Every entry form must be properly and/or completely filled out.
Entry must be postmarked within 10 days of catch or it will be disqualified.
 

1. All tackle must meet MET specifications.  Power reels are allowed for physically handicapped anglers to earn citations and designated special trophies.  The use of a power reel must be noted on the entry form.
    
2. Angler must hook and play fish without help. Rod, reel and line must not be rested anywhere or touched by anyone else (mate, captain or companions may not hook fish and/or hand over to angler). Boat gaff may not exceed 8-feet in length.
    
3. Injured or mutilated fish are not eligible. Sharks may be shot AFTER being gaffed but otherwise, shooting, hand lining or harpooning fish is not allowed.
    
4. Entries shall be disqualified for:
   1. Broken rod or line
   2. Using boat to drive or harass fish
   3. Lack of valid signatures on entry form
       
5. Angler and Witness must each sign their own names and witness must have been present and have seen the actual catch.
    
6. Fish must be weighed on shore by an Official MET Designated Weigh master on scales approved by the Florida Bureau of Weights and Measures or a MET Certified scale. Fish must be weighed in the presence of the angler. Handheld scales certified by the MET, IGFA or the Florida Bureau of Weights & Measures are allowed.
    
7. Jigs, lures, etc. shall be removed from fish prior to weighing. Rope, or other devise, used to hang fish on scale is not to be included in weight of fish.
    
8. Professional captains/mates may not compete against anglers. A professional is a person who receives any compensation, or advertises that he/she is a professional.
    
9. No fish may be entered in more than one division.
    
10. In case of a tie, the fish caught first, as determined by date and time of day of the catch, is the winner.
     
11. Protests MUST be submitted in writing to the MET office within 10 days of the alleged infraction. Protest must be signed. Protests are not taken lightly by Judges Committee and when properly submitted are thoroughly investigated.
     
12. IT IS THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE ANGLER TO DETERMINE IF THE FISH IS A POTENTIAL RECORD. Application for a record must be made at the time of entry. Delayed applications or applications of fish that have been dressed or mutilated will not be considered. Possible record entries MUST be weighed by the:
    1. Principal Weigh Master
    2. 1st Assistant Weigh Master
    3. MET Official
        
    The Official MUST examine the fish and tackle used.  A sample of line with leader and all knots, minus hook or lure, shall be included with entry form for testing.  The line sample must be in one piece.
    
    The line sample must be sent to The MET office by the weighing Official. Exception: Line samples for Potential I.G.F.A. world records should be submitted to I.G.F.A. and The MET will accept their line test results. Please mail MET entry form within 10 day period and mark entry form appropriately.
    
    To establish a new record, the fish must exceed the weight of the previous by the following amounts:
         - If under 10 lbs, 2 ounces over the previous record;
         - 10 to 20 lbs, four ounces over the previous record;
         - 20 to 100 lbs, eight ounces over the previous record;
         - Over 100 lbs, the new fish must exceed the old record by one-half of one percent of the old weight
    
    (There is a processing fee - please see entry form)
     
13. Wire or metallic lines may not be used. Double line, if used, MUST leave rod tip during the fight and fish must be fought on specified class line.
     
14. CASTING DIVISIONS:  Only artificial lures may be used in the FLY, SPIN, OR PLUG DIVISIONS. These lures MUST BE CAST BY THE ANGLER and retrieved via that angler's manual manipulation of the tackle. TROLLING by boat or holding the lure stationary in the current is NOT PERMITTED. Artificial lures may not be "sweetened" via the addition of any natural bait (except pork rind). Any lure soaked in chum is prohibited.
     
15. ALL ENTRIES MUST BE POSTMARKED WITHIN TEN (10)DAYS AFTER THE CATCH. Entries postmarked later will be disqualified.
     
16. ALL DECISIONS BY THE JUDGES COMMITTEE ARE FINAL.
     
17. All entries must comply with State and/or Federal law.
     
18. Fish must be taken in accordance with principles of good sportsmanship. The tournament charges no entry fee, thus no person has the right to participate in the tournament. Because no set of rules can be written which do not contain provisions) that are subject to different interpretations, good sportsmanship shall be the lodestar by which these rules should be interpreted. The MET Committee retains the right to determine, in its sole discretion, whether any entry will be accepted or whether any individual will be allowed to participate in the tournament. Violation of a particular rule is not a condition precedent to the Committee's disallowing a particular entry or disqualifying an angler. The General Regulations are expressly incorporated by reference and made a part of the rules.

1. Line test must conform to WET Strength specifications outlined above.
2. Reel must be fixed spool type.
3. Leader and double line combined may not exceed the length of the rod. No more than 18" of leader may be metallic.
4. Only artificial lures may be used.

Plug

1. Line test must conform to WET Strength specifications outlined above.
2. The reel must be a revolving spool casting type with level wind and capacity not exceeding 350 yards of any 15 pound test line; however not more than 250 yards of line may be used. Additional line may be used as filler, but it must NOT be connected to the fishing line in any way so that it can leave the spool during the fight.
3. The rod must be designed for casting, manipulation, and retrieval of artificial lures. It must be capable of one-handed casting, and not less than 5' or more than 7-1/2' in length. The handle as measured from the front of the reel seat to the end of the butt cannot exceed 12". The fore grip, if any, cannot exceed 5" in length and must be permanently attached to the front of the reel seat. Detached, add-on, and/or sliding fore grips are specifically prohibited.
4. Leader and double line combined must not exceed rod length. No more than 18" of leader may be metallic. Only artificial lures may be used.

Fly

1. Rod, reel and lure must be of types designated specifically for fly casting. Only single action or automatic reels are permitted.
2. Non-metallic leader must be attached to the fly line and whether level or tapered leaders are used, the tippet (lure end) must be AT LEAST 15" in length (it may be longer) and must conform to WET strength specifications as outlined above.
3. Added heavy shock tippet may be added and may be of any material but must NOT exceed 12" in length.
4. Rod butt must not extend more than 6" below the reel seat.
5. The lure must be of single hook construction, artificial, of a weight made specifically for fly-casting. Two single hook flies, in tandem, meeting IGFA specifications, may be used for billfish only. The second hook in any tandem fly must not exceed beyond the wing material of the first hook and the eyes of the hooks shall be no farther than 6" (15.24 cm) apart. Double and treble hooks are prohibited. The fly must be capable of being false cast in the orthodox manner. No bait or scented artificial lures are permitted.

Boundary includes all fresh and salt waters of the following South Florida counties: Broward, Collier, Dade, Glades, Hendry, Lee, Martin, Monroe, Palm Beach, Okeechobee and St. Lucie. Catches from adjacent waters also are eligible, provided the angler fishes from a boat which leaves from, and returns to, a port of landing within the official boundaries and does not land at any territory outside the official boundaries. The tournament boundaries also include Cat Cay and Bimini.

Anglers who are not in contention for a Major Award need not be concerned with the Weight Fish Point System.

If you have any questions as to a specific trophy category and are not sure of the requirements, email or call the MET Office at 305-233-5535.