A). Entry:
1). All boats must be registered with the Tournament Committee and entry fee paid prior to the first fishing day to qualify for prizes and awards.
2). There is no limit to the number of eligible anglers per boat. All anglers/crew must be registered in writing with the tournament prior to the day’s fishing, and the entry form filled out completely and legibly. Each team shall declare a team captain and team co-captain on the entry form.
3). It is the sole responsibility of the team captain, co-captain and anglers to understand and abide by the Tournament’s rules, including any special instructions or changes that may be announced during the Captain’s meeting (refer to Rule N).
B).
General
1). IGFA rules shall apply, with only the following exceptions.
A). Any crew member may hook the fish, but the rod must immediately be passed to a registered angler, whom must then fight the fish unassisted.
B). Spreader Bars are permitted to be directly attached to the fishing line (in lieu of IGFA rule # 6 in section I).
C). This is a trolling tournament. Unconventional non-trolling techniques are strictly prohibited. No backing into schools, pitching baits, casting, jigging, use of casting tackle, use of spinning tackle, use of live bait or live bait teasers.
C). Eligible Departure/Return Ports:
All tournament boats must depart either Rudee Inlet or Lynnhaven Inlet on each fishing day to be eligible. No boat may proceed beyond the seaward tip of the jetties @ Rudee Inlet or the Lesner Bridge @ Lynnhaven Inlet prior to 4:30 AM on any fishing day. Any boat leaving earlier will be disqualified for that day of fishing.
D). Times:
TIME STARTS THE FIRST DAY OF THE TOURNAMENT. Official tournament time shall be GPS. Each boat is eligible to fish (1) one of the (2) two available days (August the 28th or 29th) on a captain’s choice basis. No lines or teasers in the water prior to 8:00 AM or after 2:00 PM. The official tournament fishing hours each day are:
Lines In: 8:00 AM
Lines Out: 2:00 PM
Any boat that has reported a hookup to a committee boat prior to lines out may continue to play the fish until either released or boated.
E). Weigh-In & Score Sheets:
All Billfish release score sheets/Game Fish must be turned in/weighed @ the official tournament scales located at the weigh station in Rudee Inlet only. All boats desiring to weigh in a fish must return directly to Rudee Inlet each day. Each fish to be weighed/scored will be accompanied with the scorecard filled out and signed by either the registered team captain or co-captain. Billfish score sheets must be signed by the team captain and co-captain. Only (1) qualifying game fish of each species is eligible to be weighed in per boat per day. All fish submitted for weigh-in become the property of the tournament. The registered team captain or co-captain can request that a fish be re-weighed so long as the request is made to the weigh master while the fish is still hanging.
Weigh Station Hours: The weigh station will be open each day from 4:00PM until 6:30PM
F). Billfish Points and Tie Breaker for Billfish Release Division:
All
Blue Marlin, White Marlin, Sailfish and Spearfish must be released, and
shall be awarded 100 points per release. In the event of a tie,
the winner shall be determined by the first boat/team scoring the tying
points earliest (determined by time of release) in the respective
eligible days of fishing, regardless of which day points were scored (time
of last release each day, not date of catch)
* A billfish is considered officially released when the leader connection is wound to the tip of the rod, or another crew member touches the leader.
G). Qualifying & Eligible Game Fish Species:
Gamefish will be awarded a point a pound above the minimums weight of each species. The minimum weights for Dolphin and Wahoo are 10 lbs. and 25 lbs for Tuna (Yellowfin, Bluefin and Bigeye).
H). Lay Days/ Weather Contingency:
Each boat is entitled to (1) one lay day. A tournament provided declared lay day form must be signed by the registered team captain or co-captain and turned in to the designated locations (to be announced @ the Captain’s meeting) in person (faxing not permitted) no later than 8:00 AM on the day that they are declaring a lay day. Any boat not submitting a lay day form in person by 8:00 AM shall be considered as fishing and an eligible day shall be counted, no exceptions.
The Tournament does not provide a weather committee. All team captains and co-captains, boat owners and their participants, are advised and encouraged to be familiar with the current local weather conditions and forecasts to determine if conditions permit the safety of the boat, crew, anglers and guests to proceed to depart to sea and return in a safe and prudent manner.
Bad weather will be defined as: the NOAA Weather Radio station Wakefield 5 PM report forecasts small craft warnings for the following day of fishing. If there is a forecast for small craft advisories for offshore waters from Baltimore Canyon to Hatteras Canyon for either day, there will be no fishing that day. In the event of bad weather on both days of eligible fishing and the tournament is declared as un-fishable, there will be a drawing held on August 29th @ 9:00 PM @ the tournament weigh station (A registered team member must be present to be eligible) for the *Guaranteed payout prizes and the tournament will refund $150 of the entry fee.
*Guaranteed Payout Prize: (See Paragraph (I.) $100.00 of each paid entry will be applied to the drawing in the event that both eligible days of fishing are canceled due to bad weather.
I). Cash Awards:
Prize money checks will only be made payable to the person or entity as designated on the official Tournament registration form or their designated agent in writing. Social Security number or Taxpayer I.D. number of the recipient must be provided on the registration form. A 1099 will be issued for all prize money to the person or company to whom the check is made payable.
