61TH ANNUAL HELL DIVERS RODEO
June 5th – JUNE 8th, 2024

2024 HELL DIVERS SPEARFISHING RODEO RULES & REGULATIONS

1) Registration is open until midnight on May 25th, 2024.  Rodeo Tickets may be purchased online VIA PAYPAL or to [email protected] please send “as a friends and family” or you will be charged $3. SPEARFISHING tickets are $75. 

2) Valid fishing license is required of all participants.

3) Diving is open to all waters. “Fish can be shot under recreational rules only”

4) Competition starts Wednesday, June 5th at 12:01 AM and ends Saturday, June 8th, 2024 at 6 PM.

5) All fish subject to autopsy. Divers must inform the weigh master of how fish was shot: scuba or skin and/or 55 or older (Senior Division).

6) Scale open Ssaturday June 8th, 2024 from 4 PM to 6 PM (if in line at 6 PM you must inform the weigh master). Diver must present registration stub to weigh master in order to enter fish.

7) All Decisions by Rodeo Officials will be final. Weigh Master has final say on weight of fishes and any dispute.

8) Headquarters of the Rodeo: VENICE MARINA, 237 SPORTS MARINA RD, VENICE, LA  https://venicemarina.com/

9) No Power Heads allowed.

10) Fish speared from boat are ineligible. Diver must be submerged.

11) Fish must be speared and apprehended by diver without assistance.

12) Skin and Scuba are allowed. Reels only for skin diving. “No Floats/bungees”.

13) Upon arrival please check in with the registration tent! You will receive your weigh-in stub, meal ticket, and rodeo shirt. Diver must present registration stub to weigh master in order to enter fish.

14) Each category (Master Board) will receive a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd award (Rule 22 for eligible fish).

15) 1st place receives 3 points, 2nd place 2 points, and 3rd place 1 point, these go towards the King/Club/Boat Awards.

16)  There will be a specified Mookie Fish Removal trailer on location. Do NOT dump in waterway!

17)A separate board will be kept for the purpose of tabulating points for the Champion Skin Diver (known as the Blake Terry Memorial Award) The 3-2-1 point system will be used with ties broken by cumulative weight of fish on these boards. Only fish shot Skindiving will count for the Skindiving Division.  If any fish shot while skin diving makes the Master Board they will count on that board also.

18) The David L. Irwin Memorial Club Award will be awarded to the Club with the highest point total for the fish under Rule 22.

19) The Warren “Whip” Mermilliod Memorial King Spearfisherman Award known as the “Whip” Award will be awarded to the diver with the highest point total under Rule 23.

20) Ties for King/Club/Boat Awards will be determined by the cumulative weight of fishes taking awards.

21) In case of any ties due to weight of fish in any category, the earliest fish entered wins.

22) In the Miscellaneous category: Fish only. No Ocean Sunfish, Redfish, Jew Fish, Shark, or any other fish that is closed.

23) MASTER BOARD: Eligible fish are as follows on the Master Board: JACK (any legal jack except for Jack Crevalle), BARRACUDA, COBIA, GROUPER, JACK CREVALLE, MANGROVE SNAPPER, MISCELLANEOUS (See Rule 21), RED SNAPPER, (If Red Snapper does not open June 1st, that category will be any legal snapper except for Mangrove Snapper). SHEEPSHEAD, SPADEFISH, STINGRAY, AND TRIGGERFISH (any legal Trigger).

24) The awards are based on the largest fish weighed by the Senior divers. Divers in this division must
inform the Weigh Master of their age at time fish are weighed.. Fish shot on this board if eligible, will count on the Master Board.

Rodeo tickets are $75 until midnight on May 25th. Late registration tickets are $95. Scales will close at 6 PM on Saturday June 8th 2024. If in line at 6 PM, divers must notify the weigh master. Diver must notify the weigh master how fish was shot: scuba or skin. Senior Diver 55 or over must notify the weigh master of his or her age. Divers must state name of boat and club for points for those awards.