The 2nd Annual Street Eatz Fly Fishing Invitational
Redfish Tournament 2026
OFFICIAL RULES
The following rules shall govern the 2026 Street Eatz Fly Fishing Invitational
at Street Eatz and Ale.
I. GENERAL
• The Street Eatz Fly Fishing Invitational (the Tournament SEFFI) is intended to promote and provide a venue for fly fishermen to compete and share their passion for fly fishing while promoting and furthering the conservancy of our coastal waters.
• The purpose of these rules is to promote fair competition and foster good sportsmanship.
• The Tournament will take place in Bokeelia, Florida beginning on Sunday night October 18, 2026 (captains meeting) through Monday October 19, 2026 held at Street Eatz and Ale, located at 5508 Avenue A Bokeelia Florida 33922. There will be a kick-off and registration dinner the Sunday evening before the day of fishing and an award and closing event after the last day of fishing on October 19, 2026.
• Dinner will be offered as part of the tournament registration fee. Drinks are separate and will be offered at the restaurants normal operating charges.
• The Tournament shall be governed by the Street Eatz Fly Fishing Tournament Committee (SEFFTC): Comprised of Reid Freeman, John Abitante
and Forrest Bolebruch.
• Entry Fee is $600 per boat non-refundable, maximum of 2 anglers and 1 guide per boat, limited to 30 boats. 25 for registered participants and 5 reserved for sponsor boats.
• Guests are welcome. Guest defined as a person “not” fishing.
• If you are coming in from out of town, please make suitable lodging arrangements well in advance of the tournament. Please feel free to contact us should you require any assistance in this matter.
• All participants must sign and submit a waiver to the SEFFTC prior to fishing. Waivers will be collected Sunday night at the captains meeting.
• This is a cash prize event. 10% of all proceeds will be distributed for the benefit of Gulf Conservation Alliance.
• Trophies and cash prizes will be awarded to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place teams.
II. ANGLERS AND GUIDES
• Anglers desiring an invitation may apply to the “SEFFTC.” The application can be found on the Street Eatz website. Anglers receiving an invitation must confirm participation by paying an entry fee prior to September 15th, 2026 preceding the Tournament. Unpaid team registrations risk losing their place in the Tournament.
• In the event of emergency or illness, an angler or guide may have a substitute.
• The angler is responsible for daily guide fees.
• Both the angler or his guide must attend the pre-tournament kick-off meeting to confirm registration, receive Tournament information, and pick up rule’s packets.
III. TACKLE
• This is a fly-fishing tournament only.
• Must contain not less than 15 inches of tippet material between the knots of 16lb Hard Type Monofilament.
• A shock tippet of no more than 30 lbs. must be of nonmetallic material and may not exceed 12 inches including the knots and must be tied directly to the tippet.
• Flies must be single hook construction only.
• Only fish landed without a net and released alive will qualify as a catch.
IV. FISHING TIMES, TERRITORY, AND RULES
• Official headquarters: Street Eatz and Ale, Pineland, Florida.
• Waiver must be signed and submitted to the SEFFTC prior to fishing.
• All boats must depart from any Pine island ramp. Anglers and guides may fish any areas accessible by boat from that ramp.
• Skiffs will leave the ramp no earlier than 6:30 a.m.
• Fishing will end at 3:00 pm at which time, lines must be out of the water.
• All teams must report back to the Street Eatz between 4:00 pm and 5:00 pm with signed score sheets on tournament day.
• A team’s failure to sign and turn in score sheet and photographs (if any) by 5:00 P.M. will result in a disqualification.
• The Tournament Committee may waive the above rule in the case of a breakdown or unusual circumstance.
• The start on any day may be delayed by the Tournament Committee in the event of imminent, inclement, or dangerous weather. In the event of severe weather, the “SEFFTC” may reduce the number of fishing days or cancel it altogether.
• The policy of the Tournament is that the first skiff to reach a spot is entitled to fish there. The “SEFFTC” strongly recommends strict observation of all recognized courtesies and sporting practices between skiffs. This includes giving way and sufficient room to other boats. Understanding that Pine Island Sound waters are fished by many skiffs each day, it is considered unsportsmanlike and a rules violation to have a spot “saved” by another boat.
• Chumming or fishing in or near chummed areas is not allowed.
• No assistance may be given to any angler other than by his guide who handles the boat or grabs the fish for purposes of measuring or releasing the fish.
• Angler, unaided, must cast, set the hook, fight and bring the fish to where the Captain can grab the fish to measure.
• Either member of the team may act as angler, but only one team member may act as angler at any given time.
• No angler or guide may scout for fish using aircraft/drones.
• Use of side-scan, true view or forward-facing sonar is not permitted.
V. SKIFFS AND BOATING
• The fishing boat shall be a traditional flats skiff design.
• Each skiff shall be properly equipped with Coast Guard safety equipment. Guides are expected to operate skiffs in keeping with applicable boating laws and traditional fishing and boating norms for the areas fished.
• No ladder or heightening device platform shall extend more than four feet above the gunwale of the skiff.
VI. MEASURING AND SCORING
• For scoring purposes, the combined length of your 2 best redfish caught will determine the overall first, second and third place holder.
• For purposes of measuring and scoring, the Tournament shall issue to each Angler a measuring board.
• The Angler or Guide shall provide a digital camera.
• As described below, a Boated Fish must be hooked, fought, and brought to hand with photographic evidence to earn points.
• Fish shall be scored, and shall be earned in compliance with State of Florida fishing regulations in force at the time of the tournament.
• Each fish must be photographed on a measuring board with tournament card in picture with fly intact.
• Tournament measuring board and card will be handed out at the Captains meeting.
• Fish shall be measured from the forward point of the head to the farthest point of pinched tail.
• At the conclusion of the fishing day, the angler and guide must submit a tournaments card to the Tournament judges whether or not any fish have been caught.
• The tournament card shall include times for each fish landed.
• These items must be turned in by 5:00 pm, or the Angler will not be allowed any points from fish that day.
• The Tournament judges may waive the 5:00 pm rule for boat breakdowns or unusual circumstances.
TIE BREAKER
• In the event of a tie for 1st, 2nd or 3rd place the tie breaker will go to the team that scored first based on the time stamped photo.
VII. GOVERNANCE AND DISPUTES
• The Tournament shall be conducted by the Street Eatz Fly Fishing Tournament Committee.
• The final determination of any disputes will be reviewed and settled by the SEFFTC.
• The Tournament shall secure judges to oversee daily sign-in, return times, and fish scoring.
• There will be a rule meeting and check in on the Sunday evening prior to the tournament. The “SEFFTC” rules shall be reviewed and explained.
• Any infraction of the rules will result in the angler losing all points for that day of fishing.
DISAGREEMENTS
• In case of disagreements, the Tournament Committee decision will be final. All complaints must be submitted in writing by 4:00 P.M. to the Tournament Committee on the day of the complaint.
VIII. WEATHER
• The Committee has the right to cancel the tournament as late as the call of the 6:30 am forecast of the day of the tournament due to inclement weather or unsafe conditions. However, the tournament will be considered complete if more than half the allotted time has elapsed. The committee will notify the participants as soon as practicable and make every effort to re-schedule the event.
VIV. OTHER
The Tournament operates on the honor system, and as such, relies on the integrity of its participants. Any angler or guide found to have knowingly or willfully violated any of the aforementioned rules risks being immediately disqualified and banned from future tournaments.
• Trophies will be awarded at the Monday night awards ceremony.
For additional information regarding the “rules”, please contact
Reid Freeman 239-770-5665, Forrest Bolebruch 239-848-7356
or John Abitante at 954-661-8145.