North Florida Gulf
Fishing Club 2010 Tournament Rules
1.
Teams
may consist of one to four members.
2.
One
team member must be at least 18 years of age. All members of a registered team
must fish from the same vessel.
3.
At
least one team member must be a member in good standing with N.F.G.F.C. In
the event of an unforeseen situation that would result in a team composed
entirely of non-members, and if this team finishes in the top 3 for the
tournament, one membership fee will be deducted from the team’s winnings.
4.
Non-members
may fish no more than two tournaments a calendar year.
5.
Entry
fees are $20.00 per team regardless of number on team up to four. Entry fee for
a team with at least one non-member is $25.00.
6.
Entry
fees are non-refundable. The only exception to this is in the event that a
tournament is postponed or cancelled by the Tournament Director.
7.
In
the event a tournament is cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances, it may be
rescheduled by the Tournament Director.
8.
The
Tournament Director reserves the right to make all decisions regarding the safe
operation of a tournament.
9.
Each
captain is responsible for the safe operation of his or her vessel and must
comply with all federal and state regulations governing such operation.
10. Tournaments will
begin at safe daylight, as determined by the Tournament Director, at the launch
site. Anglers may launch their boats
before safe daylight. For non-ramp
specific tournaments, they may not go above idle speed and cannot have lines in
the water until safe daylight. Safe
daylight is defined as 30 minutes before sunrise. This time will be posted on
bigbendfishing.net, nfgfc.org, and mentioned at the Thursday meeting before the
tournament each month.
11. Tournament
conclusion time will be 3:30 p.m. At least one member of each team must check
in with the Tournament Director by this time.
Any team that checks in late will be penalized as follows: Up to 5
minutes late- 25% of total stringer weight. Over 5 minutes to 15 minutes late-
50% of total stringer weight. Over 15 minutes late - no credit for the day’s catch
12. Each team is
allowed to weigh one person’s legal bag limit for the specified tournament
species. Only fish of legal harvest size, according to State law, will be
accepted at the weigh in. Questionable fish will be measured by the Tournament
Director. If a fish is determined to be illegal, the fish will be removed from
the team’s catch. The team will not be allowed to substitute another fish.
13. Only
recreational limits may be kept during tournaments. Commercial limits are not
allowed.
14. Only fish taken
by hook and line are eligible for weigh in. Electrically driven reels on
freestanding rods (Electramates) are acceptable. Mounted winch devices (one
armed bandits), motor driven long lines, spearing, Gigging, netting, shooting
(including bang sticks), or any method of catching fish in violation of Florida
or U.S. laws are prohibited. Use of any illegal method for catching fish will
result in disqualification from the tournament of all entrants on the violating
team.
15. All weights are
final. Fish will not be weighed more than once.
16. In the event of
a tie, the team with the greater number of fish will take the position.
If the teams that are tied have the same number of fish, the tie will be broken
by the weight of the teams’ largest fish.
If still tied, the tie will be broken by the weight of the teams’ second
largest fish. The process will continue
until the tie is broken.
17. Teams are
allowed to use live, dead, or artificial bait considered legal by the laws of
the State of Florida.
18. No team may
approach another team on the water any closer than 100 feet unless under mutual
agreement by both teams.
19. Contestants may
exit their vessel to fish (i.e. wade fish).
20. All participants
must possess a valid Florida Saltwater Fishing License when applicable to
Florida State Law.
21. All team members
are expected to conduct themselves in a safe, courteous and professional manner
at all times. The Tournament Committee will have the final say in all conduct
matters.
22. The Tournament
Director may implement additional tournament specific rules and restrictions
for individual tournaments. Entrants are responsible for understanding rules
for each tournament.
23. The tournament
committee shall consist of the Tournament Director and four club members
designated by the Tournament Director.
24. The Tournament
Director will determine location for draw tournaments. The Tournament Director
or a designated representative will conduct the draw.
25. The Tournament
Director may allow anglers choice of launch site.
26. HAVE FUN!
Angler of the Year Points System
First Place = 50 points
Second Place = 49 points
Third Place = 48 points
Fourth Place = 47 points
ETC (All teams with legal fish to be weighed will be
placed and will receive points in descending amount, by 1 point. I.e. 7th
place = 44 points.)
If a team does not present a legal fish for weigh
in, the team will be awarded 25 points for participation.
Tournament points are awarded to all NFGFC members
of each team. Guests do not receive points.
Even
though tournament points are awarded to an entire team, Angler of the Year is
an individual award. The Angler of the Year will be determined as the
individual angler with the most points at the end of the tournament year. Each
angler is allowed to drop 1 tournament at the end of the year. For example, if
there are 10 scheduled tournaments, each angler will count his or her best 9
tournaments. If a tournament is cancelled throughout the year, it will not
count as a drop.
In
the event of any points tie for Angler of the year standings, the higher
standing will be awarded to the angler(s) with the greater number of fish weighed throughout the year. If the tied participants have weighed the
same number of fish for the year, the second tiebreaker will be most
highest individual tournament finishes (IE- the angler with the most first
place finishes will be awarded the position). If this does not break the tie,
the angler with the most second place finishes will be awarded the position.
The process will continue through as many finishing positions as necessary to
determine standings position.
Cash Payouts
The
NFGFC Board of Directors will determine the prizes for Angler of the Year at
the February Board Meeting for the following year’s tournament series. Each
tournament will pay back 100% of the entry fees collected and will be dispersed
as follows:
First
Place = 50%
Second
Place = 30%
Third
Place = 20%
In
the event there is not a qualifying team for the entire payout (less than three
teams weigh fish) the money for those places will be designated toward Angler
of the Year awards.