2008 TOURNAMENT RULES

• All entrants must register in either the BOAT, SHORE or YOUTH division when signing up for the tournament. For the duration of the tournament, an entrant can only weigh in fish for the division in which he/she is registered.

• Upon registration an angler must declare either a club affiliation or no affiliation.
The Adult Division is open to adults using any type of rod and reel including the fly rod. The Junior Division is open to persons who have not reached their 15th birthday on the opening day of the Tournament. Junior entrants are eligible for Junior prizes only.

• The Striper Cup Tournament opens at 12:01am May 5, 2008 and all fish must be weighed in by 6:00pm September 21, 2008. A competitor must be registered in the Tournament 1 day before commencing to fish. Payment of Entry Fees may be by credit card, cash or personal check. There will be a $25 service charge for returned checks which, along with the Entry Fee must be paid in cash. Failure to do so will disqualify the entrant from further participation in the Tournament and forfeiture of any prizes.

• From the moment a fish strikes or takes bait or lure, the angler must hook, fight and land or boat the fish without the aid of any other person except that another person may grasp the leader in order to gaff or net the fish. Participants must comply with all state and federal laws governing the catch of eligible species.

• The fishing method known as yo-yoing, including any method that uses weights inserted into a bait and not attached to the angler’s line, is not permitted in the Striper Cup.

• Anglers are allowed to enter and weigh only one (1) fish per week. Fish must be at least 36 inches in length to weigh in. Fish must be weighed at a registered weigh station sanctioned by the tournament. At the time of weigh-in, the fisherman must present proper identification and provide the Weigh-Master with full and certified information relating to the catch. By signing the weigh-in slip, the fisherman attests to all information given.

• Any inorganic item(s) including, but not limited to, fishing tackle, wire, rocks, and rope found to be attached to a fish or inside a fish’s mouth when a fish is caught shall be removed by the angler prior to weigh-in. Weigh stations reserve the right to cut open fish at their discretion. If any inorganic material is not visible to the angler and is discovered when the fish is cut open, this material shall be examined by the Tournament Committee and, if deemed to be inside the fish prior to it being caught by the angler weighing it in, the weight of such inorganic item(s) shall be deducted from the official weight of the fish. If, however, the Tournament Committee deems that the inorganic material was intentionally introduced to the fish after that fish was caught and prior to the weighing of that fish, additional action may be taken including, but not limited to, the disqualification of the fish and angler.

• For the club competition, fish caught by anglers registered in the shore division will be multiplied by a factor of 1.2. Entrants may only weigh in fish for the division in which they are registered. Only the two largest fish from an individual angler may count toward a club’s total points.

• Weekly awards will be given to the largest fish each week. Weeks follow a traditional Monday to Sunday format. In the event of a tie in weekly or monthly awards the first fish of record (first fish weighed in) will receive the prize. In the case of a tie in accumulated weight, the largest fish weighed in will determine the winner. If there is still a tie, the contestants 2nd largest fish will used as a determinant and will continue in that manner until a winner is determined.

• An individual can win multiple weekly prizes but only one monthly prize. In the event that a participant wins a second month, the prizes and chance at the drawing will go to the second place angler for that month.

• All registered adult participants in attendance at StriperFest 2008 will be eligible for the NorthCoast grand prize drawing.

• Any prize won by a minor will be awarded to minor’s parent or legal guardian named at the time of entry. Prize recipients are responsible for payment of all applicable taxes on awards. Prizes not claimed from On The Water by December 31, 2008 will be forfeited.

• CATCH & RELEASE -Fish caught and released by registered participants can be entered for pounder pins only. Catch-and-release affidavits will be available at weigh stations and provided online as a downloadable PDF. Fish should be weighed on a handheld scale or measured for length and girth and converted to pounds using the formula (Girth x Girth x Length / 800). Catch-and-release fish are not eligible for prizes, club points, or trophies. Catch-and-release fish do not count against your one fish per week limit and can be submitted for fish caught outside of a participant’s registered division.

• On The Water reserves the right to use a contestant’s image and likeness for all promotional purposes.
The On the Water Tournament Committee retains sole discretion to determine the winners, to award prizes, and to resolve disagreements or disputes between and among participants in accordance with the rules of the Tournament. The Committee may disqualify from the tournament and/or from any or all future Striper Cup Tournaments, any person or persons who falsify information, violate the tournament rules, act in an unsportsmanlike manner, or falsely testify for or against any person. Any party aggrieved by a decision of the On the Water Tournament Committee must present a written grievance, signed by the party, to On the Water Tournament Committee within 48 hours of the decision being challenged. The Committee will investigate all grievances and may conduct a hearing to resolve the grievance in which it may call witnesses, question the party involved in the incident giving rise to the grievance and, if necessary, have any and all persons involved or with knowledge of the incident submit to a polygraph test. The Committee’s decision to uphold, deny or make any ruling regarding a grievance shall be definitive and final. In no event shall any participant aggrieved by the Committee’s decision on a grievance have the right to assert a claim against or otherwise challenge the decision of the Committee or any member of the Committee in a court of law or other forum. On The Water reserves the right to substitute prizes of equal value.