Catch and Release
The Herman Lucerne Backcountry Fishing Championship is strictly a catch and release fishing tournament.
Location
Fishing shall be within the boundaries of Everglades National Park.
Fishing in the Flamingo Marina is prohibited. The Flamingo Marina shall be defined as the area from the marina to the end of the first minimum wake area on either side of the marina
Anglers choosing to fish within designated NO MOTOR ZONES (NMZ) must adhere to all Park regulations and applicable laws. (Note: the stowing of canoe’s illegally within park boundaries at NMZ entrances or elsewhere will not be tolerated as this does not adhere to current Park regulations.)
All team members must fish on the same boat during fishing hours.
Check-in / Check-out
Check in:
Each angler will be required to physically check in at one of the two official Tournament departure points. At the time of check-in, they will be given the official tournament marker for that day (To be included in the photograph recording each caught fish.)
Don’s: 6:00 am. Teams may not leave the parking lot of Don’s Bait and Tackle until 6:00 A.M.
Lorelei: 6:30 am. Teams may not leave the parking lot or dock of the Lorelei until 6:30 A.M.
Departing before the allowed time will result in forfeiture of that day’s scoring.
Check out:
Don’s & Lorelei: scorecards to be turned in by 5:30pm. Failure for an angler to physically return their own (Angler must be present to check out) scorecard by 5:30 will result in a forfeiture of that days’ scores.
Fishing Hours
Saturday, September 21, 2024, 7:00 A.M. to 3:30 P.M.
Sunday, September 22, 2024, 7:00 A.M. to 3:30 P.M.
All anglers must sign in each day prior to departure from either the Lorelei or from Don’s Bait and Tackle
Each angler will be given their scoring package, including measuring devices at the registration check-in at the MANDATORY Captain’s Meeting on Friday Sept. 20. It is the angler’s responsibility to have these items on board each day.
Each team must be prepared to show its camera memory card or cellphone photos and catch card to the tournament scorers located at the Lorelei, Islamorada or Don’s Bait and Tackle Shop in Homestead on Saturday, September 21th and Sunday, September 22th between 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
All measuring devices must be returned with the catch card on Sunday, September 22th in order to enter the day’s final catches.
Eligible Species
Tarpon, Snook, Redfish, Seatrout, Snapper, Bonefish, and Largemouth Bass or Black Drum.
Tournament Awards
Tournament Grand Champion
Top Anglers:
- Male, Guided
- Male, Non-guided
- Female, Guided
- Female, Non-guided
- Junior, Guided
- Junior, Non-guided
- Youth, Guided
- Youth, Non-guided
Two Team Champions
Guided Team Non-guided Team
Six Division Champions:
- Fly, Guided
- Fly, Non-guided
- Artificial, Guided
- Artificial, Non-guided
- General, Guided
- General, Non-guided
Largest of Each Species:
Redfish, Seatrout, Snapper, and Bass or Black Drum.
An award will be given to the most bonefish caught, if in the case that no one catches more than one, the award will be given to the first bonefish caught.
The largest eligible fish awards shall be awarded to the anglers who catch the largest eligible fish in each of the six eligible fish divisions.
There shall be no maximum lengths for this award and no tackle bonuses.
Top Guide
Awarded to the Captain whose angler(s) catches the most species of eligible fish in accordance with the same rules of the Grand Champion.
In all categories the number of species supersedes the total number of inches. In case of a species tie the highest total inches will determine the winner.
Award Eligibility and Scoring
Grand Champion and Top Angler Awards:
The winner shall be the individual that accumulates the highest total inches (including tackle multiples) of eligible fish.
Number of species caught supersedes total inches.
Only the largest fish* entered in each of the eligible tackle categories shall be used in calculating the total inches for the non-tackle specific prizes.
Each fish entered must meet minimum size requirements in accordance with Florida State laws with the exception of bonefish and snook.
The length of an eligible fish shall be calculated to the closest l/2 inch, rounded down to the closest inch or l/2 inch.
