FISH THIS! GENERAL INFORMATION

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DATE:                           Saturday July 27, 2019 

WEATHER DATE:        Sunday July 28, 2019

PLACE:                         Montrose Harbor, Chicago, Illinois

                    41 57.6 N  87 37.4 W

 

MANDATORY CAPTAIN'S MEETING:  

 

Friday July 26, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. at the Chicago Corinthian Yacht Club

 

TOURNAMENT DAY TIMES:

 

• 6:00 AM Shotgun Start from within 500 yards of the mouth of any of Burnham, Belmont, Diversey, Montrose or Wilmette Harbors.  No Exceptions!

• 2:00 PM  All boats must be inside of Montrose Harbor No Exceptions!

• 2:30 PM  All coolers must be at the Weigh Station.  No Exceptions!

• 3:00 PM  Weigh-in at CCYC lawn area

• 4:30 PM  Dinner

 

OVERVIEW OF RULES (Complete rules below)

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• 3 Man Rules in Effect: Nine (9) rod limit per boat; sliders are allowed

• Eligible fish: King Salmon, Coho Salmon, Steelhead, and Brown Trout (No Lake Trout).

• Limited to first 15 eligible fish (legal weight and higher)

• First 15 legal and eligible fish boated must be kept.  NO CULLING of fish; No Shaking Fish Off

• Weigh in of all eligible fish caught; highest point total wins.

• All IL Fishing and Boating Regulations must be obeyed

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SCORING:

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King, Coho, Steelhead and Brown Trout: 10 points per fish and 1 point per pound

Lake Trout are not eligible for the Tournament or Big Fish competition

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For example: Boat A has 2 kings (20lbs), 3 coho (24lbs) and 3 steelhead trout (28 lbs).

Boat A receives 152 points as follows:

King: 40 (10x2 + 20)

Coho: 54 (10x3 +24)

Steelhead Trout: 58 (10x3 +28)

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Estimated Prize Money After Expenses

1st: 55%

2nd: 30%

3rd: 20%

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Big Fish Contest is largest weight eligible fish (Non-Lake Trout)

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COMPLETE TOURNAMENT RULES

 

CAPTAIN'S MEETING:

 

There will be a mandatory Captain’s meeting at the Chicago Corinthian Yacht Club (CCYC) at Montrose Harbor on Fridaay July 26, 2019 at 6:00 p.m.  At this meeting, the tournament coordinators will go over the rules for the tournament and announce the estimated value of each prize (based upon the number of boats participating). The Tournament Committee shall be comprised of two or more members of the Chicago Corinthian Yacht Club.

 

FISHING HOURS:

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• All boats will be subject to a cooler check.

• The tournament will begin with a “shotgun” start at 6:00 AM outside the mouths of Burnham, Belmont, Diversey, Montrose & Wilmette Harbors.

• All boats must be inside of Montrose Harbor by 2pm.  Each boat must check in with the tournament coordinators by VHF radio on channel 68 as they enter the harbor.

• Coolers must be at the Weigh Station no later than  2:30 p.m. where a crew member with the day’s catch must immediately report to the Weigh Station.   No exceptions.

• All times will be announced by the Tournament Coordinators using VHF Marine Radio Channel 68. The Tournament Committee will use GPS time as the official clock for the contest.  Four (4) hours constitutes an official contest.

 

FISHING RULES:

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• Points will be awarded for King Salmon, Coho Salmon, Brown Trout & Steelhead Trout only. 

• Each team is limited to fish a maximum of nine (9) rods.  Free sliders are allowed

• Each team will be limited to a total of fifteen (15) fish (legal weight or higher).

• Scoring:

  • King Salmon, Coho Salmon, Steelhead Trout & Brown Trout: 10 points per fish, 1 point per pound.

  • Big Fish Contest: Highest weight of the eligible species wins.

• All fish entered in contest must be whole and freshly caught. All fish will be checked at the weigh-in.  Any team that enters a fish that fails to meet these standards will be immediately disqualified.

• NO CULLING OF FISH IS PERMITTED.  All fish over the legal size must be kept and teams may not intentionally shake off hooked fish. You are on your honor.

• All crew members must possess a valid Illinois Fishing License with a Lake Michigan Salmon Stamp.

• All Illinois Fishing Regulations must be obeyed.

• All tournament participants shall be duty bound to report any and all violations of the rules they observe on any boat.

• Any disputes or challenges must be submitted in writing to a member of the Tournament Committee no later than 4pm CDST the day of the tournament or it will not be considered.  The Tournament Committee shall provide due consideration of any such disputes or challenge taking into account the relevant facts and circumstances and will render a decision accordingly.

• All decisions of the Tournament Committee shall be final.

 

Automatic disqualification will occur resulting from the following:

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• Running gunwale to gunwale with any boat or passing objects of any kind between boats.

• Substantiated violations of tournament rules.

• Failure to report directly to the Weigh Station at the close of the fishing period.

• Any participant who physically or verbally abuses any tournament official or observer shall be disqualified at the discretion of the Tournament Committee.

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TOURNAMENT CANCELLATION:

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The Tournament Committee may cancel the tournament at any time when, in their opinion, they feel fishing conditions are dangerous to persons or property. The Committee will announce one half hour before the start of the tournament whether the tournament will be held. If the fishing period is shortened due to dangerous weather conditions after the tournament begins, all boats must promptly proceed to the Weigh Station.  If the tournament is cancelled on July 27, 2019, the tournament will be held on Sunday, July 28, 2019.

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REFUNDS:

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Any boat cancelling prior to 7 days before the tournament date shall receive a full refund.   Any boat cancelling within 7 days of the tournament up to 48 hours before the tournament start time  shall receive a full refund minus that boat’s pro rata share of the tournament expenses.   Cancellation within 48 hours of the tournament will not be refunded.

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RULE CHANGES:

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The Tournament Committee may change or modify any of these rules, as necessary. Any changes will be communicated at the Captain's Meeting.

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LIABILITY POLICY:

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A. By registering for and participating in Fish This!, you agree to be bound by the following liability policy.

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B. Every reasonable precaution will be taken by the Tournament Committee to protect persons and property during the contest.  However, neither the Chicago Corinthian Yacht Club, the Tournament Committee, the Tournament Sponsors, nor the Officers, Directors, Employees or Agents of these entities, are responsible for the safety of persons or property of participants with regard to any and all accidents, injuries, thefts, and/or damages of any kind.

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C. All participants, including captains and crew members further understand and agree to hold harmless the Chicago Corinthian Yacht Club, the Tournament Committee, the Tournament Sponsors, and the Officers, Directors, Employees or Agents of these entities, from any and all accidents, injuries, thefts, and/or damages directly and/or indirectly incurred as a result of participation in the tournament in whatever form or matter said accidents, injuries, thefts, and/or damages may be incurred.

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D. Decision to participate -The responsibility for a captain’s decision to participate in the Fish This! tournament or to continue fishing in the tournament is his/hers alone.  Participating in the tournament officially constitutes the captain and crew members acquiescence to the rules and this limitation on liability.