Official Rules and Procedures for 2023
Solo Tour Tournament Rules and Procedures (2023)
The following is the rules, procedures, formats and notes for any and all Headturners3, LLC. fishing tournaments including but not limited to the 2023 Elite Fishing Series tournament competitions consisting of the Elite Team, Elite Kayak and Elite Solo Tours. Additional event location, information, rules and procedures may be added or modified due to geographic, environmental, sponsor and or other tour considerations and delivered by updating to this page, email, verbally and or text message to the field of competitors.Headturners3, LLC. and the Elite Fishing Series ownership and officials reserve the right to deny entry to and/or remove from any event or the entire series any participant(s) for any reason ownership and/or tour officials deem necessary in order to produce a safe, honest, fair and professional event and series with a focus on creating a level playing field for all.
Headturners3, LLC, Elite Fishing Series, Elite Solo Tour, Elite Team Open Tour and Elite Kayak Tour ownership has the exclusive right to interpret the following rules, procedures and directive as well as execute penalties as the tour sees fit based solely on their opinion of the seriousness of the violation and/or rule infraction in question. Any breach of the letter and/or spirit of the rules and procedures designed by ownership and delivered to the field of participants will be grounds for penalty and could result in removal from an event and possible expulsion from the tour. Any participant(s) being removed from any competition shall not be refunded any fees previously paid and will forfeit their right to winnings, awards or prizes previously won or anticipated. Participant(s) who for any reason cannot take and pass a polygraph test or have previously refused or failed a polygraph test with any other organization will not be eligible to compete and will be removed immediately at the time of discovery by tour and its official(s).
A participant(s) in a Headturners3, LLC a.k.a. Elite Fishing Series tours and events must be in good physical health and can not have been prescribed, recommended or taken by any means any medication or procedures related to blackouts, seizures, fainting or other serious medical conditions that could place themselves or their fellow competitors and/or the tour in any danger. A participant(s) having previously suffered from fainting, seizures or other serious medical conditions must be free from symptoms of same for a period of 365 days prior to signing up for an Headturners3, LLC event in order to be considered for approval to compete.
All participants must follow applicable federal, state and local regulations, laws and all tournament rules. Any violation of such regulations and laws and/or other tournament rules may result in a penalty including but not limited to and any combination of the following. Dead fish(s) penalty, fishing time penalty, weight penalty against daily limit, disqualification from a tournament day, disqualification from the entire tournament, points deductions, disqualification from all future series events, or any combination thereof as decided by Elite Fishing Series officials.
All federal, state and local required insurance, titling, registration and all other state required coverages and documents must be enforce and current prior to use in any Elite Fishing Series events. A liability insurance policy of at least $100,000.00 must be enforce for any vessel/operator prior to its use in an Elite Fishing Series competition. It is the angler’s responsibility to maintain insurance coverage and ensure all registrations and fishing licenses required by state, federal and local law are up to date for each participant(s) in any and all Elite Fishing Series events.
A vessel not complying with state, federal and local laws and tournament rules and equipment regulations governing equipment, registration, decals and their proper display, cannot be used in practice, scouting or days competition. If a vessel is placed in competition that does not comply accordingly either intentionally or unknowingly will result in the angler’s catch for the day(s) such vessel was used being disqualified.
Participant(s) must have a current, legal fishing license for the state in which they are fishing and/or in possession of fish in for that state.
Participant(s) cannot consume or possess alcohol or drugs, other than their own current prescriptions (with exception of any medication for conditions listed in point 4 above which disqualifies the participant from participation) on Elite Fishing Series practice and tournament day(s). Participant(s) cannot consume alcoholic beverages prior to a tournament day’s conclusion and prior to taking a requested polygraph or other truth verification test. Participant(s) being polygraphed will be notified immediately following the weigh in and should be close to the stage as conclusion of weigh in approaches.
The use of mobile communication devices such as cellular telephones, marine radios, walkie-talkies, CBs, pagers or any electronic device able to and for the purpose of disseminating and/or receiving information pertaining to fishing or navigation with anyone is prohibited. Texting while operating your boat above idle is prohibited. Lock information, family emergencies and work related calls may take place as long as no discussions pertaining to fishing information relevant to the tournament or tournament waters is discussed. Anglers can contact anyone at anytime by any means when a emergency issue arises.
