P.O.
Fishing Rules (Effective
P.O.
Fishing Rules (Effective
DIVISION I – TOURNAMENT RULES: The following
rules apply to ACGFA member Year-end and Angler-of-the-Month tournaments, which
start on May 1st and ends on April 30th each year. ACGFA sponsored Tournaments, which are open
to non-members, are covered by rules that apply to those tournaments only.
SECTION A –
GENERAL:
(A-1) These
are “ACGFA members only” tournaments.
Entrants must be an ACGFA member in good standing.
(A-2) All fish must be caught by rod and reel and
must be in accordance with local fishing methods.
(A-3) Any fish caught in violation of Federal,
State and/or county laws or regulations is ineligible for any tournament
sponsored by this Association. This
includes length, bag and possession limits, and requirements for a State of
(A-4) Fish must be caught in the “local” fishing
waters and weighed at an approved weigh-in location in order to count. “Local” fishing waters generally mean the
inshore waters from Palm Valley Bridge to Palm Coast Toll Bridge and offshore
are without North or South boundaries as long as you departure and return to
St. Augustine or Matanzas Inlets.
SECTION B –
BOARD SPECIES AND MINIMUM WEIGHTS:
Minimum Weights are established in order to reduce the number of fish
killed and weighed-in solely to receive points.
Any conflict with Federal, State and/or county regulations those
regulations will apply. Fish entered
that do not meet the minimum weight will not count. Minimum weights apply to the Men and Women
categories only. They do not apply to
the Junior or Small-fry categories.
Unless stated otherwise, the minimum weights apply to all ACGFA members’
only tournaments. Species and minimum weights of fish that may be weighed-in
for the ACGFA year-end and angler-of-the-month tournaments are listed below.
|
(B-1) OFFSHORE |
MIN WT |
|
|
MIN WT |
|
|
MIN WT |
|
AFRICAN POMPANO
|
(NONE) |
|
GROUPER, BLACK
& GAG |
(NONE) |
|
SPADE FISH |
(NONE) |
|
AMBERJACK |
(15 LB) |
|
GROUPER
(OTHER) |
(NONE) |
|
TRIGGERFISH |
(2 LB) |
|
BLACK SEA BASS |
( 1 LB) |
|
RED SNAPPER |
(NONE) |
|
TRIPLE TAIL |
(2 LB) |
|
COBIA |
(NONE) |
|
SNAPPER
(OTHER) |
(2 LB) |
|
TUNA |
(NONE) |
|
DOLPHIN |
(10 LB) |
|
SPANISH
MACKEREL |
(2 LB) |
|
WAHOO
|
(NONE) |
|
KING MACKEREL |
(10 LB) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(B-2) INSHORE |
MIN WT |
|
|
MIN WT |
|
|
MIN WT |
|
BLUEFISH |
(2 LB) |
|
POMPEY DRUM (<15lbs) |
(2 LB) |
|
SNOOK
|
(NONE) |
|
BLACK DRUM
(>15lbs) |
(15 LB) |
|
REDFISH |
(3 LB) |
|
TROUT |
(2 LB) |
|
FLOUNDER |
(2 LB) |
|
SHEEPSHEAD |
(2 LB) |
|
WHITING |
(1 LB) |
|
POMPANO |
(2 LB) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
SECTION
C – RELEASED FISH:
(C-1) To qualify as a “Released” fish, the angler
must bring the fish to the boat, i.e., leader in hand. Tagging, with accepted tags, is
optional. The fish must not be boated, gaffed,
or otherwise damaged. Measuring length
and girth, or actions taken to identify the species is permitted.
(C-2) “Released” fish
count for “Angler-of-the-Month” points and the “Conservation Award”. Species of fish that count for the “Release”
category are: BLUE MARLIN
WHITE MARLIN SAILFISH SWORDFISH TARPON
SECTION D – WEIGH-IN:
(D-1) Fish must be
weighed at a local Bait & Tackle Shop, Fish Camp, Seafood Market, or other location
with accurate scales and are willing to weigh and witness the fish. The bait shops have been requested to verify
that fish meet length and possession regulations and not to weigh any fish not
meeting the regulations. Some known
locations are:
Avid Angler,
Sea Love Bait Shop, East end of
Conch House Marina,
Mike’s Place,
Oldest City Bait & Tackle, Al A South & SR 312 Fish
Bone Outfitters Bait & Tackle,
Camachee Cove
(D-2) Weigh-in
stations at tournaments located in
(D-3) Arrangements to
weigh fish that cannot be weighed during business hours, i.e. after the
businesses are closed, may be made by contacting an ACGFA Tournament Committee
Member.
