2009 Jacksonville Kayak Fishing Classic Rules

Redfish-Trout-Flounder Challenge, May 1-2, 2009

1. PARTICIPATION AND ELIGIBILITY. Participation is open to anyone 18 years of age or older. Minors are eligible to participate with a parent or legal guardian signature on the release form. A completed entry form, waiver, and entry fee must be received no later than the published entry date. Entry fee includes rights to fish, post-tournament meal, 2 raffle tickets, t-shirt, and captain's bag. VIP entry includes all of the above, an embroidered Columbia fishing shirt (retail value $100), and a premium captain's bag.

2. PRE-REGISTRATION AND CAPTAINS MEETING. Each contestant must pre-register and pay by March 15, 2009 to avoid late fee of $15. Registration will be open through the Captain's Meeting at 6:30pm, Friday, May 1, 2009 at Ramallah Club, Jacksonville, FL. Attendance at the Captain's Meeting is MANDATORY for all contestants. If a contestant is unable to attend the Captain's Meeting they must prearrange eligibility with JaxKayakFishing prior to being allowed to participate. Uniform measuring devices and unique tokens will be distributed at the Captain's Meeting. Fishing begins at sunrise Saturday May 2, 2009.

3. SAFETY. Safe boating must be observed at all times. During competition each contestant is required to comply with US Coast Guard regulations including the possession of a PFD and sounding device. All USCG and FWC regulations are in effect at all times.

4. CHECK IN. Check in will begin at 1pm at Ramallah Club, Jacksonville, FL. All competitors must check in their cameras and measuring devices by 4pm to be eligible for fishing prizes. At check in you must indicate whether or not you are submitting your camera for review and fill out a scoring sheet. The post-tournament banquet, raffles, and awards ceremonies will begin at 4:00pm.

5. SPORTSMANSHIP. All contestants are required to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, and conservation. No alcoholic beverages or use of illegal drugs is allowed. Any use of drugs, participation in criminal activities, or other conduct reflecting unfavorably upon our efforts to promote safety, sportsmanship, fair competition, and/or compliance with tournament rules are grounds for immediate disqualification and return of any prizes awarded.

6. PERMITTED FISHING METHODS. All fish must be caught via hook and line. The selection of baits is up to the discretion of the participant unless they are in the fly-only division. All fish must be caught from the kayak. No wade fishing or shore fishing is permitted unless the kayak is tethered to the angler.

7. NO MOTORS. The use of a boat or motorized water vehicle to transport your boat on the water is prohibited. All craft must be self-propelled – no engines are allowed. Canoes and paddle vessels designed to be paddled (not powered by motor) are permitted.

8. FISHING LOCATIONS. Any inshore Jacksonville location is permitted, including locations in Duval, St. Johns, and Nassau counties. This includes the St. Johns River, Intracoastal Waterway, and associated creeks, ponds, and waters. No fishing in the ocean is allowed, including jetties and inlets. Specifically you must be west of the Mayport Ramp on the St. John's River (except Haulover Creek is allowed), west of the Ft. George Inlet, west of Ft. Clinch State Park in Fernandina, west of the Nassau Sound A1A bridge (except Simpson's creek and south is allowed), west of the St. Augustine Inlet, west of the Claude Varne bridge at the Matanzas Inlet, north of Pellicer Creek which is on the St. John's/Flagler county line (Pellicer Creek is out of bounds), and south of the St. Mary's River. All fishing locations must be in waters accessible according to the law, USCG, and FWC regulations

9. OTHER. During competition contestants may not obtain or receive assistance including but not limited to following a non-competitor's boat, the placing of markers by a non-competitor, being towed or riding motorized vessels, or receiving electronic, voice, or data communications from non-competitors.

10. SCORING. The event uses catch-photo-release scoring determined by the length of each fish, combined in the case of slam and individually for each class. Each angler will be issued a uniform measuring device and unique scoring marker/token at the Captain's Meeting. Measuring jigs based on the 321Fish.Com measuring sticker or sticks are also allowed. The first photo on the camera must be of your rigged boat as put in at launch with measuring device and scoring marker visible. Fish must be photographed in or on the boat, on the provided measure, clearly showing the length of the fish with the scoring marker visible. More than one photo of a fish may be taken. Length is determined from the forward-most point of the fish to the natural un-pinched top of the tail. Fish must be above FWC minimums to count - reds may be above the slot limit. The maximum fish size is 45, the length of the fish measuring stick. In the event of a tie the entry checked in earliest will be declared the winner. The judging committee will review the photos to verify reported results and determine place winners. The tournament director is responsible for the final call in all matters.

11. DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY. Participants may only use digital cameras for recording scoring fish. Entrants must bring the storage chip from their camera to check-in or bring the download cable for their camera so that pictures may be retrieved. Cameras may be shared - in the event of camera sharing both entrants' kayaks at launch must be initially on the roll, and each entrant will use a different unique scoring token as directed at the captains meeting, both in the launch picture and the fish scoring pictures. In the scoring fish pictures the appropriate entrant's kayak must also be in the picture.

12. TANDEMS/SHARING. It is permissible for more than one entrant to share the same paddle vessel. Each paddler must be a registered participant and is scored separately. Fish may NEVER be shared among entrants. If more than one person is in a tandem both must be registered anglers - use of an extra person strictly as a paddler/motor is forbidden.

13. PROTEST. All protests must be made in writing and delivered to a tournament official within 30 minutes of the check-in time. The tournament director is the final authority in all considerations.

14. RELEASE OF LIABILITY AND COVENANT NOT TO SUE. A waiver, release of liability, and covenant not to sue are part of the entry form. It is required that all contestants take responsibility for themselves while participating in event activities.

15. PHOTO RELEASE. Scoring photos remain the sole ownership of JaxKayakFishing LLC to be used at their discretion. Contestants grant JaxKayakFishing LLC and the sponsors the unconditional right to use their name, voice, photographic likeness and biographical information in connection with JaxKayakFishing LLC tournaments, production, promotion, and/or articles and press releases, and shall not be entitled to receive any royalties or other compensation in connection with such use.

16. RULE CHANGES. Rules interpretation is exclusively left to the Tournament Director. The decisions of the Tournament Director are final in all matters and are not subject to appeal.

17. PRIZE STRUCTURE. For the May 2, 2009 Redfish-Trout-Flounder Tournament prizes are trophies and equipment/gifts. Number of places awarded is based on the number of entrants. Contestants are eligible for only one of the class prizes but remain eligible for all raffled prizes. More details about prizes are available online at www.jaxkayakfishing.com.

• Aggregate/Slam - 1st place - 2nd place - 3rd place - 4th place

• Biggest Redfish - 1st place - 2nd place - 3rd place - 4th place

• Biggest Trout - 1st place - 2nd place - 3rd place - 4th place

• Biggest Flounder - 1st place - 2nd place - 3rd place - 4th place

18. JR ANGLER AWARD. There will be a Jr. Angler Award for entrants younger than 18. Jr. Anglers are also eligible to win prizes in all divisions.

19. LADY ANGLER AWARD. There will be a Lady Angler Award for female entrants. Lady Anglers are also eligible to win prizes in all divisions.

20. SR ANGLER AWARD. There will be a Sr. Angler Award for entrants 60 and older. Sr. Anglers are also eligible to win prizes in all divisions.

21. FLY ANGLER AWARD. There will be a Fly Angler Award for best catch(s) on fly tackle. Fly Anglers are also eligible to win prizes in all divisions and may also use other tackle. Only scoring pictures that include the fly rod will be considered for the fly award.

22. RAFFLE. Prizes will also be awarded by raffle. Each contestant will receive 2 raffle tickets at check in. Additional tickets may be purchased for $5. You must be present at the raffle to win.

23. BEST DANG TACKLEBOX. Anglers may contribute one lure/tackle/bait product for a single ticket in HoosierPaddler's BDTB raffle. We will draw one winner for the BDTB and the winner receives all the contributed items. Only one ticket is permitted per entrant.

24. MYSTERY FISH. A Mystery Fish prize is awarded for the best/wildest/weirdest/strangest catch outside of a red, trout, or flounder. The judging panel and tournament director decide the identity of the Mystery Fish and MF winner.

25. CONTINGENCY PRIZES. Sponsors may at their discretion award contingency prizes for anglers winning or placing using their products.