Next Competitions

Compete '12#3 >> Saturday February 25th, 2012 - John U Lloyd Marina (March 3rd, 2012 in case of rescheduling)

Our last competition of the season, which at been postponed from November. We will depart from John U. Lloyd Marina at 08:00 am as usual with return at 03:00 pm latest. Limits will be from Port Everglades inlet (N) to Haulover inlet (S). More details will be posted soon.

New Longfins Fishlist applicable, REVIEW CHANGES BELOW (Voted in November '11 meeting)

The Longfins Fishlist has been modified with size reduction for: Glasseye Snapper, Goatfish and the addition of Barracuda, Bluefish, Lionfish and the distinction between White and Black Margate. Please review all changes below and download the complete fishlist and rules in the"Club's Documents" page.

Lionfish has been added on the Longfins Fishlist (Voted in August '11 meeting)

To contribute to the eradication of an invasive species, Lionfish has been added to the Longfins fihslist. Each fish, regardless if its size, will be worth 1 point at the club's tournament.

Who can Participate?

Anyone, members and non-members alike, can participate in these competitions. However, although eligible to place in the competition, non-members will not be able to use their points towards a selection within the Club for the U.S. Nationals.

What is it?

They are friendly spearfishing competitions in our local waters that give you a chance to dive with each other and compete for trophies and sometimes prizes.  Bring the family for the weigh-in and cookout afterwards. The competitions can be beach dives, boat dives,  two men one gun dives, or group dives. We try to hold one competition per month.

What is the entry fee?

Members: $35 / Non-member: $35 Make check payable to "Longfins"

When and what time are the tournaments?

Tournaments take place on Saturdays only, the first weekend following the club monthly meeting. Sign-up is at 7:30 am. and launch is at 8:00 a.m. In case of inclement weather, the tournament is pushed to the end of the listed competitions. 

Return is typically at 3:00 pm.

So, what are the dates?

Members voted on the dates, locations and competititions type and are listed below. These venues and competitions type will NOT change so it is useless to bring the topic up at meeting.

U.S. Nationals Spearfishing Competition

Every year, the Longfins top competitors are selected to represent the Club at the U.S. Nationals of Freedive Spearfishing. The selection is done through a total of six competitions, but only the results of the best three are taken into consideration. There are only a limited number of spots to fill and this is how we determine who will get to go.

2011-2012 Season is starting. Become a member and get your points toward the 2012 US Spearfishing  Nationals.

Rules:

  • Briefing at 7:30 a.m. Launch at 8:00 a.m. Officers will determine the duration of the competition at the time of the briefing
  • All divers must swim and cannot paddle (for the Sunrise beach compete)
  • Any board type is allowed including kayaks BUT divers must swim and NOT paddle  (for the Sunrise beach competition)
  • Other competiton launch by boat
  • Must be able to show valid fishing license prior to launch
  • Must have a dive knife with self
  • Must display a regulatory dive flag
  • Powerheads only allowed for protection
  • Divers must come back to staging either swimming on walking on the beach (no walking on the sidewalk or retaining wall)  (for the Sunrise beach compete)
  • Divers must go to the staging area to leave their catch prior to returning to their vehicles
  • All spears must have a tip protector (such as an old cutoff band)
  • While on the beach, all shafts must be off the speargun whether at the time of launch or when coming back to the launch area
  • Guns can be loaded only when passed the swim buoys
  • No spearfishing allowed within public swim zone
  • No chumming, only burlying allowed
  • No fishing line or net of any kinds
  • GPS and lures allowed
  • Fish must remain ungutted until the weigh-in. Fish cannot be mutilated
  • Competitors must comply with the Fish & Wildlife regulations in terms of bag limits and sizes. and the Longfins fishlist regulations whichever is greater (example: the law for Hogfish size is 12" to the fork. The accepted length is the Longfins' with a length to the fork of 14". Longfins fish list is the only fish list accepted
  • Max 20 fish allowed. 1 point per fish plus the weight of the fish (20 pts max if the fish is more than 20 pounds)

Contact the officers for details.

What fish can I shoot?

See table below. We also have the same document available at the sign-in. Note that some of the fish size was increased fot the competitions only. On another note... please do not catch illegal fish whether you bring it to the weigh-in or not as you will be disqualified either way.

What is the winning prize? Are there categories?

There is only 1 category for freedivers. However there are two sub-categories, one for Advanced divers and the other for the Starters. For the Advanced, we will award a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place, as well as a Biggest Fish award. For Starters, there is only a 1st place award  but Starters do also qualify for the Biggest Fish award. Note that there will be a Starters group only if there are 3 divers in this group.

Can a competition be cancelled? What are the reasons? What happens then?

  • A competition can be cancelled if the seas are forecasted to be 3-5 feet or more, and/or if there is an event that can potentially put the participants' life in danger, such as a regatta or a sportfishing competition in the immediate vicinity of the boundaries.
  • The decision to hold the competition is made after the 5 p.m. marine forecast. You may check it for yourself at www.wunderground.com or http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mfl/  (just be sure to check the marine forecast and enter the city that is the nearest to the competition's launch), or visit the homepage of this website for an announcement.
  • Competitions are also cancelled at any time, if there are 3 divers or less.
  • All competitors, including observers, guests and captains, will have to sign a waiver at the dock. If anyone in any boat refuses to sign, the boat's divers will not be allowed to participate in the competition.
  • If a competition is cancelled, it is rolled over to the end of the listed competions.

NOTE: If a competition is cancelled because the forecast called for high seas and it turns out the weather was less than 3-5 feet, no comments, insinuation, sarcasm or backtalking towards ANY of the officers will be tolerated.