SECTION E – ENTRY FORMS:
(E-1) Each angler is
required to complete an ACGFA Official Fish Entry Form, obtain a signature of
the person observing the weight or the release and MAIL to “ACGFA,
(E-2) They must be
post-marked not later than seven (7) calendar days after the fish is caught or
released. In order to establish when the
cards are submitted, all cards must be mailed.
(E-3) Releases of
Tarpon and Billfish must be reported using the ACGFA card. Enter “Release” in the “Weight” block of the
card. The estimated weight and length or
other information may also be entered.
(E-4) Fish caught
during tournaments located in St. Augustine (see D-2 above) will count provided
an ACGFA Fish Entry Card is submitted and “Location of Scales” block so
indicate. The angler is responsible for
the cards’ preparation and mail-in. The
seven day rule in (E-2) above applies.
NOTE: Exceptions to this rule will be announced by the Tournament
Chairman.
SECTION F – PROTESTS:
All protests should be submitted to the Tournament Chairman in
writing. The Tournament Chairman and
his/her Committee will consider the protest and issue a decision in writing to
the member who submitted the protest.
The decision of the Tournament Committee is final
DIVISION II: TOURNAMENT CATEGORIES:
SECTION G – GENERAL
(G-1) There are six (6) separate categories of
ACGFA member tournaments. The intention of these tournaments is to recognize ACGFA
members for their angling achievements during the tournament year. Points or catches are accumulated from May
1st thru April 30th. Year-end
awards will be presented at the annual membership party which is normally in
June each year. Angler-of-the-Month
Awards will be presented at monthly membership meetings.
(G-2) Association Members under the age of 8 years
will fish as “Small-Fry” and members 8 to 16 years will fish as “Juniors”. Members 16
and over will be considered “Men” or “Women” for the tournaments. If a Junior or Small-fry angler has a
birthday which changes their category, he or she will continue to fish in the
category he or she started in for the remainder of the fishing year (thru April
30th).
SECTION H – ANGLER OF THE MONTH:
(H-1) The
“Angler-of-the-Month” will be awarded to one person (unless a tie) regardless
of the category of the angler, i.e., Men, Women, Junior, or Small-Fry. All species listed in Sections B & C are
eligible.
(H-2) Entries must be
submitted using an ACGFA Entry Form completed and mailed in accordance with
ACGFA Tournament Rules. Cut-off for
entries will be those entries received as of the ACGFA Board meeting which is
normally scheduled during the third or fourth week of each month. Eligible entries received after that date
will be counted for “Angler-of-the Month” for the following month.
(H-3)
Points will be awarded for each
fish weighed in the following categories:
(H-4)
Each species of Billfish and
Tarpon Released 1st place 100
POINTS
(based on earliest
date of entry (post-mark date) 2nd place 75
POINTS
3rd place 50
POINTS
4th place 25 POINTS
(H-5)
Each fish will be awarded Bonus
points for:
Largest fish of that species for the month. (Must meet
Minimum weight) 100 POINTS
Second largest fish of that species for the month. (Must
meet Minimum weight) 75 POINTS
New ACGFA Club Record. 100 POINTS
Exceeds State of
Exceeds IGFA Record Weight (if any). 100 POINTS
(H-8) In case of a
tie, the angler with the most “Bonus” points will be declared the winner. If there is still a tie, the angler who accumulated
their points first based on the earliest date of entry (post-mark date) will win. If there is still a tie, then
co-winners will be awarded “Angler-of-the Month”.
(H-7) Anglers-of-the-
Month will earn a 100 point bonus which will be added to their
Angler-of-the-Year points. They do not count for Boat-of-the-Year Awards. These bonus points will be added to either
the “Inshore” or “Offshore” category which will result in their best placement.
SECTION I – YEAR-END BOARD:
Awards will be presented to each Men, Women, Junior, and Small-fry
anglers who catches the 1st and 2nd Place in each species category. All species listed in Section B are eligible.
