SURF FISHING TOURNAMENT RULES

(Revised March, 2005)

 

Section 1. - SCHEDULE:

  1. Tournament dates must be approved by the Executive Board of the Association.

  2. Spring and summer tournament dates will be limited to the following weeks: 2nd and 3rd Saturdays in May, 3rd and 4th Saturdays in June, and fall schedule beginning on the 1st Saturday after Labor Day regardless of the date.  (These dates are subject to change with the Executive Boards approval, in regards to changing beach access, weather and insurance’s).

  3. Any schedule change must be approved by the Executive Board and must be submitted in writing to the Association Secretary by December 31st of the prior year.  (With the exceptions of the items listed above in B).

Section 2. - Participants:

  1. Teams shall consist of not more than six (6) members of a club.

  2. All six (6) may fish; one member shall act as captain.

  3. The team captain is responsible for the correct scoring of his team’s fish.

  4. The team captain is responsible for the conduct of his or hers teams including the adherence to the tournament rules.

  5. Individuals will be accepted in tournaments as indicated on the annual schedule.

  6. Association clubs that wish to enter a tournament and have not replied by mail must call the host club representative at least 72 hrs. (Tuesday PM) prior to the tournament and secure a position if one is available.

    1. All A.S.A.C. clubs that call before the 72 hrs. rule will be given positions before non-A.S.A.C. teams will be accepted.

    2. If a position is secured from a host club and the team does not show, the host club will be entitled to the entry fee for reserving the position, unless the tournament is cancelled or postponed.

    3. If by the end of the year a club has not paid for being a no-show, the host club will inform the Association and that club will not be able to call and reserve a position in any tournament the following year.

    4. To make this effective, each host club should have two or three telephone numbers listed so that clubs wishing to reserve a position to fish can do so.  This applies to A.S.A.C. teams only.  (21 March 92).

  7. Each host club would receive a letter from the Recording Secretary which was to be turned in at registration the day they were fielding their ‘B” make-up team.  (This was passed March 19, 1994 but not entered in Tournament rules)

  8. Each Host Club will receive 3 points at the beginning of each tournament season. This is done so that the Host Club is somewhat compensated for Hosting this Tournament and not being allowed to Fish same. ( 19 March 05 )
     

Section 3. - Fishing Equipment:

  1. One fishing line per angler.

  2. Two (2) hooks per line, double (tandem) hooks count as one (1) hook.

  3. Artificial lures, live bait, fresh and frozen baits are permitted.

  4. Each team must furnish its own bait.

Section 4. - Rules:

  1. Lines may be wet before start time for stretching purposes only.  Absolutely no hooks or bait.

    1. Lines in water before start time with hooks will be issued one warning per season, second infraction will result in your team being disqualified for that season.  Third infraction – end of your team’s season.

    2. Lines in water before start time with bait or lures on hook will result in session disqualification your team, second infraction will mean end of season for your team.

  2. Fish only in designated areas.  If on sand bar please pay attention to how the current has moved you.

    1. Stay in your area.  Be considerate of the people next to you.  If this becomes an issue on the beach with numerous warnings, your team will be disqualified for the session.  When tides are moving lines to the left or right, you must work with adjoining team to insure sportsmanship.

  3. Nets and gaffs may be used before session and at break, but at no time during sessions.

    1. Any fish landed with a gaff will not be scored, period!

    2. Use of nets during session will result in an inspection of your coolers and live wells for illegal fish caught in the net, if any are found they will be marked as to not be scored.  I f you are caught trying to score a netted fish, your club will be disqualified for the season and you for 5 years.

    3. Using nets during session will also result in being given one warning, second infraction will result in being disqualified for the session for your team and third infraction will mean being end to your teams season.

  4. Chumming and chum pots (includes minnow buckets) are not permitted.  Bait by-products, (head, tails, guts, etc.) are not to be thrown in wash before or during sessions.  Exception-bait on hook may be removed and dropped in water.

    1. Anyone caught chumming in any form will result in session disqualification for your team, second infraction, done for the day for your team.

  5. Fish caught on loose rigging will not be scored.  Exception, lines tangle with fish on hooks may be cut once fish is on beach to untangle lines, these fish will be scored.  If lines are broke or cut before fish is landed, the fish will not be scored.

