RULES AND REGULATIONS
Participation:
1. All State-wide Tournament Anglers Rodeo (“STAR”) entrants participate at their own risk. Only members in good standing of Coastal Conservation Association, its youth organization, New Tide, who are registered for the 2022 State-wide Tournament Anglers Rodeo, are eligible to participate. All adult participants (18 years of age and older, as of May 28, 2022) must pay a STAR registration fee of $40 in addition to any CCA membership dues. A New Tide member must be at least 6 years old the day before making an entry in the tournament and must be no more than seventeen (17) years old as of May 28, 2022 in order to be eligible to win in the STAR Scholarship Youth Division. New Tide members are not required to pay an entry fee for STAR but are required to be current on any CCA New Tide dues. New Tide Members must also be registered for the current year STAR. Winners of any STAR-tagged Redfish prizes, and the winner of the STAR-tagged Dolphin prize may participate in STAR the following year, but only in the Conservation, Trash, and Lionfish Divisions. Members of their immediate families may participate in all STAR divisions the following year. Winners of any STAR-Tagged Redfish, the winner of the STAR-tagged Dolphin, and winners of any first prizes in the Open Division in two out of three consecutive years, may participate in STAR the following three years, but only in the Conservation, Trash, and Lionfish Divisions. Members of their immediate family may participate in all STAR divisions the following year. For the purposes of STAR, immediate family is defined as father, mother, spouse, children under 18, or relative or domestic partner living in the same household.
2. The entire responsibility for valid member status and correctness of any official entry form rests solely on the entrant. The STAR Committee reserves the right to change the dates and times of the tournament. All decisions of the STAR Committee are final and not subject to challenge.
3. Participants must comply with State of Florida Rules and Regulations and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) saltwater fishing regulations. All FWC rules and regulations governing the recreational harvest of fish must be followed unless otherwise modified in these rules. If a STAR registrant is required to be a recreational saltwater license holder, their license must be current to be eligible for any STAR tournament prizes, and their license must be effective no later than the time of entry into the tournament. All participants agree to be bound by the terms of these STAR Rules, and the Release and Indemnity Agreement.
4. Persons who currently, or at any time during the (3) years ending on May 28, 2022, are or were licensed commercial fisherman, commercial fin-fisherman, bay shrimpers, bait shrimpers, gulf shrimpers, or bait shrimp dealers, as those terms are defined by The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission rule 68B – 2.001, or those persons who have held licenses issued pursuant to those chapters or pursuant to any federal law as of May 28, 2022, are not eligible to participate in STAR.
5. Professional fishing guides and charter captains licensed by the State of Florida may enter the STAR Guides Division, Lionfish, Conservation and Trash Divisions only, and may only participate as anglers in STAR when they are not chartered for hire. Professional guides and charter captains must be a current members of CCA and registered in STAR to be eligible for any STAR prizes in the Guides Division. Other registered participants in STAR are allowed to fish with a state-licensed guide or charter captain. The nominal sharing of expenses by participants is not considered operating a boat for compensation.
6. Salaried employees of the Coastal Conservation Association, CCA Florida Officers, members of the STAR Committee, STAR sponsor owners or principals, or members of their immediate families (as defined in Rule 1), are not eligible to win prizes in STAR. Any individual who participated or has intimate knowledge of the tagging and/or releasing of 2022 STAR-Tagged Redfish, or knowledge of the tagging and/or releasing of 2022 STAR-Tagged Dolphin, and their immediate families are not eligible to participate or win prizes in STAR. STAR entries in any STAR division from any registered STAR participant who fishes with any person who, at the time of catch, is restricted from fishing in STAR, or is restricted from winning prizes in STAR, will be disqualified.
7. Any person who has at any time committed an act which would be considered fraudulent during any fishing tournament/competition or has been banned or disqualified from participating in a tournament/competition is not eligible to fish in STAR. Any person who fails to pass the required STAR polygraph examination will be banned and disqualified from the remainder of the competition and any future STAR competitions.
