Lake Ontario Fishing Forum Trout Salmon Sport Fishing Charter

Listed below are the official rules for the 2007 Pro-Am Fishing Tournament. The Lake Ontario Pro-Am Salmon Team Tournament Trolling Circuit – located in Niagara, Oswego, Orleans and Wayne counties. Located along New York’s south shore of Lake Ontario, the Lake Ontario Pro-Am Series. The format for the tournament is peculiar in that it’s a team event based on ten points per fish and a point per pound, stretched out over two days of fishing. The teams with the highest point totals earn some great prizes, as well as the prestige of placing high in one of the most competitive events on the Great Lakes.

OFFICIAL TOURNAMENT RULES

1. Meeting: There will be a MANDATORY meeting for Captains and Observers ONLY conducted the evening before each event.

2. Competition Parameters: The tournament’s intent is to fish two days. Hours of competition will be 6:00 AM to 2 PM each day unless altered by the tournament committee for inclement weather.

* In the event of foul weather two hours of fishing will constitute a full day. One two hour day will constitute completion of the tournament in the event of foul weather.
* Teams should be prepared to adjust their schedules to allow for fishing up to 8PM on the first day; 4 PM on the second day if weather conditions are a factor.
* If the first day is completed any time fished on the second day (even if less than two hours) will count toward the day.

3. Tournament Limits:

* Teams must enter and exit from assigned ports ONLY.
* Tournament fishing is limited to US waters ONLY.
* Fishing in tributaries is prohibited. For the purpose of the tournament the Niagara River will be considered a tributary.
* It is the responsibility of the team to remain within the tournament boundaries. Straying outside of the tournament boundaries at any time for any reason is prohibited.

4. Team Structure: Teams are not limited to a maximum number of anglers in either the Pro or Am Divisions. However, in the Pro Division the allowable number of rods will be based on 4 anglers (8 rods). In other words, you can have more than four anglers on a team but may only run 8 rods. If you fish less than four anglers you may only run the number of rods allowed by law (2 per angler). In the Am Division the allowable number of rods will be based on 3 anglers (6 rods) even though Amateur teams will be permitted to compete with only two anglers on board. NEW—for 2007 observers in the Amateur Division will be required to have valid NY fishing licenses.

5. Observers: Every competing team is required to provide an observer 18 years of age or older. Observers are required to attend the Meeting the evening before the event. Observers will be exchanged between teams on a random basis.

* Observers may not operate boats or assist the team in any way.
* Observers must log in each fish caught on the Score Sheet provided. Items to be recorded are species, time of catch, estimated weight and the exact GPS location of the catch. Team leaders should make certain the observer fills in all the required fields correctly. A sample will be provided with each score sheet to ensure accuracy.
* Observer score sheets must be signed by the team leader and the observer immediately upon completion of the fishing day. Signatures must appear on the next available entry space (i.e. if the last fish recorded was #12 the signatures must appear on line #13).
* All observers MUST remain at the Weigh in site until released by the Tournament Director.

6. Boat Size and Identification: Boat size will be limited to a minimum length of 18 feet. Each team will be issued a pennant to be affixed to the boat’s antenna.

7. Radio Use and Restriction: All participating boats must be equipped with an operational VHF radio and GPS unit.

* The GPS unit is critical to the proper scoring of the catch and must remain functional at all times.
* Open communication will be in effect throughout the tournament. NOTE: This rule is designed for captain to captain communication ONLY. The tournament committees strongly suggest that any communication between captains and their observers be mutually agreed upon at the Captain’s meeting. Not everyone will want to communicate and the committees ask that everyone respect each others’ wishes with regard to this issue.
* Tournament control will monitor Channel 16 and all boats will be directed to Channel 9 for announcements. It is the responsibility of the teams to maintain contact with tournament control in the event of foul weather.

8. Start and End Times: Observers must be on their assigned boats no later than 5 AM. Teams who fail to have their observers at the assigned boat by 5 AM will be required to forfeit a team member to fill in as observer no later than 5:15 AM.

* Amateur teams will be allowed to leave the harbor at 5:20 AM ONLY after turning in their signed disclaimer forms to the tournament committee at the designated point announced at the Captain’s meeting.
* Pro teams will be allowed to leave the harbor at 5:30 after their signed disclaimer forms are turned in.
* All electronics may be used prior to the start time. However, nothing used in the act of fishing (including planer boards) may be placed in the water before the start fishing time.
* Fishing will commence for both Pro and Am teams at 6 AM. Tournament control will make a start fishing announcement at 6 AM on Channel 9. In the event of inclement weather an announcement will be made at 5:15 AM and contestants will be directed accordingly.
* All fishing must cease prior to 2 PM and all boats must be at the pier heads by 2 PM (even if mechanical problems arise).
* Failure to meet the 2 PM requirement may result in a score deduction of 10 points per minute late.

