RULES GOVERNING THE GOLD CUP TARPON TOURNAMENT
Islamorada, Florida

The following Gold Cup Tarpon Tournament (“GCTT”) Rules,” as amended June 2023, shall govern the 2023 Gold Cup Tarpon Tournament:

I. GENERAL

The Gold Cup Tarpon Tournament (the “Tournament”) is the longest continuously running tarpon fly tournament. The purpose of the GCTT Rules is to promote and foster the Tournament’s legacy of sportsmanship and fair competition among friends in pursuit of landing large tarpon on fly tackle.

The Tournament shall take place each year in Islamorada, Florida, beginning on the third Monday in June, and shall continue for five full fishing days through Friday. There will be a kick-off and registration banquet the Sunday evening before the first day of fishing and an awards and closing event after the last day of fishing.

1.03 The Tournament shall be governed by the Fly Fishing Rules of the International Game Fish Association (“IGFA Rules”) and these GCTT Rules, as amended from time to time. In the rare instance when the GCTT Rules may conflict with the IGFA Rules, the GCTT Rules shall supersede the IGFA Rules. It is the responsibility of each Angler and Guide to know the IGFA Rules and the GCTT Rules.

1.04 The Tournament shall be conducted by various committees as set forth below and by the annual Chairperson who shall be elected by the prior year’s Anglers. In the event the elected Chairperson cannot serve, the Vice-Chairperson shall assume the role.

II. ANGLERS AND GUIDES

2.01 The Tournament is limited to 25 Anglers who are invited to participate. Invitations will be issued to prospective Anglers based upon approval of Chairperson and Tournament Committee. Anglers desiring an invitation may submit an application to the Tournament Committee. Anglers receiving an invitation must confirm participation by paying the required entry fee deposit prior to the deadline listed on the invitation. Unpaid Anglers risk losing their place in the Tournament.

2.02 The Tournament Committee should consider the following factors when selecting Anglers to receive an invitation: 1) Anglers who participated in the prior year’s Tournament; 2) past Grand Champions; 3) past participants based on number of years fished; and, 4) new anglers based on waiting time.

2.03 Each Angler must fish with a Guide licensed by the United States Coast Guard. Guides cannot fish. Only the Angler and Guide are permitted aboard the skiff during the fishing day.

2.04 Guides may not guide for a member of their immediate family, defined as spouse, sibling, child or parent.

2.05 An active Florida Skiff Guide, defined as an individual having provided guiding services for hire within the prior six months, shall not be eligible to participate as an Angler.

2.06 The Tournament entry fee will include the cost of all banquet and other daily and evening activities for the Angler and Guide. Guests may be added to these activities for an additional fee set by the Tournament Committee.

2.07 In the event of emergency or illness, an Angler or Guide may have a substitute.

2.08 The Angler is responsible for daily Guide fees.

2.09 Anglers and Guides shall be randomly placed on five teams of equal size for purposes of starting times and team awards.

2.10 The Angler and his Guide must attend the pre-tournament kick-off banquet to confirm registration, receive Tournament information and pick up measuring packets.

III. TACKLE

3.01 Only fly casting will be permitted, and only artificial lures, as well as one-handed rods and single action reels, may be used. The rod may not be altered after a fish is hooked.

3.02 Tippet shall be 16 lb. manufacturer’s stated test and will be furnished at no charge by the Tournament.

3.03 Leaders must contain not less than 15 inches of Tournament approved tippet material between the knots. A shock tippet may be of nonmetallic or metallic material, may not exceed 12 inches including the knots, and must be tied directly to the Tournament approved tippet.

3.04 A broken rod, above the reel seat, will not disqualify a caught or released fish.

3.05 A release gaff may be used and must be no more than two feet long with ropes or straps not to exceed 12 inches. Fish may be lip gaffed only.

IV. FISHING TIMES, TERRITORY AND RULES

4.01 Each day the fishing shall begin at a Fishing Headquarters selected by the Tournament Committee, and all Anglers must sign-in prior to departing to fish.

