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.
(A-5) Fish caught while an
ACGFA member’s boat or the ACGFA member is chartered or is commercially fishing
are not eligible for any awards.
1.
Chartered Boat: Defined as a vessel that is operated for hire for which payment
made for the privilege of fishing. This does not preclude the sharing of
expenses with your crew or business associates. This does not preclude a Member
from fishing on a chartered fishing boat.
2.
Chartered Member: Defined as one who is paid for the operation of the vessel
while fishing. This does not preclude a Member from paying a captain to
operate/maintain the vessel.
3.
Commercially Fishing: Defined as a
vessel that is commercially harvesting fish for sale, i.e., the captain or the
vessel has the required Saltwater
Products License and applicable Restricted Species Endorsements and fishing for
fish to sell commercially.
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.
SECTION B –
BOARD SPECIES AND MINIMUM WEIGHTS: (Cont.)
|
(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 Vilano Bridge Bobs”
Bait & Tackle, US1 and SR 206, DuPont Center
Conch House Marina, Comares Ave., Salt Run Camachee
Cove Weigh Station, Camachee Cove
Mike’s Place, Euclid Ave, North Beach Devil’s Elbow Fishing Camp, AlA South, Crescent Beach
Oldest City Bait & Tackle, Al A South & SR 312
Cast & Cruise Boat &
Sport Bait & Tackle, Camachee Cove
Bait Bucket, Lewis Point Plaza Palm Coast Marina, 200 Clubhouse Dr, Palm Coast
(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.
Page 2 of 5 Pages
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.
Page 3 of 5
SECTION H – ANGLER OF THE MONTH: (Cont.)
(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-6) 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.
(J-4) Fish
are not required to be caught on an ACGFA Club Member’s boat. They may be caught on any boat,
pier, dock, or shore as long as the requirements of
Page 4 of 5 Pages
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 “Member” space on the card should be marked
“No”.
(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:
AMBERJACK – COBIA – DOLPHIN – GROUPER (BLACK & GAG) (Closed
Jan-Apr), – GROUPER (OTHER) (Closed Jan-Apr) – KING MACKEREL – SNAPPER (OTHER)
(Vermillion Snapper subject to closure when quota is reached ) – TRIGGERFISH – TUNA
– WAHOO (NOTE: RED SNAPPER – Will be
added if and when they become eligible for fishing.)
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.
WHAT CHANGED: Synopsis of Changes
2. Added Para
J-4 concerning where Angler-of-the-Year fish are caught
Page 5 of 5 Pages