VIRGINIA CATFISH ASSOCIATION

2008 RULES AND REGULATIONS

 

1.    This is a “catch & release club”. No dead fish will be weighed. If a fish is presented for weigh-in and it is determined that the fish is dead or is in unacceptable condition it will be disqualified. Said fish will count as one of your two fish with a weight of zero. This decision must be made by at least two members of the steering committee at time of weigh-in. There will be no grace period to try to revive the fish in question so that it can be weighed as a live fish. Any weighed fish failing to swim away 15 minutes after the close of weigh-in will be disqualified and handled the same as a dead fish.

2.    Aerated livewell with adequate volume must be used!! If you have any questions regarding the livewell you are planning to use, contact a committee member prior to entering a tournament. There will be no exceptions to this rule.

3.    No fish may be kept on stringers or in barrels at anytime. Any fish with obvious stringer marks will be disqualified and count as zero, the same as a dead fish.

4.    No fish is to be gaffed or similarly injured. Any fish with obvious gaff marks will be disqualified and count as zero, the same as a dead fish.

5.   Do not carry fish to the weigh table by their gills or in a landing net. Use tubs provided by the club to transport fish from boat to scales.

6.    Club membership dues are $30.00 per person for the year.

7.    You may fish (1) person per boat, but you can only possess (1) fish per person over 32 inches per day.

8.    Only rods and reels may be used to catch fish. No trotlines, limblines, jugs etc. No bank fishing allowed.

9.    A maximum of (2) two fish per boat can be weighed including lunker. No weighed fish can be culled.

10.  All weighed fish become property of the VCA and will be immediately released alive.

11.  Any species of catfish may be weighed.

12.  Registration will begin one hour prior to starting time and run for 45 minutes.

13.  Club tournament entry fees will be $60.00.

14.  Club tournament Payout (* see payout schedule on home page)

15.  After registration is complete we will draw numbered chips to determine launching order. This will also determine   your weigh-in order.

16. The team with the highest numbered chip will flight the boats out in 10 second intervals.

 17.  Before tournament times expires, you must place your numbered chip on the scoreboard beside your name. If you fail to do so, you will be disqualified. There will be no grace period for being late to weigh-in.

 18.  Weigh-in will begin 15 minutes after the end of the tournament. Weigh-in order will be the same as launch order.

 19.  Each person on the boat will get the total weight/points for that tournament. Points will be added to each persons year – to - date standings.

 20.  In the event of a tie in any tournament, the deciding factor will be the heaviest fish.

 21.  You must have your boat and livewell checked by a VCA staff member prior to registering for a tournament.

 22.  The Steering Committee has the final decision involving any disputes or rulings not addressed in the Rules and Regulations.

 23. Protests may be filed with the Steering Committee for a $50.00 fee. If the protest is upheld, the fee is returned. If the protest is denied, the fee is put into the club treasury.  

 24. Children under the age of (16) may fish free with a paid member.

 25.  A Steering Committee member can issue a “guest pass” to allow a member to have a guest or a potential member participate.

 26.  A point system will be utilized in our year- to- date standings. See attached chart for point breakdowns.

 27.  Plaques will be awarded to 1^st thru 4^th places (sponsored or unsponsered) at all club tournaments.

 28.  The VCA will abide by all state and local fishing regulations, including the new law     

       allowing only one fish per person, per day 32 inches or longer.

 29. Breakdown Rule. (This rule was added to help members that may find themselves in stranded on  the river.)

      (A.) The stranded boat should contact another member if possible and explain their situation.

       (B) If a boat is just stranded and can contact another member that can render help, they should do the following:

             (1). Bring one member and their fish to weigh-in, if it is possible to transport both before time expires.

             (2). Bring one member back to weigh-in before tournament time expires.

       (C)  If any member of the stranded boat makes it back to weigh-in before the tournament time expires:

              We will hold the scales open for an additional (1) hour to weigh their fish.

 31.  No prefishing the tournament river forty eight hours (48hrs) prior to a tournament.

        (a) On Saturday, day tournaments (7am to 5pm) prefishing must stop at 7am Thursday

        (b) On Saturday night tournaments, (7pm to 7am) prefishing must stop at 7pm Thursday

        (c) The JAMES AND THE POTOMAC WILL BE EXEMPT FROM THIS RULE !!

32.  FREE PASS, EACH TEAM WILL BE GRANTED (1) ONE FREE PASS PER YEAR. To receive a free pass, you must:

      (a) Notify a committee member and pay your tournament fees, prior to the beginning of said tournament.

      (b) Points awarded on a free pass will be (1) point less than the lowest team that fished in that tournament.

 

 

THE CLASSIC RULES 2008

 

 

1.   Members must fish at least (7) SEVEN club tournaments and finish in the top (20) in points to qualify.

 2.   Members that fish 100% of the club tournaments will qualify for the classic.

 3.   A club member must fish with a team in (5) five tournaments to be considered a member of that team. If any team member holds a separate qualifying position, they must relinquish that position to fish with said team.

 4.   Entry fee for the (2) two day tournament will be $50.00 per qualified position. The optional Big Fish Tournament fee will be $25.00 per day. 

 5.   Entry fee money will be paid back 100%. The club will add as much as    possible from the budget. The Classic will payout (4) four places.

 6.   The Lunker purse will be paid back 100% daily to the boat with the heaviest  catfish.  Exact ties will split the

      money

 7.   Launching and weigh-in order will be in the order that you finished in the year to date standings.

 8.   Each boat can only weigh in (2) two fish per day, regardless of how many positions  fish one boat.

 9.   The rivers for The Classic will be drawn at the last club tournament.

 

YEARS END ACTIVITIES

 ANGLER OF THE YEAR WILL BE AWARDED $300.00

 BIG FISH  (regular club tournament only) WILL BE AWARDED $200.00