Competition Dates and Times:
8. The Competition will begin at the posted sunrise on Saturday, May 28, 2022, and end at posted sunset on Monday, September 5, 2022.
Fishing Methods:
9. Fish entered into competition for prizes must have been caught and landed by the registered participant. All fish entered into competition for prizes must have been hooked and caught by the contestant on rod, reel, hook, and line (except for in the Lionfish Division). Fish caught on artificial, live baits, or dead natural baits are eligible (except for the Fly Division). There are no line test restrictions in the tournament (except for the Fly Division). Casting the bait on behalf of a registered angler is permitted (except for the Fly Division), as is the netting of a fish by another person when landing a fish. When fishing from a boat, trolling, drifting, and anchoring are permitted. Fishing is also permitted from docks, piers, seawalls, tributaries, shorelines, and bridges, as is wade fishing. While trolling, drifting, or still fishing, a rod secured in a rod holder may hook a fish; however, the angler who initially touches or removes the rod from the rod holder must thereafter continuously fight and land the fish without assistance from any other person. Assistance from any other person is limited to casting a line to position a bait (except for the Fly Division), leadering the fish, and/or netting the fish caught by the participating angler.
10. The following rules apply to the Lionfish Division only. Lionfish can be caught on hook and line, snagged, netted, gigged, or speared. Any type of spearfishing gear is allowed in this division (manual “Hawaiian Slings”, spear guns, etc.). Each lionfish entered in STAR must be harvested.
Competition Boundaries:
11. STAR boundaries are the territorial waters of the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic Ocean, and Florida Bay for the State of Florida and U.S. federal waters, from the boundary waters of the Florida/Alabama border extending seaward, eastward and then southward along the Florida gulf coast, to the waters of the Florida Keys, and then northward to the common boundary waters of the Florida/Georgia border extending seaward in the South Atlantic. All of the waters of Everglades National Park, as defined by the National Park Service, are included in the competition boundaries, as are all west and east coast bodies of water, including bays, harbors, and tributaries. Fish were taken outside of competition boundaries, from private impoundments or other waters not legally accessible to the general public, will not be eligible for entry. Anglers are prohibited from fishing in Bahamian, Cuban, or other non-U.S. waters.
Measuring Methods and Fish Entry:
12. All entries must be electronically submitted using the required competition protocols, either by a direct upload using STAR’s official smartphone application or by using the tournament’s website, within 24 hours of each catch. Each entry must include a digital photograph of the fish on or with the West Marine Official 2022 STAR measuring device, except for the Lionfish Division and any entries in the Trash Division. The entire fish must be clearly seen with its nose on the zero line, providing visibility of total length, except for Tarpon and fish being submitted in the Conservation Division. More than one Lionfish may be photographed together with the 2022 West Marine Official STAR measuring device in one photo with each fish clearly displayed in order to confirm the catch number entered. For the Trash Division, there must be at least a full five-gallon bucket of trash with the West Marine Official 2022 STAR measuring device in the photo and there may be more than one submission per day. Electronic submission of all competition entries must also include the competition division, species, length, time, date, name of angler, and Guide/Captain (if applicable). Each entry can be submitted in only one competition division or category. Failure to properly complete an electronic entry will result in entry disqualification. All fish entered shall be photographed and entered only once and only one fish per participant, per division, per species, per day may be entered in the competition, except for in the Conservation Division, Trash Division, and the Lionfish Division. Winning entries must be verified by a STAR employee, CCA Florida employee, and/or a member of the STAR Committee. Participants may be required to provide additional information if requested by the STAR Director or committee (including, but not limited to, additional images from the same camera that was used for competition photos). CCA Florida, the STAR Director, and the STAR committee reserve the right to reject any entry. Any intentional falsification of information provided by the registered participant will lead to immediate disqualification of the entry, and the angler will be disqualified for the remainder of the 2022 competition and all future STAR competitions. Failure to comply with these rules will result in the forfeiture of any and all prizes. All committee decisions will be final. Additionally, violators of competition rules may be subject to prosecution under local, state, and federal laws.
