10th Annual Fall Kayak Fishing Tournament-CANCELED

Dear Kitty Hawk Kayak Fishing Community,

We began the 2022 season hoping to organize the best Fall Kayak Fishing Tournament to date. However, as the season wore on and as we experienced an unprecedented staff shortage, we have been unable to take the appropriate measures to put on the event the way we had envisioned. Rather than organize a substandard competition this year, we have decided to cancel the tournament scheduled Sept 30 – Oct 2. That said, our Kitty Hawk Hobie Team is planning to organize an informal get-together of the Outer Banks kayak fishing community for a fun day on the water this fall. Please stay tuned for further details in the coming weeks

Sincerely,

Kitty Hawk Kites & Surf Co.

This is a 10th Annual SLAM tournament with the following species: Red Drum, Flounder, Speckled Trout. The total length of your top three fish (one from each species) will go towards the SLAM leader-board. All fish must be caught from your watercraft. Wading is not permitted. A PFD must be worn while competing in this event. This is a photo catch and release style tournament. Entry fee is TBD.

Tournament Rules 2021 (subject to change):

1. Participation and Eligibility

All anglers regardless of skill, ability, or gender are welcome to participate.

All anglers who compete in Kitty Hawk Surf Co events will be required to sign a release of liability waiver noting that Kitty Hawk Surf Co nor any of its sponsors/directors/affiliates are held liable for any damages or injuries that may occur during the events.

- Anglers under the age 18 must have a release of liability signed by their legal guardians. The release of liability for minor form must be presented to organizers on or before the safety meeting for the minor to participate. Minors without form completed by event start date will be disqualified.

All minors (under the age of 18) must be accompanied by an adult while fishing.

2. Registration and Captains Meeting

To register for the event:

- Register via Kitty Hawk Kites website or by calling 252-441-4112.

- Once paid you will receive a code to register for the event on the iAngler app, which can be downloaded for free.

- There is no Captain’s Meeting. Check in by visiting Kitty Hawk Kites – Whalebone Watersports to pick up your check in packet, tournament badge and sign your waiver.

Failure to check in will result in disqualification from the event.

No refunds.

3. Safety

During competition, all Competitors must comply with US Coast Guard requirements, including a having a light source, whistle or other audible signal device, and life preserver [PFD].

PFDs must be worn at all times during events. Competitors that are not wearing a PFD during the tournament will be disqualified.

Event organizers hold the right to prematurely end a tournament should a safety concern arise. Competitors will be notified of event cancellation via social media or email.

4. Sportsmanship

All anglers must adhere to a high standard of sportsmanship that portrays our sport in a positive light. Tournament Directors and moderators reserve the right to disqualify any participant for aggressive behavior including disrespectful comments, unsportsmanlike conduct, and/or bullying. Any negative or disrespectful comments whether said in person or online may result in disqualification and a ban from participating in future events.

The possession or use of alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs during events is prohibited.

Participants and members suspected of, or found guilty of, falsifying submission(s) (whether intentional or non-intentional) are subject to being disqualified and subject to a lifetime ban from all future KH Surf Co events at the sole discretion of the tournament director.

Participants and members banned for unsportsmanlike conduct will be subject to having their entry fees, pending winnings, and applicable membership dues forfeited.

5. Event Format and Fish Eligibility

This is a Slam style event, targeting: Red Drum, Southern Flounder, and Speckled Trout.

This is a catch, photo, release format tournament. All fish must be measured on an approved measuring device (see below).

Tournament commences at sunrise September 11th, 2021 and concludes at 4:00 PM on September 19th, 2021. Night fishing is permitted. Please note that the Southern Flounder Recreational Season ends on September 14th per NC Fish and Wildlife.

Grand Prize for the Slam event will be awarded to the longest total (combined) length of your top three fish from each species.

6. Approved Measuring Devices

Please present your measuring device to the staff at check-in for approval. The following 3 measuring devices are examples of accepted measuring boards (others may be approved):

- Hobie Hawg Trough Board (carried at Kitty Hawk Kites Whalebone & Kitty Hawk Surf Co. Nags Head)

- Ketch Boards (not currently available at Kitty Hawk Kites or Kitty Hawk Surf Co)

- YakGear Check-it Stik (not currently available at Kitty Hawk Kites or Kitty Hawk Surf Co)

A crack that does not separate the measuring board into pieces and does not affect the measuring board’s accuracy or obstruct visual review may be repaired and reinforced for use. Damage to the board received during the event that effects the accuracy of submissions may result in submission disqualification.

A slight flex in a measuring board resulting from a fish’s weight is allowed; however, Competitors are prohibited from deliberately flexing or deforming a measuring board by exerting pressure or reshaping the board. Excessive flex may result in disqualification of submission at the sole discretion of the Tournament Director.

Any item, ID holder, tape or add-on not part of the original board, that touches the tail of fish, will result in submission disqualification.

