RULES SUBJECT TO CHANGE

 Registration process:

1. Login if you have an account.
2. Click “Join” at the top left of this Event Page.
3. Fill out the required information (as normal). The only difference on the registration page now is that you need to enter '1' for the ticket you wish to purchase.
4. When you are done, click "Submit" at the bottom of the page.
5. You should be automatically redirected to the payment page where you can pay using your PayPal account or Credit Card. 

 Registration will be capped at 60 anglers this year!!

OVERVIEW

Join us Saturday, March 2nd for the Marsh Madness Top Bag (MMTB) tournament at PAC Kayak Rentals (179 Paw Paw Court, Montegut, LA). This is the first tournament of our 2024 Cajun Kayak Angler Series sponsored by Pack & Paddle.  The MMTB is a Tackle-Exchange Tournament in which participants must fish with an angler's bag of lures to be randomly drawn the morning of the tournament.   

********** NEW THIS YEAR **********

This year anglers may launch anywhere within the legal boundaries (see map and rules below).  However, every angler MUST attend the Top Bag Exchange with your kayak and you MUST STAY at PAC Kayak Launch until the "shotgun” start time horn blows (Expected launch/start time will be 6:00am). Once the horn blows, you may either launch from PAC Kayak Launch or you may drive to another launch within the legal launch boundaries.  The launch boundaries will be PAC Kayak Launch, PAC WMA Reserve Boat Launches, any publicly accessible launch site along Island Road, and Theo's/Isle de Jean Charles Marina.  See map below.

CATEGORIES:

• MAIN STRINGER: Heaviest stringer consisting of a maximum of 2 Redfish. Must be legal Louisiana slot size, 16" minimum and under 27" (tail cannot touch the 27" line).
• OPTIONAL CALCUTTA ($5): Heaviest Speckled Trout. You CAN place & win Calcutta. 
• LEOPARD REDFISH (included in entry fee): Redfish with the most spots (counting both sides) wins a Pack & Paddle Gift Card. You can use your Leopard Redfish in your Main Stringer (but are not required to).  Leopard Redfish must be a legal Louisiana slot redfish, 16" minimum and under 27" (tail cannot touch 27" line).  See Rules below.
• TOP BAG SIDE POT (included in entry fee):  The angler who submits the bag that wins the Main Stringer Category will win the Top Bag side pot.  See Top Bag Tackle Rules Below.

TOP BAG TACKLE RULES:

Anglers must attend the TB tackle exchange at 5:15am Saturday at PAC Kayak Rentals.  Each Angler MUST submit a Ziploc bag with your name written clearly in permanent marker (to verify Top Bag Side Pot winner).  Your Bag submission MUST include the lures listed below in Category "A" and "B" (Note: Contents listed in category "C" will be supplied by LKFC/Sponsor at the bag exchange).  It is possible to pull your own bag so give this consideration when building your TB. 

LKFC CAJUN KAYAK ANGLER SERIES:

EVENT AND LKFC SERIES RULES:

1. ENTRY: $35 (+ $1.50 PayPal fee) - Entry fee breakdown: $17 to Main Stringer Pot, $5 to Top Bag Pot, $13 to tournament expenses, Leopard Redfish prize, AOY Series Pot & Club fund.
2. OPTIONAL CALCUTTA: $5 (+ $0.50 PayPal fee) - Entry into side pot for Heaviest Speckled Trout. Winner takes the entire side pot.
3. REGISTRATION: Open to public until 7PM on Friday, March 1st.
4. LAUNCH FEE: If launching at PAC Kayak Rentals or Isle de Jean Charles, there is a launch fee, so please be sure to pay accordingly when launching.  
5. MANDATORY BAG EXCHANGE: 5:15am at PAC Kayak Rental (please arrive a few minutes early to hand in your bag submission). You MUST check-in with the Tournament Director at the bag exchange.  Arriving after Bag Exchange = Automatic DQ.  Please keep the bag you pull (with anglers name on it) until after the weigh-in, so we can verify the Top Bag submission. 
6. MANDATORY SHOTGUN / TAKE-OFF: 6:00 AM - ALL ANGLERS MUST STAY AT PAC KAYAK RENTAL WITH THEIR KAYAK UNTIL THE HORN SOUNDS.  The Tournament Committee reserves the right to adjust shotgun / take-off time due to weather conditions or bag exchange, etc...  Once the horn sounds, you may either depart from PAC Kayak Rental in your kayak or you may drive to another launch site within the legal boundaries.
7. BOUNDARIES: The launch boundaries will be PAC Kayak Launch, PAC WMA Reserve Boat Launches, any publicly accessible launch site along Island Road, and Theo's/Isle de Jean Charles Marina.  See map above.
8. LEGAL FISHING TIME: 6:00a.m. until weigh-in
9. WEIGH-IN: Starts at 3:00:00 pm sharp (must be signed in by 2:59:59). The weigh-master or tournament director will call out anglers during the published weigh-in times.  Anglers should be prepared and have fish ready to be weighed when called upon. Under or oversized fish will be disqualified. You are allowed 1 "oops" if a Redfish is oversized, you can replace that 1 fish with a replacement redfish, but it must be in your possession at the weigh table.  If any angler brings illegal fish to the scales, undersized fish or multiple oversized fish that breaks the LDWF laws, that angler will be disqualified from the tournament.  
10. LEGAL STRINGER: Maximum of 2 Redfish.  Must be legal Louisiana slot size, 16" minimum and under 27" (tail cannot touch the 27" line). Fish must be caught during the events Legal Fishing Time.  Foul-hooked fish do not count.
11. FISH MEASUREMENT: The club will provide a cull board at the weigh-in for you to check your fish prior to submitting them for weigh-in.  Fish are bent straight and placed on LKFC slant board with Check-it Stick ruler.  Fish are measured with mouth closed.
    • REDFISH:
      • Minimum length: 16"...Tail must touch the 16" line to be considered legal. Undersized Redfish will result in angler being DQ'd from tournament.
      • Maximum length: Under 27"...Tail must not touch the 27" line.  Redfish tails are pinched with the Check-It Stick Perfect Pincher tool.  The Pincher tool is stopped at the 26.5" line, and if the Redfish tail touches the 27" line it is considered a Bull Redfish and that fish be DQ'd for the tournament.  The angler is allowed to replace a maximum of 1 oversized redfish with another fish in their possession at the weigh table. Multiple oversized fish will result in the angler DQ’d from the tournament. 
    • TROUT:
      • Minimum length: 13"...Tail must touch the 13" line to be considered legal.  Undersized Trout will result in angler being DQ'd from tournament.
12. LEOPARD REDFISH: Redfish with the most spots (counting both sides) wins a Pack & Paddle Gift Card.
    • Must be legal Louisiana slot size, 16" minimum and under 27" (tail cannot touch the 27" line). 
    • You CAN use this redfish in your Main Redfish Stringer (but you are not required to). 
    • If any angler places in both the Main Stringer Category and the Leopard Redfish Category, the angler has the choice of either taking the cash prize for the Main Stringer Category or the Pack & Paddle gift card for the Leopard Redfish Category (angler cannot win in both categories since the same fish can be entered into each category).  However, if the angler opts for the Pack & Paddle gift card for the Leopard Redfish prize, the angler will still receive their Series Points for their place in the Main Stringer Category.  The options will be presented to the angler after the final results are tallied and before awards presented.  Based on the decision, the cash payouts or gift card will be adjusted accordingly to the next angler who placed in the category.  Therefore, make sure to submit your leopard redfish with the weigh-master even if a redfish with more spots has already been submitted.  
13. PAYOUTS: Cash
    • Top 3 w/ < 50 anglers
    • Top 5 w/ 50-60 anglers 
14. SAFETY: BE AWARE - the current around PAC Kayak Rental & Launch can be very dangerous depending on tide and wind.  Plan accordingly and be cautious when navigating this area.  It is every anglers responsibility to navigate their vessel in a safe manner and abide by all LDWF rules and regulations.  A white light MUST be illuminated and visible when navigating your vessel between legal sunset and legal sunrise, any angler without proper lighting may be asked to remain at the launch until safe light, 30 minutes prior to legal sunrise. Failure to comply could result in a disqualification. A Coast Guard approved Personal Flotation Device (PFD) SHALL be worn at all times during tournaments. Failure to comply could result in a disqualification. Tournament days may be shortened, postponed or cancelled due to unsafe weather or conditions. The decision to shorten or to cancel will be left to the discretion of the Tournament Director. A 4-hour period shall constitute a day of fishing.