Boats – Waters – Weather
Click here to see a complete list and images of
approved boats and equipment for this tour.All angling must be conducted from inside the boat. No wading. Participant(s) cannot leave the boat to cast to, catch or land a fish. Participant(s) may and should leave the boat and seek safe shelter in bad weather where danger may be imminent but must continue to follow all tournament rules and procedures during this period. Participant(s) may leave their boat to pull it out of an area where tides have gone out but cannot leave their boat to gain access to any area and must wait on water levels to rise sufficiently to allow entry without dragging bottom or powering through berm resulting in damage to the bottom.
Participant(s) experiencing mechanical failure may be towed in by any one from any where at any time but can only board the boat of another participant fishing the same event, except in case of an emergency where threat to life or limb exist. Participant(s) must place a tie wrap, tag or other clearly identifiable mark and keep their fish separate from another participant’s fish whose boat they have boarded. Participant(s) having to board another participant’s boat for any reason will institute the end to both participants day of fishing and they must return to the launch location or nearest safe point of relief.
In case of mechanical failure(s) a certified mechanic may temporarily ride along for the purpose of determining and remedying a mechanical issue, no navigational, tournament or any other information beyond the mechanical problem being diagnosed can be discussed. It is the participant’s responsibility to notify a tour official by phone of a mechanical issue, mechanic’s name and duration of time he/she is expected to be on board prior to boarding of a participant’s boat during competition.
If a Participant(s) has GPS/graph issues any day of the event, they must borrow, rent or purchase any navigational device from a retail dealer with a store front business or a onsite tournament support representative. Borrowed and/or newly purchased units must be free of existing weigh points and marks prior to use. Participant(s) may be allowed to borrow a GPS from another participant in the series as long as that participant’s chip with all waypoints, marks, tracks, etc. is removed or marks, trails, etc. are deleted and confirmed by a tour official.
Elite Fishing Series participants can not be on any waterways, ponds, lakes, canals, etc. where they have previously (ever) been asked to leave, know or should reasonably be expected to know those waters are not open to all participants equally for public boating and fishing. This includes any waters that may be owned or leased by a participant(s) in an Elite Solo tournament. If a participant is fishing any water during official practice and/or days of competition it must be water open to public boating and fishing equally to all participants in the field even if placed within the event’s official boundaries. It is the responsibility of the participant(s) to research, call, contact and otherwise discover closed waters within an area that are not open to public boating and fishing. In addition, if an Elite Solo tour participant(s) discovers he or she is in closed waters for boating and fishing whether asked or not they must leave immediately.
Small craft advisories (A Small Craft Advisory means that wind speeds of 21-33 knots are expected to produce hazardous conditions to small craft vessels) at time of launch and or forecasted by NOAA or similar reputable organizations to include official tournament waters during a day(s) of competition will immediately execute a no go for that day. Launch may be delayed if a small craft advisory forecasted to be lifted. “The National Weather Service does not specifically identify what constitutes a “small craft”, although the United States Coast Guard informally assigns the designation to boats with a total length of less than 33 feet”.
Should any day(s) of an Elite Solo tour event be cancelled due to extreme weather or the eminent threat of extreme weather the tournament results will be deemed official by the standings after any day of completed competition or in the manner described below. Qualifier day 1 canceled, all participants fish qualifier day 2 with top 5 after day 2 moving on to fish final day. Day 2 canceled, top 5 participants after qualifier day 1 move on to fish final day. Days 1 and 2 canceled, all participants will fish final day in a 1 day shootout to determine place of finish. If no days of a Elite Solo tour event can take place, the event will be rescheduled.
Tournaments – Fish
frogg toggs Elite Solo Tour events each consist of a 2 day qualifier and a 1 day championship. Both are stand alone competitions taking place within the “event” but have no connection to each other. Participants compete for 2 days (unless weather delay occurs i.e. Rule 8 of Boats – Water – Weather section) the top 5 heaviest weights move on to the championship round and have all of their qualifier weights reset. Each of the 5 qualifier competitors begin the championship round with zero weight.