A BONEFISH, TARPON, or SNOOK of ANY SIZE will count as your catch for that species in whatever tackle category it is originally caught on, and will count for the flat points listed below (plus tackle category multiplier). This fish will not be measured and cannot be removed from the water (unless a shark requires this for the safety of the fish). A simple picture of the above species with a hand on the leader no more than 12” from the hook that also includes the Tournament Marker for that day in the photograph will count as a caught fish. A net may be used with Tournament Marker for that day in the photograph, consistent with bonefish photos, if the size of the Tarpon or Snook is applicable.
A fish of any size qualifies for the following points mentioned below. Tackle multipliers can be applied.
*Once entered these fish CANNOT be upgraded via a different tackle category multipliers (general, spin, fly).
- BONEFISH-20 points (same as last year)
- TARPON- 30 points (tournament avg size)
- SNOOK-28 points (tournament avg size)
The other four species TROUT, REDFISH, DRUM (BASS), SNAPPER scoring will remain the same as years past including tackle multipliers x1.25 for artificial and x1.5 for fly.
Anglers will be allowed ONE upgrade to each of these four species- This upgrade can occur on the same day, or on the subsequent day, but ONLY ONE upgrade is allowed per species. Once you measure that fish, it is your scored fish for that species.
Largest fish prize categories will remain the same with the exception that there will be no longer tarpon or largest snook awards.
Bonefish (most caught, same as last year)
To be eligible for the Grand Champion award an angler must have caught at least four of the seven eligible species exceeding the minimum size.
Team Awards
Eligibility for Team Champion awards (guide or non-guided) requires a team to consist of at least two anglers.
Every member of a team must have caught at least one of the fish used to calculate the team score.
Guided vs. Non-guided Award Variations, and Top Guide Award
If you have a Guide/Professional on board, you must be scored in the Guided Category.
Guided vs. Non-guided Award Variations, and Top Guide Award
A guided team or individual shall mean any team or individual who is fishing on a boat with a licensed captain or a professional angler.
Artificial and Fly Division Awards
A fish scored for the Artificial Division Award is caught by using an artificial lure, cast by the angler using a plug or spinning rod.
A fish scored for an Artificial or Fly Division award must not have been caught while chumming or trolling by boat.
Artificial lures and Flies may not be “sweetened” by the addition of any natural bait, dead or alive.
Junior and Young Adult Anglers
A Youth Angler is an angler who has not reached their eleventh birthday as of September 20, 2024
A Junior Angler is an angler who has not reached their eighteenth birthday as of September 20, 2024
Bonus Inches for Fly and Artificial
ACTUAL INCHES of measurement should be recorded in the appropriate tackle column on your scoresheet. Subsequent tackle mutliples will be calculated by the tournament staff. The largest fish for an eligible species caught on artificial will be scored at 1.25 times the total length.
The largest fish for an eligible species caught on fly will be scored at 1.50 times the total length.
Artificial and Fly multipliers do not apply to scoring for “Largest Fish” awards for each species.
Ultimate Tie Breaker
In the event of a tie after all other tie breakers have been applied for an award, the team/individual that caught the last eligible fish FIRST shall be the winner.
Line Test and Leader
The maximum line test/tippet allowed shall be 20-lb. test.
Line test shall be determined by the line manufacturers stated line test.
The leader, including double line, shall not exceed the length of the angler’s rod.
For anglers fishing with a fly rod, the leader and tippet length shall comply with IGFA rules.
Hooks and Rods
Anglers fishing with bait or fishing with a fly rod must only use single hooks.
Each angler may only use or work one fishing rod at a time.
IGFA Rules
An angler must hook, fight and bring the fish to the boat unaided by any other person. Gaffing shall not be allowed.
All IGFA rules shall apply except leader length and gaffing as specifically stated herein. It is the responsibility of each angler to know, understand and abide by the IGFA and these rules.
Photographs
Anglers must provide a digital camera with a memory card or cellphone.