All winning fish for all competition prizes (except 2022 STAR-Tagged Redfish, the STAR-Tagged Dolphin, the Guides Division, and the Lionfish Division) shall be determined by a drawing. The drawings in each division will be made from all verified entries made during STAR. All competition participants must use the West Marine Official 2022 STAR measuring device when submitting any entry.
Information from competition entries will be processed by the STAR Director. Participants will receive an automated email reply after each entry is submitted, confirming the entry has been received by the STAR competition.
Any STAR-Tagged Redfish and any STAR-Tagged Dolphin caught during the competition also requires a photographic entry and electronic submission to the STAR competition smartphone application or competition website. Please refer to Rule 15 for all STAR-Tagged Redfish and Rule 16 for STAR-Tagged Dolphin requirements.
Spotted Trout, Snook, Redfish (non-tagged), Sheepshead, Grouper (Black, Gag, Red, and Scamp only), Dolphin (non-tagged), and King Mackerel have to meet minimum size requirements to qualify for entry in all divisions except for the Conservation Division, using the FWC prescribed measurement required for each species. FWC minimums for these species are 15” for Spotted Trout (total length using the pinch-tail measurement method), 28” for Snook (total length using the pinch-tail measurement method), 18” for Redfish (total length using the pinch-tail measurement method), 12” for Sheepshead (total length using the pinch-tail measurement method), 24” for Black and Gag Grouper (total length using pinch-tail measurement method), 20” for Red Grouper (total length using pinch-tail measurement method), and 16” for Scamp (total length using pinch-tail measurement method), 20” for Dolphin (measured to the fork of the tail), and 24” for King Mackerel (measured to the fork of the tail). There is no minimum length for Tarponentries, provided all other STAR and FWC rules are followed for Tarpon entries. Ladyfish, Snapper, and Jack Crevalle have no minimum size requirements for entry, and are eligible only in the Youth Scholarship and Conservation divisions. Sheepshead are eligible only in the Youth Scholarship and Conservation divisions.
13. No transfer of fish among Competition participants shall be allowed.
14. No frozen, spoiled, gutted, or altered fish will be eligible for entry. Mutilated fish are not eligible for entry, except for in the Lionfish Division. In the Lionfish Division only, mutilated fish due to spearing, gigging or snaring, or due to fin-clipping when harvested, are eligible for entry.
STAR-Tagged Redfish Rules:
15. STAR-Tagged Redfish tags will read: “No FL _____ 2022 CCAFLSTAR CALL 844-387-7827 No FL _____ Release me”. Winners will be determined by time of catch entry based on the date and time the entry is electronically received by the STAR Committee. Only the first Six (6) STAR-Tagged Redfish recaptured by registered STAR anglers during 2022 competition dates and certified by the STAR Committee will be eligible for prizes (no more than 4 adult prizes and no more than 2 Youth prizes will be awarded). Youth entries in the STAR-Tagged Redfish division are eligible for youth prizes only. To be eligible, each STAR-Tagged Redfish, with the tag still attached to the fish, must be digitally photographed on the West Marine Official 2022 STAR measurement device, and electronically submitted consistent with the provisions in Rule 12. Any STAR-Tagged Redfish caught in the competition may be released, but only after cutting the STAR tag off of the fish as close to the fish’s body as possible. The tag must then be kept to be verified by the STAR Committee. Each participant shall be eligible to win only one prize for a STAR-Tagged Redfish. If harvested, all recaptured STAR-Tagged Redfish must be within the FWC slot of 18” to 27”. If a STAR-Tagged Redfish is outside of the slot and is harvested, the catch will be disqualified. If a redfish is harvested in a county where harvest is closed that catch will be disqualified.
