Carolina Redfish Series Event Rules

Carolina Redfish Series Event Rules OFFICIAL RULES: These rules are for all CAROLINA REDFISH SERIES events. Interpretation of these rules will be left exclusively to Hook and Bones, LLC and its tournament committee and or the Carolina Redfish Series. In the event of a rule violation, the committee may impose such sanctions, as they deem appropriate, including, without limitation, disqualifications, forfeiture of prizes and prohibition from participation in subsequent tournaments. Decisions of the committee are final in all matters and are not subject to appeal, and are not reviewable by any court of law. The tournament committee reserves the right to make needed changes to these rules in order to ensure the safety, welfare of the competitors, and/or the public and preserve the integrity of the Tournament. Any rule changes will immediately supersede all previously published copies of rules. It is your responsibility to read and understand the rules and how you, your qualification for the prizes or awards are affected by not complying with the following rules. Every competitor will be required to sign an affidavit that he/she has read, understands and accepts all rules. The statement and rules contained herein may be amended by additional verbal instruction, electronic message and/or printed material distributed by Tournament Committee. All event decisions are final. Any ruling or event involving this rule will be left to the Tournament Committee. Notice: All series events will feature LIVE streaming video, interviews and images posted on social media, news outlets and websites to promote the events, series, community and teams. ELIGIBILITY, ENTRY FEE & REGISTRATION: Any competitors under 18 years of age or must be teamed with a parent or an adult with written permission. Only competitors who show a valid Coastal Recreational Fishing License (under age 16, not required to have license) may fish. Only officially registered Boats and Competitors can compete in the Carolina Redfish Series events. 1

INDIVIDUAL TOURNAMENT ENTRY: Series Event 1 - PointClickFish.com Chasin Tails Outdoors Redfish Open May 31, 2014 Series Event 3 - Chasin Tails Outdoors - PointClickFish.com Redfish Open September 27, 2014 MAKE CHECK PAYABLE TO: CHASIN TAILS OUTDOORS SERIES AND INDIVIUDAL EVENTS CAN BE PAID FOR IN PERSON OR MAILED. SEND CHECK & COMPLETED REGISTRATION FORM TO: CHASIN TAILS OUTDOORS 709 Atlantic Beach Causeway Atlantic Beach, NC 28512 All checks must be made payable to CHASIN TAILS OUTDOORS. Entry fees are nonrefundable. Credit Card Payments are to be called in to CHASIN TAILS OUTDOORS at 252-240-3474. An Entry Fee of $225 is required to fish this event. All deposits and entry fees are NON-TRANSFERABLE and NON-REFUNDABLE.NO EXCEPTIONS. An Optional TWT fee is $50 and Optional SPOT TWT is $25 All deposits and entry fees are NON-TRANSFERABLE and NON-REFUNDABLE. NO EXCEPTIONS. Any ruling or event involving this rule will be left to the Tournament Committee. FINAL REGISTRATION: Final Event Registration will be from the commencement of the Captain s meeting at 5:30 PM until 7:30 PM. 2

INDIVIDUAL TOURNAMENT ENTRY: Series Event 2 - Swansboro Hook and Bones Redfish Open MAKE CHECK PAYABLE TO: TOWN OF SWANSBORO MAIL CHECK & COMPLETED REGISTRATION FORM TO: SWANSBORO PARKS & RECREATION 601 W. Corbett Avenue Swansboro, NC 28584 All checks must be made payable to Town of Swansboro. Entry fees are nonrefundable. Credit Card Payments are to be called in to Swansboro Parks & Rec dept. at 910-326-2600. Ask for Brittany Wood to process payment. An Entry Fee of $300 is required to fish this event. All deposits and entry fees are NON-TRANSFERABLE and NON-REFUNDABLE.NO EXCEPTIONS. An Optional TWT fee is $50. All deposits and entry fees are NON-TRANSFERABLE and NON-REFUNDABLE. NO EXCEPTIONS. Any ruling or event involving this rule will be left to the Tournament Committee. EARLY REGISTRATION INCENTIVE: HOOK and BONES,LLC has incorporated an Incentive Reward Period for Registration. If teams paid ($300) entry forms are received by 2 weeks prior to interested event, teams will be automatically entered for a $300 value cash or contingency prize from Hook and Bones. The team with heaviest total wt. that early registered will be awarded prize regardless of standings in final tournament results.(must weigh in one fish to qualify for early registration Incentive award) FINAL REGISTRATION: Final Event Registration will be from the commencement of the Captain s meeting at 5:30 PM until 7:30 PM. If maximum number of 45 entrants for 2 nd Event are reached prior to Captains meeting, no other applicants may enter tournament. 3