4.02 All boats must depart from and return to Fishing Headquarters by water. Anglers and Guides may fish any areas accessible by boat from Fishing Headquarters.

4.03 Under the direction of an official starter, skiffs will leave in a “staggered start” fashion by teams. The first team shall leave at 5:45 am, the second at 6:00 am, and the remaining teams in two minute intervals thereafter. Starting times shall be rotated among the teams each day to assure that each team receives a different starting time each day, and that each team receives each starting time once during the Tournament.

4.04 Fishing may begin as soon as a skiff arrives at a fishing spot. Fishing may continue until 3:00 pm at which time lines must be out of the water. A fish hooked prior to 3:00 pm may be fought, caught and released after 3:00 pm. However, all boats must return to Fishing Headquarters by 5:00 pm. Boats returning to Fishing Headquarters after 5:00 pm may incur a penalty as set forth in Section VI.

4.05 The start on any day may be delayed by the Tournament in the event of imminent inclement or dangerous weather. In the event of severe weather (i.e. tropical storm), the Tournament Committee may reduce the number of fishing days.

4.06 The policy of the Tournament is that the first skiff to reach a spot is entitled to fish there. The Guides Committee strongly recommends strict observation of all recognized courtesies and sporting practices between skiffs. This includes giving way and providing sufficient room to other boats in an area that typically accommodates more than one skiff under normal fishing conditions. Understanding that the Florida Keys waters are fished by many skiffs each day, it is considered unsportsmanlike and a GCTT Rules violation to have a spot “saved” by another boat.

4.07 Chumming or fishing in or near chummed areas is not allowed. In addition, there will be no fishing within 150 yards of known “pet fish” areas, such as Robbie’s Marina.

4.08 There will be no fishing or staking above the “pocket” of Buchanan Bank.

4.09 No assistance may be given to any Angler other than by his Guide who handles the boat, gaffs or grabs fish, and measures or releases fish.

4.10 No Angler or Guide may scout for fish using aircraft during the period from the beginning of fishing on the first day until the end of fishing on the last day.

4.11 No Angler or Guide shall use any type of electronic fishing finding device, sonar, or side scanner to locate fish. If the skiff in use is equipped with such a fish finding device, it must be turned off from the beginning of fishing on the first day until the end of fishing on the last day.

V. SKIFFS AND BOATING

5.01 The fishing boat shall be a traditional flats skiff design or one approved at the discretion of the Tournament Committee.

5.02 Each skiff shall be properly equipped with Coast Guard safety equipment. Guides are expected to operate skiffs in keeping with applicable boating laws and traditional fishing and boating norms for the areas fished.

5.03 All skiffs shall have running lights. Any skiff without operative running lights shall not be allowed to leave Fishing Headquarters prior to 6:15 am. Running lights must be kept on until 6:15 am whether running or stationary.

5.04 No ladder or heightening device platform shall extend more than four feet above the gunwale of the skiff.

5.05 Electric motors are not allowed. The Tournament Committee may waive this rule for valid medical reasons.

VI. MEASURING AND SCORING

6.01 The Tournament Grand Champion shall be the Angler who accumulates the most points during the five days of fishing. In addition, the Tournament may also recognize point totals or fish caught by other finishers in individual or team awards.

6.02 For purposes of measuring and scoring, the Tournament shall issue to each Angler and Guide a measuring packet including: a four foot stick, a measuring tape, five zip-tie “straps,” a roll of sticky tape, and five Catch and Release forms. The Angler or Guide shall provide a digital camera.

6.03 Fish may be submitted for points as either a released fish (a “Release”) or as a weight fish (a “Weight Fish”). Anglers may submit no more than five Weight Fish for scoring during the Tournament. As described below, Releases and Weight Fish must be hooked, fought, and brought to hand or lip gaff to earn points. Fish shall be caught, and points shall be earned, in compliance with Federal, State and local fishing regulations for the waters fished.