Participants who catch a STAR-Tagged Redfish must also call the STAR Director at 844-387-7827 within two (2) hours after landing the tagged fish. The angler will be directed to take the cut tag or the tagged redfish to a designated location to verify the tag or the STAR-Tagged Redfish. This must occur within 72 hours of catching the STAR-Tagged Redfish or the entry will be disqualified. Any participant submitting a STAR-Tagged Redfish entry must submit to a polygraph examination within 72 hours after the entry is verified by STAR. The parent, legal guardian, adult sponsor, or adult witness of a Youth participant submitting a STAR-Tagged Redfish or STAR tag for a prize will be subject to STAR’s polygraph requirements.
STAR-Tagged Dolphin Rules:
16. STAR-Tagged Dolphin tags will read: “No FL _____ 2022 CCA FLORIDA/STAR CALL 844-387-7827 No FL _____ Release Me”. Winner will be determined by time of catch entry based on date and time the entry is electronically received by the STAR Committee. Only the first STAR-Tagged Dolphin recaptured by a registered STAR angler during 2022 competition dates and certified by the STAR Committee will be eligible for a prize. Youth entries in the STAR-Tagged Dolphin division are eligible for a youth prize only of a scholarship, with a maximum value of $10,000. To be eligible, the winning STAR-Tagged Dolphin, with the tag still attached to the fish, must be digitally photographed on the West Marine Official 2022 measurement device, and electronically submitted consistent with the provisions in Rule 12. Any STAR-Tagged Dolphin caught in the competition may be released, but only after cutting the STAR tag off of the fish as close to the fish’s body as possible. The tag must then be kept to be verified by the STAR Committee. Each participant shall be eligible to win only one prize for a STAR-Tagged Dolphin. If harvested, all recaptured STAR-Tagged Dolphin must meet the 20” minimum length (measured to the fork of the tail). If a STAR-Tagged Dolphin is below the legal minimum and is harvested, the catch will be disqualified.
Participants who catch a STAR-Tagged Dolphin must also call the STAR Director at 844-387-7827 within two (2) hours after landing the tagged fish. The angler will be directed to take the cut tag or the tagged dolphin to a designated location to verify the tag or the STAR-Tagged Dolphin. This must occur within 72 hours of catching the STAR-Tagged Dolphin or the entry will be disqualified. Any participant submitting a STAR-Tagged Dolphin entry must submit to a polygraph examination within 72 hours after the entry is verified by STAR. The parent, legal guardian, adult sponsor, or adult witness of a Youth participant submitting a STAR-Tagged Dolphin or STAR tag for a prize will be subject to STAR’s polygraph requirements.
Tarpon Division Rule:
17. The Tarpon Division allows any angler 18 years old and older as of May 28, 2022, who is a current CCA member and registered in the competition to enter a qualifying catch of a tarpon. One prize winner from all eligible Tarpon entries will be determined by drawing. To be eligible, each eligible Tarpon entry caught for STAR must follow the strictest handling requirements. The Tarpon must be digitally photographed with the West Marine Official 2022 STAR measurement device in full view with the fish, and electronically submitted consistent with the provisions in Rule 12. Regardless of size, all tarpon pictures must be taken with the fish still in the water with the STAR measurement device next to it. It is not necessary for the device to be opened next to the fish, and it is not necessary to measure the full length of the fish. Anglers are allowed to grab the tarpon by the lip for the photograph with their hand only. If any type of lip-attachment device is used to hold the Tarpon, the entry will be disqualified. Tarpon entries will also be disqualified if an angler reaches through the fish’s gills at any time, or brings the Tarpon over the gunwale of the boat. Each Tarpon entry must also demonstrate the fish was legitimately caught. Leader releases of Tarpon are encouraged, provided all other aspects of the Tarpon Division rules are strictly followed. The STAR competition strongly suggests all anglers land Tarpon as quickly as possible and STAR rules require Tarpon resuscitation before release. Photographic entries of a Tarpon jumping away from the boat will be disqualified.
Open Division Rules:
18. The Open Division allows any angler 18 years old and older as of May 28, 2022, who is a current CCA member and registered in the competition to enter a qualifying catch of an eligible competition species. All fish must be entered in accordance with Rule 12. Lady anglers, fly anglers, kayak anglers, and registered anglers fishing with guides, are all eligible to enter fish in the Open Division. However, all competition entries can be only entered in one species division or category.