15. SERIES POINTS: Series Points System applies to Main Stringer Category Only, you are only awarded points if you weigh in fish, so WEIGH YOUR FISH even if you don't think you have a chance to win those points could become valuable later on. You MUST be an registered LKFC member with a paid-current, non-expired LKFC membership prior to the day-of the tournament. No membership = no points, no exceptions. 
16. DOOR PRIZE DRAWINGS: Anglers must be present at the weigh-in to win a Door Prize. 
17. FRAUD: Cheating and attempt to defraud, including but not limited to: altering fish, exchanging fish, weighing fish caught prior to tournament hours, catching fish from powerboat or other illegal craft and/or using illegal bait may result in disqualification from the tournament, loss of membership and loss of participation privileges for future events. The LKFC Board Members reserves the right to investigate, polygraph and/or prosecute any participant. The LKFC Board Members reserves the right to withhold prizes until a full investigation is completed and/or a polygraph examination is completed. Any Series participant or winner shall agree to submit to a polygraph examination.  The LKFC Board Members reserves the right to select polygraphists to administer polygraph examinations.  All polygraph examinations required shall be taken at the time, place, and by the polygraphists designated by the LKFC Board Members.  Each contestant agrees by his/her signature on the Tournament / Series entry form, to submit to a polygraph examination and abide by its conclusion.  All travel expenses are to be paid by entrant.  Failure to submit to or pass the polygraph examination may result in 1) disqualification from the series, 2) loss of series points earned, 3) loss of membership, 4) relinquishing of prizes won, and 5) disqualification from future events.
18. RESPONSIBILITY: Anglers shall understand all rules and conduct themselves respectably.
19. COURTESY: Use common sense and stay several yards greater than maximum casting distance from anglers.
20. COMMUNICATION: Anglers SHALL NOT communicate with non-registered participants (phones or in-person) for the purpose of gaining fishing information.
21. PADDLE/PEDDLE-CRAFT ONLY:  No trolling motors, gas engines, “mother ships”, or sails allowed.  Wade fishing is acceptable provided the kayak is tethered to the angler.
22. LEGAL LAUNCH AREAS: Anglers shall launch kayaks only from properties with access available to all participants. If an angler desires to use a private or questionable launch this information must be communicated to Tournament Director 2 weeks prior to start of a tournament.  All anglers are subject to disclose their launch location(s) at the weigh-in. 
23. SIGN-IN SHEET: Anglers are responsible for signing-in at the announced sign-in station.  If a sign-in sheet can not be found it is the responsibility of the 1st angler that arrives to start a sign-in form and make all anglers aware.  It is the responsibility of the angler to sign themselves in.  Being in attendance of the sign-in area does not constitute being signed-in first.   
24. ATTENDANCE: Anglers must be present with their fish at weigh-in, the only exception is the angler is allowed to weigh in by proxy with prior approval by the Tournament Director. The TD MUST be notified prior to the start of the tournament. It's the anglers responsibility to determine/cull their fish prior to leaving. The angler is still required to meet all other tourney rules; checking in for shotgun launch, signing in on the sign in sheet, etc. The use of weigh-in-by-proxy can only be used ONCE per year/series.
25. REFUNDS: Entry may be applied to another event or refunds may be requested to the treasurer for consideration. 
26. LEGAL FISHING METHODS: Must be caught on reel + rod combo.  Trolling is allowed.  No more than 2 rods in the water. Artificial lures only. 
27. WEIGH-MASTER: Will make decisions on accepting fish and the decision is final.  Do not argue, hamper, distract, disturb or impede any official of the tournament.
28. PROTEST: Any protest must be made in writing to the Tournament Director with a $40 refundable deposit. The Tournament Director is the final authority in all considerations.
29. RULE CHANGES: Rules interpretation is exclusively left to the Tournament Director. The decisions of the Director are final in all matters and are not subject to appeal. 
30. EVENT TIE BREAK: In the event of a tie, the first angler to sign-in at the weigh-in will win.
31. SERIES STANDING TIE-BREAK: In the event of a tie, the following will determine a tie break for overall series standing:
    • The angler who fishes more tournaments will win.
    • If still tied, the angler who drops the highest total number of points (based on 1 dropped event scores) will win.
    • If still tied, the angler who scores the highest points in any single event will win.
    • If still tied, the angler who scores the highest points in the Series Finale will win.
    • If still tied, the angler whose highest score was in an event with more participants will win.