Tournament Information

  1. All anglers must abide by all State and Federal laws. 

2. Registration — Will be held at Oceans East - Nags Head, Oceans East – Virginia Beach

from May 8, 2023 until 5:00 PM on May 18, 2023. All boats must be registered with

the Tournament committee and all entry fees paid to qualify for prizes and trophies.

Any substitute must be registered with the Tournament Director prior to fishing and

will be permissible only if original boat becomes disabled. Captain’s Meeting will be

held through Facebook live on the Oceans East Tournaments Facebook on May 18,

2023 at 7:00 PM. For any questions during or after the meeting please call or text the

tournament director at 252-202-4688.

3. Fishing Days —There will be three (3) fishing days.  Boats can either enter one, two or

all days of the tournament.  Fishing hours are from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM daily. No

lines in the water prior to 9:00 AM. Boats cannot catch bait prior to 9:00 AM on

fishing days. Any fish hooked prior to 4:00 PM may be played until caught.  Boats

must leave out of a North Carolina Port on fishing days.

4. Official Clock —Time starts the first day of the tournament. Official tournament time

will be continuous GPS time. In case of tie in weight, time of weigh in will determine

the winner. 

5. Boundaries — All fish must be hooked within tournament boundaries which is from

the northern boundary NC/VA border and the southern boundary being Drum Inlet

NC.  

6. Weighing Fish — Any fish weighed must be entered on the scorecard by the

Tournament Weighmaster.  If anyone wants to have a fish reweighed, it must be done

while fish is still hanging. All fish that have been mutilated will be disqualified.

Mutilation shall be defined as damage which would impair the fighting ability of the

fish. The decision of the weighmaster will be final. Weigh stations will close at 7:00

PM Friday and Saturday of the Tournament and 6:00 PM on Sunday, the last day of

the tournament.  There will be three (3) official weigh stations: Pirates Cove Marina,

Oregon Inlet Fishing Center and Teach’s Lair Marina. 

7. First two fish harvested will be eligible for weigh in.  

8. Scoring —All cobia will receive one (1) point per pound.  Teams may weigh no more

than two cobia per day.  Top boat honors will be determined by adding together the

weights of the team's heaviest two cobia from each day of fishing.  

9. Tie Breaker – Winner will be determined by weight. Weighed fish will be recorded in

fractions of a pound. If two or more entries are of the same weight. The fish with the

earliest weigh-in time will determine the winner. 

10. Polygraph Testing – Crew members, Captain and Mate of money winning boats and

individual trophy winners may be subject to polygraph testing before receiving any

money and/or trophies. Polygraph test for winners will be completed at a designated

time and location. By virtue of signing the entry form, participants agree to the final

decision of the polygraph test. Refusal to submit to the polygraph test will be

automatic grounds for disqualification from the Tournament and any winnings. 

11. Protests - must be submitted in writing to the Tournament Director by 7:00 PM on

Sunday night. Protests must be submitted in writing with a deposit of $100 which will

be refunded if the protest is upheld.  The Rules Committee at their discretion may use

polygraph testing to reach a decision. By virtue, or signing the entry form all

participants agree to the final decision of the Rules Committee. 

12. Cancellation Policy - If weather and /or other conditions exist that require that the

tournament be cancelled, refunds will be paid less tournament expenses. The

decision to cancel the tournament will be made by the Tournament Director. One day

of fishing by at least 10% of the field constitutes a tournament.  

13. Prize money - Checks will be made payable to the entrant or authorized agent of the

winning boat as designated on the official entry form. Social Security Number or

Taxpayer ID must be li. Checks will be mailed within 30 days of tournament event. 

14. Anglers -There is no limit to the number of eligible anglers per boat.

15. BY SIGNING THE ENTRY FORM AND PAYING THE ENTRY FEE, MY TEAM AND I

ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE HAVE READ THE RULES AND FORUM

SELECTION/INDEMNIFICATION AND ARE BOUND BY THE SAME. 

16. Forum Selection/Indemnification - All participants, owners of vessels and pro hoc

owners of vessels, consent and agree that the federal and state courts for Dare

County, North Carolina, shall serve as the sole venue for all litigation and disputes,

including, but not limited to, Oceans East, Inc, Oceans East OBX. LLC, and Oceans East

Tournaments, Inc., rulings, property damage, personal injury, and contract disputes

arising out of a person or vessel's participation in the Oceans East Cobia Tournament. 

If a participant does not secure the signature of the vessel's owner and / or pro hoc

owner for this agreement, the participant(s) agrees to indemnify the. against all

claims brought by the owner and or pro hoc owners of the vessel(s). Any participant

whose action causes Oceans East, Inc, Oceans East OBX. LLC, and Oceans East

Tournaments, Inc, its officers, directors, sponsors, owners and employees, to occur

legal expenses, shall indemnify, hold harmless and reimburse said persons or entities

from such costs.  The rules and release shall also be binding on my heirs, executors,

administrator or assignees. 

17. Tournament Expenses - In an effort to offset tournament expenses, 10% of entry fees

and calcuttas will be donated to the Oceans East Fisherman’s Fund