19. Eligible species are Spotted Trout, Snook, Redfish (non-tagged), Grouper (Black, Gag, Red, or Scamp only), Dolphin (non-tagged), and King Mackerel, subject to minimum length requirements outlined in Rule 12. Prizes will be awarded by drawing from all verified entries in each Open Division category.
Ladies Division Rules:
20. Any lady angler 18 years old and older as of May 28, 2022, who is a current CCA member and registered in the competition is eligible to enter qualifying entries in the Ladies Division.
21. Eligible species are Spotted Trout, Snook, Redfish (non-tagged), Grouper (Black, Gag, Red, or Scamp only), Tarpon, Dolphin (non-tagged), and King Mackerel, subject to minimum length requirements outlined in Rule 12. Only one eligible species per day may be entered in the division.
Entry picture must include fish on the West Marine Official 2022 STAR measuring device. All entries must be submitted consistent with the provisions of Rule 12. Tarpon entries must follow the photographic and handling requirements of Rule 17. Prizes will be awarded by drawing from all verified entries in the Ladies Division.
Fly Division Rules:
22. Only one-handed rods and single-action reels designed specifically for fly fishing may be used in the fly division. Any type of fly line and backing combination may be used, and there are no restrictions on the weight of the fly rod. The class tippet must be at least 15″ long with a maximum breaking strength of 20-pound test. Flies must be of the recognized type of artificial fly according to IGFA rules. No scent, either artificial or natural, is allowed.
23. Eligible species are Spotted Trout, Snook, Redfish (non-tagged), Grouper (Black, Gag, Red, or Scamp only), Tarpon, Dolphin (non-tagged), and King Mackerel, subject to minimum length requirements outlined in Rule 12. Only one eligible species per day may be entered in the division.
Entry picture must include fish on the West Marine Official 2022 STAR measuring device and fly rod and reel on which the fish is caught. All entries must be submitted consistent with the provisions of Rule 12. Tarpon entries must follow the photographic and handling requirements of Rule 17. Prizes will be awarded by drawing from all verified entries in the Fly Division.
Kayak Division Rules:
24. A kayak is defined as any vessel that has no form of power other than that supplied by its occupant. Examples of qualified vessels for the Kayak Division include kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards. Vessels powered by combustion, battery-operated, and electric engines are not eligible, nor are those powered or propelled by sail. “Mother-shipping” (the transportation of a kayak by another boat or vessel to where the kayak operates independently from the boat or vessel that transports it) is not allowed.
25. Eligible species are Spotted Trout, Snook, Redfish (non-tagged), Grouper (Black, Gag, Red, or Scamp only), Tarpon, Dolphin (non-tagged), and King Mackerel, subject to minimum length requirements outlined in Rule 12. Only one eligible species per day may be entered in the division.
Entry picture must include fish on the West Marine Official 2022 STAR measuring device and recognizable self-propelled vessel (as described in rule 22) features from which the fish is caught. All entries must be submitted consistent with the provisions of Rule 12. Tarpon entries must follow the photographic and handling requirements of Rule 17. Prizes will be awarded by drawing from all verified entries in the Kayak Division.
STAR Youth Scholarship Division Rules:
26. New Tide competition registrants are eligible to participate in the Youth Scholarship Division, the STAR-Tagged Redfish Division, the STAR-tagged Dolphin Division, the Conservation Division, the Lionfish Division and the Trash Division. No other STAR entrants are eligible for the Youth Scholarship Division.
27. Eligible species in the STAR Youth Scholarship division are Spotted Trout, Snook, STAR-Tagged Redfish, Redfish (non-tagged), Sheepshead, Snapper, Grouper (Black, Gag, Red, or Scamp), STAR-Tagged Dolphin, Tarpon, Dolphin (non-tagged), King Mackerel, Ladyfish, and Jack Crevalle, subject to minimum length requirements outlined in Rule 12. All entries must be submitted consistent with the provisions of Rule 12. Only one eligible species per day may be entered in the division.
