New FSFA Fishing Challenge—The Hat-Trick Tournament

 

Starting in February, 2026, there will be a new opportunity to challenge your fellow FSFA Anglers.

There will be one Hat-Trick per quarter. There will be two age categories, a junior section and a General membership section to this tournament.

Categories, Fish Species (ranked for tie breaker) and Month Fished

 

Surf Hat-Trick

February 1 through 28, 2026, then January 1 through 30, 2027 (first run is only 28 days)

Pompano, Black Drum, and Whiting

 

Pelagic Hat-Trick

April 1 through 30, 2026

Wahoo, King Mackerel, and Mahi

 

Offshore Bottom Hat-Trick

July 1 through 30, 2026

Red Snapper, Amberjack, and Gag Grouper

 

Inshore Hat-Trick

October 1 through 30, 2026

Snook, Redfish, and Trout

 

Hat-Trick Tournament Rules

Free automatic entry to members, the prize for winner of combined total length will be $150 per Hat-Trick category. You must have 1 of each fish to win. Any size of fish from that species can be entered for consideration in the Hat-Trick tournament. There will also be a junior category. This will enable a junior member (per the point system rules) to catch 2 of the 3 species to qualify for the junior section; junior winner's prize will be $50 gift voucher. However, a junior who catches all 3 fish will also be entered into the overall membership monthly Hat-Trick. NOTE juniors will still be included in the junior members competition so they could win junior prize with 2 or 3 fish based on length. A junior could win both Junior and regular member prizes in the same Hat-Trick.

Tiebreakers are first person to register the three Hat-Trick fish breaks a tied length combination, if still tied we look at most points for the 3 fish per the existing points scoring system, if still tied then we avoid a tie by having a fish rank per the above categories so if Snook was 1, Redfish 2 and Trout 3 then biggest Snook would set winner, if still tied then biggest Red and still tied then Trout must also be tied so it's a tie. Note if you caught 3 fish in the first week, you could still improve your total length by adding a bigger fish if you catch one later during the 30 day logging period. For example, if you catch a 10" Snook on Oct 3rd you could still enter a bigger fish say a 40" Snook on October 30th and get the extra 30" on your total score.

Scoreboard updated weekly and posted on social media and website.

All entries must be entered no later than the day after they were caught to be considered for the Hat-Trick Series. This allows results to be checked and published within a couple of days of Hat-Trick date closure. Entries can be caught on any category of existing point fishing rules tackle to qualify for the Hat-Trick Series. Fish do not need to meet the legal-size requirements to be entered into the Hat-Trick series, but obviously you can't keep that fish per the law. Each fish entry must be submitted with a photo on a ruler clearly showing head tail and fish size on the ruler to qualify for Hat-Trick Series entry, no clear photo no entry.

Win 4 consecutive Hat-Tricks and become a Hat-Trick Master, this includes free membership for life. You remain reigning Hat-Trick Master until someone else does the 4 consecutive Hat-Tricks. You get a mention at every meeting you attend, similar to the members who pay for additional benefits.

Participants are allowed to fish 30 straight days starting on the 1st of month through to 30th of month to get entries to the Hat-Trick tournament. During the meeting when the tournament is running, we will cover current standings with a leaderboard and notable entries. Entrants can talk about entries as part of a fishing report. We can also have a Hat-Trick fishing report. Hat-Trick committee member to present that report at meeting.

All caught fish are entered through the existing club points system and count as entries for regular club competitions and points. Committee confirms winner at the end of 30 day and 1-5 day calculation period.