6.04 There is no limit to the number of Releases allowed. However, an Angler’s total Release points allowed may not exceed that Angler’s total Weight Fish points. For team scoring, a team may count Release points of an Angler without Weight Fish points, provided that the team’s aggregate Release points do not exceed the team’s aggregate Weight Fish points.

6.05 After capturing a fish by lip gaff or hand, the Angler and Guide must decide whether to score the fish as a Release or a Weight Fish. In order to score as a Weight Fish, a fish must weigh 70 pounds or more and, prior to measurement, the Angler and Guide must estimate the weight of the fish in the water. It is considered unsportsmanlike for an Angler or Guide to partially lift a fish from the water to estimate weight.

6.06 If the Angler and Guide decide to score a caught fish as a Release, then Release points are earned by taking a digital image of the fish clearly demonstrating that the Angler or Guide has complete control over the fish by hand or lip gaff. The image should show as much of the fish as possible. If necessary, the length should be verified with the four foot stick, as measured along the side (lateral line) from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail. A Release is worth 300 points.

6.07 Alternatively, if the Angler and Guide decide to score a caught fish as a Weight Fish, then the Angler and Guide must complete the following procedure as quickly as possible: 1) using the measuring tape, the length of the fish shall be measured along its side (lateral line) in inches from the tip of the lower jaw to the center of the fork of the tail with such length recorded on the Catch and Release form; 2) the girth shall be measured using a zip-tie “strap,” which shall be placed around the widest part of the fish, perpendicular to the lateral line, and closed snugly; 3) the Angler or Guide must then take a digital image of the fish showing as much of the fish as possible with the strap on the fish; and, 4) the strap should be slipped off and secured with the sticky tape. If, for any reason, the Weight Fish scoring procedure is not completed, but a digital image of the caught fish is taken, then the Angler is still entitled to Release points under Section 6.06 for successfully capturing the fish.

6.08 At the conclusion of each fishing day, the Angler and Guide must submit a signed Catch and Release form to the Tournament Judges whether or not any fish have been caught. The Catch and Release form shall include the time for the catch and release of all fish, plus measurements of each Weight Fish released. Any Angler who has caught Weight Fish must turn in the sized and taped strap from those fish. Finally, a digital image taken of each Release Fish and Weight Fish caught (if a Weight Fish clearly showing the fish properly strapped per the above instructions) shall be submitted to the scorekeeper, preferably via text. These items must be turned in by 5:00 pm, or the Angler will be not be given any points from fish that day or, in the case of a form without points, a late Angler will be assessed a 100 point penalty. The Tournament Judges may waive the 5:00 pm rule for boat breakdowns or unusual circumstances.

6.09 The official weight of a Weight Fish shall be calculated by the Tournament scorekeeper using a length and girth formula. The Tournament shall use the formula determined by the Anglers to be as accurate as possible for calculating the weight of a fish. Each year, the formula to be used will be distributed and explained to the Anglers and Guides at the kick-off banquet. Weight Fish points are equal to calculated weight to the nearest 10th in pounds times 10.

6.10 Under no circumstances are fish to be killed and brought to the dock unless the Angler and Guide believe the fish to be a prospective world record. Any fish brought to the dock for record purposes shall, for Tournament purposes, be scored as a Weight Fish using the Tournament measurements and formula, not the actual weight.

6.11 Any potential Weight Fish measured and scored less than 70 pounds shall not be awarded any Release or Weight Fish points, and that fish shall be counted towards the Angler’s five Weight Fish limit.

6.12 A scoring example: an Angler catches two Releases on the first day. He has no points, but two Releases (600 points) for his team (assuming a team member caught a Weight Fish). On the second day, he catches two more Releases and a Weight Fish that calculates to 72.1 lbs.; therefore, his Weight Fish points are 721. He now has 1,442 total points; his four Releases total 1,200 points, but he only receives Release points equal to 721 – his Weight Fish points. His team, however, receives his full 1,921 points (assuming the team has sufficient Weight Fish points). On the third day, he catches and measures his second Weight Fish, estimated by the Angler and Guide to be over 70 pounds, but which scores 69 pounds; he receives no points for this fish and loses the strap. Having scored two Weight Fish, he may score only three more Weight Fish.

