WHEN: Friday, August 22, 2025

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REGISTRATION
Thursday, August 21 at 5:30 PM
Location: Mineral Springs Park Pavilion

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CAPTAIN’S MEETING:
Thursday, August 21, 2025 at 7:00 PM

All teams are required to have at least one member attend

Entry Fee: $125 per team (includes captain and all crew)
4% processing fee applies to credit card entries
Checks payable to: Benzie Fishing Frenzie​

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TOURNAMENT DETAILS
Fishing Time: 6:30 AM – 1:30 PM
All boats must remain within ½ mile of the Frankfort/Elberta pierheads before 6:30 AM
Official “GO FISH” call at 6:30 AM on VHF Channel 68
Boats must be inside the pierheads by 1:30:00 PM sharp or will be disqualified

Communication:
Not a radio-silence tournament
VHF Channel 68 will be used for all official communication

Port Rules:
Boats may leave from any marina/launch on Betsie Bay
Teams must declare their launch location at the Captains Meeting

Boat & Cooler Checks:
Boats and coolers may be inspected on tournament day

Captain & Crew Requirements:
Minimum two female crew members per team
Maximum 9 rods, which requires 3 licensed anglers
Unlimited crew size

Observers:
Not required, but may be assigned at the Tournament Director’s discretion​

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FISHING RULES
Ladies Only: Must remove rod, set hook, fight, and net the fish
Men: May drive the boat and set lines only; may not touch rod or reel, or adjust drag while fish is in the water
Max Lines: 9 lines total in the water at one time, A fish hooked is considered a line in the water
Line Rules: Max 2 baits per line; sliders must be under 72”​

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BOAT REQUIREMENTS
Minimum 18’ length (per state registration)
Must have a working marine radio
No physical contact with other boats or shore unless pre-approved
Boats not returning under their own power are disqualified

Tournament Flags:
Provided flag must be clearly visible on the port side during tournament hours​

 

FISHING LAWS & LIMITS
All Michigan DNR laws apply
Fishing must occur from a moving boat
No gaffing or shore fishing
All anglers must carry a valid MI fishing license

Catch Limits:
One angler legal limit
Trout & Salmon species only
Max 2 Lake Trout
Size limits per DNR regulations

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SCORING SYSTEM
10 points per fish + 1 point per pound
Ties broken by largest fish, then split prize if still tied​

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WEIGH-IN PROCEDURE
Begins at approx. 1:00 PM on Friday at Mineral Springs Park Pavilion
Coolers (max 5 fish) must be in line by 2:30 PM
Extra fish: One extra fish results in loss of that fish plus one more
Loose ice/water in cooler = -5 points
Foreign substances (e.g. ice in mouth/body cavity) = disqualification
Team is responsible for transporting its own cooler​

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WEATHER POLICY
Weather committee of 3 captains (varied boat sizes/types) will advise Tournament Director
3+ hours of fishing between 6:30 AM – 1:30 PM required for valid tournament
In case of weather stoppage, radio call will announce end of tournament
All boats must return to port and coolers must be in weigh-in line within 1.5 hours​

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CANCELLATION POLICY
If canceled, a portion of the entry fee will be retained to cover expenses​

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PROTESTS
Must be submitted in writing with a $50 deposit within 5 minutes of the last fish leaving the scale
All Tournament Director decisions are final

COMMUNITY CONDUCT
We are guests in the city of Frankfort, please treat the community with respect. Any actions by an individual that could reflect negatively on the Benzie Fishing Frenzie in the eyes of the Frankfort community could result in team disqualification.

 

QUESTIONS?

Contact Tournament Director:
Steve Joslin – (231) 633-6775

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On behalf of the Tournament Director, committee, and our sponsors — thank you, stay safe, and have fun!

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