2023 Rules

2023 Swansboro Five-O Rules & Regulations

The rules set forth by the Tournament Committee in no way modify or abridge State and Federal fishing Regulations. It is the responsibility of each Captain to know and adhere to these Regulations.

  1. Deadline for Entries. There will be entries available for a maximum of 50 boats in this King Mackerel Tournament. Registration will open online for the 50 boats that participated in the 2022 Swansboro Five-O on Friday, March 24, 2023 at 11AM to renew their spot. Registration will open to the public on Friday, April 14, 2023 at 11AM. Registration will close at such time 50 boats have properly registered. Registrations must be completed in full. Blatant attempts entered with incorrect information to advance entry will not be accepted. Tournament Committee reserves the right to review and deny entry to anyone. Once 50 boats have registered, the Tournament will accept a paid entry waiting list. A boat will be added to the waiting list in the order the entry was received. If any of the 50 boats entered drop out before 9PM on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, the next boat who is properly registered on the waiting list will have the option to become one of the 50 boats. Tournament within a Tournament categories can be entered by the 50 boats until midnight on Wednesday, October 18, 2023 online.
  2. Each individual spot in the Five-O is owned by the Captain that originally registered for it. Spots are non-transferrable.
  3. Entry Fees. The entry fee for the King Mackerel Tournament shall be $1,500 per boat for Level I entry before August 15, 2023. All entry fees are NON-REFUNDABLE. Any registrant who has paid to be on the waiting list and who does not advance to be one of the 50 boats will receive a 100% refund within 30 days of October 23, 2023.
  4. Payment of Entries. At the opening of registration on March 24, 2023 all participants must pay a minimum of $750 (50% of Level I entry fee) to secure their entry as one of the 50 boats. The $750 balance of the entry fee must be paid and received by the Tournament Registration Committee no later than August 15, 2023. TWT entry fees may be paid at the time of online registration or from 6:30PM to 9PM on October 17, 2023 at the Captain's Party or online until Midnight, October 18, 2023.
  5. The Tournament is a Captain’s Choice. In the event of "extreme" weather the Tournament Committee has the right to adjust the schedule or postpone. In the event the Tournament Committee cancels the Tournament, 85% of the Level I entry fee and 90% of ant TWTs fees will be refunded within sixty (60) days of the cancellation.
  6. You must declare your lay day by 7:00 AM online at www.Swansboro50.com on the day you intend to lay. You will receive confirmation immediately, if you do not receive your notification, text your lay day to 910-290-0919. Be sure to include your boat name and tournament number. Fishing days will be Thursday, October 19, Friday, October 20 and Saturday, October 21, 2023. A team can only fish 2 out of 3 days.
  7. Fishing Boundaries. No Checkout. No Boundaries. All boats must exit NC inlets and return to NC inlets.
  8. Official Tournament Channel will be VHF 68 and monitored by Tournament Officials for any questions and check-in.
  9. All King Mackerel Tournament Fish must be weighed-in at Saltwater Grill in Downtown Swansboro, the official weigh-station for the Swansboro Five-O.
  10. Fishing Times: No lines in the water prior to 7:00 AM.
  11. There will be no official ending time for King Mackerel tournament fishing, but boats weighing a fish must be checked in with the Tournament check-in boat no later that 5PM on each day of competition. The check-in boat will be stationed at 4PM at Swansboro check-points near Casper's Marina & Saltwater Grill on the ICW. Scales open at Saltwater Grill for King Mackerel weigh-in at 4PM each day. Boats failing to meet these deadlines will be EXCLUDED from the competition.
  12. Once a boat has checked-in at the checkpoint, boats must proceed towards the Official Weigh Station at Saltwater Grill in safe, common sense, single-file fashion without land stops.
  13. All species must be weighed-in from the boat from which they are caught. No trucking or overland transportation of fish. Fish must be off-loaded from the boat at designated area ONLY. Any fish not off-loaded from the boat at designated area will be disqualified. ONLY ONE FISH will be eligible for weigh-in and inspection UNLESS the boat is entered in the NCLEAP or Elite 10 Aggregate TWTs.