VII. GOVERNANCE AND DISPUTES

7.01 The Tournament shall be conducted by the Chairperson and a volunteer committee of Anglers and various sub-committees as set from time to time.

7.02 The standing committees shall consist of: 1) a Tournament Committee, composed of the Chairperson and five (5) current GCTT Anglers ; 2) a Guides Committee, composed of active Guides; and, 3) an Arbitration Committee, composed of distinguished former Anglers and Guides who no longer participate in the Tournament.

7.03 The Tournament may hire professional administrators to assist with operations, bookkeeping, marketing and public relations, logistics and other duties. In addition, the Tournament shall secure judges to oversee daily sign-in, start and return times, Weight Fish scoring, total point calculations and scorekeeping.

7.04 There shall be a Kick-Off event at 6:0 pm on the Sunday evening prior to the Tournament. As a part of the Kick-Off, there shall be a Captains’ Meeting at 6:30pm when the GCTT Rules and the weight calculation formulas shall be reviewed and explained. Both Angler and Guide for each team must attend the Captains’ Meeting or the team shall be assessed a 150 point penalty. In the event of an emergency or other unforeseen circumstances, the Tournament Committee may waive the penalty if one team member in unable to attend the Captains’ Meeting.

7.05 There shall be an annual Anglers’ meeting after fishing on the Wednesday of the Tournament week to conduct any business of the Tournament. All Anglers are invited to attend and are entitled to vote on matters that come before the group. The Anglers shall elect a Chairperson for the following year. The Chairperson will appoint a Tournament and Guides Committee to review the Rules for the next year’s Tournament. Not including the Chairperson, the Tournament Committee shall consist of five (5) current GCTT Anglers. The Chairperson and the Tournament Committee will issue the invitations for the following year. Anglers at this meeting may propose changes to the GCTT Rules and/or the weight calculation formulas, however, this annual meeting is the only time that proposed amendments or changes to the GCTT Rules or weight calculation formulas may be made. Any proposed changes to a GCTT Rule or to the weight calculation formulas will only be considered after an affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) or more of the Anglers in attendance at the meeting. If a two-thirds or more vote is achieved, the Tournament and Guides Committees will review the proposed change(s) and, only after another affirmative two-thirds (2/3) or more vote by the joint committee, will the change(s) be adopted. Consideration and vote by the joint committee shall take place prior to the following year’s invitations being issued. Suggestions and comments on Tournament operations or the Rules are encouraged.

7.06 The Guides Committee is responsible for organizing meetings of the Guides to clarify GCTT and/or IGFA rule interpretation, discuss starting and boating procedures, emphasize sporting practices, and other matters as may be required.

7.07 All grievances concerning the Rules shall be in writing, signed and submitted to the Tournament Judges by 5:00 pm on the day of the alleged infraction. Oral or anonymous grievances, or those filed after 5:00 pm, will not be considered. The matter in dispute shall be referred to the Tournament Committee who shall determine the proper treatment of the issue. If the decision of the Tournament Committee is not accepted by either party to a dispute, the matter will be referred to the Arbitration Committee whose judgment shall be final and binding on the parties. All decisions by the committees shall be final and irreversible as of 5:00 pm on the last day of fishing.

7.08 Any infraction of the Rules will result in the Angler losing all points for that day of fishing.

VIII. OTHER

8.01 The Tournament operates on the “Honor System,” and as such, relies on the integrity of its participants to guard its reputation as the premier salt water fly fishing tournament. Any Angler or Guide found to have knowingly or willfully violated the Honor System, or another Tournament Rule, may be disqualified from the Tournament and/or not invited to return in the future.

8.02 The intent of the GCTT Rules is to create an understandable, fair and sportsmanlike environment where the Angler’s and Guide’s expertise in locating, hooking, landing and releasing large tarpon on fly is rewarded, and to preserve the angling skills and Weight Fish judgment, in keeping with the Tournament’s legacy and primary purpose as a no-kill tournament.