1.Basic entry fees only $500.00 per team per day before May 1, 2026, and $750.00 thereafter.
2.Tournament dates will be June 25th through June 28 (1of 3-day format)
3.Team(s) can fish more than one day, provided they pay additional registration fees and additional Calcutta’s fees to fish.
4.Team(s) will consist of up to 6 anglers, captain and mate. Captain and mate can be anglers. Anglers can pass the rod. The captain and mates can still hook and hand off rods. Anglers may fight fish from rod holders. In the event a boat becomes mechanically disabled passing a fish to another boat is permitted. Fish must be accompanied by a Team member, signed catch report and confirmed with Tournament Officials or another tournament boat on tournament channel at time of transfer.  Tournament channel 08.
5. Only Meat Fish that will be accepted at the scales are as follows (Tuna, Mahi, Wahoo, Swordfish and Sharks).
6. Cash payouts will depend on the number of paid teams.
7. Fish will be weighed in ½ lb increments to determine winners. Weigh-in will be at Sunset Marina. In the event a tie, the purse will be split between tied winners in the level where the tie occurs.
8.Eligible Fish – Big Eye, Yellowfin, Bluefin*, Longfin, Mahi, Wahoo, Swordfish and Shark*) Must be a Legal Fish according to NMFS to harvest along with  legal size. Fish requiring tags must be tagged prior to being removed from boat. Recreational Bluefin tuna limits apply at the scales.
– Tuna* 30lb minimum
– Mahi 10lb minimum
– Wahoo No minimum
– Swordfish 50” Lower-jaw fork length
– Shark* 54” Minimum fork length
*Bluefin Tuna AND Shark MUST be tagged prior to being removed from the boat to qualify.
9. The Team, Captain and 1^st Mate with heaviest fish and heaviest stringer of up to 5 fish will win Championship Buckles. All species listed above will be eligible for Buckles awarded in heaviest fish and the heaviest stringer provided team is entered in Division A and Division C-Level 2. Competing boats can win in only one of the aforementioned divisions.
10. A Stringer must consist of no less than 2 fish and no more than 5 fish. It’s the boat’s responsibility of picking the heaviest fish to weigh for stringer. If two qualifying fish are not weighed for a stringer or if a Calcutta isn’t met, then it’s the tournament director’s discretion to where disbursement of monies will go. Only teams that have participated in the forfeited Calcutta can win in that respective division.
11. Fish that has been chosen to compete in the heaviest category cannot be added to stringer division.
12. Multiple Big Eyes can be added to Stringer Weight division.
13. Federal and State Requirements: Each boat entry and team members shall follow the angling possession limit/size regulations determined by applicable Federal/State laws & regulations; and shall obtain all necessary Federal  & State licenses before fishing in tournament.
14.100 miles Fishing Limit from OC Inlet Sea Bouy, no matter what Marina/Inlet you leave from.
15. Lines in at 6am-Lines out at 3pm. Boats can leave from any port of their choosing. All eligible fish must be brought to scales by boat to Sunset Marina.
Note: Resident Sunset Marina Boats may go to their slips and cart fish to be weighed in.
16. Scales open at SUNSET MARINA 4pm-closes 8pm on Friday to Saturday. Sunday (June 27th) hours are 4pm-7pm.
17. TACKLE & ANGLING REQUIREMENTS: IGFA angling & tackle rules are encouraged but not enforced. All fish must be caught on a fishing rod & manually reeled on a reel with a hook & line by any conventional method. Non-Offset Circle Hooks are mandatory for all species when using live and dead bait in accordance with HMS Tournament Regulations. J Hooks are permitted for tuna species, wahoo and mahi. J Hooks are not permitted for sharks and swordfish. Trolling, Deep Dropping and Chumming are permitted. No limit on lines, lures, or teasers. Electric Reels may be used for anything hookless (Dredges, Teasers, Planers).
18. Swordfish Rod and Reel Setup can only be used in manual form. Hooker style setup may be used provided ELECTRIC IS STRICTLEY FORBIDDEN!!
19. Lay- days must be declared by 9:00am, the day of fishing. NO EXCEPTIONS. If your team opts to fish Friday(Day One) then declaring Saturday or Sunday as lay day is not necessary. You may declare lay day VIA email to Mamsurveying@gmail.com or via text message to 443-807-0822 when decision is made on which day or days will be fished. If no response is received assume we have not received notice. If NO notice of lay day is given by 9:00AM on the fishing day, those anglers and/or team are automatically considered fishing that day. Tournament directors reserve the right to accept a late Lay Day at their discretion.
20. Added Entry A-H levels are optional entries. 90% of all added entry levels, with qualifying fish, will be paid out in prize money.  If a level has multiple prizes but not enough qualifying fish the remaining prize funds will be distributed equally among the winning team(s).
21. Credit Card Transaction Fee: All credit card transactions are subject to a 3.5% processing fee + $0.15 one-time payment, plus Square processing fees and any third-party fees (e.g. courier fees).
22. DISCLAIMER: It is expressly understood that all registered boat captains, anglers, crew and any other person here as known as participants who participate in Battle for the Buckle (Buckle Up Tournaments LLC) herein as known as the tournament, do so at their own risk and judgement. The participants hereby indemnify and agree to hold harmless, the tournament, and respective officers, directors, employees, volunteers, agents, sponsors, partners, members, and/or attorneys (collectively the “Tournament Parties) from and against any and all claims that arise from or in connection with any negligent act or omission of the tournament indemnified parties. All persons connected directly or indirectly with the operation of the tournament whether individual, limited liability company or corporation, shall have no liability whatsoever for any special, incidental, consequential, punitive, exemplary and/or any other damage including without limitation, any damages arising from libel, slander, loss, damage, negligence, harm, injury or death. The tournament officials reserve the right to refuse entry to any boat team or person. Participants specifically agree and consent to the use of any photography in which they appear, or audio recording, by the tournament for any purpose whatsoever, including but not limited to, resale, advertising and promotional material without compensation or restriction of any kind.  Battle for the Buckle holds the right to take any questions or questionable action to a preselected committee for a vote at any time. All committee decisions are final. Battle for the Buckle reserves the right to disqualify any boat without reason at any time. In the case of a boat being disqualified, said boat(s) will forfeit any entry money or winnings.