1. TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

The Reel Coastal Winter Wahoo Open is a 2 month long wahoo tournament created to provide anglers with a competitive, flexible, and enjoyable fishing experience during the peak winter wahoo season.

Unlike traditional one-day tournaments, competitors have the flexibility to choose the best weather and fishing conditions by selecting three declared fishing days during the tournament season.

The tournament welcomes anglers from throughout the Southeast while maintaining one official weigh-in location in Shellman Bluff, Georgia.

Our goal is to build a tournament founded on integrity, sportsmanship, conservation, and fair competition while creating an event that anglers are proud to fish year after year.

2. TOURNAMENT INFORMATION

Tournament Season

January 1 – February 28

Tournament Boundaries

Tournament boundaries extend from Charleston, South Carolina to St. Augustine, Florida.

Teams may depart from any inlet or marina located within these boundaries.

Captain's Meeting

A Captain's Meeting will be held prior to the start of the tournament at a SE Georgia location.

A live Zoom option will also be available.

Teams attending in person will receive:

  • Tournament shirts

  • Official Boat Number

  • Tournament information

  • Sponsor gift bucket

  • Food/Drinks 

  • Raffle

Teams attending virtually may have their tournament package (Included Shirts, Boat Number, Tournament Info) shipped for a $10 shipping fee.

Sponsor gift buckets will only be distributed to teams attending the Captain's Meeting in person.

Raffle Tickets and Extra Shirts will be available to purchase to those who are attending via Zoom

Awards Ceremony

Awards will be presented following the conclusion of the tournament season.

Date and location will be announced prior to the tournament.

3. REGISTRATION & ELIGIBILITY

Each registered team shall compete under one registered Team Name and Boat Number.

Boat Substitutions

A registered team may substitute boats one (1) time during the tournament due to:

  • Mechanical failure

  • Sale of the registered vessel

  • Other unforeseen circumstances approved by the Tournament Director

The substitute vessel may not already be registered in the tournament.

If the original vessel is permanently unavailable, the substitute vessel must be used for the remainder of the tournament.

Chartering a vessel is not permitted.

Lady Angler Division

To qualify, the Lady Angler must:

  • Be listed on the official registration.

  • Hook, fight, and reel in the fish.

Junior Angler Division

To qualify, the Junior Angler must:

  • Be 17 years old or younger on January 1 of the tournament year.

  • Be listed on the official registration.

  • Hook, fight, and reel in the fish.

Compliance with Laws

All teams and participants must comply with all applicable state and federal laws including:

  • Fishing licenses

  • Vessel registrations

  • Safety equipment requirements

  • Fisheries regulations

Failure to comply may result in disqualification.

Liability

Each vessel owner is solely responsible for maintaining adequate liability insurance for the vessel, crew, and guests.

The Reel Coastal Winter Wahoo Open and its organizers assume no responsibility for accidents, injuries, property damage, or losses occurring before, during, or after the tournament.

4. DECLARED FISHING DAYS

Each team is permitted three (3) declared fishing days during the tournament season.

Fishing days may be selected at any time between January 1 and February 28.

Fishing days do not need to be consecutive.

Declaring a Fishing Day

Fishing days must be declared by emailing:

reelcoastalevents@gmail.com

at least 24 hours prior to departing the inlet.

The declaration must include:

  • Team Name

  • Boat Number

  • Declared Fishing Date

Weather Policy

Safety is always the highest priority.

If weather conditions significantly change after a fishing day has been declared and become unsafe, the declared day may be cancelled without penalty.

To qualify for a weather exemption:

  • Email reelcoastalevents@gmail.com

  • Must be received no later than 7:00 AM on the declared fishing day.

  • State that the team is cancelling due to unsafe weather.

If approved, the declared fishing day will not count toward the team's three allotted fishing days.

The Tournament Director reserves the right to approve or deny weather exemption requests.

5. TOURNAMENT RULES

Fish Catch Requirements

All tournament fish must be legally caught using rod and reel.

The use of spearguns, harpoons, or any other harvesting methods is prohibited.

Fishing Hours

All tournament fish must be caught during daylight hours on the team's declared fishing day.

Fish caught after official sunset and before official sunrise are not eligible.

Fish Limit

Each team may weigh a maximum of three (3) wahoo during the tournament.

Teams may weigh:

  • Three fish on one day

  • Two fish one day and one another day

  • One fish on each of three declared days

Once three fish have been weighed, that team's tournament is complete.

Catch Verification

Immediately after landing a tournament fish, and before it is iced or placed in the fish box, teams must take photographs.

Each photograph must clearly show:

  • Tournament fish

  • Official Tournament Boat Number

  • Registered Lady, Junior, or Senior Angler claiming the catch (if applicable)

Fish photographed only after being placed in the fish box will not satisfy this requirement.

These photographs must be submitted as part of the team's weigh-in notification.

A video of the fish being gaffed and hitting the deck with a visible timestamp and boat number is preferred.

