The Kirk Slam Tournament is a two-day Single Species event. The 9th Annual Kirk Slam Dolphin Tournament will be a Team Event. Total combined weight of up to 5 dolphin per team/boat will determine the winners.
There will also be an award for the heaviest overall Dolphin, the heaviest eligible dolphin caught by a registered Junior angler and Female angler.
For the purpose of this Tournament, a Junior Angler will be defined as a participant who has not attained the age of 17 prior to the start date of the Tournament.
Billfish are not eligible for entry into the tournament and should be released unharmed. Any angler bringing a Billfish into the weigh station shall forfeit any claim he/she may have to tournament prizes.
Eligible Species
Dolphin (Mahi Mahi) is the only eligible species for the tournament. Minimum weight for the tournament is: Dolphin 15 lbs.
Entry Fees
The fee is CI$250 per boat (this includes a captain and up to three registered anglers), additional anglers may be registered at a cost of CI$50 per additional angler. Boat entry entitles all registered anglers to participate in all categories. Registration, captains meeting and kickoff party date will be at 5-7pm on April 25th at The George Town Yacht Club.
Scoring Overall Tournament
Only five dolphin per boat may be entered. The tournament winner will be the boat that has the highest combined weight of five dolphin.
Largest Dolphin
The largest dolphin weighed will win the largest dolphin prize. The largest dolphin may be used in a boat’s five dolphin total weight.
Ties
In the event of a tie in weight, the winner will be determined by the earliest weigh-in time.
Schedule Of Events
Event location: Weigh Station is located at The Barcadere Marina.
- April 25th — Registration, captains meeting and kickoff party from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at The George Town Yacht Club.
- April 27th — Fishing day: 7 a.m. Start, 4 p.m. lines out. Weigh Station open 4 pm to 6 pm at The Barcadere Marina
- April 28th — Fishing day: 7 a.m. Start, 4 p.m. lines out. Weigh Station open 4 pm to 6 pm at The Barcadere Marina
- April 28th — Awards Ceremony 6-8pm at The George Town Yacht Club.
Prizes
Grand Champion
Team with the heaviest total weight (up to 5 fish)
A Tudor Watch
$5000 Cash
2nd Place
Team with the 2nd heaviest total weight (up to 5 fish)
$2000 Cash
3rd Place
Team with the 3rd heaviest total weight (up to 5 fish)
$1000 Cash
Heaviest single Dolphin
$1000 Cash
Kirk Marine Prize
$1000 cash if the winning fish was caught on a boat powered by Evinrude engines
Junior Angler
$500 PLUS a Tyrnos 50II Reel and matching Custom Kirk Marine Rod.
Female Angler
$500 PLUS a Tyrnos 50II Reel and matching Custom Kirk Marine Rod.
Kirk Freeport – Billfish Release Prize
Captain of the boat releasing the most billfish
$2000 CI Gift Certificate to Kirk Freeport
Cayman Brac Prize
Heaviest Fish Caught in the Brac – $500 Kirk Freeport Gift Certificate
BONUS PRIZE: White Tip Tagging
A $1000 cash prize and a piece of Guy Harvey artwork are being offered for any White Tip held for the Guy Harvey Foundation tagging team. Courtesy of the Guy Harvey Foundation and Kirk Freeport.
The Guy Harvey Foundation is also offering $1500 for any Tiger Shark or Mako Shark held for their tagging team.
Dolphin Daily (optional)
$200 per boat to enter.
Total entry fees will be split into equal prize pools for Saturday and Sunday.
1st heaviest fish will receive 2/3 of the prize pool for that day.
2nd heaviest fish will receive 1/3 of the prize pool for that day.
Only registered anglers of the Kirk Slam will be eligible to enter the Dolphin Daily.
Raffle Prize
- 1 Gaff from Aftco
- 1 Fighting Belt
- 4 $100 Gift Certificates from Aftco Redeemable on Aftco clothing website
- 1 Kirk Marine Custom Trolling Rod
- 6 raffle bags of assorted items
Rules
The governing rules for this Tournament will be IGFA rules. The use of Wire Line is NOT permitted in this Tournament. Any boat carrying a wire line will be disqualified from the tournament. Maximum Line test allowed in the Kirk Slam is 80 lbs test. Braided lines ARE permitted.
Daily Fishing Hours
Fishing will commence at 7.00 a.m. and end at 4 p.m. on April 27th and 28th. The tournament control’s time will act as the official time for the start, catch and release and end of fishing each day. The tournament committee reserves the privilege of changing starting and finishing times for any reason it deems necessary. A radio start will take place each morning at 7a.m.
