Categories:

Spearfish:

Grouper, Red Snapper, Mangrove Snapper, Cobia, Jack Fish, Other, Lionfish (Most by Weight), & Barracuda. This will

be the order of how awards will be called out.

Definitions:

Grouper is Any species of grouper legal for harvest and within Open state and or federal season.

Jack Fish is Any species of Jack legal for harvest and within Open state and or federal season.

Other/Miscellaneous includes Any fish legal for harvest and not included in the above categories (Tuna,

Wahoo, Stingray, Tarpon, etc.)

Lionfish will be the Biggest, Smallest (by length), & total weight of lionfish harvested over the duration of the

tournament.

King Spearfisherman Award – Points will be added up for all categories to determine the winner.

King Freediver Spearfisherman Award – A separate board will be kept for keeping points. Points will be added up for

all categories to determine the winner. King Award & Prize will determine if we have 10 or more Freedivers compete.

Queen Spearfisherman Award – A separate board will be kept for keeping points. Points for all females will be added

up for all categories to determine winner. Queen Award & Prize will determine if we have 5 or more women compete.

Novice Spearfisherman Award - A separate board will be kept for keeping points. Points will be added up for all

categories to determine the winner. You must Have 4 years or less from Open Water Certification. Must provide date

of certification at weigh in. Novice Award & Prize will determine if we have 5 or more Novice compete.

Youth Spearfisherman Award - consist of any youth that is 18 and under. Youth entering the tournament is free and

must have a Parent/Guardian signature on the wavier. King youth participants will not be able to go to the prize table

unless they have paid an entry fee. King Youth prize will be picked out by weigh master.

Best Boat Award - Points will be added up for all categories to determine the winner. Must notify weighmaster what

boat the fish was shot on.

Best Club Award – Points will be added up for all the divers within each dive club for all categories to determine

winner.

Diving Rules:

1. Weighmasters/ tournament officials have final say. In the event the officials disagree on

an issue, club president will make the deciding vote. Officials for 2025 Rodeo are Jeremy Eubanks & Josh Taylor.

2. Boundaries are open to all waters and competition begins June 25th, 2025 at 12:01 AM and ends on June 28th,

2026, at 2PM when scales close. Weigh-in is at Indian Point, 1600 Indian Point Pkwy, Gautier, MS 39553.

3. Scale open Sunday 28th from 12 PM to 2 PM (if in line at 2 PM you must inform the weigh master). Diver

must present wrist band to weigh master in order to enter fish. Diver must notify weigh master if fish is

freedive, novice, which Dive Club, & which boat fish was shot on.

Upon arrival, please check in with the registration tent! You will receive your wristband for meal ticket, and rodeo

shirt.

4. All legal fish are open for harvest and within Open Recreational State and/or Federal

Season and within recreational fisherman limits. Divers must shoot their Recreational Quota ONLY; no additional fish

may be shot & culled.

5. All contestants must be certified in their area (Scuba / Freediver) and conduct themselves properly.

6. Category winners are determined by biggest fish (by weight). (Lionfish will be 1st, 2nd, & 3rd most by total of fish’s

weight). Points will be 1st-5 points, 2nd-3 points, & 3rd-1 points toward King.

7. Prize Table will go in order from 1st place categories from list of fish in order, to then 2nd place in order, then 3rd

place in order of fish categories.

8. All speared fish must be taken by speargun or pole spear while submerged in water. (No shooting from boat!)

9. No ties will be considered. The first entry logged is the winner if two fish have the exact

weight.

10. Participant can only win in one slot in each category. You cannot have multiple fish in one category.

11. Valid Recreational Fishing license (ONLY) for the State(s) you will spear in is required of all participants. Rules for

each Recreational Fishing must be followed in each State.

12. All fish are subject to inspection. There will be NO ROTTEN, SPOILING, or FROZEN FISH turned in!

13. No powerheads allowed.

14. Fish must be speared and brought to the boat without assistance.

15. Ties for King, Queen, Novice, Club, & Boat will be determined by total weight of fish placed on board.

16. BAD WEATHER RULE – In the case of bad weather, any 24-hour period without a small craft advisory during the

rodeo dates will mean the tournament goes on as planned without being rescheduled.

17. Any attempts to cheat, defraud, or otherwise unlawfully bend the rules set forth will result in disqualification.

18. Kids division Rod and Reel consists of any registered adult’s child signed up in rodeo that is 15 years or younger.

Youth entering tournament is free and must have a Parents signature on the wavier. Largest legal fish is open to all

age kids 15 years and younger. Smallest legal fish is open to 6 years and under.

You MUST have signed registration/waiver on file BEFORE you participate in the Rodeo.

There is a $100.00 early registration fee and $120.00 Late registration fee. Early registration ends May 25th.

Must download Fishing Chaos App and make a profile to sign up and Register for the MM Rodeo. Payment will be

through the Fishing Chaos App.