  6. Dead (when landed) or mutilated fish will not be scored.

  7. If fish are caught on tangled lines and there is a problem or challenge as to who posses said fish, lines must be untangled before fish will be scored.

  8. Fish hooked at time of stop signal will be scored when landed.

  9. No fishing from a jetty, rock piles, bulkheads, or other structure.

    1. Any violation of this rule will result in your teams day being over.  Disqualified for the tournament is mandatory as this is an open insurance problem in the making.

  10. No fisherman, in any type of clothing, shall wade into the surf further than waist high.

    1. Definition:  if wave height at top is above your head BACK UP!  Due to weather conditions and rip tides, this can be subject to change by the host club or highest-ranking A.S.A.C. board member present on day of tournament due to safety and insurance regulations.

    2. If you are found to be too deep, judge will warn you to come in.  Failure to do so will result in your team being disqualified for the session.  Repeated infractions (3) in this area will cause the team to be disqualified for the day and will end your season.

  11. If an angler hooks a fish that runs into another position, the fish when landed will be scored.

  12. Sportsman-like conduct is demanded at all times.

  13. Anyone caught keeping undersized fish or more fish than the bag limits will be disqualified for 5 years and be turned into the Dept. of Fish and Game.

  14. Total fish points shall determine the winner.

  15. Ties shall be broken as follows: Most fish category total fish points. (inches)  Largest fish category total length, then girth.

  16. Fish shall be measured from the tip of the snout to the tip of the tail.  Measurement will be to the closest ¼ inch forward.

  17. Fish species & minimum size eligible for scoring:

  18. Minimum lengths and bag limits of fish species eligible for scoring in all A.S.A.C. sanctioned will at all times conform to the existing State and Federal statues.  Changes in these statues will be immediately compulsory at all A.S.A.C. sanctioned events.

  19. Any team caught actively cheating, such as scoring a fish not caught in tournament, shall be dropped from the Association for 5 years, and not be eligible to fish any A.S.A.C. sanctioned events.

  20. Youths will be broken into 2 categories: 14-17 and 13 and under.  To be eligible in either category your birth date must be as of the annual meeting, Example: If you will be 14 after the annual meeting, you can still fish 13 & under for that season.  Same as if you will be 18 after the annual meeting you can still fish the 14-17 division for that season.

  21. An adult fishing on the same team may cast for a youth in the 13 & under division, but the youth must land the fish.  (With as little help as possible), for said fish to score.  All youths in the 13 & under category who catch fish will be given an award from A.S.A.C.

  22. (March 2000) Any measurable fish that will be kept by a competing Angler will have the tail cut or punched or suitably marked by a tournament judge.

  23. (March 2000) If employing catch and release the fish to be released must be witnessed by a tournament judge.

  24. (March 2001)  In order to facilitate scoring during the last 30 minutes of a session, any angler who has five unscored fish must have them scored before the end of the session.  If time remains in the session after the fish are scored, an angler may resume fishing with  the use of his fish bag, stringer, bucket, or cooler for keeping his catch, to a maximum of five fish.

  25. (March 2003) Each Host Club will appoint one (1) individual as Head Judge for their tournament.  This individual will be made known to the highest ranking A.S.A.C. Board Member present at this tournament.  The tournament Head Judge will have in their possession one (1) complete copy of A.S.A.C.'s By-laws and Tournament Rules.  This person will be responsible for administering any warnings to tournament participants for infractions of any tournament rules.  These tournament rules will be enforced fairly and without prejudice.

Section 5. - Surf Fishing Championships For Teams And Individuals:

Since 1995 A.S.A.C. has sponsored the awards for our Surf Fishing Championships for clubs and individuals who are in good standings with the Association of Surf Angling Clubs.  The clubs and individuals who accumulate the most points during our sanctioned tournaments are the Champions for the year.

Section 6. - Scoring:

  1. All fish scored in the tournament will be scored on a three-part NCR form, which will be supplied, to each sponsoring club by the Association.

    1. Distribution of the score sheet is as follows:

      1. 1st copy:  White – to the A.S.A.C. Recording Secretary with in seven days

      2. 2nd copy:  Yellow – A.S.A.C. official the day of tournament

      3. 3rd copy:  Pink – team captain on the beach

    2. The yellow copy is to be given to the highest-ranking A.S.A.C. board member present on the day of the tournament and forwarded by that person to the Recording Secretary.