Weigh In
The weigh station is located at The Barcadere Marina. All fish for Tournament awards must be weighed on the same day caught. Weigh station hours are 4:00pm – 6:00pm on each Tournament day. The angler must be present when his/her fish is weighed.
Radio Communications
All participating boats must have a working VHF radio on board at all times. VHF channel 28 in Grand Cayman will be the frequency which will be used for all Tournament communications. The telephone number for Tournament Control in Grand Cayman is 916-0179 or 945-3131. Boats fishing in the Sister Islands are required to call Tournament Control in Grand Cayman with all details of hook-up’s and fish landed, lost or released. The use of cellular phones or satellite phones is an acceptable means of contact with Tournament Control. All hook-up’s must be called in, and after landing or releasing all fish, the Captain shall as soon as possible report the species, line class, anglers name and the location. Lost fish should also be reported to Control. Tournament Control radio hours are 7:00am – 6:00pm on all Tournament days. The tournament control’s time will act as the official time for the start, catch and release and end of fishing each day without exception. The Captain of each boat MUST check in and out with Tournament Control each day. The Captain of any boat planning to fish out of VHF radio range (whether or not it has a satellite phone) must complete and deliver the appropriate form to Weigh Station between 4.00pm and 6.00pm the day prior. All boats fishing out of VHF range and without satellite phone capability must maintain VHF contact with a participating boat which has such capability or which is in VHF contact with Tournament Control. Failure to comply with the foregoing will disqualify any fish caught that day.
Boats
Any type of boat may be used in the Tournament. All participating boats shall have adequate safety equipment on board and must comply with the Port Regulations (2007 Revision), or any amendments thereto. For safety reasons, all boats must have a minimum of two people on board for the duration of all fishing hours.
Weather
There is no weather committee. The tournament is conducted on a fish-at-your-own-risk basis. If any portion of the tournament is fished and a team or teams land fish that match the tournament’s eligible species, then prizes will be awarded.
Protests
All protests must be stated in writing. All protests will be settled the day of the incident. All protests on April 27th and 28th must be in the hands of the tournament’s designated rules official by 6.00 p.m. on the day of the alleged incident. The protesting party, as well as the accused team members, captain and crew, must be present in any official protest hearing. If the accused or protesting teams fail to show up for the protest hearing, they forfeit their right to be heard and will abide by the decision of the official tournament judges. All decisions of the official tournament judges are final.
Indemnity
It is expressly understood that all those participating in the Tournament do so at their own risk. By registering as an angler in the Tournament, the angler holds harmless the Kirk Group of Companies, the Barcadere Marina, the Cayman Islands Angling Club, all participating Sponsors, the Tournament Committee, the Rules Committee, Tournament Judges, the organizers, it’s sponsors and donors and all persons connected directly or indirectly with the operation of the Tournament from any liability for libel, slander, loss, damage, negligence, harm injury or death suffered by any participant, entrant, sports fisherman, their companions, boat captains, crew members, family, vessels and equipment which may occur during the Tournament. All registered anglers chartering boats do so entirely at their own risk.
By registering as an angler in the Tournament, the angler consents to the use by the Tournament organizers, without payment or restrictions, any photographs in which he or she appears for any purpose whatsoever, including, but not limited to resale, advertising, commercial or promotional material. The angler further releases the Tournament organizers from any injury, loss or damage which may result from the use of said pictures.
Special Regulations
The Tournament Committee wishes to stress the conservation of our marine resources. It is expected of all participants that only those fish weighed for Tournament awards or used for food purposes are kept. Other fish of all species should be carefully released.
Polygraph
Each registered angler specifically agrees and consents to voluntarily submit to a polygraph examination or examinations at any time until all prize winners and awards are determined and announced. Further, each registered angler agrees to obtain the agreement and consent of each and every occupant of the boat from which he or she fishes during the tournament (including but not limited to the captain and crew) to submit to a polygraph examination or examinations as described above. The method and conduct of all polygraph examinations, and the interpretation of the results thereof, shall be in the sole judgment of the polygraph examiner appointed by the Tournament, whose opinion shall be final. If any registered angler or occupant of a vessel refuses to submit to a polygraph examination, or if any registered angler or occupant gives a response which, in the sole opinion of the polygraph examiner, is untruthful, then all registered anglers on the boat shall be immediately disqualified without further notice from the Tournament. Any registered angler so disqualified shall not be entitled to any prize, award, or entry fee refund.