the first eligible Bonefish.
The First Tarpon and First Snook awards will be determined by the photograph timestamp of the first eligible catch.
Top Guide
The Top Guide award will be presented to the captain whose angler or anglers collectively catch the greatest number of eligible species.
If two or more captains are tied in number of species, the highest applicable total score will determine the winner.
Ultimate Tiebreaker
If an award remains tied after all other applicable tiebreakers have been applied, the team or individual who caught their final eligible fish first will be declared the winner.
Communications During Fishing Hours
The use of cellular phones or radio communication with non-registered anglers for the purpose of obtaining fishing information during tournament fishing hours is strictly prohibited.
Boat Occupants and Fishing License
Only registered anglers, licensed captains, Tournament Rules Committee members or authorized tournament designees may be aboard a participating boat during tournament fishing hours.
Every angler must possess a current Florida fishing license unless exempt under Florida law or fishing aboard a vessel whose captain holds a current vessel fishing license that covers the angler.
Protests and Rules Committee
A registered angler may protest another registered angler’s catch by submitting a written protest to the Tournament Rules Committee no later than 5:30 p.m. on the day of the disputed catch.
Questions may be submitted to the Committee during fishing hours. Until the Committee issues a ruling, a questioned catch must not be included in the angler’s score.
The Tournament Rules Committee will consist of five individuals, including:
- The HLM President
- At least one non-competing HLM Board Member
- One non-competing, currently licensed fishing guide
- Two additional non-competing individuals who meet one of the qualifications above
The Tournament Rules Committee will resolve all protests, and its decisions will be final.
Compliance and Disqualification
Each angler is responsible for accurately completing and signing their score sheet and returning it, along with all required photographs, according to the tournament’s check-out procedures.
Failure to comply with tournament rules, FWC regulations, applicable laws or Everglades National Park regulations may result in disqualification of an angler, team or catch.
Violations include, but are not limited to:
- Failure to observe pole/troll zones
- Failure to observe idle-speed zones
- Speeding
- Improper use of No Motor Zones
- Failure to complete required check-in or check-out procedures
- Submission of an improperly documented catch
Polygraph Examinations
By entering the tournament, each registered angler agrees to voluntarily submit to a polygraph examination selected by the Tournament Rules Committee at any time before all winners and awards are determined and announced.
The method and conduct of the examination and interpretation of its results will be determined solely by the appointed polygraph examiner, whose opinion will be final.
If a registered angler refuses to submit to an examination, or if any registered angler or boat occupant provides a response that the examiner determines to be inaccurate or untruthful, all registered anglers aboard that boat will be immediately disqualified.
A disqualified angler will not be entitled to a prize, award or entry-fee refund.
Weather
If weather causes one of the two fishing days to be canceled, the tournament will become a one-day tournament.
The Tournament Rules Committee will make all decisions regarding weather-related cancellations.
Indemnity
All anglers participate at their own risk and agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Tournament Committee, directors, sponsors, agents and employees from any liability, loss or damage arising from participation in the tournament.
Tournament Authority
The Tournament Rules Committee reserves the right to refuse the registration of any angler. The Committee’s interpretation of these rules and decisions regarding eligibility, scoring, protests and disqualification will be final.