Tarpon entries must follow the photographic and handling requirements of Rule 17.
28. The STAR Youth division participant must have a parent, guardian, or adult sponsor. Upon STAR entry (either on the STAR website or the STAR APP), the parent, guardian, or adult sponsor of every Youth entrant agrees to abide by all STAR rules, including STAR polygraph testing requirements. All Youth Division winners must agree to abide by STAR scholarship rules and requirements. Parents, guardians, and adult sponsors are not required to be CCA members. However, if any parent, guardian, or adult sponsor wants to participate in STAR themselves, they must be a CCA member, consistent with the provisions of Rule 1.
Guide Division Rules:
29. Professional guides and charter captains participating in this division must be a properly-licensed Florida charter captain and a member of CCA.
30. All guide and captain entrants must be a current CCA member and must register for the 2022 STAR competition and pay the $40 STAR entry fee. Guides and charter captain may only participate in STAR when they are not for hire (i.e. when they are fishing without paid clients).
31. The first three STAR-Tagged Redfish or STAR-Tagged Dolphin, or any combination of 3 STAR-Tagged fish of both species, caught by guides or charter captains registered for STAR will be the winners of the Guide’s Division. Winners will be determined by time of catch entry based on the date and time the entry is electronically received by the STAR Committee. Guides or charter captains can only win one prize in the 2022 STAR competition. Guide Division prizes are separate from other STAR-Tagged fish divisions. To be eligible, the winning STAR-Tagged Redfish or STAR-Tagged Dolphin, with the tag still attached to the fish, must be digitally photographed on the West Marine Official 2022 STAR measurement device, and electronically submitted consistent with the provisions in Rule 12. Any STAR-Tagged Redfish or STAR-Tagged Dolphin caught in the competition in the Guides Division may be released, but only after cutting the STAR tag off of the fish as close to the fish’s body as possible. Guides and charter captains who catch a STAR-Tagged Redfish or a STAR-Tagged Dolphin must also call the STAR Director at 844-387-7827 within two (2) hours after landing the tagged fish. The angler will be directed to take the cut tag or the tagged redfish, or the tagged dolphin, to a designated location to verify the tag or the STAR-Tagged Redfish or the STAR-Tagged Dolphin. This must occur within 72 hours of catching the STAR-Tagged Redfish or STAR-Tagged Dolphin or the entry will be disqualified. Any guide or charter captain submitting a STAR-Tagged Redfish or a STAR-Tagged Dolphin entry must submit to a polygraph examination within 72 hours after the entry is verified by STAR.
32. Clients of guides when under a charter may submit entries for the STAR competition for all other divisions, provided they are CCA members, registered for the 2022 STAR, and provided they follow the provisions of Rule 12 and all other STAR rules.
Conservation Division Rules:
33. All registered 2022 STAR participants are eligible to participate in the Conservation Division. Any species of fish of any length caught by STAR participants are eligible for entry in this division. Entries must follow the exact provisions of Rule 12. All fish must be photographed and measured on or with the West Marine Official 2022 STAR measuring device and all STAR anglers are required to follow FWC rules for handling each species. Under slot spotted seatrout and snook DO NOT need to measure on the 2022 West marine measuring device the device only needs to be visible in the photo. Tarpon entries must follow the photographic and handling requirements of Rule 17. Each entry must include an estimated measurement of the fish entry. Fish entered in other divisions are not eligible for entry in the Conservation Division. Winners of the Conservation Division will be determined by a drawing.