  2. The NCR forms must be used.  No substitutions are permitted.

  3. There are seven categories of individual championships:

    1. Largest fish points – Men

    2. Largest fish points– Women

    3. Largest fish points – Youth

    4. Most fish points – Men

    5. Most fish points – Women

    6. Most fish points – Youth

    7. Largest fish year

  4. Club championship rules points are as follows:

    1. Places will be awarded on the basis of all teams competing in a tournament, including non-A.S.A.C. teams.  The total of those points accumulated by an A.S.A.C. team from all sanctioned tournaments will determine the Championship Club.

    2. If there is a tie in the team championship based on total fish points, the Championship team will be the club with the greater number of fish.

    3. The selection of the 6 anglers for the Championship team will be at the discretion of the winning club.

  5.  Individual championship rules are as follows:

    1. Any Association member may compete on a team or as an individual at those tournaments, which also have individual competitions.

      1. First place----------------------------- 5 points

      2. Second place ------------------------ 3 points

      3. Third place--------------------------- 1 points

    2. An individual is an angler fishing with in specific positions during session hours during team competitions at A.S.A.C. sanctioned tournaments.

    3. Places will be awarded based on individuals competing in a tournament, including non-A.S.A.C. participants.

  6. An angler cannot place more than once in a category in any single tournament.  Meaning, you can only place once at your highest level.  Re: 1st place only, not 1st and third.

  7.  Largest fish points: If there is a tie in an individual tournament, the tie will be broken by girth, if still a tie remains, both person will be awarded the same points and the next place skipped.  Example:  (2) 20” blues tie for first there is no second, go to third.  If there is a tie for the largest fish points on the year, the largest fish caught will break the tie.

  8. Most fish points: When anglers are tied in an individual tournament with the same number of fish points, the tie will be broken with total fish caught.  Example: 5 fish for 60” verses 4 fish for 60” the 5 wins, but if 5 fish equal 60” and 4 fish equals 62” than the 4 fish win.  Meaning all wins is by total inches, with number of fish only used to break ties.

  9. If in the Most fish category there is still a tie after both inches and fist caught are the same than both individuals are awarded the same points and the next placement skipped.

  10. Prizes:  All Champions will receive jackets inscribed as Champions of A.S.A.C. of the Executive Boards choosing, along with other gifts of the board’s choice.

  11. The Association will present jackets to the youth winner combined of both 14-17 and 13& under whether boy or girl.  Meaning one overall winner in the largest and most categories.

  12. Largest fish all tournaments: The Association will present a jacket to the person with the largest fish caught during tournament fishing.  Ties on the largest fish will be broken by girth, if unable co-winners will be awarded.

  13. The Association will present plaques at the annual meeting for the first, second, and third place teams for the year.  They will also award plaques for the first, second, and third place winners in the combined points (largest and most) categories for men, women, and youth.  The Association will also award a plaque for the largest fish overall.

Section 7. - Tournament Result Forms:

  1. The key to successfully continuing these Championships is that clubs which run the fishing tournaments must accurately and promptly fill out the result forms and return the white portion of the score sheet along with the team and individual waivers to the Recording Secretary of the Association within SEVEN days of the tournament.

  2. If tournament results are not received within 7 days, you will receive a warning letter from A.S.A.C.   If paperwork is still not received within thirty (30) days from warning letter, you will be on probation for the following season.  If paperwork is not in by the first seven days of the following season, you will no longer be a host club.  All financial obligations to A.S.A.C. are due in thirty days.  All financial obligations not paid within in 30 days will be charged 1.5% interest per month if not paid in full by the next annual meeting.

Section 8. - A.S.A.C. Board Of Directors Revised Point Scoring Proposal:

  1.  PLACE                   OLD POINTS                 NEW POINTS

1ST                                  20                                       20

2nd                                  15                                       17

3rd                                   10                                       15

4th                                    8                                        14

5th                                    7                                        13

6th                                    6                                        12

7th                                    5                                        11

8th                                    4                                        10

9th                                    3                                         9

10th                                  2                                         8

SHOW                             1                                         5

  1. The new scoring format is a revised attempt to bring all scoring and fishing teams into a closer more competitive system allowing for no one team to be able to pull away from the pack as easily.

2005 RJH

 

© CMXCVIII ASSOCIATION OF SURF ANGLING CLUBS