Rules

2025 Swollfest Fishing Rodeo ® Rules & Regulations 

1.    All fishes and anglers must be in accordance with state, federal, and Swollfest rules and regulations

2.    Swordfish is the only allowed billfish

3.    Swordfish bill may be completely cut or partially cut and folded to ensure proper care and icing of carcass.  Bill and carcass will be weighed together for total weight

4.    No miscellaneous fish allowed

5.    Big eye tuna will be considered yellow fin tuna for weigh-in purposes

6.    Only fishes specifically listed under Swollfest Fishing Rodeo ® categories may be entered

7.    Salty Kids Children’s division is for youth anglers 15 years old and younger

8.    Any Swollfest board member has the right to open and inspect any fish(es) entered into Swollfest

9.    You are entering Swollfest Fishing Rodeo ® at your own risk

10. Grand Isle Marina, Swollfest board members, Swollfest weigh masters, Swollfest sponsors, Swollfest volunteers, Swollfest beneficiaries, and/or any other charities benefiting from Swollfest will not be held liable for any damages or injury suffered at this event

11. Unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated

12. All rodeo entry fees and sponsorship donations are nonrefundable

13. All fishes entered into Swollfest Fishing Rodeo ® will have the tails clipped to assure no re-entry of the same fish

14. All fishing locations must be accessible to the public at all times according to state and federal regulations, no private fishing grounds

15. Any attempt to circumvent the rules and regulations of Swollfest Fishing Rodeo ® will result in disqualification of fish(es) and angler

16. Any decision made by Swollfest board members and/or weigh masters will be final

17. All money transactions are final

18. No swapping of fish between competitors or team members is allowed and will result in disqualification of all parties involved

19. Any mutilation of fish deemed unnecessary will result in disqualification of the fish and/or angler

20. ONLY first place winners in the Open Leader Board (Offshore, Inshore, Deep Drop, and Kayak divisions) will receive a custom prize and award

21. Salty Kids Children’s Division winners in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place will receive a prize as well as an award

22. A full explanation of categories and divisions may be found on the Swollfest Fishing Rodeo ® website, www.swollfest.com, and will be displayed conspicuously at the rodeo

23. If a fish is entered on the Open Leader Board, it may not be entered on the Salty Kids Leader Board

24. 5-speckled trout stringer: must be a team entry; may be collectively caught throughout the weekend by a team; is the only category where a clipped tail fish may be entered

25. Measuring redfish: redfish will be measured with the mouth closed and the tail swiped across the ruler to obtain the fish’s maximum overall length.  The measurement will be from the tip of the snout to the extreme tip of the tail fin.  If the tail touches the 27-inch line or over/longer, it will be disqualified from Swollfest Fishing Rodeo ® and considered an illegal fish by Louisiana state law

26. Redfish will be measured only once

27. Scales used to weigh in fish may or may not be certified.  If you fish needs a certified scale for record or official purposes, please inform the weighmaster

28. Electrical reels and bandit reels are allowed

29. Points are awarded as follows: first place = 3 points; second place = 2 points; third place = 1 point

30. Maximum of 6 registered participants per team

31. A team consists of (no more than) 6 registered participants, for the purpose of deciding Best Team Champion

32. If your team has more than 6 registered participants, multiple teams must be formed (i.e. TeamFish 1, TeamFish 2, Etc.); each team will be tallied separately for fairness of winning Best Team

33. Best Team (Offshore) will be awarded to the team that has the most points across all offshore categories

34. Best Team (Inshore) will be awarded to the team that has the most points across all inshore categories

35. Best Team (Deep Drop) will be awarded to the team that has the most points across all deep drop categories

36. In the event of a tie: if two fish are weighed in with the same weight, the fish that is first entered wins

37. If there is a tie for Best Team, the team with most first placed fishes, wins; if still tied, the most second placed fishes, wins; then most third placed fishes if necessary; Lastly, if still tied, overall weight of Open Leader Board fishes entered by each team will break the tie

38. Weigh-in Closure: The angler(s) must be in line with their fish(es) and have notified the weigh master before official closing of scales at 6:00pm to enter their fish(es).  No exceptions will be made.

39. Weigh ins will be held on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 4:00pm-6:00 pm at the Grand Isle Marina

40. At 6:00pm on Saturday, Swollfest Fishing Rodeo ® scales are officially closed. Scales will only stay open past this time for fish brought in before 6:30pm and will stay open until all those fish are weighed in

41. Salty Kids (Children’s Division) Awards ceremony begins at 7:00pm and Swollfest Fishing Rodeo ® awards ceremony, check presentation, sponsor recognition, Inspirational award start at 8:00pm

42. You may enter to compete into the rodeo until 3:00pm on Saturday, according to Swollfest Board of Directors’ time, this marks the close of registration

43. Fish taken by spear gun, spear, Hawaiian sling, bow and arrow, or any other method other than rod and reel (or electric reel or bandit reel), will not be accepted into Swollfest Fishing Rodeo ®

44. All kayak competitors must catch their fish on rod and reel while fishing out of a kayak

45. Overall Kayak Champion is awarded to the individual with the most points accumulated across all three categories in the kayak division