Void where prohibited. All federal, state, and local regulations apply.

1. Eligibility: This Skill Based Tournament is open only to legal U.S. residents, at the time of entry with a valid Social Security number. Void where prohibited by law.  Employees of Connoisseur Media, and the immediate family members and household members of all such employees are not eligible to participate. The term “immediate family members” includes spouses, parents and stepparents, siblings and stepsiblings, and children and stepchildren.  The term “household members” refers to people who share the same residence at least three (3) months out of the year. The Tournament is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Participation constitutes the entrant’s full and unconditional agreement to these Official Rules and The Bluefish Tournament’s decisions, which are final and binding in all matters related to the Tournament. Winning a prize is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements set forth herein. Participants who have been banned from the tournament in previous years are not eligible to participate.   

2.  Tournament Period:  The Tournament will begin at 12:01am ET on August 24, 2024 and will run through 5:00pm ET on August 25, 2024 (the “Tournament Period”).  The Tournament’s computer is the official time keeping device for this Tournament.  

3. Registration is Required:  You can register to participate in this skill-based Tournament via (a) mailing in an entry; (b) registering in-person; (c) registering online.  Contestants must be registered in order to be eligible to win any prizes, and a $36 registration fee must be paid by each contestant in order to register. Registration begins May 24, 2024 online at https://www.bluefishtournament.com/. To enter by mail: submit the entry form along with your check or money order for $36 for registration + $5 postage ($41) to The Greatest Bluefish Tournament on Earth, WICC, 440 Wheelers Farms Road, Milford, CT, 06461. Mail-In Registration Deadline.  Mail-in registrations must be postmarked no later than August 14, 2024 and received no later than August 16, 2024.  The Bluefish Tournament is not responsible for lost and/or late mail-in entries, all of which will be disqualified.  In-Person Registration Deadline.  Registration in person must be at an officially designated registration station starting July 5, 2024. For a full list of official registration locations, please visit https://www.bluefishtournament.com. Hours of operation vary by location and The Bluefish Tournament is not responsible for any hours of operations or unforeseen closures that may prevent a participant from properly registering. Deadline for In-Person registration with a registration station is 7:00pm ET August 23, 2024. Online Registration Deadline.  Registration online ends 11:59pm ET August 23, 2024. By registering, you agree to these Official Rules and the decisions of the Bluefish Tournament, WICC 600 AM Radio (“WICC” or “Sponsor”), which are final and binding in all respects. No responsibility is assumed by Sponsor for lost, late, misdirected, illegible, mutilated, or postage-due entries or for any human, telephone, or technical malfunctions that may occur. Registration & Weigh-In Stations are subject to change. All entries become the property of Sponsor and will not be returned to contestant. REGISTRATION FEE IS NON-REFUNDABLE.   

4. Polygraph Testing: By registering, all contestants agree to be polygraph tested in order to claim a prize and prior to being awarded any prize won. To remain eligible for their respective prizes, first, second and third prize winners are required to take and pass a polygraph test on September 14, 2024 at a location TBD.  Dates may be subject to change. All polygraph tests must be administered by a person approved by the Tournament Director. The Bluefish Tournament also reserves the right to require any other winner to take and pass a polygraph test to remain eligible for prizes. Refusal to be polygraph tested on the set date will result in automatic disqualification and to immediate forfeiture of any potential Prize that might be awarded. Alcohol has to be refrained from for 48 hours prior to the examination date. Marijuana, including medical marijuana, and all illegal drugs need to be refrained from using for a week prior to the examination date. You must take and pass the polygraph to be declared a winner. There will be no opportunities to retake a polygraph test.  

Any minor winning First, Second or Third Prize will need an adult present who will act as a witness to the catch.  The adult identified shall take the polygraph test on behalf of the minor. 

Any participant can be required to take and pass the polygraph test as part of the verification process. 

5. Rain or Shine Event: The Tournament will be held rain or shine. If the Tournament is totally cancelled before the start of the Tournament by natural disaster or an act of God, as defined in The Bluefish Tournament and Sponsors sole and exclusive discretion, if possible, the Tournament will be rescheduled, subject to whatever limitations The Bluefish Tournament and Sponsor may set, for the alternate weekend of September 7 and 8, 2024. This is the final date. No refunds will be provided. Announcements for canceling and rescheduling the tournament will be made on WICC 600 AM Radio before 4:00 pm ET August 23, 2024. You may also contact WICC AM 600 at (203) 366-2583 for information regarding cancellation or rescheduling of the Tournament. In the case that the Tournament is rescheduled, all deadlines will be extended exactly two (2) weeks (fourteen (14) calendar days).