7. Scoring

Slam score is comprised of the aggregate/combined length of three (3) longest fish caught from each species (Red Drum, Southern Flounder, and Speckled Trout).

Fish length is determined by its caudal fin (tail fin) touching or crossing the measuring board’s quarter-inch mark. If it falls short of a 1/4-inch mark, the length is rounded down to the next lower 1/4-inch mark that the fish’s caudal fin touches or crosses. For example, a 24.7” fish would be scored as 24.5” and a 22.8” fish would be scored as 22.75.”

The top tip of the tail must appear on the board for measurement purposes.

If any portion of a fish’s caudal (tail) fin extends off the right-side end of a Measuring Board, the submission automatically counts as the max length of the board.

In the event of a tie, the tie breaks in favor of the competitor with the longest (highest scoring) fish. If the longest fish are equal, the second-longest fish are compared and determine which competitor wins the tie. If the second-longest are identical, the process repeats for each of the remaining fish. If all the tied competitors’ highest scoring fish are identical, then the tie breaks in favor of the competitor whose last Leader Board photo was uploaded earliest.

Submitted fish measuring the same length will be evaluated for distinct differences in appearance, timestamp, and location caught. Anglers suspected or identified as intentionally submitting the same fish multiple times during the same tournament may be subject to disqualification as per the sole discretion of the tournament director.

Obstruction of the eye in photographs and/or items, hands, or fingers placed underneath the gill slit may result in submission disqualification.

8. Photo Submission Rules

Photos of eligible fish will be submitted through the iAngler app.

All photos must include the (1) fish, (2) watercraft, and (3) tournament identifier.

The tournament identifier must be present in the photo. May be written on back of hand or identifier card. More than one identifier may be used if in multiple tournaments at once.

Fish must be displayed with the head facing to the left and the dorsal fin up. The nose must rest against the fence of the measuring board.

The fish must lay natural on the board. NO PINCHED TAILS OR TOUCHING THE FISH.

Photo should be centered above on the fish to display for optimal viewing angle for the judge. If it cannot be determined whether a tail crosses a hash mark on the measuring board, the judge will err on the side of caution. Check your photos before releasing your fish.

Fish securing devices (fish grips, boga grips, etc) must be removed before photographing.

Tournament identifiers that are obstructed, blurry, or impartial off may result in submission disqualification.

Photos with obstructed fences or ends may result in submission disqualification.

Blurry photos and/or measurement lines or numbers may result in submission disqualification.

The image below is an example of how to submit an eligible fish:

9. Fishing Boundaries and Launches

Fishing during the event is allowed only on publicly accessible waters within the geographic area designated below as “Eligible Water”. Photos of fish caught outside of eligible water boundaries will be denied.

Competitors may launch from any public-access shore directly onto Eligible Water or may launch and then paddle or portage to Eligible Water. Crossing restricted property to reach Eligible Water is not permitted.

Competitors must land and photograph their catch within the designated timeframe specified by event organizers.

Participants found to be in violation of rules listed herein may be subject to a warning, penalty, or disqualification pending the severity of the infraction.

10. Fishing Methods

All fish must be caught, photographed, and released alive. Participants can only utilize equipment and legal methods that comply with all sportfishing statutes and regulations of the body of water in which they are taken.

Only two rods can be actively utilized at a time

Snatching or snagging fish is not permitted.

All fish must be caught by the competitor on rod, reel, line, and hook using artificial lures or live/dead bait. No traps, snares, set lines or other methods of fishing other than rod, reel and line are permissible.

Fly fishing and trolling are permitted.

Wade fishing is permitted. The kayak must be tethered to the angler with no more that 10ft of rope.

11. Watercraft and Propulsion

Watercraft acceptable for use in competition are those manufactured and marketed as canoes, kayaks, or SUPs for which paddling / pedaling is the primary means of propulsion.

Towing, transport, or relocation assistance from another watercraft, including “mothershipping,” is NOT permitted except in cases of emergency, as when pulling a kayak from a danger zone or restricted area. Once the emergency has ended, the competitor may resume fishing. Violation will result in disqualification from the event.

The use of electric motors is prohibited.

Electric Motor Exemption – Electric motors may be utilized if a physical impairment has been documented and presented to event organizers for review.

12. Award Structure

SLAM – Longest combined/aggregate score of their largest fish caught in each species (Red Drum, Southern Flounder, and Speckled Trout) combined.

- 1st Place SLAM -The Tournament Grand Prize / Tournament Winner! Kitty Hawk Kites/Kitty Hawk Surf Company will award a 2021 Hobie Passport 12.0.

- 2nd Place SLAM – Assorted merchandise and prizes from Aftco, HUK, Heybo & Kitty Hawk Kites

- 3rd Place SLAM – Assorted merchandise Aftco, HUK, Heybo & Kitty Hawk Kites

SEA MONSTER – The sea monster division goes to the angler that submits the most unique fish caught outside of the tournament species. The winner of this division is chosen by the tournament director. If you catch something interesting or different, submit it!