Each fish entered on a scorecard must be photographed with the camera or cell phone at the time the fish is caught.
The photograph must clearly show the head of the fish against the end of the measuring device and clearly show the entire fish and the total length of the fish, without obstruction of hands or fingers.
Tails may be pinched according to Florida state regulations. Tails should be pinched against the inch hashes on the lower edge of the official tournament ruler.
For fish larger than the measuring device, the photograph must clearly show the total length of the fish on the tournament tape measure. All photos must include the official tournament marker provided.
Protests
A registered angler may protest any other registered angler’s catch by filing a written protest to the Tournament Rules Committee by 5:00 P.M. of the day of the protested catch. Questions may be submitted for ruling by the Committee during fishing hours, however, pending any ruling, any catch under question should NOT be counted as scored until ruled as such by the Committee.
The Tournament Rules Committee shall be composed of five individuals, including: The Tournament Director, at least one Herman Lucerne Board Member (not competing in the tournament), One current licensed Fishing Guide (not competing in the tournament) and two others who are either of the above, so long as they are not competing in the tournament.
The judge’s committee will settle any protest and their decision will be final.
Compliance
Each team shall be responsible for accurately and completely filling out and signing the team’s scorecard each day and timely returning the scorecard and tournament camera to the tournament committee boat. Failure to comply with any rule or regulation of the tournament, FWC regulation, law, rule or regulation of Everglades National Park, including but not limited to failure to observe poll/troll or idle zones, speeding, improper use of no motor zones, will cause the disqualification of an angler or the angler’s catch.
Polygraphs
In consideration of the tournament’s acceptance of an angler entry, each registered angler specifically agrees and consents to voluntarily submit to a polygraph examination or examinations, to be conducted by a polygraph examiner selected by the tournament committee, at any time until all prizewinners and awards are determined and announced. The method and conduct of all polygraph examinations, and the interpretation of the results thereof, shall be in the sole judgment of the polygraph examiner appointed by the tournament committee and whose opinion shall be final. If any registered angler refuses to submit to a polygraph examination or if any registered angler or occupant gives a response which, in the sole opinion of the polygraph examiner, is not accurate or untruthful, then all registered anglers on the boat shall be immediately disqualified without further notice. Any registered angler so disqualified shall not be entitled to any prize, award, or entry fee refund.
Weather
All anglers will fish at their own discretion and at their own risk. If bad weather causes the cancellation of one of the two days of fishing, the tournament will become a one-day tournament. The judges’ committee shall be responsible for making the decision.
Indemnity
All anglers will fish at their own risk. All anglers agree to indemnify and hold harmless all members of the Tournament Committee, Directors, Sponsors and their agents and employees from any and all liability, loss or damage they may suffer as a result of this fishing tournament.
Captains/Anglers Meeting
All captains/anglers or their representatives shall attend the Captain’s Meeting and Kick-off dinner on Friday September 20, 2024.
Cell Phones/Radio Contact
The use of cellular phones or radio communication with non-registered anglers, for fishing information, during tournament fishing hours is strictly prohibited.
Miscellaneous
No one other than a registered angler shall be allowed in a boat, other than a licensed captain or competition committee member or designee.
Guides and or professional anglers may not compete as anglers in the Herman Lucerne Backcountry Championships. A professional shall be defined as: 1) any individual who has accepted compensation as a guide or captain at any time during the two years preceding the start of this competition; or, 2) an individual who receives a substantial amount of his/her annual income from tournament fishing. The rules committee’s decision as to whether or not an individual is a professional shall be final.
Any boat with a professional aboard shall be entered into the guided division(s).
Every angler must have a current Florida fishing license, unless exempt by Florida law, or fish on a vessel whose captain has a current boat fishing license.
The members of a team may not separate during tournament fishing hours (i.e., all team members must fish on the same boat).
The tournament committee reserves the right to refuse the registration of any angler. Tournament results will be posted after the awards dinner by 9 p.m.
Any challenges to the calculations should be made within one hour of posting.