6. Tournament Description: All people in a boat who are fishing for bluefish for prize consideration during the tournament must be registered. (a) For the purpose of this Tournament, Long Island Sound’s westernmost border will not be past the Whitestone Bridge. The easternmost border will not be past the COLREGS Demarcation Line (a line running from Orient Point, New York across Plum Island, across Great Gull Island, Little Gull Island, and Gull Island, to Race Point on Fishers Island and from East Point on Fishers Island to Watch Hill Point, Rhode Island which includes Fishers Island Sound). The only exception to this border is The Race is out of bounds. 

Here are the coordinates for the COLREGS Demarcation Line from the United States Coast Guard. 

Watch Hill, RI to Montauk Point, NY.  

(a) A line drawn from 41°18′13.999″ N., 071°51′30.300″ W. (Watch Hill Light) to East Point on Fishers Island. 

(b) A line drawn from Race Point to 41°14′36.509″ N., 072°02′49.676″ W. (Race Rock Light); thence to 41°12′22.900″ N., 072°06′24.700″ W. (Little Gull Island Light) thence to East Point on Plum Island. 

(c) A line drawn from 41°10′16.704″ N., 072°12′21.684″ W. (Plum Island Harbor East Dolphin Light) to 41°10′17.262″ N., 072°12′23.796″ W. (Plum Island Harbor West Dolphin Light). 

(d) A line drawn from 41°10′25.745″ N., 072°12′42.137′ W. (Plum Gut Light) to 41°09′48.393″ N., 072°13′25.014″ W. (Orient Point Light); thence to Orient Point. 

(e) A line drawn from 41°06′35.100″ N., 072°18′21.400″ W. (Long Beach Bar Light) to Cornelius Point. 

(f) A line drawn from 41°04′12.000″ N., 072°16′48.000″ W. (Coecles Harbor Entrance Light) to Sungic Point. 

(g) A line drawn from Nicholl Point to 41°02′25.166″ N., 072°15′42.971″ W. (Cedar Island Light 3CI). 

(h) A line drawn from 41°02′06.060″ N., 072°11′19.560″ W. (Threemile Harbor West Breakwater Light) to 41°02′05.580″ N., 072°11′15.777″ W. (Threemile Harbor East Breakwater Light). 

(i) A line drawn from 41°04′44.210″ N., 071°56′20.308″ W. (Montauk West Jetty Light 2) to 41°04′46.095″ N., 071°56′14.168″ W. (Montauk East Jetty Light 1).  

Participants are strongly encouraged to check the map of the COLREGS Demarcation on the bluefish website at https://www.bluefishtournament.com/map. Rivers off the Long Island Sound may only be fished up to the demarcation line as indicated on the CT DEEP Website or if no demarcation line is indicated, the demarcation line is the first bridge upstream from the mouth. The list for Rivers is here: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Fishing/Freshwater-Fishing-Guide/Demarcation-Line (b) Bluefish (Pomatomus Saltatrix) must be caught unaided with a fishing pole with a hook and line in salt water during the fishing tournament from a boat on Long Island Sound or from the shore of Long Island Sound, in each case subject to the borders described above. Any assistance in the process of catching & reeling in of the fish will result in an automatic disqualification of that fish. A photo (either on Mobile Phone or Digital Camera) must be taken of the fisherman, fish, and rod and reel once the fish is caught. If an angler catches a fish that is in contention for a top 5 spot it must be reported as soon as possible to the Bluefish Tournament, by either Text to 800-932-3108 or by an email to info@bluefishtournament.com with a photo, name of fisherman , registration number, time fish caught, location caught and Weigh Station they are going to for weighing in. (c) Bluefish must be presented for weigh-in between 6:01 am ET and 10pm ET August 24, 2024 or 6:01 am ET and 5:00pm ET August 25, 2024. While a fish that is in contention for a top 5 spot is being weighed and measured the fisherman must take clear photo(s) of the Bluefish showing the weight and length measurements. These photo(s) must be sent to the Bluefish Tournament by either Text to 800-932-3108 or email info@bluefishtournament.com with a photo, name of fisherman , registration number and Weigh Station. (d) NOTE! Bluefish frozen, partially frozen, or without their eyes intact and clearly visible when presented for weigh-in will be disqualified. Only FRESH bluefish, with eyes intact and clearly visible, will be considered. (e) No prize will be awarded for bluefish brought in after 5:00 pm ET August 25, 2024 at any official weigh-in station. (f) After being weighed, all fish in possible contention must be gutted. The decision of the weigh-in station or a Sponsor employee shall be final. (g) Bluefish in possible contention and presented for judging, and only those become the property of the Sponsor.

