Tournament Outline & Rules

THE GOAL:

The purpose and goal of this tournament is to cultivate a friendly environment for kayak fishermen to compete geared around the Yak Tribe Kayak Shop events and gatherings. We will be hosting a bimonthly Yak Tribe party at 2pm at the Yak Tribe Kayak Shop. Our tournaments will take place the morning of the Yak Tribe party (Saturday) and end with a live “trash fish” weigh in at the shop where winners will be announced.

Please come to the Yak Tribe party. Win or lose – it will be good time! We will have FREE raffles, random giveaways, games, music, weigh-ins, and more. Bring your small charcoal grill and lawn chair and let’s have an old school block party! We have always made an effort to not just be a social media page but a real community. Hope to see you there!

SECTION 1: IMPORTANT NOTICE:

It is YOUR responsibility to know the rules. Updates may come through the Fishing Chaos app and through your email so please be on the lookout leading up to the tournament. This tournament is not geared towards “professional kayak anglers.” Please keep this in mind when competing and rubbing elbows with other anglers at our events. Unsportsmanlike conduct and talk will not be tolerated whatsoever both on and off the water. Unsportsmanlike conduct can potentially disqualify you from this tournament and any future tournaments or events Yak Tribe or Yak Tribe Kayak Shop holds.

SECTION 2: RULES & OVERVIEW

1. You must download and use the Fishing Chaos app to participate in this tournament.
2. Participation is open to anyone 18 years of age or older.
3. Yak Tribe tournaments will be held from first safe light until 1pm. (See fishing chaos app or email for exact launch time. Most tournaments will be starting at 6:30am or 7am.

1. This is a hybrid tournament. All slot fish are CPR (Catch Photo Release) only. The trash fish division will be weighed live at the Yak Tribe Kayak Shop event at 2pm.
2. Safety is priority number one. During the tournament, all participants are required to comply with US Coast Guard regulations. All participants must always wear a PFD while competing in our tournament and on the water events and must be in possession of a sounding device such as a whistle as required by the Coast Guard.

1. In an effort to prohibit people from launching early, the first photo you submit in the fishing chaos app the morning of the tournament will be a photo of your kayak, your PFD / Life Jacket, and your identifier with the code written on it. All 3 items must be in the photo. The timestamp on the photo will automatically be marked when submitted on the app. If you fail to have your kayak, PFD, and your identifier in the photo at the launch – your photo will be denied/rejected and you will have to return back to the launch to take an updated photo. All fish caught and submitted prior to an approved launch photo will be disqualified.
2. You must fish within the boundaries given for the particular city the tournament is being held in. Boundaries will be released and posted on the Fishing Chaos app and on the Yak Tribe website. Everyone will be launching in a different location of their choosing as long as it is within the boundaries provided.
3. All harvested trash fish will be donated to a local crab fisherman.
4. You DO NOT have to harvest or turn in trash fish to win this tournament.
5. You must be in line and at the Yak Tribe Kayak Shop by 2:30 with your trash fish to weigh-in if you are weighing in any trash fish.
6. Our slots do NOT reflect local regulations. Do not keep these fish. If you do, you are responsible for knowing and abiding by local regulations.
7. You must have a valid fishing license to fish this tournament.
8. The live leaderboard will be turned off between 9am and 10am.
9. You may only use a rod and reel to catch fish in this tournament. No bow hunting, cast netting, etc.
10. You may use live bait, dead bait, frozen bait, and artificial lures in this tournament.
11. You may not wade fish. You may step out of your kayak if you run aground so that you can get back to fishable water.
12. You may not launch multiple times in one day. You may only launch one time the morning of the tournament.
13. No shuttling your kayak. You are not permitted to launch in one area and be picked up in another area.
14. There will not be a captains meeting. We will have multiple live sessions and chats going on before the tournament that you are encouraged to join in on. Updates will be pushed out through the Fishing Chaos app and email.

SECTION 3: TOURNAMENT OUTLINE / FISH SLOTS

1. This is a hybrid tournament. 3 of your fish will be submitted through the Fishing Chaos app and 2 of your trash fish will be weighed live at the Yak Tribe Kayak Shop.
2. You will have a total of 7 species of fish to submit in this series. 5 of these species are CPR (catch photo release) and 2 of these species are able to be harvested and weighed at the YTKS.
3. Submittable fish: Redfish, Snook, Spotted Sea Trout, Sheepshead, Flounder, Ladyfish, and all species of salt water cat fish.
   
   1. CPR ONLY SPECIES: Redfish, Snook, Spotted Sea Trout, Sheepshead, and Flounder.
   2. TRASH FISH FOR LIVE WEIGH-IN: Ladyfish and all species of salt water cat fish.
4. You are able to submit a total of 3 CPR fish in any combination. These fish must be within our provided slot. The combined length of your 3 biggest slot fish will be your CPR total.
   