14 days prior to Monday the week of an Elite Solo Tour event and continuing through its conclusion participant(s) cannot seek or receive any information from a professional guide, commercial fisherman, tournament angler or anybody else not registered and paid for and competing in the Elite Solo Tour event and Series.
14 days prior to Monday the week of an Elite Solo tour event official tournament water boundaries will be delivered to the field of participant(s). During this period (14 days prior to Monday the week of an Elite Solo tournament) participant(s) paid and competing in the series can only be on tour approved vessels with tour approved equipment and may shadow or ride together in the same tournament approved boat with another participant paid and competing in the series.
Once boundaries are made available (14 days prior to Monday the week of an event) Elite Solo Tour participant(s) fishing another tour’s event within the boundaries of an Elite Fishing Series Solo event can not return to those waters beginning Monday the week of the Elite Fishing Series event and continuing through its conclusion. During this same period Elite Solo tour participants cannot be on or shadow, follow any non tour approved boat, using non tour approved equipment, i.e. airboats, tower boats, duck boats, etc. with casting platforms not complying with height regulations. See approved equipment here.
Monday the week of an event and continuing through its conclusion participants must stay in hotels, houses, apartments, duplexes, camps, etc. alone with immediate family members and/or with a fellow participant(s) paid and competing in this series.
Monday the week of an event and continuing through its conclusion the tour recommends participants to log off of personal Facebook accounts where well meaning friends or family could put the participant in jeopardy of a violation; giving or receiving specific information pertaining to fishing, techniques or navigational information that could have an affect on the actions of the participant and cause a violation of the rules and sportsmanship clauses.
Monday the week of an Elite Solo tournament and continuing through its conclusion, participant(s) may not take part in phone calls, text messages, emails or any similar communication with anyone in an attempt to distribute or receive specific information in an obvious attempt to help or hurt theirs or other participant’s chance at locating and catching their own fish. Facebook pages or groups and/or any other online websites/forums that require approval or acceptance during this period should be avoided. If a participant(s) has a public FB fan page and wants to put up pics, tips/tricks, etc. they are allowed but should monitor and delete any content pertaining to specific fish movements, lures or potential locations within waters located in the official boundaries that could be deemed beneficial to the participant.
Monday the week of the Elite Solo tournament and continuing through its conclusion participants cannot have anyone capable of offering significant help, including another participant(s) paid and fishing the same event on their boat.
Monday the week of the Elite tournament and continuing through its conclusion participants must practice and compete only from tour approved vessels using only tour approved equipment on official tournament waters. Participants can practice as much as they desire during daylight hours. Ride along request from sponsor or family members will be made on a case by case basis and should be submitted prior to anyone boarding a participant’s boat during this period.
Monday the week of the Elite tournament and continuing through its conclusion participants must compete from the same boat, except in the case of mechanical or structural failure that they used during official practice period. Casting platforms will be allowed but restricted to 5’ or less in height and must include a safety handrail(s). Note: While it is still recommended, a 36″ or shorter casting platform does not have to have a safety handrail. Operating under power, even at an idle can not take place with any person on a casting platform. A boat’s engine used during official practice or competition periods cannot exceed the coastguard HP rated tag for that vessel and cannot be operated at any time at a speed above 60 mph.
There is no off limit days to being on the water for practice prior to the afternoon preceding the first day of competition (usually a Wednesday) when they must be off the water by 4:00 PM local time and are required to take part in the captain’s meeting the same afternoon or face penalty depending on circumstances surrounding the delay or absence.
- Once official practice has ended participant(s) cannot return to the water to scout, practice or in any way gain knowledge usable in the following day(s) of competition. Exceptions for housing or equipment issues may be made on issue by issue basis. Participant(s) not making the cut to fish day 3 cannot be on tournament waters for any reason during the championship round.
Only fuel carried in factory installed (built-in) fuel tanks allowed. No portable fuel containers allowed. When boating in low visibility situations i.e. fog, heavy rain, during both practice and competition, anglers must operate their boats at a safe speed and in a safe manner. Failing to do so and being reported will result in penalty.
- All frogg toggs Solo Tour Events will allow a 3 fish per day limit, per angler. Texas events will have all 3 fish required to measure 20-28 inches and all Louisiana events will allow 2 fish 16-27 inches and 1 “kicker” fish up to 28 inches in length per day.