7.  Judging: (a) Bluefish must be presented to a Bluefish Tournament representative at any of the official weigh-in stations. A list of their locations is available on the official tournament website. (b) In the interest of allowing for the most winners, only the heaviest of the fish presented by each contestant will be judged to be a contending fish. NO CONTESTANT MAY WIN MORE THAN ONE PRIZE. (c) In the event of a poundage tie, the winner will be selected as the earliest to weigh in his/her fish. (d) The decision of the weigh-in station or a Bluefish Tournament employee shall be final. (e) Any challenges to the unofficial winners list must be presented in person no later than 4:00 pm ET on August 30, 2024 at WICC 600 AM Radio, 440 Wheelers Farms Road, Milford, CT, 06461. Anonymous challenges presented in any form will be disregarded.

8. Prizes: The approximate retail value of all prizes is $41,250. (a) First Place: A $25,000 check will be awarded to the contestant with the heaviest bluefish by weight. Second Place: A $7,500 check to the contestant with the second heaviest bluefish by weight. Third Place: A $2,500 check to the contestant with the third heaviest fish by weight. Fourth Place: A $500 check to the contestant with the fourth heaviest fish by weight. Fifth Place: A $500 check to the contestant with the fifth heaviest fish by weight. Sixth-Tenth Places: The contestants with the next 5 heaviest bluefish will each win a $200 check. Eleventh-Fifteenth Places: The contestants with the next 5 heaviest bluefish will each win a $150 check. Sixteenth-Twentieth Places: The contestants with the next 5 heaviest bluefish will each win a $100 check. Under 18: The heaviest fish caught by a contestant under the age of 18 will win $1,000. Under 18, 2nd and 3rdplace winners will each receive a $100 Gift Card. (b) After the winners in paragraph (a) are determined, a $100 check will also be awarded to the contestant with the heaviest bluefish at each official weigh station weighing 5lbs or more. (c) NO CONTESTANT MAY WIN MORE THAN ONE (1) PRIZE. Checks will be mailed out once the Winner has fulfilled all requirements as stated herein including those in Paragraph 4. (d) No assignment or transfer of prize is permitted, except that Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value if the advertised prize is unavailable) Taxes are the sole responsibility of the winner. The Bluefish Tournament reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual if it finds, in its sole discretion, to be in violation of these rules, and such contestants will forfeit his or her registration fee and/or prize.

9. Verification of Potential Winner: THE ELIGIBILITY OF ALL POTENTIAL TOURNAMENT WINNERS IS SUBJECT TO VERIFICATION BY THE BLUEFISH TOURNAMENT WHOSE DECISIONS ARE FINAL AND BINDING IN ALL MATTERS RELATED TO THE TOURNAMENT. The potential winner must continue to comply with all terms and conditions of these Official Rules and winning is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements. The potential winner may be notified by email and/or telephone call after the date of winner determination.  The potential winner will be required to sign and return to The Bluefish Tournament, within three (3) days of the date notice is sent, an affidavit of eligibility and a liability/publicity release (except where prohibited) in order to claim his/her prize, if applicable. In the event the winner is under the age of 18, a parent or guardian (over the age of 18) of the winner must sign the affidavit and releases. In the event the winner of the prize for First, Second, or Third place is under the age of 18 a parent or guardian must have witnessed the catch and take the Polygraph and pass it as to witnessing the catch.  A winner who returns the affidavit of eligibility and liability/publicity release will be deemed to have accepted the Tournament prize and thereafter will not be permitted to rescind their acceptance of the prize and/or return the prize. If a potential winner cannot be contacted, fails to sign and return the affidavit of eligibility and/or the liability/publicity release within the required time period (if applicable), or if the prize or prize notification is returned as undeliverable, potential winner forfeits prize. In the event that the potential winner of a prize is disqualified for any reason, they will be removed from the leaderboard and prizes will be awarded based on the new standings.  Participants in contention to win must be available for on-air interviews on radio stations affiliated with the tournament as part of the verification process. 

10. Entry Conditions and Release: By entering, each participant agrees to: (a) comply with and be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of the Bluefish Tournament, which are binding and final in all matters relating to this Tournament; (b) release and hold harmless The Bluefish Tournament, Connoisseur Media, and its subsidiaries, related and affiliated companies, participating sponsors, the prize suppliers and any other organizations responsible for sponsoring, fulfilling, administering, advertising or promoting the Tournament, and each of their respective past and present officers, directors, employees, agents and representatives (collectively, the “Released Parties”) from and against any and all claims, expenses, and liability, including but not limited to negligence and damages of any kind to persons and property, including but not limited to invasion of privacy (under appropriation, intrusion, public disclosure of private facts, false light in the public eye or other legal theory), defamation, slander, libel, violation of right of publicity, infringement of trademark, copyright or other intellectual property rights, property damage, or death or personal injury arising out of or relating to a participant’s entry, creation of an entry or submission of an entry, participation in the Tournament, acceptance or use or misuse of prize (including any travel or activity related thereto) and/or the broadcast, exploitation or use of entry; and (c) indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Released Parties from and against any and all claims, expenses, and liabilities (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of or relating to an entrant's participation in the Tournament and/or entrant’s acceptance, use, non-use or misuse of the prize.  