CAPTAIN S PARTY/MEETING: Note: Pre-Fishing or Scouting for fish by tournament participants must cease by 4:00pm EST. prior to Captains Meeting. The Captain or Partner from each boat entered in the Tournament or event MUST attend this meeting. At this time, rules governing the event will be explained and any questions answered. A team representative must sign in at the designated time and location to get their checkout number. Any ruling or event involving this rule will be left to the tournament committee. FISHING RULES: The event will be fished consistent with and enforced pursuant to the laws of this state. Any violation of North Carolina State Statute will result in disqualification for that team. It will be the responsibility of the competitors to review North Carolina State Statutes and NC Wildlife Resources Commission and NC Division of Marine Fisheries Rules & Regulations. All vessels shall be equipped with the minimum United States Coast Guard safety requirements for that vessel. Competitors who do not obey these rules will be disqualified and depending upon the severity of the violation could face disqualification from any future sponsored events. Any ruling or event involving this rule will be left to the Tournament committee. SPORTSMANSHIP: All participants will exercise good sportsmanship, safety, and courtesy whether at the dock, under way or fishing. Violators will be subject to disqualification without refund. Violators who represent any Carolina Redfish Series event in an unfavorable manner will be disqualified without refund. The Committee Chairman shall review such acts, and if, such acts deem to represent flagrant violations to courtesy, safety, or good sportsmanship to fellow competitors, bystanders, staff or the environment, the violator may face permanent disqualification. Any ruling or event involving this rule will be left to the Committee Chairman. BOATING SAFETY: While operating, moored, anchored, fishing, safe boating practices shall be adhered to at all times. WEATHER CONDITIONS: The Tournament Committee has the right to cancel the day fishing at the call of the 5:30 a.m. forecast. It will be the responsibility of competitors to communicate with the Tournament Committee about event cancellations. The Tournament Committee reserves the right to terminate the day s fishing because of unsafe conditions at sea. If the unsafe conditions are the result of inclement weather, Tournament Committee will notify all registered competitors of the rescheduled date and venue. However, the tournament shall be considered complete if four (4) hours of the allotted time to fish has elapsed since check-out. If need be, an event will be rescheduled to a later date and/or venue because of inclement weather. Any ruling or event involving this rule will be left to the Tournament Committee. ALCOHOL AND DRUGS: During tournament hours no illegal substances or alcoholic beverages are to be consumed by tournament anglers. Any ruling or event involving this rule will be left 4