- Participant(s) fish 2 days and use their 2 day total weight to determine place of finish. The top 5 finishers after 2 days move on to day 3 weights zero’d for final day.
Participant(s) must have only 1 line in the water at a time and must cast, flip or pitch their lure to the fish they catch. Only artificial lures may be used and only artificial scents may be applied to a lure. Any scent using real fish/shrimp/etc. parts or liquids is prohibited. All fish must be caught in a sporting manner. No snagging of fish, netting of fish or scooping of distressed surface fish is allowed.
Using multi lure rigs, like the Alabama rig is prohibited. Trolling as a method of fishing is prohibited. Participant(s) may not attempt to manipulate the weight or length of any fish. All fish will be inspected for tail and nose damage and measured with the Elite hands off system. Each fish will only be measured with it’s head to the left and tail to the right of the fish bumper, no flipping of fish or measuring a second side will be performed. The perfect tail pincher will always be slid to a point ½” less than the allowed size (length) limit announced prior to the event. I.E. 28” limit the perfect tail pincher will be slid to 27.5”.
No attempt can be made to alter the length or weight of any fish and could possibly carry 1 count of felony fraud, per competitor in the field if an competitor or associate is found to have added weight in any way to a fish or altered the length of a fish by even slightly trimming or pinching off “hairs” at the end of the tail to help it measure or dropped the fish intentionally on its nose to flatten. Icing a fish and or shocking it with too much oxygen just prior to having the fish measured is also prohibited. ANY attempt to manipulate the weight or length of a fish will result immediately in expulsion from the tour and possible criminal prosecution.
A 0.75 pound penalty will be assessed for each dead fish. No culling of dead fish permitted. Dead fish may be kept separate from live fish but only with water and/or an ice substitute, frozen water bottles, Arctic Ice, etc.. It is the participant(s) responsibility to keep control of their fish from their live well till it reaches the stage for weighing, any loss of control or intermixing of any fish with other participant(s) fish while catching a ride with another competitor(s) during a mechanical breakdown, getting fish ready for weigh in at the boat or at tour staging tanks, etc. may result in all fish affected without control of the angler being deemed un-weighable.
The length of all redfish must measure within minimum and maximum “slot” sizes as set forth by the state in which the fish was caught and must maintain a legal size limit for any waters where the fish is transported through or to. Some Elite tournament(s) may offer a kicker/oversized fish as allowed by the state where the tournament is taking place.
In order for a fish to count and be weighed it fish must have a tail that is normal in appearance. Officials will determine the condition of the tail based on damage past and present healed over or not, caused by the angler or not to specifically to the top portion of the tail.
The Check it Stik Official Elite Measuring System will be used for the official measuring standard. All measuring will take place with the fish’s head facing left and the tail to the right only, no flipping or measuring 2nd side of fish. The Elite perfect pincher will be placed on a fish’s tail and slid to a point 1/2″ short of the announced size (length) limit for a redfish for that event. Only the Elite Solo tour participant can be inside the 10′ x 10′ measuring tent or designated area with same dimensions when a fish is being measured.
Tour officials reserve the right to refuse any red fish for measuring and/or weighing deemed by representatives to have a damaged tail or nose/head area sufficiently to make determining the exact length of the fish’s overall length non conclusive using official tour Check It Stik Elite measuring system. Redfish with abnormal, severely damaged and/or deformed tails or noses and in the opinion of the tour not normal in its appearance to a healthy, non damaged redfish will not be accepted, regardless of fish’s length and whether or not the damaged area happened naturally and has healed over.
Participant(s) are encouraged to take a picture and submit via text to tournament director for ruling during tournament day on a fish’s tail and overall condition.
Failure to notify official and having a fish weighed with a hook, lure, jig or other object in its mouth, gullet or belly during the weighing process may incur dead fish penalty. Re weighs of a fish’s weight are only executed by the weigh master (not at the request of any angler) and based solely on his judgment of conditions when the weigh scales automatically lock in and render the final locked weight.E
Tour Championship – Angler of the Year – Ties
- The National Championship follows the same format and procedures as the regular season events as described in Tournaments – Fish above.