SECTION J – OFFSHORE AND INSHORE ANGLERS-OF-THE-YEAR:
(J-1) These
are point’s awards. There will be four
(4) “Inshore Anglers-of-the-Year” awards and four (4) “Offshore Anglers-of-the-Year” awards presented to the Men, Women, Junior, and Small-Fry
Anglers who accumulate the most points in each category for the year. In addition, any bonus points for
“Angler-of-the-Month” (see H-6 above) or “New Club Record (see Section N below)
will be added. NOTE: It is conceivable
that the same angler could win both awards.
(J-2) Eligible
Species for all angler categories are listed in Section B. Points will be
awarded for each species as follows:
(J-3) If there is a tie with number of
Angler-of-the-Year points, the
tie-breaker will be the angler with the most 1st place fish on the board. If there is still a tie, the angler who
accumulated their points first, based on the earliest date of entry (post-mark date) will win. If
there is still a tie, co-winners of
“Anglers-of-the-Year” will be awarded.
SECTION K – OFFSHORE AND INSHORE BOATS-OF-THE-YEAR:
(K-1) This
is a point’s award. There will be two
(2) “Boat-of-the-Year” awards, one for “Inshore” species and one for “Offshore”
species. NOTE: It is conceivable that
the same boat could win both awards.
(K-2) The
boat must be registered to an ACGFA Club Member in order to be eligible for a
“Boat-of-the-Year” award. The angler who
caught the fish is not required to be an ACGFA Club Member, however, the boat
owner must be a member and on board the boat when the fish was caught and
present when the fish is weighed. If the
angler is not an ACGFA member, the “Angler” entry on the card should be marked
“non-member”.
(K-3) All
fish must meet the minimum weight requirements.
Points will be awarded for each species as follows:
(K-4) Eligible
Species:
OFFSHORE
BOAT-OF- THE-YEAR: COBIA – DOLPHIN –
GROUPER, BLACK & GAG GROUPER (OTHER) – KING MACKEREL – RED
SNAPPER – SNAPPER (OTHER) – TUNA – WAHOO
INSHORE
BOAT-OF- THE-YEAR: BLACK DRUM
(>15 lbs) – POMPEY DRUM (<15 lbs) – BLUEFISH FLOUNDER – REDFISH – SHEEPSHEAD – TROUT –
WHITING
(K-5) If there is a tie in points (either or both
categories), the boat with the most first place fish on the board will
win. If
there is still a tie, the angler who accumulated their points first based on the earliest date of entry (post-mark
date) will win. If there is still a tie, Co-winners (either or
both categories) of “Boat-of-the-Year” will be awarded.
SECTION L – CONSERVATION AWARD: For the most released fish (see Section
C). The top three (3) anglers,
regardless of category, (Male, Female, Junior, or Small-fry) with the most
“releases” will receive a “Conservation Award”.
In case of tied number of releases, the angler who accumulated their releases first based on the earliest date of entry (post-mark
date) will win.
SECTION M – OTHER IN-CLUB TOURNAMENTS: Other in-club tournaments may also have
rules specific to those tournaments only. A copy of the rules should be made available
by printed poster or written form to all entrants. Rules should include location(s) of weigh-in,
species, minimum weights, scoring, period of fishing, prize structure, whether
for free or requiring an entry fee.
SECTION N – NEW CLUB RECORDS: An angler that breaks an ACGFA Club Record is awarded 100 Bonus Points in accordance with Paragraph H-4. These bonus points will also count for Angler-of-the-Year Awards based on the category of the species. They do not count for Boat-of-the-Year Awards. Anglers breaking a club record will be presented with a trophy, plaque or certificate acknowledging their accomplishment.
Synopsis of Changes
1 Changes the
Grouper category to 2 categories: Grouper, Black & Gag and Grouper (Other).
Section B
2 Changes
Angler-of-the-Month scoring for “Released” Billfish & Tarpon.. Para H-4
3 Removes
“Released” Billfish and Tarpon from Angler-of-the-Year and Boat-of-the-Year
scoring. Sections C, J & K
4 Adds
Grouper, Gag and Grouper (Other) to Boat-of-the-Year scoring. Section K
5
Increases the
“Conservation Award” to three (3) places.
Section L
6