There will be Guaranteed Prize Awards based on $100. per entry multiplied by the total number of entries in the Tournament (Ex. 50 entries x $100. = $5,000.) for the teams that score the most Billfish release points, and be paid out on a 60%, 30%, 10% basis (Ex. 50 entries x $100. = $5,000., 1st place = $3,000., 2nd place = $1500., 3rd place = $500.) In the event that only (2) two teams score billfish release points, then the basis shall be 65% 1st place & 35% for 2nd place, and if only (1) team scores, it shall be a 100% to the winner basis.
In
the event that the tournament is declared as un-fishable due to weather
on both days, then the drawing shall be based upon a 60%, 30%, 10%
basis.
Additional Optional Skill Levels:
There are additional optional skill levels for prize money. Participation in Level I and Level II are progressive. For example, in order to enter Level II, you must also enter Level I. It is not necessary to enter Levels I or II to be eligible to enter the Gamefish Jackpot or the Center Console Jackpot.
Billfish
Release Divisions:
Level I $200.00
Level II $300.00
Cash awards for optional skill levels I and
II shall be distributed on the same basis as the Guaranteed Prize
Awards.
Gamefish
Jackpot: $100. WINNER TAKE
ALL (refer to Rule G.)
Center
Console Billfish Jackpot $200.
WINNER TAKE ALL (Refer to Rule F)
The Tournament shall retain 15% of all optional skill level monies.
J). Committee Boats:
There will be Committee Boats assigned each day of fishing to record billfish hookups, releases and captures. In the event that a tournament boat is unable to contact a committee boat on a direct basis then they should relay their information to another tournament boat, and confirm the official GPS time. * Note: Committee boats are volunteers only and will not interpret any rules nor offer any decisions as to such.
K). Radio Frequencies: Applicable
VHF & SSB frequencies will be announced at the Captains Meeting. As a common courtesy, all boats are requested to switch to another operating channel for non-tournament conversations, particularly the last 15 minutes of fishing each day, to enable the reporting of hookups.
L). Reporting Billfish Hookups/Release:
All billfish hookups must be reported to a committee boat immediately upon hookup. All billfish must be reported to the committee boat upon release. Only billfish shall be reported to the committee boat.
M). Protests/Disputes:
Protests must be submitted in writing and turned in to the Tournament Rules Committee accompanied with a fee of $100.00 (refundable if protest is upheld) prior to 7:00PM each fishing day. The Tournament Rules Committee (to be announced at the Captains Meeting) at their discretion may utilize polygraph tests to reach a final decision. By virtue of signing the Tournament entry form all participants agree to the final decision of the Tournament Rules Committee. It is understood that the spirit intended for the tournament is to be enjoyable and in good fellowship for all participants.
N). Captains Meeting:
The
Captain’s Meeting shall commence @ 6:30 PM Friday August 27th at
the official tournament weigh station. At least one representative
from each team must be present.
O). Mechanical Breakdown:
In the event that a boat experiences mechanical difficulties that may hinder its ability to return to the weigh station within the official weigh-in times, then that team may, at their and the receiving boat’s discretion, transfer their fish to be weighed, or in the event of billfish release(s), their score sheet. Either of which must be accompanied by either the registered team captain or co-captain.
P). Mutilated/Injured Fish
IGFA Rules shall apply. The decision of the Tournament Weigh Master shall be final.
Q). Polygraph Tests:
All registered Participants (Team captain, co-captain, anglers, and guests) of any eligible tournament prize monies or awards agree to submit to a polygraph examination if requested to do so by the Tournament, Tournament Rules Committee, Official Weigh Masters. Failure to submit to a polygraph test by any member aforementioned will result in disqualification of any or all awards to the team, or team member.
R). Federal & State Regulations:
The weight and/or length of the (1) eligible fish, of each eligible species, submitted for weigh-in each day are subject to State of Virginia and/or Federal laws. All boats must possess current and valid Federal tuna permits or any other permits as required by applicable law by species at time of weigh-in. Any team without valid permitting and/or in violation of State and/or Federal law may have their fish disqualified at time of weigh-in.
S). Waiver/ Disclaimer:
It is expressly understood that all participants in this tournament enter at their own risk, and that the Red, White & Blue Tournament, Inc., it’s Officers and Directors, Tournament Rules Committee, Coastal Conservation Association Of Virginia, Sponsors, Volunteers, and all persons connected directly or indirectly with the operation of said tournament, shall be exempt from any liability whatsoever for libel, slander, loss, damage, negligence, harm, injury or death suffered by any participant, entrant, vessel and equipment, companions and guest, boat captains, mates, crew members, which may occur during or in conjunction with this Tournament. By signing the Official Tournament Registration form the boat owner, captain and mate(s), anglers and guest, consents that the Tournament may use without payment or restriction, any photographs, video footage, in which he or she may appear for any purpose whatsoever, including but not limited to resale, advertising, commercial or promotional material.
T). Venue:
It is expressly understood that all participants consent and agree that the City Of Virginia Beach General District Courts shall be the sole venue for litigation arising out of participation in the tournament.
Rev. 08/11/04
Red, White & Blue Tournaments
524 Winston Salem Ave.
Virginia Beach, VA. 23451
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