- Only participants having paid their entry and membership fees in full for the entire 2023 season and competing in 3 regular season events qualify for the National Championship.
1st place at all events including championship will be awarded 100 points and -1 point per place following -2 points below last place receiving points for zero fish.
The angler with the most points after all events including the championship will be the win the frogg toggs Elite Solo Tour Angler of the Year. Angler of the Year ties will be broken by the heaviest bag of the season. The Angler of the Year will win $10,000.00, a portion of the $10,000.00 total amount may include partial or full 2024 entry fees.
The top 3 anglers in points using all events and the highest finishing angler using 1 drop tournament will qualify for the Bassmaster Redfish Cup no entry fee Championship. Pending approval by B.A.S.S. *Determined by B.A.S.S. not Elite tour officials.
On any day where a reduced field size of 5 is competing a.k.a. Championship Saturday (usually) and none of the 5 participants records a scorable fish in regulation time, additional time (overtime) will be added to the regular fishing time in the attempt to determine a winner of the event. If after one overtime period none of the participants still have not caught a scorable fish all places will be determined according to the current Angler of the Year points standings. NOTE: Qualifying days 1 and 2 of an Elite Solo Tour event only determine who goes on to the championship round (day 3) stand alone event and play no part in determining an eventual champion or any place standing in the final results.
Once an event champion has been determined other place ties will share points and purse from their combined places of finish. I.E. 4th and 5th tie they will each receive 1/2 of the combined points and 1/2 the combined paybacks for 4th and 5th place.
Sportsmanship and Penalties
Super Team…While it is known and accepted that participants within the same Elite event will stay together and have general conversations and recounts of their day or days including fish reactions, appearances, techniques and even locations in a “general” manner is acceptable. However, it is prohibited for any 2 or more participants to work together intentionally sharing information with specific details (gps coordinates, landmarks or markings, etc.) being disseminated regarding specific fish locations, patterns, techniques, lures, etc. in a intentional attempt to help one participant over another.
It is prohibited and against the law to enter any fish in a saltwater fishing tournament that have had the length or weight altered, that were taken unlawfully and/or are fraudulently represented. Participant(s) doing such will be d.q.’d and could be prosecuted.
Participant(s) are required to display the highest level of sportsmanship to each other, recreational or commercial anglers, crabbers, etc. sharing the waters. Slow down when passing others fishing, working commercially (crabbing, oysters, etc.) and especially for smaller vessels i.e. kayaks, canoes, jon boats, etc..
Participants must at all times exhibit courtesy and professionalism to their fellow competitors, the tour and it’s staff, Elite Fishing Series ownership, sponsors and fans.
Participant(s) must use common courtesy at all times during official practice and competition. Such acts include but are not limited to, slowing down (idling past if possible) showing courtesy and giving room to anyone anchored or fishing a shoreline or obvious open water area (bay/pond) whether a fellow competitor, commercial fisherman, crabber, oyster harvester and/or a weekend boater or fisherman.
Participant(s) proved to be displaying poor sportsmanship or violating fishing, game and/or boating regulations will be penalized.
Act(s) or action(s) deemed to be a intentional and unsportsmanlike toward another Participant(s) is prohibited.
Participant(s) receiving a non moving ticket for any reason may result in disqualification of the day’s catch for the day that the ticket was issued depending on the nature of the violation. Participant(s) receiving a moving violation will have their daily catch disqualified and may be disqualified from the event depending on the nature of the violation.
Failing to disclose receiving any citation or ticket to tour officials will result in immediate disqualification from the event and may include expulsion from the tour.
Participant(s) can not cast pitch or flip within 100 yards of a competitor’s boat (not separated by land or jetties but in same body of water) which is anchored by a traditional anchor and/or anchoring system such as Power Pole or Talon or obviously stationary through use of spot lock electronic system.
Participant(s) may not use their vessel to limit passage or access to waters that are outside of the 100 yard stationary rule.
Participant(s) knowingly attempting to circumvent state, federal or local law enforcement or similar in an attempt to avoid capture or issuance of a ticket or citation will be disqualified immediately for the remainder of the season.
