2025 Islamorada Sailfish Tournament

Click here for a printable version of the Official IST Rules

2025 ISLAMORADA SAILFISH TOURNAMENT – OFFICIAL RULES

1. The entry fee if paid by check or cash before October 31st 2025 is discounted to $600.00 per angler.  If payment is received after October 31st 2025 the entry fee is discounted to $700.00 per angler.  Junior angler entry is discounted to $350.00 per angler.  Junior anglers must not be over 18 years of age on the first day of fishing. If paid by credit card all entry fees are at full price that includes an additional three- and one-half percent to the above prices. There is no limit of anglers fishing aboard a vessel.  The angler charge includes entry fee, sales tax, gifts and social tickets for the angler and the captain.  There is no provision for the return of entry fees unless the Tournament Director receives a written request for such fees at least seven (7) days prior to the kick-off of the tournament.

2. The Islamorada Tournament Rules will be strictly adhered to and all decisions of the Tournament Director will be final.  Any Angler(s), Captain(s), or Mate(s) found to be in violation of any tournament rule might be disqualified from this tournament.

3. This entry is non-transferable and there can be no substitution of anglers unless so approved by the Tournament Director.  The Tournament Director reserves the right to refuse tournament application or entry to any prospective entrant with or without cause at its’ sole discretion.

4. This is a BOAT tournament with two team divisions. A non-pro division where all anglers on the team must not have been paid to fish over the past 365 days prior to the kick off of the tournament.  A pro division that allows anglers, captains and mates to be anglers. Each division shall have trophies for the top three places.  All other trophies shall be awarded to the individual angler no matter what team division they are registered in. The angler(s) on the BOAT accumulating the most release points first will be judged the winner.  All vessels and/or anglers must possess the proper licenses and permits.  

5. This is a tag and release format.  Point scoring is as follows: 100 Points for each released sailfish.

6. Only manufactures stated 20 Lb. test line or less may be used. Only manufactures stated circle hooks that are NON-OFFSET may be used with live or dead bait. Hooks may not be altered.

7. Chumming is PROHIBITED throughout the course of this tournament. Any bait, or portion thereof, not being fished or used as a teaser, shall be retained within the vessel.   Live bait, dead bait or artificial may be used.  No entangling device or similar material may be used.  Fish must be caught by hook and line in a conventional manner aboard the boat from which it was hooked. Spin or conventional tackle may be used and no more than six (6) lines can be in the water at any time. This restriction does not include teaser lines.

8. All boats must depart from and return to the same dock each day.       

9. All sailfish hook-ups and releases must be reported immediately to and acknowledged by the Committee Boat.  The exact number of sailfish hooked up must be reported, i.e. a single, a double, etc.  In addition the captain must report the final disposition of the hook-up to the Committee Boat (released, tagged, lost, etc.).  Reports may be relayed by another boat if the reporting boat cannot reach the Committee Boat. The tournament channel is 78.

10. No one except a register angler can hook-up a fish and no one except the angler may touch the rod, Reel or line while the fish is being fought.

11. The double line shall be limited to fifteen (15) feet and the leader shall be limited to fifteen (15) feet.  However, the combined length of the double line and the leader cannot exceed twenty (20) feet.  No more than two (2) single hooks may be attached to the leader and then only if both hooks are imbedded in or attached to the bait.  These must be attached separately at least a hooks length apart and not more than eighteen (18) inches.

12. For the purpose of this tournament a “Release” shall be considered to be accomplished when the captain, angler, or mate touches the leader.  It is recommended that the leader be cut as close to the fish as possible.  If a fish is subsequently tagged after being released according to the above criteria, the time of tagging shall be considered to be the same time as the release.

13. If a fish should become hooked on more than one line or become entangled in another line, then   the fouled line or lines must be cut immediately.  It is the intent of this rule that the fish is  fought the majority of the time on a single line, if the fish is not fought the majority of the time on a single line, then the fish will not be scored.

