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2008 Grand Haven Offshore Challenge
Pro Am Rules(New Changes in Red)
I ELIGIBILITY
A. Open to any fishing team willing to abide by Tournament Rules, Michigan DNR regulations and payment of entry fees. Entrants may register to fish in one division only.
B. Licensed charter boats must register in the PRO division (Any captain who has actively chartered in the past 5 years is required to fish the Pro Division); non-charter boats may register in either division.
II. ENTRY FEES
A. Entry Fee is $475 per Pro boat, $225 per AM boat before May 16, 2008 add $50 after.
B. The Tournament committee alone will determine entry fee refund in case of emergency withdrawal.
C. In the event of Tournament cancellation due to weather or reasons beyond the control of the Tournament Committee, the committee reserves the right to retain up to 10% of the entry fee for costs before refunding the remainder.
III. SCORING
A. Winners will be determined by total accumulation of points based on:
Ten (10) points per legal fish boated, plus
One (1) point per pound (nearest hundredth pound) total weight
B. The team accumulating the highest number of points over all hours of the tournament will be declared the winner; the contestant with the next highest accumulation of points, second & so on.
C. The following species shall be eligible: Chinook Salmon, Lake Trout,
Atlantic Salmon, Pink Salmon , Coho Salmon, Steelhead, Brown Trout
D. Each team Captain will designate their teams largest fish prior to weigh-in. In the case of a tie for the largest fish in class, the teams fish with the earliest posted log sheet will be declared the winner.
IV. OBSERVER SYSTEM
(Pro Division)
A. The Captain of each team shall be responsible that his observer be on board the assigned boat 45 minutes prior to the start of each fishing period. Failure to do so without just cause as ruled by the tournament committee, may result in the disqualification of the team supplying the observer.
B. Observers must be at least 16 years of age. It will be their responsibility to see that all Tournament rules and DNR regulations are honored on his/her assigned boat. He/she shall report infractions to the Tournament committee.
C. Observers can only use cell phones for emergency issues or with permission of the Captain.
D. Any observer over 5 min late will be replaced by another crew member of the providing boat immediately, as well as a 2 point deduction per minute starting at 6:15 AM
E. An “Official Tournament Observers” sheet will be provided for each fishing period. Only the observer shall enter the time in the log for every “fish in-the-box”. At the conclusion of the day’s fishing the log sheet must be signed by both the observer and the Captain prior to presenting the catch for scoring at the official weigh-in station.
F. The observer of his/her assigned boat shall accompany each day’s catch until it has been officially weighed and scored.
G. Observer assignments will be made by lottery. As much as possible, local boats will be paired with out-of-town observers. Observer boat assignments will be posted at Tournament headquarters during registration at the Captain’s meeting.
Each Captain must report the location of his boat to his assigned observer at registration. Observer re-assignment maybe exercised at the discretion of the Tournament Committee.
Observer can be used for a legal fish limit provided the Captain makes sure observer has a legal Michigan license.
J. If Observer is not on board by 6:10 AM please contact the tournament committee at 616-292-4113.
(Amateur Division)
A. The five leading scorers’ from Saturday’s competition may have an observer assigned for Sunday’s fishing at the discretion of the committee. These observers will be supplied by the Tournament committee.
B. Amateurs must act as their own observers; each fish must be recorded completely as caught.
*******************************Observer Sheets must be filled in completely including time, species, and approximate weight & signed by the time you are at the weigh in or you will be penalized 10 pts. No exceptions!
V. BOAT IDENTIFICATION
A. Tournament committee will furnish a colored flag and/or boat identification number for each contestant’s boat.
B. The flag shall be flown on the contestant’s radio antenna in full view from all directions during tournament hours. The ID number shall be prominently displayed on the starboard side of participant’s boat at all times during the tournament.
VI. DATES AND HOURS
A. The Tournament fishing dates are Saturday, May 31st and Sunday, June 1st, 2008
B. Tournament Schedule
1. Thursday May 29th, registration 5:30 PM, Captain’s meeting to follow. Pro observers must attend meeting.
2008 - Still No Run Times!
