Rules For 14th Annual Spankin The Specks 

Note (Flounder Category Has Been Replaced by Sheepshead This Year)

1. PARTICIPATION AND ELIGIBILITY. Participation is open to anyone 18 years of age or older. Minors are eligible to participate with a parent or legal guardian signature on the release form. A completed entry form, waiver, and entry fee must be received no later than the published entry date. All participants represent that they are physically and mentally competent and fit and able to participate. By entering, all participants agree to assume all risks of personal injury, death, and damage to or loss of property and further agree to indemnify and hold Everything Kayak, its officers, members, agents, and sponsors harmless from and against any and all claims, liabilities, and causes of action resulting directly or indirectly from participation.

2. REGISTRATION AND CAPTAINS MEETING. The registration fee is Adults $45.00. Entry into the Free Kids’ Division (13 and under) does not qualify said angler to win any prizes or standing in main divisions. To register for Free Kids’ Division email [email protected]
Payments can be made online at www.everythingkayak.com or at the shop. (15240 Creosote Rd Gulfport, MS 39503)
Registration will be closed at 8:00pm Nov. 28, 2025.
Attendance at the Captain’s Meeting is not mandatory for contestants. Meeting will be held at 6:00pm Nov. 28, 2025, at Everything Kayak & Bicycles (15240 Creosote Rd Gulfport, MS 39503).
Lines in the water time is 5:00 am Nov. 29, 2025.

3. SAFETY. Safe boating must be observed at all times. During the competition each contestant is required to comply with US Coast Guard and State regulations including the possession of a PFD and sounding device. If you find yourself in an emergency situation please call 911. We discourage anglers from launching a vessel prior to sunrise. If you plan to launch your vessel before sunrise or low visibility situations, you will be required to have a white light producing device capable of producing a visual signal to avoid collision with other vessels as defined by USCG regulations, however no line shall be in the water before 5:00 am.

4. WEIGH IN. Everything Kayak (15240 Creosote Rd Gulfport, MS 39503). The weigh station will be operational between the hours of 2:30 PM and 3:30 PM on the day of the tournament (Nov. 29, 2025). You must be in-line no later than the 3:30 PM deadline or your catch will not qualify. There will be no exceptions to this rule. Official time will be kept by the Tournament Director at the weigh stations. Anglers are strongly urged not to wait until the last minute to submit their catch for weigh-in.
The weigh masters will make decisions on accepting fish for weigh-in, their decision is final. Any attempt to enter fraudulent catch, tamper with catch, or to hamper or threaten any official of the tournament will result in immediate angler disqualification. Only authorized persons will be allowed in the stations. Fish will be submitted in the order in which they are checked in. The largest fish will be determined by weight. In the event of a tie, the first fish entered will be considered the winner, and the other will be dropped to the next position. You may only submit up to three fish in Speck division and single largest fish in flounder and red division. In the Speck division three trout stringer will best any two trout stringer and a two trout stringer will best any single trout stringers.

5. COMMUNICATIONS: The use of mobile communications (cell, FM, VHF) is allowed and encouraged. A common frequency will be assigned for the use of the tournament staff and participants to enhance safety and will be announced at the Captain’s Meeting. Due to the lack of radio devices, the primary mode of mobile communications will be cell phones.

6. SPORTSMANSHIP: All contestants are required to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, and conservation. Any use of drugs, participation in criminal activities, or other conduct reflecting unfavorably upon our efforts to promote safety, sportsmanship, fair competition, and/or compliance with tournament rules are grounds for immediate disqualification and return of any prizes awarded. Contestants must be willing to submit for a voice analysis test (lie detector).

7. PERMITTED FISHING METHODS. Fishermen use conventional tackle, natural bait is allowed. All fish must be caught from the kayak. No wade fishing or shore fishing is permitted unless the kayak is tethered to the angler. For the purpose of eligibility of this tournament no lines in the water prior to the designated fishing time. All fish must be caught line and hook to be eligible.

