RULES:

ALL INSHORE TEAMS MUST DEPART FROM AND RETURN TO A LOUISIANA PORT.  ADDITIONALLY, ALL INSHORE SPECIES MUST BE CAUGHT IN LOUISIANA WATERS.

ENTRY:  $65.00 per angler (3 Anglers or $195.00 min. per boat). Must sign up as a team or boat, not an individual. This entitles each boat to an entry gift including t-shirts and hat (one per Angler), Boat Bucket (one per boat), wrist band for Saturday night party and other items. (Anyone wishing to give ditty bag gifts please call 504-834-8342). Non-fishing participants are welcome at all functions and will receive a t-shirt: $50.00.  Everyone on the boat must be registered in rodeo to qualify for prizes, failure to do so may result in disqualification.  All entries must be registered and PAID by July 24th.

FISHING TIME: Tournament fishing begins on Thursday at 12am with scales closing at 6pm on Saturday.

PERMITTED FISHING METHODS – All fish must be caught alive in a conventional sporting manner using any type of bait (live, artificial, or dead).  Fish must be caught on rod and reel, and electric reels are permitted.  All inshore species must be caught in Louisiana waters.  Only one fishing rod per contestant may be used at a time.

SCORING – Scoring will be determined by the pounds and ounces of each team’s catch during the tournament.  Fish presented for weigh-in that fail to meet State and Federal length/slot limits will be disqualified.  Any fish that appears to be intentionally altered will be grounds for immediate disqualification from the event for that team.  No mutilated fish will be weighed.  However, anglers are allowed to cut and fold over the bill of a Swordfish allowing it to fit in fish box for preservation purposes.  All decisions of the Weigh Master are final.

Each team can only weigh the following number of these species per day:

  • 15 – Speckled Trout ~ All inshore species must be caught in Louisiana waters
  • 15 – Redfish ~ All inshore species must be caught in Louisiana waters
  • 12 – Red Snapper (4 per angler with a maximum of 12 per boat)
  •   2 – Cobia (1 per angler with a maximum of 2 per boat)

NEW FOR 2024: Speckled Trout – Several ways to win! Inshore Calcutta, Grand Slam Calcutta, 1st, 2nd and 3rd place trophy will be for “Slotted” Trout between 13 inches and 20 inches. However, we did not forget about you BIG TROUT FISHERMEN. We will also have “The Lunker Award” (1st Place Only) and the 5 Trout Stringer (1st Place Only)! There is no upper size limit in these two categories, only a 13″ minimum.

NEW FOR 2024: Redfish will be sized limited (slotted) between 18″ to 27″ in all categories.

  • In order to determine the slot size length, Inshore species will be measured on a “Check-It-Stick” hands free board system utilizing a channel “Tail Pincher” device or on a “Bump Board” measuring device with the tail hand pinched and/or swiped. Fish will be measured from the tip of the snout to the extreme tip of the tail fin on the official measuring device(s) at the Weigh Station. A Trout in this category that exceeds 20 inches will not qualify. A Redfish that exceeds 27 inches will not qualify in any category or division.

In the case of a suspicious fish that has qualified for a prize, the Faux Pas Lodge Invitational (FPLI) reserves the right to keep the fish for investigative purposes.  Additionally, the FPLI will hold any and all prizes regarding said fish until the matter has been adjudicated.  Participants may be subject to a polygraph test.

IN ADDITION TO ALL RULES CONTAINED HEREIN; ALL ANGLERS MUST ABIDE BY STATE & FEDERAL REGULATIONS AND ALL APPLICABLE IGFA RULES.

See Scale Times

TROPHY ONLY CATEGORIES

OFFSHORE:

  • YELLOWFIN TUNA – Sponsored by – By A Nose Racing Stable
  • DOLPHIN – Sponsored by Vista Landscaping
  • WAHOO – Sponsored by Paradise Outfitters

RIG:

  • COBIA –  Sponsored by Southside Cafe
  • MANGROVE SNAPPER (Gray) – Sponsored by Battco
  • RED SNAPPER – Sponsored by Don’s Striping

INSHORE:

  • SPECKLED TROUT – Sponsored by Giorlando’s Restaurant
  • NEW – “Slotted” – 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. Heaviest Speckled Trout between 13 inches to 20 inches.
  • NEW – “The Lunker Award” – 1st Place Only! Heaviest Speckled Trout – no maximum size limit (13″ minimum).
  • FLOUNDER – Sponsored by Bartlett Exterminating, Inc.
  • REDFISH – Sponsored by Audubon Gutters
  • NEW – Heaviest Redfish between 18 inches to 27 inches : A Redfish that exceeds 27 inches will not qualify in any category or division.
  • In order to determine the slot size length, Inshore species will be measured on a “Check-It-Stick” hands free board system utilizing a channel “Tail Pincher” device or on a “Bump Board” measuring device with the tail hand pinched and/or swiped. Fish will be measured from the tip of the snout to the extreme tip of the tail fin on the official measuring device(s) at the Weigh Station. A Trout in this category that exceeds 20 inches will not qualify. A Redfish that exceeds 27 inches will not qualify in any category or division.
  • All inshore species must be caught in Louisiana waters

BLUE MARLIN – Sponsored by Faux Pas Prints:

TAG-N-RELEASE Michael “Big Mike” Ippolito Memorial Award – Details of award below. You must have video of the Tag-N-Release with a time stamp. The most tagged Blue Marlin by a team wins, if no team tags more than one, then the first tagged Blue Marlin of the tournament wins. Only one winner – First Place Trophy Only.  All applicable IGFA Rules will apply for Blue Marlin Tag-N-Release – you are responsible to know these rules!

SWORDFISH:

  • Sponsored by Toyota of Slidell
  • 1st Place Trophy Only
  • Legal size limit 47″ lower jaw to tail.
  • Anglers are allowed to cut and fold over the bill of a Swordfish allowing it to fit in fish box for preservation purposes.

CALCUTTA CATEGORIES: 100% payout for 1st place!!!!!

NEW FOR 2024: Speckled Trout slot 13 inches to 20 inches & Redfish slot 18 inches to 27 inches

  • OFFSHORE: $150.00 = Yellowfin Tuna – Dolphin – Wahoo
  • RIG: $150.00 = Red Snapper – Cobia – Mangrove Snapper (Gray)
  • INSHORE: $150.00 = Speckled Trout – Flounder –  Redfish *Speckled Trout slot 13 inches to 20 inches & Redfish slot 18 inches to 27 inches
  • SWORDFISH: $150.00 / First Place Only
  • In order to determine the slot size length, Inshore species will be measured on a “Check-It-Stick” hands free board system utilizing a channel “Tail Pincher” device or on a “Bump Board” measuring device with the tail hand pinched and/or swiped. Fish will be measured from the tip of the snout to the extreme tip of the tail fin on the official measuring device(s) at the Weigh Station. A Trout in this category that exceeds 20 inches will not qualify. A Redfish that exceeds 27 inches will not qualify in any category or division.

All Calcutta fees are per boat. Must select a Category: Offshore, Rig, Inshore.

Heaviest fish per species per category will be paid. There are 9 winners total, 3 per category. MUST REGISTER IN RODEO TO BE IN CALCUTTA.

MUST BE IN THE APPROPRIATE CALCUTTA TO ENTER GRAND SLAM CALCUTTA.

GRAND SLAM CALCUTTA CATEGORIES: 100% payout for 1st place!!!!!

NEW FOR 2024: Speckled Trout slot 13 inches to 20 inches & Redfish slot 18 inches to 27 inches

  • OFFSHORE: $150.00 = Yellowfin Tuna – Dolphin – Wahoo
  • RIG: $150.00 = Red Snapper – Cobia – Mangrove Snapper (Gray)
  • INSHORE: $150.00 = Speckled Trout – Flounder – Redfish *Speckled Trout slot 13 inches to 20 inches & Redfish slot 18 inches to 27 inches
  • In order to determine the slot size length, Inshore species will be measured on a “Check-It-Stick” hands free board system utilizing a channel “Tail Pincher” device or on a “Bump Board” measuring device with the tail hand pinched and/or swiped. Fish will be measured from the tip of the snout to the extreme tip of the tail fin on the official measuring device(s) at the Weigh Station. A Trout in this category that exceeds 20 inches will not qualify. A Redfish that exceeds 27 inches will not qualify in any category or division.

Largest aggregate weight of 3 fish, one of each species in that category.

MUST HAVE ALL THREE SPECIES. If no one team has all three species then it goes to a two fish aggregate weight.