   1. Example: You may submit 3 slot redfish. You may submit 1 slot redfish, 1 slot snook, and 1 sheepshead. Any combination of Redfish, snook, trout, sheepshead, and flounder will be accepted as long as they are in slot. Your 3 biggest slot fish on the Fishing Chaos app will be combined for your final CPR total.
      
      1. You are able to submit and upgrade bigger fish as you catch them throughout the day.

1. You are able to harvest 2 trash fish and bring them to the live weigh-in at the Yak Tribe Kayak Shop at 2pm. Any saltwater species of catfish and ladyfish will be accepted. You may weigh-in 2 catfish or 2 lady fish or 1 of each. Any combination will be accepted.
2. If your 3 biggest CPR slot fish submitted total 48 inches in length and you weigh in 2.49 pounds of trash fish, your final total for the tournament will be 50.49”.

SLOT LENGTHS

1. You must use a measuring board long enough to measure your fish without adding on any additional measuring devices. Our biggest slot fish in this tournament is 27 inches. We recommend using a board at least 27 inches long. You may not use rulers, tape measures, or any other type of measuring devices to extend the length of your board if your board is too short.

1. Your identifier and code MUST BE IN THE PHOTO. At this time, your identifier will be released the morning of the tournament before launch. You may write the code on the back of your hand, on a piece of plastic, or on anything you see fit to use. Lay the code on the end of your board or on your lap. Just make sure it is in the photo. Your code and identifier may NOT LAY ON THE FISH.  Previously we would mail out Yak Tribe tokens but for this series, we will have last minute fisherman signing up and want to allow everyone to participate.
2. The fishes mouth must be placed all the way up against the bump board as shown in the picture above. Do not allow any gaps between the fishes furthest most point. On some fish that may be the nose and on others that may be the mouth. Push your fish all the way up against the bump board  to take your photo.
3. You may not fully cover any part of the fish. Do not cover the eyes. Do not cover the tail. Do not cover the mouth. Do not place your entire hand over the fish to hold it down. All of these rules are in place to make sure a fish has not been altered in any way either in person or digitally to increase or decrease the length of the fish.
   
   
   1. 1. 1. 1. Nothing may be in the mouth of the fish. Do not have fish grips or lures in the mouth of your fish when submitting a photo.
            2. You may hold your fish down using one hand if needed. DO NOT COVER THE ENTIRE FISH WITH YOUR HAND. If you do, the fish will be disqualified. Again, all of these rules are in place to make sure a fish has not been altered in any way either in person or digitally to increase or decrease the length of the fish.
            3. The entire fish must be in the photo.
            4. Bungees or ropes are not permitted to hold your fish down to the board.
            5. The tail must lay naturally on the board. Hard pinching the tail to make the fish longer is not permitted. Overly fanning out the tail to make the fish shorter is not permitted.
            6. If the tail of the fish touches the 27 inch line on your board, it will not be considered over-slot. It will be approved as a 27 inch fish. If the tail of the fish passes the 27 inch line on your board and does not reach the next line marker on your board, it will not be accepted. It will be considered over-slot. To clarity further: tails touching the 27” hash line is okay. Passing the 27” hash line will not be accepted.
            7. All submissions will be rounded down to the nearest quarter inch. Example: If you submit a fish that is 24.6”, it will be rounded down to 24.5”. It will not be rounded up to 24.75”.  The fish in the photo above was submitted and approved at 21.75” or 21 and 3/4 inches.

IMPORTANT NOTE REGARDING VIOLATIONS: All final fish rulings will be subject to the tournament director’s discretion and judgement. If caught cheating, not only will you be banned from all Yak Tribe and Yak Tribe partner tournaments, but law enforcement will be notified and charges will be pursued. We have zero tolerance for cheating, foul play, or mischievous behavior. All fish that are weighed in are subject to being cut open for inspection.

SECTION 4: Questions and Answers

What type of vessel can I fish out of?

You may fish out of a kayak, inflatable kayak, or kayak/paddle board hybrid such as a sea eagle.

Can I fish out of my Hobie Lyxn or Jackson Blue Sky?

Yes.

Can I fish off of my stand up paddle board (SUP)?

No. If you have a kayak hybrid in question, contact us directly.

Can I use a trolling motor, Bixpy, or Torquedo on my kayak?

No. You may not use a motor in this tournament series.

Do I have to fish for trash fish to win or participate in this tournament?

No. You do not have to submit or bring ladyfish or catfish to the weigh in to win or participate.

Can I use live or artificial bait?

Yes. You can use both live bait and artificial bait in this tournament.

What happens if there is a tie?

If there is a tie, the person who caught the biggest fish will be placed higher. If there is still a tie between two people, we will move to the second biggest fish on their stringer.