9. Weigh-in:

* Upon returning to port the cooler containing the day’s catch must be immediately transported to the Weigh-in site. All contestants must be in line for weigh-in no later than 3:30PM.
* At least one team member and the assigned observer must remain with the days catch until surrendered to the Weigh-in committee.

10. Coolers:

* All coolers must be marked with the team name and number.
* All coolers will be considered sealed at the end of the day’s fishing and handling of fish by anyone other than a tournament official is prohibited.
* Coolers must arrive at the Pre-Check Station free of loose ice or water. The tournament committee strongly suggests opening the drain plug on the cooler prior to pre-check.

11. Scoring:

Pro Division: (based on a 4 person limit)

* Tournament limit shall be 12 fish no more than 2 of which may be lake trout.
* The first legal limit brought on board must be kept.
* The tournament allows for captain’s discretion within a ½ inch buffer for releasing fish.

Scoring (continued):

Amateur Division: (based on a 2 person limit)

* Tournament limit shall be 6 fish (salmon, steelhead or brown trout) and one bonus lake trout. The bonus fish (if taken) must be a tournament legal lake trout.
* Amateur teams may release tournament legal fish ONLY if the fish can be released alive and must not be brought into the boat or netted.

All Teams:

* Minimum size for steelhead is 21 ½ inches.
* Minimum size for Atlantic salmon is 25 ½ inches.
* Minimum size for all other trout and salmon is 18 inches.
* Certified measuring boards will be used at the weigh in site. These boards will be present at the Captain’s meeting for teams to compare their own measuring devices to. These boards will be the Official measuring boards of the tournament and will determine whether or not a fish is legal for the tournament. In the event that an illegal fish comes in, by Tournament Rules or New York State regulations, further action will be taken to ensure the integrity of the tournament.
* Each fish 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 the tournament, the undersized fish will be disallowed. In addition, 10 points plus 1 point per pound of the undersized fish will be deducted from the team’s score. However, in no case, will a team’s score be made less than zero.
* All fish shall remain the property of the tournament until released to the teams.
* All fish may be tested for legality.
* Disposition of fish must be in compliance with state and local laws.

12. Protests, Rulings and Litigations:

* Any contestant or observer witnessing a violation of the rules is required to IMMEDIATELY report the alleged violation to a Tournament Official or Tournament Control.
* Any suspected violations will be turned over to the Competition Committee for review. This committee will report all information to the Tournament Director and the Director will attempt to facilitate a resolution of the issue before an Official Protest is filed.
* Any team or observer has the right to file an Official Protest by completing and signing the Official Protest Form provided by the tournament. This form must be presented to the Tournament Director within 30 minutes of the conclusion of the Director’s review of the case. Upon receiving an Official Protest the Tournament Director will present the team being protested with a Protest Resolution Form. Protested teams will be allowed 15 minutes to complete and return the form to the Tournament Director. Unresolved protests will be forwarded to the appropriate Law Enforcement Agency for investigation.
* The tournament scores of protested teams will not be considered official until a complete investigation is finalized. Any prizes won by a protested team will also be withheld until the investigation is complete.
* Failure of a protested team to complete and return the Protest Resolution Form within the designated time, or failure of a team to be present to address the protest will result in that team’s immediate disqualification.
* Failure of any team to cooperate fully with the Competition Committee or Tournament Director will result in immediate disqualification.
* ALL DECISIONS OF TOURNAMENT OFFICIALS WILL BE FINAL

13. Inspections: All teams must, at any time, allow Tournament Officials to board their boat for inspection. All tournament boats must be available for inspection for the duration of the event. Inspections shall include, but not be limited to, GPS units, fishing tackle and coolers. Failure to comply with an Official’s request for inspection will result in immediate disqualification.

14. Misconduct: Any inappropriate, improper or abusive conduct by any participant towards any Tournament Official, volunteer, observer or fellow participant shall be deemed a violation of the rules and may subject the violator to penalties or disqualification as determined by the Tournament Committee. Any person or team that has been disqualified by any tournament or derby for an overt act to deceive or defraud may be barred from entry into any future tournament. Any person or team disqualified from these tournaments will have their name passed on to other fishing competitions around the lake.

15. Liability: Every reasonable precaution will be taken by the Tournament Committee to protect persons and property during the contest. However, the Committee, its judges, sponsors, officers, directors or employees of the same will not be held responsible for the safety of persons or property participating in the tournament. All participants further understand and agree to hold harmless members of the aforementioned groups from any liability or claim of damages.

* All tournament boats should carry liability insurance.
* Each contestant and observer will be required to sign a liability disclaimer each morning before the tournament begins. The disclaimer may be turned in no earlier than 5:00 AM each day (unless altered by the tournament committee). Leaving the departure point without turning in the signed disclaimer form will result in disqualification. The drop off points will be announced at the Captain’s meeting prior to the tournament.

16. Pro Division Definition: Any Captain or team member, excluding the observer, who is/was a licensed charter boat captain, fishing guide, or commercial fisherman, is required to enter the Pro Division. All others may enter the Amateur Division. Amateurs may enter the Pro Division if openings are available.

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