5 STRINGER SPECKLED TROUT – No Upper Size Limit For This Division

  • Sponsored by Sportsbeat Pub & Cafe
  • $150 PER BOAT.  Payouts: 1st place: 50% 2nd place: 30% 3rd place: 20%
  • Anglers may weigh up to 15 fish per day. NEW FOR 2024: 13 inch minimum size for Speckled Trout with no upper size limit.
  • No team can win multiple places – one payout per team
  • HEAVIEST 5 FISH OVER THE THREE DAY EVENT WILL MAKE UP THE 5 FISH STRINGER
  • PER LDWF REGULATIONS, EACH TEAM MAY ONLY WEIGH TWO TROUT OVER 20″ PER ANGLER PER DAY

“LIVE” REDFISH DIVISION – 3 FISH STRINGER

  • Sponsored by Venice Marina
  • $150 PER BOAT.  Payouts: 1st place: 50% 2nd place: 30% 3rd place: 20%
  • Teams can weigh 15 fish between 18″ – 27″ per day
  • No team can win multiple places – one payout per team
  • HEAVIEST 3 FISH OVER THE THREE DAY EVENT WILL MAKE UP 3 FISH STRINGER.
  • Every effort must be made to keep fish alive through the use of a properly aerated live well.  Eight ounces will be deducted from the total weight for each dead fish presented for weigh-in.
  • Live Redfish will be measured on a “Check-It-Stick” hands free board system.  Fish will be measured from the tip of the snout to the extreme tip of the tail fin utilizing a 4 inch channel “Tail Pincher” device on the measuring board.  A Redfish that exceeds 27 inches will not qualify in any category or division.

5 STRINGER RED SNAPPER

  • Sponsored by RFRI
  • $150 PER BOAT.  Payouts: 1st place: 50% 2nd place: 30% 3rd place: 20%
  • Teams can weigh up to 12 per day, or 4 per angler
  • No team can win multiple places – one payout per team
  • HEAVIEST 5 FISH OVER THE THREE DAY EVENT WILL MAKE UP 5 FISH STRINGER

STRINGER NOTES:

To qualify for ALL stringers, you must weigh-in at least the requisite number of fish for that stringer.  Example: 5 Trout Stringer – you must weigh-in at least 5 trout to qualify.  However, if no team weighs-in the requisite number of fish for that stringer, it will go to the next number groups aggregate weight.  For instance, if no teams weighs-in 5 trout, then a 4 trout stringer will qualify, and so on and so forth.  The same will apply to the Red Snapper and Redfish Stringers.

TEAMS CAN NOT WIN MULTIPLE PLACES IN THE STRINGER DIVISIONS – ONE PAY OUT PER TEAM.

SAM BARBERA REDFISH WITH MOST SPOTS

  • Sponsored by Stranco.
  • All boats registered are automatically entered. $500.00 cash award to the team that catches the Redfish (between 18” to 27″) with the most spots.
  • Only one winner

MICHAEL “BIG MIKE” IPPOLITO MEMORIAL AWARD

  • Sponsored by Faux Pas Prints

This award is to recognize the late “Big Mike” Ippolito. Big Mike was a great friend, great fisherman an even better man! Members of the Faux Pas Lodge family will always keep Big Mike in our thoughts and prayers!

Michael “Big Mike” Ippolito started his fishing career with his longtime family friend/mentor Kleo Blue Sr. aboard the Faux Pas as a mate. He learned much from his experience with Kleo which culminated in a tournament win in Orange Beach Alabama with a 4471b Blue Marlin in 1994.

In 1999 Michael teamed with Kleo Sr. & owner of VOODOO Gino Rendeiro to win the NOIBT with a 685lb Blue Marlin. It was the only Marlin “Big Mike” ever angled and still stands as the #9 largest Blue Marlin in LA.

In 2003 on Memorial Day Weekend “Big Mike” captained his boat, he co-owned with his brothers, Miss Cathy to an epic victory landing, what turned into the largest fish ever caught in the state of LA an 1152lb Bluefin Tuna. By all accounts, this fish would not have been caught if not for the strategy and skill Michael displayed during that fight.
In 2004 fishing in the NOIBT Michael again captained Miss Cathy to a tournament win landing a 596lbBlue Marlin. He loved fishing, he loved boats, he loved the people around the boats. What Michael did in life, echoes in eternity!!!