Lionfish Division Rules:
34. All registered STAR participants are eligible to participate in the Lionfish Division. Lionfish is the only species of fish eligible for entry in this division. Entries must follow the exact provisions of Rule 12. More than one Lionfish may be photographed together with the West Marine Official 2022 STAR measuring device in one photo with each fish clearly displayed in order to confirm the catch number entered. All Lionfish entered in STAR must be harvested. Lionfish entries can be caught on any hook and line rod and reel combination, snagged, netted, gigged, or speared. Any type of spearing device is allowed in this division. Lionfish Division winners will be determined by the highest number of Lionfish harvested during all 2022 STAR competition days. Youth (New Tide) participants are eligible to submit entries in the Lionfish Division and are eligible for Lionfish Division prizes.
Trash Division Rules:
35. 2022 STAR Participants who gather trash while on the water and submit a photo entry of a full 5-gallon bucket full of trash with the West Marine Official 2022 STAR measuring device in their entry are eligible. Larger amounts of trash may be collected and submitted with the 2022 STAR measuring device in the photo submission. If trash objects are too large to be removed STAR participants should take a photo of debris with the West Marine Official 2022 STAR measuring device and include the latitude and longitude of the object in the entry. Authorities will be notified and the debris will be removed. All eligible entries will be included in a random drawing at the end of STAR for three prizes.
Other Rules:
36. Each person entering the 2022 STAR agrees to submit to a polygraph examination. The STAR Committee reserves the right to select polygraph examiners to administer polygraph tests. All polygraph examinations required shall be taken at the time, place, and by the examiners designated by the STAR Committee. Each contestant agrees by his/her signature on the official CCA 2022 STAR entry form, to submit to a polygraph examination if required by the STAR committee and abide by its conclusion. All travel expenses are to be paid by the entrant. Failure to submit to or pass the required polygraph examination shall result in angler disqualification for current and all future STAR competitions.
37. Any protests must be submitted in writing to: Leiza Fitzgerald, STAR Director, P.O. Box 568886 Orlando, FL, 32856.
38. The decision of the STAR Committee, in its sole discretion, shall be final on any and all competition matters and are not subject to appeal.
39. In the event of litigation or arbitration between a participant and CCA Florida arising out of any aspect whatsoever of the STAR competition, the losing party in said litigation or arbitration shall be bound to pay reasonable attorney’s fees, expenses of litigation, court costs, and other costs incurred by the winning party in said litigation or arbitration.
40. By participating in STAR, anglers agree to the use of their name, likeness, photograph, video, or other identifying information by CCA Florida in promotional, advertising, educational, or research materials in whatever form CCA Florida chooses in its sole discretion.
Prizes:
41. All prizes for all 2022 STAR divisions and categories shall be awarded at the discretion of the STAR Committee. Specific prizes for each competition division and category shall be chosen and awarded by the STAR Committee. Participants shall be eligible to win only one prize or scholarship in the 2022 competition with the exception of the Lionfish or the Trash Division. Winners of the Lionfish and the Trash Division prizes may also win a prize in another division, provided they follow all rules pertaining to each STAR division. Any youth or child can win only one (1) $25,000.00 scholarship or may win no more than five (5) $5,000 scholarships or no more than a total of $25,000 in scholarships in this competition during their lifetime. If they have won a $5,000 scholarship in the past, they are not eligible to win the $25,000 scholarship, only an additional $5,000 scholarship. Once a youth angler has won (1) $25,000 scholarship or a total of $25,000.00 they are no longer eligible to win in the Youth Scholarship Division during their lifetime (they are eligible to participate in the tagged redfish & dolphin (when they are 18), Conservation, Lionfish and Trash divisions).
Competition participants may only enter a fish in one division, which must be chosen at the time of electronic entry. STAR-Tagged Redfish winners, the STAR-Tagged Dolphin winner, the Tarpon Division winner, Youth Scholarship winners, and first place divisional winners will be required to attend the STAR Awards Ceremony on October 16, 2022, to receive their prizes. All other prizes will be awarded to attending winners during the STAR Award Ceremony. If any winners of other prizes are not present at the Awards Ceremony, their prizes will be available to be picked up at the CCA office in Orlando or will be shipped if possible. The STAR Committee retains sole discretion to award all STAR prizes.