Participant Code of Conduct
Anglers are frequently in the public eye and are considered role models by young people; therefore, it is imperative that tournament competitors demonstrate good sportsmanship in fishing. Sportsmanship is defined as fair play, respect for opponents and polite behavior while competing in the event and sport. Below are examples of unacceptable behavior by participant(s) and their families or affiliates in any Elite Fishing Series event will be cause for immediate removal from event and possible expulsion from the tour without refund of entry fees or delivery of expected winnings, prizes and awards.
Participant(s) shall, at all times, conduct themselves in a professional manner that demonstrates integrity, honor and respect toward fellow competitors, tournament staff, ownership and the general public and does not reflect unfavorably on Headturners3, LLC, the Elite Fishing Series, its members, officers and/or representatives and/or community and product sponsors of Headturners3, LLC, the Elite Fishing Series, its tours and affiliates.
Participant(s), family members or affiliates may intentionally interfere with a fellow angler’s ability to compete in a fair and sporting manner. I.E. blocking entrance into a canal or pond, failing to yield to allow access, fishing within 100 yards of an anchored (or power pole down) participant(s) boat not separated by jettie or land mass is prohibited.
Participant(s) nor affiliate may shadow guides, airboats, tower boats or other anglers using equipment not allowed for use in Elite Fishing Series event(s). Taking part in hole sitting or spot holding is strictly prohibited.
Heated and loud public disagreements with Elite Fishing Series officials, staff, other competitors, fans and/or volunteers during any Elite Solo tour event is unsportsmanlike and unprofessional conduct.
Public attacks through media outlets including social media forums like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. on the integrity of Elite Fishing Series its decisions, calls, rules, penalties, etc. directed toward Elite Fishing Series ownership, officials, staff and or officials is strictly prohibited and will be penalized.
Abuse (physical, verbal, threatening or slanderous) of tournament officials, volunteers, fellow competitors or others connected with a Elite Fishing Series event is strictly prohibited and will be penalized.
Any disqualification, suspension or other disciplinary action imposed by any tournament and/or fishing organization may result in disqualification from competition and rejection of an application for participation in a Elite Fishing Series tournament.
Participant(s) agree by their participation to be filmed, photographed, quoted and share their likeness with the Elite Fishing Series for any purpose(s) the tour deems necessary.
Any Participant(s) who violates any of the provisions of the Sportsmanship Rules or the Angler Code of Conduct may be subject to fines, reduction of points, forfeiture of tournament winnings, suspension from competing in individual Elite Fishing Series events, permanent ban from competition or any combination thereof deemed by Elite Fishing Series ownership and officials.
Polygraph – Truth Detection
Participant(s) that feel they cannot take or pass a truth detection test, for any reason can not fish with Elite Fishing Series. Any participant(s) that have failed or refused to take a polygraph test on any tour or in any tournament will not be eligible to compete in a Headturners3, LLC. and Elite Fishing Series event(s). Participant(s) being prosecuted and pleading no contest, refusing to defend in a court of law may not be eligible to compete in a Headturners3, LLC Elite Fishing Series event.
A moving violation against a participant(s) where a citation was issued may be brought to the attention of tour officials at anytime during the season and if discovered to be accurate penalties will be levied.
A written protest must be submitted in writing with 15 minutes of the scales closing for the day in which the potential violation took place. Should a polygraph or other truth detection test be needed to settle a protest, the angler protesting and the angler being protested may both be required to render to the tour the fee for the polygraph test, with the winning angler being reimbursed the test fee.
Should no polygraph test be available the day of the protest, the event will continue as normal, under protest with the results, tournament placement, prizes, points and awards being retained by the tour until a test can be administered to settle dispute.
Headturners3, LLC acts as a broker when hiring the truth detection administrator and has no influence on procedures, type of test, the amount of time or the results of the testing and as such all rulings of cause are determined by the testing agent and not by anyone affiliated with Headturners3, LLC and the Elite Fishing Series.
All truth detection results are final and not contestable by any Headturners3, LLC. and Elite Fishing Series participant(s).
Headturners3, LLC. and/or the Elite Fishing Series their parent, affiliated and subsidiary companies, the hosts, sponsors and tour officials are not involved in or in any way responsible for the results of or methods used in any truth detection test given.