14. Crew members are permitted to cast baits, however, the rod and reel may not be passed directly to the angler.  It must first be placed in a neutral position (most commonly a rod holder) in free spool.  If the fish is hooked-up, even accidentally by the crewmember, the fish is disqualified.

15. Time limits are as follows: Other than bait catching, on all days except the final day, lines and teasers in the water at 8:30 A.M. and lines out of the water at 4:00 P.M.  On the final day of fishing, lines and teasers in the water at 8:30 A.M. and lines out of the water at 3:00 P.M.  Fish may be fought after lines out provided they have been reported to and acknowledged by the committee boat prior to lines out. Final disposition of fish must be reported to the committee boat no later than 5:00 on the first two days and by 4:00 on the final day or it will be disqualified from the tournament. There is no time limit as to when the boat must return to the dock. All winning captains of each division must be readily available for the polygraph as soon as possible after lines out.

16. Fishing boundaries are based on GPS latitude and longitude.  The northerly boundary is the shoreline and the southerly boundary is the 100-fathom curve.  The easterly boundary is 80.17.85W and the westerly boundary is 80.51.30W.  All fishing, other than bait catching, must take place within these boundaries.  Other than bait catching with the proper permits, no vessel will be allowed to engage in any fishing activity inside of a special preservation area.

17. All protests must be made in writing and filed with the Tournament director before 6:00 P.M. on the day of the protest to be considered.  On the final day protests must be filed by 4:15 P.M.  The Tournament Rules Committee may rule immediately or reserve judgment until the end of the tournament.  The final disposition of all protests, where judgment has been withheld will be determined by the polygraph examination.

18. All captains of boats having a winning angler(s) in any division of this tournament may be subjected to a polygraph examination.  In the event the polygraph examiner is unable to make an accurate determination from the captain’s statements, the captain may at his option allow his angler(s) or mates(s) to be subjected to the examination.  Any captain(s), angler(s), or mate(s) who fail or refuse to take this examination, by so doing, will be disqualified from winning any division of this tournament. By entering this tournament all anglers, captains and mates agree to abide by the results of the polygraph examination.

19. RELEASE: All participants, sports fishermen, their companions and boats enter at their own risk, and hereby release, discharge and further agree to indemnify and hold harmless Islamorada Charter Boat Association  and their sponsors, advertisers and other participants and any agents, employees, officers, directors, contractors and successors of the above mentioned organizations from any and all claims, losses, damages, demands, causes of action, suits and liability of every kind arising out of , connected to, or resulting from the IST event, including without limitation, any claim for loss, damage or destruction of property, or injury (including death), regardless of whether such loss arises in whole or in part from the negligence of IST, its officers, employees, agents, sponsors, directors, contractors, or successors for any loss arising out of, connected to, or resulting from this event. We also understand that this release binds our heirs, executors, administrators and assigns as well as ourselves. By signing above, my team and I and our participants and attendees acknowledge that we have read and understand the release terms and conditions and agree to be legally bound by these terms and conditions. We also agree to authorize Islamorada Charter boat Association the freedom to use any of our likenesses in any video or print whether for advertising or profit without compensation of any kind.  

20. Additional entries are elective.  These entries will be scored by the same rules as the overall tournament releases.  Both pro and non-pro teams may enter any or all of the additional categories.  Payouts for these entries will be 90% of the entry fees collected for each category. All winners are required to provide their social security number prior to receiving any awards. 

Trophy List

Pro Division Team Trophies
 

• 1st Place Awards
• 2nd Place Awards
• 3rd Place Awards

​Non-Pro Division Team Trophies
 

• 1st Place Awards
• 2nd Place Awards
• 3rd Place Awards

Most Tagged Fish Trophies to the team that tags the most fish in either division.

Angler Trophies - either division
 

• Top Male Angler most releases for male angler over the age of 18
• Top Female Angler most releases for female angler over the age of 18
• Top Junior Angler most releases for junior angler 18 or younger
• Second Place Junior Angler most releases
• Third Place Junior Angler most releases
• Most Outstanding Catch
• Largest Dolphin
• Largest Tuna
• Largest Mackerel