42. All prizes will be presented “as is” to each winner (or winner’s designee) after the Competition at the STAR Awards Banquet. The STAR Committee may replace or substitute alternative prizes for any advertised prizes at its sole discretion. If a 2022 pickup truck is awarded to any participant of this year’s STAR, it’s MSRP cannot exceed $49,000, and the winner must take delivery by November 30, 2022.
43. All prize winners are solely responsible for payment of any applicable taxes, fees, and costs associated with the prize. The STAR Committee will issue all required tax documents to the appropriate competition winners. Tournament winners must complete and return all documentation before receiving their prizes.
44. All prize winners are responsible for processing, registration, and tax documentation in a timely fashion at specified sporting goods/marine/automotive dealerships.
RELEASE, HOLD HARMLESS AND INDEMNITY:
45. ALL STAR ENTRANTS PARTICIPATE AT THEIR OWN RISK. PARTICIPANTS RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE INHERENT RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SPORT OF FISHING INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, INJURY OR DEATH DUE TO DANGEROUS WEATHER CONDITIONS; WATER CONDITIONS; TRAILERING, OPERATING, MAINTAINING, DOCKING OR OTHERWISE HANDLING BOATS; EQUIPMENT SUCH AS KNIVES, HOOKS, CLUBS, GAFFS, ANCHORS, LINES; HANDLING FISH AND THE INHERENT DANGERS OF BEING IN THE WILD OUTDOORS SUCH AS DANGEROUS ANIMALS, FISH, STRUCTURE OR OTHER FISHERMEN. IN CONSIDERATION FOR BEING ALLOWED TO ENTER THE STAR COMPETITION, EACH PERSON AGREES AND CONTRACTS TO RELEASE, INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS COASTAL CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION FLORIDA, ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, REPRESENTATIVES, THE STAR DIRECTOR AND ALL COMMITTEE PERSONS, THE COMPETITION SPONSORS AND VERIFICATION STATION OWNERS AND THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM ANY AND ALL LIABILITY, CLAIMS OR DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY MANNER WHATSOEVER CONNECTED WITH THE COMPETITION INCLUDING ITS PLANNING, OPERATION OR CONDUCT AND INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO CLAIMS FOR PERSONAL INJURY, WRONGFUL DEATH, SURVIVAL DAMAGES, ECONOMIC LOSS, PROPERTY DAMAGES OR CLAIMS RELATING IN ANY WAY TO THE TOURNAMENT. IT IS THE EXPRESS INTENTION OF THIS AGREEMENT THAT EACH ENTRANT IS INDEMNIFYING EACH OF THE FOREGOING RELEASED AND INDEMNIFIED PARTIES FROM THE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR OWN NEGLIGENT CONDUCT, WHETHER SOLE NEGLIGENCE OR CONTRIBUTING NEGLIGENCE, GROSS NEGLIGENCE, OUTRAGEOUS MISCONDUCT, STRICT LIABILITY, COMMISSION OF TORT, BREACH OF CONTRACT, AND BREACH OF WARRANTY. THE PARENT OR GUARDIAN OF ANY MINOR ENTERING IN, REGISTERING FOR OR FISHING IN THE COMPETITION DOES FURTHER CONTRACT AND AGREE THAT THIS RELEASE AND HOLD HARMLESS AGREEMENT SHALL BE BINDING UPON ANY MINOR ENTERING THE TOURNAMENT. WINNER WILL BE REQUIRED TO EXECUTE AN ADDITIONAL RELEASE, INDEMNITY, AND HOLD HARMLESS UPON RECEIPT OF PRIZE. ANY CONTROVERSY OR CLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE COMPETITION SHALL BE SETTLED BY BINDING ARBITRATION CONDUCTED IN PALM BEACH, FL, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMERCIAL ARBITRATION RULES OF THE AMERICAN ARBITRATION ASSOCIATION AND JUDGMENT UPON THE AWARD RENDERED MAY BE ENTERED IN ANY COURT HAVING JURISDICTION THEREOF.