to the Tournament Committee. We ask participants to refrain from alcohol consumption until event winners are declared official. Winners and random selected participants will be polygraphed tested. Alcohol consumption may affect test results, which may result in a disqualification. HORSEPOWER REGULATIONS: Maximum horsepower for all outboards used in tournament competition will not exceed the horsepower limitations as set by the U.S. Coast Guard horsepower rating plate. Competitors caught tampering with or falsifying horsepower ratings will be disqualified. Any ruling or event involving this rule will be left to the Tournament Committee. BOAT AND MOTOR: All boats must be a minimum of 15 feet in length. Each boat must have all required U.S. Coast Guard safety equipment. Boats must have a working live well. Competitors may manufacturer a live well space, properly aerated to adequately maintain a live limit of fish by both competitors. AUTHORIZED FISHING TACKLE AND EQUIPMENT: Artificial lures are the only bait/lure that is permitted in the tournaments. All fish must be caught on a rod, reel and line. Snatching with multiple hooks, gigging and / or using multiple hooks (Treble Hooks) with any natural bait is prohibited. Treble hooks are permitted for lures only. Only one fishing rod may be used at a time per competitor. A cast must be fully retrieved before a competitor may pick up another rod. Competitors may not use trolling as a method of fishing. Any ruling or event involving this rule will be left to the Tournament Chairman. FISHING HOURS: Check out: Safe Light TBA Weigh In: 3 P.M. Note: Pre-Fishing or Scouting for fish by tournament participants must cease by 4:00pm EST. prior to Captains Meeting. All competitors must be in weigh-in line by stated weigh-in time or the fish will not be recorded as a tournament catch. The awards presentation will begin at 5:00 p.m. Any ruling or event involving this rule will be left to the Tournament Committee. REQUIREMENT FOR ELIGIBLE FISH: Eligible fish must be caught fresh within the stated boundaries the day of the tournament. Fish must be of legal state length to be considered in this event. Redfish: Minimum length of 18 inches; maximum length of 27 inches. Fish will be measured with closed mouth and pinched tail. Tails will be swept and fish will be flipped to assure fish are with legal slot limit. Check-It-Stik will be the official measuring board of the Tournament. Only two fish per team is allowed to be weighed in. The weigh-master reserves the right to hold and examine internally and externally any fish weighed in as a tournament catch to determine if the fish is eligible for an award. Any fish that has an unnatural material in or on it will be disqualified. Any fish that appears to have been penned, expired (dead) for longer 5

period than event commencement, mangled, mashed, mauled or otherwise altered will not be weighed at the discretion of the weigh master. Any ruling or event involving this rule will be left to the Tournament Committee. FISHING BOUNDARIES: Competitors may fish anywhere on tournament waters accessible to the public by boat with the following exceptions stated in these rules. Competitors must stay within inland waters boundary or within the COLEREGGS DEMARCATION LINE. No participants may cross this line, which prohibits participants from navigating or fishing through any inlet or ocean side of Islands, inlets, or body of water on seaside of line. Competitors may not enter waters that are deemed closed by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission or NC Division of Marine Fisheries. Competitors may not fish within 50 yards of a competitor's boat, which was in a location first regardless if they are anchored or not. Competitors may not fish within 100 yards of areas where non-competitors are chumming. Tournament Anglers are not allowed to have nontournament Anglers hold areas or move in to areas that will prevent tournament competitors from fishing a location. Collusion in this manner is grounds for disqualification TEAMS MUST FISH ONLY IN BOATS: No kayaks, no canoes allowed. No competitor, at any time, may leave the boat to fish, or land a fish. Competitors must leave and return to the official check-out by boat. No competitor s boat may be loaded on the trailer before the weigh-in except with the permission of the tournament Chairman. If competitors experience malfunctions, it is their responsibility to contact the Tournament Committee member, either by cell phone (TBA) or VHF Channel 68. Competitors who violate the above rule will not be able to weigh-in and will forfeit entry fee. Any ruling or event involving this rule will be left to the Tournament committee. OFFICIAL CHECKOUT: Teams will receive a number at the Captain s party by luck of the draw. A representative from each team will draw a numbered chip and the chip will determine the team s check out position. Teams can launch their boats at determined checkouts, but, must report to the host location and have a pretournament checkout to be eligible for the event. After your vessel is found to be in compliance with tournament guidelines and USCG safety compliances competitors will either anchor or "jockey" around specific wait areas until the chairman releases the vessels and starts the event. Checkout Continued... You are required to be at the determined checkout location the morning of the tournament for vessel safety check and vessel inspection to make sure all teams are in compliance with tournament rules... no lines in the water until teams are inspected. Teams must proceed in a safe and no wake manner until clear of other teams. After the chairman checks you vessel, competitors can leave the Dock and head to their fishing destinations in order of draw number unless shotgun start is determined. There may be multiple official check out locations in the morning but only one official check-in point in the afternoon. All fishing must cease upon check-in. Competitors who fail to check out will not be allowed to weigh-in the day s catch for the event. 6