GPS Verification

Before departing the inlet on each declared fishing day, teams must video the vessel's GPS screen and boat leaving the inlet.

The screen must clearly display:

  • Date

  • Time

  • GPS Coordinates

The GPS video must be submitted with the team's weigh-in notification.

Boat Separation

Registered tournament boats may not come together or transfer fish during tournament fishing hours except during a legitimate emergency.

Boat Inspections

Random boat inspections may be conducted before departure or after returning from a declared fishing day.

Refusal to permit an inspection may result in disqualification.

GPS Track Retention

Teams must retain the GPS track from every declared fishing day until 1:00 PM the following day.

Failure to provide the GPS track upon request may result in penalties or disqualification.

No Culling

Once a tournament fish has been retained, no culling of dead wahoo is permitted.

Fish Condition

Fish must be presented in fresh condition.

Teams may not:

  • Freeze fish

  • Brine fish

  • Chemically preserve fish

  • Alter or attempt to alter a fish's weight before weigh-in

Violation may result in immediate disqualification.

6. WEIGH-IN PROCEDURES

Teams intending to weigh fish must notify the Tournament Director by email or text message no later than 4:30 PM on their declared fishing day.

Notification must include:

  • Team Name

  • Boat Number

  • Number of fish being weighed

Failure to notify the Tournament Director by 4:30 PM may result in the team being ineligible to weigh fish that day.

Fish may be transported to the weigh-in by:

  • Boat

  • Vehicle

The official weigh-in location will be announced prior to the tournament.

Weigh-in will remain open until dark (unless there are multiple boats waiting and they all have checked in)

All fish must arrive before weigh-in closes (Before Dark).

WEIGH-IN SLIPS FROM OTHER TOURNAMENTS

Teams participating in another recognized fishing tournament during the Reel Coastal Winter Wahoo Open may use an official weigh-in slip from that tournament in lieu of presenting the fish at our official weigh-in location.

To be eligible:

  • The fishing day must have been declared with us at least 24 hours prior to departing the inlet, in accordance with the tournament's Declared Fishing Day rules.

  • The fish must be legally caught during the team's declared fishing day and within tournament boundaries.

  • The fish must comply with all Winter Wahoo Open tournament rules.

  • An official weigh-in slip from the recognized tournament must be submitted to the Tournament Director along with any required catch verification, including photographs, GPS documentation, and any other information requested.

  • The official weight recorded by the recognized tournament will serve as the team's official Winter Wahoo Open weight.

  • Fish weighed at another tournament count toward the team's maximum of three (3) weighed fish.

The Tournament Director reserves the right to request additional documentation or deny any weigh-in that cannot be adequately verified.

7. SCORING & AWARDS

Overall Champion

Determined by the team's Best Two-Fish Aggregate.

If three fish are weighed:

  • The two heaviest fish count.

  • The lightest fish is dropped.

The dropped fish remains eligible for qualifying Calcuttas.

Tie Breaker

If teams finish with identical weights, the earliest official weigh-in time determines the winner.

Tournament Awards

  • Overall Champion

  • Lady Angler Champion

  • Junior Angler Champion

Awards will be presented following the completion of the tournament season.

8. OPTIONAL CALCUTTAS

Participation is optional.

Biggest Wahoo Overall

Largest qualifying wahoo.

Biggest Wahoo Day 1

Largest qualifying wahoo caught on Day 1 of fishing

Biggest Wahoo Day 2

Largest qualifying wahoo caught on Day 2 of fishing

Biggest Wahoo Day 3

Largest qualifying wahoo caught on Day 3 of fishing

Closest Weight to the Tournament Year

Examples:

  • 2027 = 20.27 lbs

  • 2028 = 20.28 lbs

  • 2029 = 20.29 lbs

Dropped fish remain eligible.

Biggest Wahoo – Live Bait

Largest qualifying wahoo caught on live bait.

Biggest Wahoo – Artificial Lure

Largest qualifying wahoo caught on artificial lures.

9. PROTESTS

Only the registered Team Captain may file an official protest.

All protests must be submitted directly to the Tournament Director.

The Tournament Director's decision shall be final.

10. POLYGRAPH POLICY

By entering the Reel Coastal Winter Wahoo Open, all participants agree to submit to a polygraph examination if requested by the Tournament Director.

Refusal to submit to a requested polygraph examination may result in immediate disqualification and forfeiture of all prizes, awards, and winnings.

The Tournament Director reserves the right to require a polygraph examination of any participant.

11. CODE OF SPORTSMANSHIP

The Reel Coastal Winter Wahoo Open is built on honesty, integrity, respect, conservation, and fair competition.

Participants are expected to compete ethically, obey tournament rules, follow all applicable laws, and treat fellow competitors, tournament staff, sponsors, and the marine environment with respect.

Unsportsmanlike conduct, intentional rule violations, or actions that negatively affect the tournament may result in penalties or disqualification at the discretion of the Tournament Director.

Our goal is to create a professional tournament that anglers are proud to fish year after year while promoting safety, sportsmanship, and conservation.