Weigh Masters will answer questions or resolve conflicts for other fishermen8. NO MOTORS. The use of a boat or motorized water vehicle to transport your boat on the water is prohibited. All craft must be powered by human-effort – no motorization or engines are allowed. Canoes and paddle vessels other than kayaks are permitted. Consideration will be given to special needs, disabled, or handicap participants who contact director prior to the event.

9. FISHING LOCATIONS. The fishing area will be angler’s choice from MS state line to state line, there is no north or south boundary at this time.

10. OTHER: During competition contestants may not obtain or receive assistance including but not limited to following a non-competitor’s boat, the placing of markers by a non-competitor, being towed or riding motorized vessels, or receiving electronic, voice, or data communications from non-competitors. All USCG and DMR regulations are in effect at all times.

11. SCORING. Fish must be compliant with Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (DMR) regulations to count. In the event of a tie the entry checked in earliest will be declared the winner. The tournament director is responsible for the final call in all matters. All fish must be caught using hook and line. See Mississippi Saltwater Regulations: https://dmr.ms.gov/recreational-catch-limits/
Eligible fish: Spotted Sea Trout- (Speckled Trout) Must be a minimum of 15” and no longer than 24” at the time of weigh-in. Red Drum-(Red Fish) Must be a minimum of 18” and not larger than 27” at the time of weigh-in. A visible gap must be present between the tail of the fish and the 27” line on the official measuring board used by the weigh master. Sheepshead- Must be a minimum or 14” at the time of weigh-in. All fish will be measured with an un-pinched tail. Participants will be allowed one “oops fish”. If a participant submits an under or over slot fish they will have the opportunity to substitute that fish for an eligible fish. If a participant submits a second un-eligible, fish they will be disqualified from the event. (No Refund Will Be given For This)

12. TANDEMS/SHARING. It is permissible for more than 1 entrant to share the same paddle vessel. However each paddler / fisher must be a registered participant.

13. PROTEST. All protests must be made in writing and delivered to a tournament official within 30 minutes of the check-in time. The tournament director(s) are the final authority in all considerations.

14. RELEASE OF LIABILITY AND COVENANT NOT TO SUE. A waiver, release of liability, and covenant not to sue are part of the entry form. It is required that all contestants take responsibility for themselves while participating in event activities.

15. RULE CHANGES. Rules interpretation is exclusively left to the Tournament Director. The decisions of the Tournament Director are final in all matters and are not subject to appeal.

16. PRIZE STRUCTURE. Heaviest catch wins.

* Speckled Trout ( Three Fish Aggregate Weight):
1st Place - $500.00 PRIZE
2nd Place - $250.00 PRIZE
3rd Place - $150.00 PRIZE

* Redfish: 1st Place - $100.00 PRIZE
2nd Place - $75.00 PRIZE
3rd Place - $50.00 PRIZE

* Sheepshead: 1st place - $100.00 PRIZE
2nd Place - $75.00 PRIZE
3rd Place - $50.00 PRIZE

* Kids’ Division: Prize Packs

***Prize payout is based on 30 participants***

Important Note: We are limiting each angler to one tournament category win / prize. In the event that an angler places in more than one fishing category the prize of the highest value will be awarded. The tournament committee will adjust the leader board accordingly, to award the other prizes to other anglers. For example, if an angler weighs in both the top Redfish and the top Flounder, he will be given the first place prize for only one of the categories but not both. At that point he will be excluded from other category prizes. If the values of the prizes are of equal value the tournament committee will make the decision as to what category will be adjusted. The leader board will be adjusted to award the other first place prize to what was technically the second largest fish.

Ultimately, all anglers should weigh all fish caught. Even a small fish (one that does not initially place in the top three) could yield a prize through either adjustments in leaders or through a raffle. This limitation is designed to spread the prizes to the largest distribution of anglers.