LATE PENALTY: Competitors who are not at the official check-in area at the appointed time will be penalized at one (1) pound per minute deducted from the total weight. If competitors are entered in the (TWT) Tournament within Tournament, this ruling also applies. Competitors, who are more than fifteen (15) minutes late, will not receive credit for the day's weight for the event. Any ruling or event involving this rule will be left to the Tournament Chairman. WEIGH-IN: Fish considered for awards must be weighed in at the official weigh-in station at the stated host location for the event. The tournament committee will oversee and conduct all weigh-in and measuring operations. Fish will be measured with the tail pinched and the mouth closed on the measuring board. Fish weights will be measured to the 100th of a pound. Competitors will at no time have in their possession in the live well more than the event limit of fish. Any fish that appears to have been penned, expired (dead) for longer period than event commencement, mangled, mashed, mauled or otherwise altered will not be weighed at the discretion of the weigh master. Redfish may NOT be placed on a stringer at any time during the event. Weigh-in officially begins at (will be announced). Competitors with fish to be weighed must check-in at the official weigh-in station no later than (will be announced). Only event boats towing a distressed vessel are eligible to weigh fish after weigh-in time. The distressed vessel must notify the Committee of location at the time trouble occurs, and notification must be prior to 2:00 p.m. Any ruling or event involving this rule will be left to the Cup Chairman. NUMBER of COMPETITORS per TEAM: Only two competitors per team per boat will be allowed to fish. This does not include TV or Media personnel. No exceptions. Any ruling or event involving this rule will be left to the Cup Chairman. TEAM NAMES and Numbers: Your team number will be the same as the numbered chip you draw for starting position. This will make the person in charge of the Leader Board s task easier. This will also help us identify competitors. If Teams have names they must have a name that is not obscene or offensive to others. Competitors may not fish as individuals. A team consists of two (2) competitors, one of which must be designated as the Captain. SCORING: Awards and final winners shall be determined by the total weight measured in pounds and 100th of a pound of each teams catch during the event. Only Redfish/Red Drum/Channel Bass, Puppy Drum will be weighed and the limit shall be (2) two fish per day per team. The junior angler s fish cannot be counted towards the TWT big fish. Competitors will at no time have in their possession in the live well more than the legal limit of fish. Any ruling or event involving this rule will be left to the tournament committee. TYPES OF AWARDS: 7

Cash, trophy and/or plaques and merchandise will be awarded for placed winners. SWANSBORO-HOOK AND BONES REDFISH OPEN and/or CAROLINA REDFISH SERIES EVENT- Carolina Redfish Series Champions: will receive cash, product and/or trophies for first place. Champions: will receive cash and Trophies for first place. Second Place Team will receive cash and plaques for second place. Third Place Team will receive cash and plaques for third place. Cash and/or products will be paid out through field as permits. LADY ANGLER AWARD(Event 2 Swansboro Hook and Bones Redfish Open Only): The Lady Angler weighing in the heaviest eligible fish receives a Plaque AND/OR any contingency cash or prizes offered by sponsors. The heaviest fish for Lady angler may not be used towards the TWT big fish. Junior Angler Award (age 17 and under) (Event 2 Swansboro Hook and Bones Redfish Open Only):: The Junior Angler weighing in the heaviest eligible fish receives a Plaque and any contingency cash or prizes offered by sponsors. The heaviest fish for Junior angler may not be used towards the TWT big fish. AWARDS: Competitors must be present at the awards presentation to receive their award. Exceptions due to hardship will be made at the discretion of the tournament management. If an exception is granted, it will be the sole responsibility of the winner to arrange for pick-up of all merchandise, cash, and awards at their own expense within 30 days after the awards presentation. Eligible-fish categories for the event are redfish. Any ruling or event involving this rule will be left to the Tournament Committee. (TWT) TOURNAMENT WITHIN TOURNAMENT: Heaviest Big Fish TWT: $50 per team to enter, the following category will be awarded with a cash prize for the winner of said category: within the 18 27 NC State Slot Limit. Junior or Lady Angler Fish cannot declare TWT big fish. Payout for Three Places 1 st -50% 2nd-30% 3rd-20% The cash prize will be determined by the amount of competitors entered for the (TWT) Tournament within Tournament and announced the day of the Captain s Meeting. Winnings under these divisions are in addition to the primary event winnings. This is a separate event division available only to competitors registered in the primary event. Only the team of the primary event may claim the winnings at the awards presentation. The cash award will be awarded to the team (the team can decide how to split the cash award) All rules pertaining to the primary Cup events shall apply to the (TWT) Tournament within Tournament division. Any ruling or event involving this rule will 8

