Actually the WMO rules as written are a violation of Federal fisheries law.

ANY HMS permitted tournament is required to enforce the HMS regulations, those being that all boats fishing the tournament have an HMS permit, and the circle hooks be used with bait rule.

WMO's rules the way they are written are in violation of their HMS permit.

I hope they are able to renew it for next year's tournament.

I agree with the their stance on state licenses and agree it is not the tournaments job to enforce any state law, but as a federally permited HMS tournament, they are required to enforce the federal stuff.

I know this because I help run an HMS permitted tournament.