6:10 AM - All observers not on his/her assigned boat must be reported to Tournament Control. Call 616-292-4113
6:30 AM - Tournament boats to depart Grand Haven pier head (must be Grand Haven) in orderly fashion and fishing may start at anytime after 6:30AM.
2:00 PM - All boats must be in pier head to avoid penalty. You can fish to whatever time you want as long as you are in the pier by 2:00PM
3. Sunday June 1st, 2008
Award ceremony will immediately follow completion of weigh in
C. The contest is considered official if a minimum of three (3) hours are fished between Sat. and Sunday. Prizes will be awarded based on points accumulated during the official fishing periods.
There shall be no fishing by Tournament contestants except during Tournament hours either day of the Tournament. Nor shall a boat leave the harbor for any reason during tournament weekend.
VII. START & FINISH
A. Tournament control will start and end each Tournament period by radio communication on channel 78 FM.
B. Once the fishing period is declared closed by Tournament Control no more fish may be boated. All boats must proceed directly to the designated weigh-in station. Alternate fishing times may be established by Tournament control when conditions so dictate.
*********Boundaries - Changed again for 2008 the boundaries will be for the North - Whitehall Channel Entrance: Lat. 43° 22' 30" N Long. 86° 25' 51" W
South- Holland Harbor Light: Lat. 42° 46' N Long. 86° 25' 13' W
West - State Line - Long 87 degree 00' 00" W
VIII. FISHING RULES
A. A limit of twelve (12) fish per boat is in effect for both divisions of which no more than nine (9) may be Lake Trout. All eligible fish (per Section III C) legal size fish must be kept
B. A maximum of nine (9) rods will be allowed.
C. Each boat that attains the twelve (12) fish limit shall immediately cease fishing, retrieve fishing gear and return to the designated weigh-in station. No further fishing will be allowed during the fishing period.
D. If more than the allowed catch is weighed in, all largest fish over the 12 fish limit will be disqualified. In addition your next largest fish will also be taken off your catch for a total of 11 fish weighed in.
E. An attempt must be made to reel in any hooked fish and NO intentional dragging or shaking will be permitted.
F. The tournament allows for captain's/leader's discretion within a half-inch minimum size for tournament rules for releasing tournament fish. Minimum length for trout and salmon for this tournament is 10 inches. Lake Trout will be a minimum of 20 inches. Team must keep any fish that is 1/2" over minimum length. Certified boards will be used at the weigh-in sites to standardize measuring. These boards will be present at the Captains' Meeting for teams to compare their own measuring devices to. These will be the official measuring boards of the tournament, and will determine whether or not a fish is legal for the event. In the event a short fish comes in, by Tournament Rules or State of Michigan regulations definition, further action will be taken to ensure the integrity of the tournament. Failure to comply by these rules will result in stiff penalties to be determined by the judges.
Each fish weighed in will score 10 points. One point will be scored per pound of fish weighed. If any fish submitted for weigh-in is found to be smaller than the minimum size established by tournament rules, the undersized fish will be disallowed. Also, 10 points plus 1 point per pound of the undersized fish will be deducted from the team's score. However, in no case shall a team's score be made less than zero. All point leaders must be willing to submit to polygraph examination. All winning fish may be tested for time in possession. All fish weighed in must remain in the specified area until the completion of weigh-in.
Any fish taken in violation of state law will disqualify the day's catch. Disposition of fish must be in compliance with state and local laws. Failure to do so will result in disqualification.
G. By signing a registration form, the team captain offers implied consent to the committee for one or more of the following: Disclosure of fishing conditions and manner in which a fish was taken.
IX WEIGH -IN
A. At the close of each fishing period, the boat shall immediately proceed to the designated weigh-in station. The Captain will disembark one crew member, the fish container and the observer with the signed log sheet. The crew member and observer must remain with the fish until officially scored.