be left to the Tournament Committee. TEAM IDENTIFICATION: Prior to event, a number or chip number for starting position (if not shotgun start) will be given to each team. This number MUST remain with the team during event. This number will identify teams at weigh in. Any ruling or event involving this rule will be left to the Tournament Committee. COMMUNICATIONS: The official event channel is 68. All boats must have in their possession a cell phone or equipped with a VHF radio (handheld or mounted). The Committee contact phone number will be announced at each event. If for any reason VHF channel 68 is off the air, communications will move to VHF channel 62 temporarily. If you do not check in at the weigh station, please check-in by VHF radio or cell phone. It is important for the Committee to know each boat safely returned to port with all competitors present and accounted for. Medical emergency calls may be made and then an event official should be contacted. Any ruling or event involving this rule will be left to the Committee. LIVE FISH: Every effort must be made to keep redfish alive. An 8-ounce penalty will be deducted from the weight for one dead redfish presented for weigh-in. A 2 lb. penalty will be assessed for 2 dead fish. No mutilated or on ice fish will be accepted. Any alteration of length or weight of redfish is prohibited and team will be banished from any future events. Any ruling or event involving this rule will be left to the Tournament Committee. TIES: In case of a tie, the following will be considered: Fish weight and time of check in of catch. The Committee will review such ties and their decision is final. Ties will be broken with the team that has the earlier check in time for the event. The team with the earliest check in shall receive precedence. In the event a tie should occur for any special honors or awards, the tie will be broken by the earliest check in time. The team with the most weight will be deemed as the winner. Any ruling or event involving this rule will be left to the Tournament Committee. POLYGRAPH: ANY Competitors in any of these events are subject to a polygraph at the request of the Tournament Committee. Failure to attend and/or successfully pass such an examination will result in the automatic disqualification of the participant. Any ruling or event involving this rule will be left to the Tournament Committee. There will be no refund of money for disqualified team or competitor. Anyone who has been disqualified in connection with any past redfish tournament is not eligible for this event. DISQUALIFICATION: 9

Any competitor and/or team may be disqualified at any time, at the discretion of Committee Chairman, for any violation of applicable laws, event rules or safety. Any ruling or event involving this rule will be left to the Committee Chairman. PROTEST PROCEDURE: Protests must be presented in writing to the Committee Chairman.(John Moore: Committee Chairman) at the weigh-in station on the day of the alleged infraction, within fifteen (15) minutes after the closing of the weigh-in station. A $150 cash deposit, refundable if the protest is upheld, must accompany protests. The Committee Chairman and Tournament Committee will make all decisions, and their decision is final. If the protest is not upheld, then such deposit will be forfeited to the Tournament event. Any ruling or event involving this rule will be left to the Tournament Chairman. All Rules reviewed by: John Moore, Brittney Wood, Danny Sbracco, Jay Feimster, Matt Lamb and its committee members. NOTE: ANGLERS THAT ARE FISHING IN THE CAROLINA REDFISH SERIES MUST ALSO UNDERSTAND AND AGREE TO THE SERIES RULES ON PAGE 11 AND PAGE 12. (Intentionally Left Blank) 10