  14. Level VIII NCLEAP 50/50 Aggregate and Level IX Elite 10 Aggregate Winner Take All: these levels allow each boat entered to weigh 2 King Mackerel per declared fishing day and will be scored by the best 2 out of 4 fish. This is a 2-fish aggregate weight totaled from the best 2 out of 4 King Mackerel for each team entered. A boat may still qualify with a single fish if they do not have 2 to weigh.
  15. All fish must be caught by rod and reel.
  16. Weighed and donated fish become the property of the Swansboro Rotary Club Fishing Tournament.
  17. Each boat should be represented at the Captain's Meeting. Each Captain is responsible for knowing any changes that may be announced at the Captain's Meeting.
  18. In the event two or more fish are the exact same weight, the fish weighed first shall be declared the winner.
  19. For safety purposes, all boats entered must adhere to USCG and NC Marine Fisheries regulations for their size.
  20. A boat MAY be replaced, due to verified mechanical failure, after competition begins, with the Rules Committee's approval, for the next day of competition. Any changes made after registration must be approved by the Tournament Committee.
  21. Prizes to be awarded to the boats with the heaviest fish. In Level I, only one prize per boat will be awarded.
  22. All checks will be mailed to winners within 14 days following awards presentation.
  23. All winners may be subjected to a polygraph examination. The Tournament Committee reserves the right to inspect all boats entered in the competition at any time.
  24. This is a multiple-day competition; therefore, no King Mackerel shall be on any boat before competition hours begin on any day of competition. Any violation in this rule will result in automatic disqualification for both days of competition.
  25. Any two or more boats coming together for any reason after a boat begins competition and before weigh-in, may be disqualified. Competition officially begins for a boat once their fishing lines are put in the water. As safety is of primary importance permission may be granted for exceptions by the Committee Boats or Tournament Headquarters.
  26. Buying bait from a licensed bait boat is permitted prior to beginning your day of competition. Competition officially begins for a boat once their fishing lines are put in the water.
  27. All fish must be brought to the weigh station by the boat on which it was caught, under its own power.
  28. Boats are to proceed in an orderly fashion to weigh station. One member of the crew must remain with the fish to verify weigh-in and sign weigh-slip. Boats will not be tied up in the designated off-loading area and crew must depart immediately after off-loading fish.
  29. Junior Angler, Senior Angler and Lady Angler Rules and Definitions: The boat and no more than one (1) Junior, Lady or Senior Angler get credit for the fish weighed. Any Junior, Lady and Senior Anglers must accompany the fish to the scales, print their name and sign the weight ticket to get credit
  30. A Junior Angler is determined by not having reached the age of 16 by the date of the Captain's Meeting on October 17, 2023. A Lady Angler is any female who has attained her 16th birthday by the date of the Captain's Meeting on October 17, 2023. A Senior Angler is any angler who has attained their 55th birthday by the date of the Captain's Meeting on October 17, 2023. An angler may only quailfy for one category.
  31. Minimum size limit of 30 inches for all King Mackerel entered in the Tournament and only one (1) King Mackerel allowed to be weighed-in per boat per day unless entered into specified TWTs allowing otherwise. If weighing two fish for a related TWT, the heaviest qualifies for Level 1.
  32. Once officially registered, all entry fees are non-refundable.
  33. Any Tournament Official or Tournament Sponsor entering the Tournament in compliance with the Tournament rules is eligible for any and all prizes.
  34. All tournament participants consent and authorize the Tournament Committee and their advertising/public relations agencies to use and reproduce names, voices, and/or photographs – whether taken or recorded – and circulate the same for any and all purposes of publicity and advertising of all kinds and description in any and all media formats.
  35. Any protests must be made in person to a tournament committee official by 6PM on the final fishing day accompanied by a $1,000 cash non-refundable protest fee.
  36. All participants must follow local, state and federal recreational fishing rules & regulations.
  37. The Tournament Rules Committee shall determine the solution to questions, situations or protests and its judgment SHALL BE FINAL.
  38. The Tournament Rules Committee reserves the right to refuse entry to anyone.