Any boat not operating in a safe and sportsmanlike manner will receive an official warning from the tournament judge. A second warning may result in immediate disqualification from the tournament and all previous releases shall be forfeited.

Foul or abusive language on the radio or on the water by any participant will not be tolerated. Any other action by a participant which is considered offensive by tournament officials or reflects negatively on the event may be grounds for disqualification.

• An official release will occur when the observer verifies a fish as a tarpon and the angler retrieves the line to the point where the swivel/knot clearly touches the tip of the rod, or the captain/mate clearly touches the leader. At that time, an official release will have occurred and the observer will immediately note on the scorecard the release time. The observer or captain will then contact the tournament judge on radio channel #71, or by text, giving the boat name, Team number, anglers name and time of release.
• Every effort should be made to release the tarpon as quickly and efficiently as possible boat side. Lines may not be cut or broken intentionally away from the boat after an official release if a tarpon extends the fight.
• Last tarpon released prize – to be awarded to the team that releases the last tarpon and is not in first or second place.

Leaders/winners will be decided by earliest time of tarpon released.

The first and last tarpon released prize will be decided by the observers official hook up time and release time. Official event time shall be the head judges cell phone time. Each observer will have a cell phone and their cell phone time will be official for the boat they are on. The observer scorecard must be signed by both captain and observer, then submitted to the head judge at the conclusion of the event to be official.

• 1st Tiebreaker: In the event of a first tarpon caught tie on release time, the tiebreaker will be awarded to the team which hooked up first by observers official scorecard hook up time.
• 2nd Tiebreaker: If hook up times and release times match up, (Example: two first fish hooked within the 5:01 p.m. minute and both released within the 5:04 p.m. minute), the head judge will administer a coin flip to determine the leader/winner.

Should weather conditions not allow safe competition during scheduled tournament hours, the tournament shall be rescheduled to 9 a.m. the following morning. Should unsafe conditions remain the following day, the tournament shall be cancelled, and all prizes awarded by drawing. Charitable entry fee donations will not be refunded. In case of unsafe weather conditions developing after the tournament starts, the tournament may be delayed or stopped at the discretion of the tournament judge. If delayed, the tournament will resume when the judge determines safe conditions exist. If stopped, the leader board will be frozen at the time the tournament was stopped and winners/winner will be declared. All prizes will be awarded.