Carolina Redfish Series Rules 1. Must pay for all three events to qualify for series Team of the year (T.O.Y) a. Teams may choose to skip one of the three tournaments with prior notification to the tournament director b. Entry fee for the preapproved skipped tournament will go to the T.O.Y winner 2. T.O.Y will be awarded to the team that has the highest combined point total for two out of the three tournaments at the conclusion of the series a. Winner of each tournament will receive 200 points, 2 nd = 199, 3 rd = 198, etc b. Example Team A wins tournament #1 and earns 200 points, Team A finishes in 6 th place earning 195 points, Tournament #3 Team A finishes 2 nd and receives 199 in tournament #2 Team A has earned 399 points dropping their lowest finish giving them 399 total points towards T.O.Y standings c. T.O.Y Tie Breaker The single day heaviest limit, minus any penalties, will break all ties in this series. 3. Team points remain with the Team Captain in case of a team break up. 4. Teams wishing to qualify for the T.O.Y must submit the T.O.Y entry form a. TOY entry form must be submit at or before the conclusion of Captain s meeting Tournament #2 i. Must supply both team member names and an alternate member in case of emergency 5. TOY participants should become familiar with all tournament rules for they are binding 6. TOY winner will sign an affidavit and be subject to a polygraph 7. TOY participants are subject to be polygraphed at random. Each contestant agrees to submit, by their signature on the official T.O.Y entry form, to the polygraph test to determine the results of the tournament and shall not contest the results. Failure to be available for the test is grounds for disqualification. If weigh master or polygraph administrator determines that an angler is unable to take a test, all prizes and points will be forfeited. Polygraph tests may be required up to one week after each event and series conclusion. 8. A T.O.Y member must be present at all Captain s Meeting a. Competitors must be on time meaning before final registration 11

i. Tardiness can result in a reduction of T.O.Y points ii. A team member must stay until conclusion of the captain s meeting or dismissed by a tournament official 9. All contestants are required to follow all applicable Federal, State and Local regulations and laws. Any violation of such regulations and laws or violations of same and/or other tournament rules may result a. T.O.Y point reduction, daily weight penalty, fishing time penalty, disqualification from the tournament day, disqualification from the entire tournament, disqualification from all future Caroline Redfish series events. 10. Eligibility Carolina Redfish Series reserves the right to deny entry into this series to any person or team for any reason. Anglers failing or failing to take a requested polygraph from any tournament or tournament trail or being banned from competition by another tournament or trail may be ineligible to compete in any or all Carolina Redfish Series Event 11. Sportsmanship All contestants should display courtesy, safety and follow all boating and game laws. a. All anglers are bound by the prevailing statues and regulations of North Carolina. Competitors are responsible for research of fishing and boating regulations, including proper registrations of vessel used in event, fishing licenses, size limits of catch, etc. b. Anyone proved to be displaying poor sportsmanship or violating game, boating laws or the letter and spirit of these sportsmanship rules will be subject to penalty under rule 9a. c. All anglers competing in any Carolina Redfish Series must obey local, state and federal laws in regards to harassing fish and wildlife. d. No wireless, radio or other controlled devices allowed for same or similar purposes. e. Anglers cannot purposely do anything to intentionally hurt another angler s opportunity at catching fish. I.E. running through any school of fish intentionally, doing circles in an area before exiting, dispersing any item in the water in an attempt to cause fish to leave an area. f. Any act deemed by tournament official(s) to give an angler an unfair advantage in the series and not to be considered conventional and normal in the scope of tournament competition even though not specifically covered under this set of rules may result in penalties see rule 9a. 12. EARLY REGISTRATION INCENTIVE If teams pre-pay the ($750) in entry fees for the series and forms are received by 2 weeks prior (Sat May 17 th ) to the first event, teams will be automatically entered for a $300 value cash or contingency prize drawing. Teams will also be selected at random to be interviewed and featured on the PointClickFish.com website, social media and saltwater fishing radio show. 12