11. Publicity: Except where prohibited, participation in the Tournament constitutes winner’s consent to use by the Bluefish Tournament and its agent of winner’s name, likeness, photograph, voice, opinions and/or biographical information (including hometown and state) for promotional purposes in any media, worldwide, without further payment or consideration, unless otherwise prohibited by law. Winners agree to be interviewed by Tournament officials on Connoisseur Media Radio Stations. 

12. Taxes:  All State, Local, Federal, and/or other taxes, duties, tariffs, title fees, licensing fees, or other fees for prizes awarded become the sole responsibility of the winner.  All those who win a prize or prizes valued $600 or more in any given year will be issued an IRS Form 1099 to report their winnings and all winners must submit an IRS Form W-9 to Sponsor to claim prize.  

13. General Conditions: The Bluefish Tournament reserves the right to cancel, suspend and/or modify the Tournament, or any part of it, if any fraud, technical failures or any other factor beyond The Bluefish Tournament’s reasonable control impairs the integrity or proper functioning of the Tournament, as determined by The Bluefish Tournament in its sole discretion. The tournament organizers are not responsible if any part of the Contest cannot be conducted and/or if a prize, either in whole or in part, cannot be awarded due to acts of God, acts of war, natural disasters, weather, acts of terrorism, public health issues (including Covid-19 related), local, state and federal guidelines or other factors beyond the Released Parties’ control. The Bluefish Tournament reserves the right in its sole discretion to disqualify any individual it finds to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Tournament or to be acting in violation of these Official Rules or acting in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner. Any attempt by any person to deliberately undermine the legitimate operation of the Tournament may be a violation of criminal and civil law, and, should such an attempt be made, The Bluefish Tournament reserves the right to seek damages from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by law. The Bluefish Tournament’s failure to enforce any term of these Official Rules shall not constitute a waiver of that provision. 

14. Limitations of Liability: The Released Parties are not responsible for: (1) any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by The Bluefish Tournament, entrants, printing errors or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Tournament; (2) technical failures of any kind, including but not limited to malfunctions, interruptions, or disconnections in phone lines or network hardware or software; (3) unauthorized human intervention in any part of the entry process or the Tournament; (4) technical or human error which may occur in the administration of the Tournament or the processing of entries; or (5) any injury or damage to persons or property which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from entrant’s participation in the Tournament or receipt or use, non-use or misuse of any prize. No more than the stated number of prizes will be awarded. In event that a production, technical, programming or other error causes more than stated number of prizes as set forth in these Official Rules to be claimed, The Bluefish Tournament reserves the right to award only the stated number of prizes by a random drawing among all legitimate, unawarded, eligible prize claims. 

15. Disputes: Entrant agrees that: (i) any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Tournament, or any prizes awarded, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action; (ii) any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Tournament, or any prizes awarded, shall be resolved exclusively by the United States District Court or the appropriate state court located in the WICC listening area; (iii) any and all claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with entering this Tournament, but in no event attorneys’ fees; and (iv) under no circumstances will entrant be permitted to obtain awards for, and entrant hereby waives all rights to claim punitive, incidental and consequential damages and any other damages, other than for actual out-of-pocket expenses, and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased. SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of entrant and The Bluefish Tournament in connection with the Tournament, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the state of Connecticut in which the Bluefish Tournament is located, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules (whether of the state in which the Bluefish Tournament is located or any other jurisdiction), which would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the state of Connecticut in which the Bluefish Tournament is located. 

16. Entrant’s Personal Information: Information collected from entrants is subject to The Bluefish Tournament’s Privacy Policy, which is available on the Bluefish Tournament’s website under the “Privacy Policy” link. All entry blanks, forms, devices, and materials gathered during the course of entry, as well as all information contained therein, shall become the sole property of The Bluefish Tournament to be used, disposed of or destroyed in its sole discretion.  The Bluefish Tournament is not responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate information entered by website users, and assumes no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communications line failure, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to The Bluefish Tournament’s website. 

The Tournament and its Sponsors are not responsible for the conduct, personal damages, or negligence on the part of any contestant. 

This Tournament is held in strict compliance with the laws of the State of Connecticut, United States of America, and its territorial waters.   

17. Tournament Results:  A winners list of Official Results will be posted at BluefishTournament.com