B. Failure of a boat to proceed directly to the weigh-in station will result in disqualification; except Chinook Pier or City Marina boats with an observer may dock at their slip, with the observer and crew member transporting their catch to the weigh-in site by land.
C. Team Member is responsible for any and all special fish weigh-in, includes Big Fish prizes.
D. Fish become the property of the Tournament committee at the conclusion of the first day; the second day’s catch may be retained by the contestant or donated to the committee for subsequent donation to Teen Challenge.
X. RADIO PROCEDURE
A. Each boat must be equipped with an operating VHF marine radio including channel 78.
B. After the Tournament start notification on channel 78, all boats will stand-by on channel 78 FM
RADIO SILENCE WILL BE OBSERVED
XI. DISQUALIFICATION OR PENALTIES
A. Participants violating the rules of the contest or acting uncooperative or in a disorderly manner may be disqualified or penalized by points deduction at the discretion of the Tournament Committee.
B. Boats must be within the pier head and checked in by tournament Committee not more than 60 minutes after the close of the regular or shortened fishing time.
C. Automatic disqualification will result from the following:
1. Running gunnel to gunnel with other boats or passing objects from boat to boat or person to person, from the start of the fishing period until the catch is surrendered at the weigh-in station.
2.Failing to report directly to the designated weigh-in station at the close of the fishing period.
3. Possession of fish other than those fairly caught during the Tournament.
4. Professional team failing to provide observer, either day.
D. If you have not cleared the pier head by 2:00 PM, you will lose 2 points per minute. If you have not cleared the pier head by 2:30 PM complete disqualification will apply for that days catch.
E. Tournament participants are duty bound to report any rules violation they observe to the Tournament Committee.
F. An unsigned observer log sheet will result in a score deduction of (10) points.
DISQUALIFIED PARTICIPANTS MAY NOT BE INVITED TO FUTURE TOURNAMENTS
XII. CANCELLATIONS
A. The Tournament Committee may cancel the Tournament, when in their opinion conditions could be dangerous to persons or property. The Committee will announce their determination of a delayed starting time or cancellation 45 minutes before each fishing period.
B. After a fishing period has begun; a call will be made on channel 78FM directing the participants to switch to channel 06 FM if cancellation or postponement is imminent. A minimum of 15 minutes advance notification will be given before a fishing period is terminated.
C. If the fishing period is shortened; all boats must proceed as provided by Sections VII. B., IX A&B.
XIII. BOAT INSPECTIONS
A. All boats are subject to inspection by the committee and/or its agents at any time. Any boat failing inspection will be disqualified. Any fish in the boat prior to start time or after weigh-in will be disqualified from the tournament.
XIV. PROTESTS
A. Protests must be presented to the Tournament Committee in writing, on the day of infraction by 3:00 PM with $100, if your protest wins you will get back $200 if it does not the Tournament keeps the $100.
B. A 5 person Protest Committee will resolve disputes. Their decision shall be final & binding.
C. Excessive complaints and unsportsmanlike behavior past 3:00PM will not be tolerated and will result in disqualification from the current tournament. Past years unsportsmanlike behavior well into the evening hours will not be tolerated.
XV. RULE CHANGES
A. The Committee may modify these rules. However, changes made will be in written form and posted publicly 45 minutes prior to the start of the Tournament.
XVI. LIABILITY
A. All reasonable precautions will be taken by the Offshore Challenge Tournament Committee to protect persons and property during the Tournament. Neither the committee, judges, officers, directors or sponsors can or will be responsible for the safety of persons, for accident, theft, damage by fire, vandalism or any other cause for loss to a contestants property.
B. Participants understand and agree to hold harmless the aforementioned groups and individuals from liability or damage as may be incurred from participation in the Tournament.
XVII. TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE & PROTEST COMMITTEE
The Tournament Committee & the Protest Committee will be appointed prior to the Captain’s meeting. These committee’s shall act as prescribed in accordance with these Official Rules.
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