Norfolk Marine Owners Tournament

1.) This is a boat tournament and there is no limit to the number of anglers/team members per entry, however, there must be at least 2 team members per boat. All anglers/team members must be registered in writing with the tournament prior to 7:00pm, July 27^th, 2012, unless the tournament committee chooses to extend the time. Each team shall designate in writing a team captain, and only the team captain or designee shall be authorized to sign the entry registration form and score sheets. Each team shall submit their boat name with their entry.

This is a one day tournament; tournament entry fee is $150.00 per team. All entry fees must be received/paid no later than 7:00 pm, July 27^th 2012 to be eligible for prizes and awards (unless the time is extended by the tournament committee). The entry fee includes 1 Captain’s Bag including four (4) t-shirts, (4) hats, and four (4) Saturday awards dinner/banquet tickets @ Bay Point Marina @ 9500 30th Bay Ave, Norfolk, VA 23518.

If you have in excess of 4 people (including captain) on your boat and plan to participate in full, the cost is $25/additional person and includes extra hat, t-shirt, & dinner banquet & drinks.

Beverages of all varieties (including beer) will be included in your entry fee and available Saturday. We have hired catering services and finalizing the menu at this time with Brian Baker our chef!

2.) A maximum of 2 fish per species per angler are eligible to be weighed in that meet Virginia state regulations. There is no limit in the release categories. Release fish categories must accompany a digital picture and length measurement & time of release.

3.) The tournament reserves the right to refuse entry to any person or team.

4.) Checkout and Check-In: All boats may depart from any Virginia port, but must return for weigh-in at Bay Point Marina at Little Creek Inlet. The official tournament channel is Channel 72.

5.) Fishing Hours: Lines in at 6:00am and weigh-in deadline of 5:00pm.

6.) Weigh-In Procedure: The official weigh station (Bay Point Marina Dock) will be open at 2:00pm on July 28^8h, 2012, and will remain open until all eligible teams have weighed in. An eligible team is described as a team in line at the scales by 5pm, NO EXCEPTIONS. You may drive your fish in if you must. We will only weigh your fish one time. Only the designated team captain will be permitted to accompany the team’s fish to the official scale, and must sign the scorecard. Fish will be checked for freshness and subject to inspection of stomach contents.

7.) Inlet Protocol: To enable prudent and safe passage for all boats within the inlet, all tournament boats shall abide by the posted speed/no wake regulations and Rules of the Road. Any boat observed for violating this rule and operating in a reckless or unsportsmanlike manner may be disqualified.

8.) After the tournament begins, two or more boats congregating (close enough to pass fish) or touch land or a dock other than weigh-in dock will be disqualified. The only exception is in the case of a life threatening emergency.

9.) Scoring: Weight will be calculated on scale by the pounds and ounces. In case of a tie, the fish that are weighed first or released first shall be deemed the winner.

12.) This is a rod and reel tournament only. The tackle is unlimited, and live bait may be used in any category other than billfish. Power driven reels of any kind are prohibited. This includes motor, hydraulic, or electrically driven reels, and any device that gives the angler an unfair advantage. The spear fishing category is only a gesture of the tournament to recognize those involved in this growing segment of water sports.

13.) Mutilated/Injured Fish: IGFA rules shall apply. The decision of the tournament rules committee shall be final.

14.) Registration and Captain’s Meeting: Registration will be between 6:00 and 7:00 pm, July 27^th, 2012. The Captain’s Meeting will be at 6:00pm. Location: Norfolk Marine Company, 5221 E. Virginia Beach Blvd., Norfolk, Virginia 23502. So long as the team captain has conformed to the following shall the Captain’s Meeting be optional: (1) declared his team in written form and competes with no alterations to crew, (2) paid the teams full entry fee up front prior to the Captain’s Meeting, & (3) has read & printed a copy of the official tournament rules. The Tournament Committee reserves the right to declare any captain or angler ineligible if these stipulations are not met.

15.) Mechanical Breakdown: Your boat’s condition and efficiency are equally as important as your fishing skills. All boats/teams are responsible for getting their fish to the weigh station aboard their own boat (or vehicle).

16.) Weather: The tournament does not provide a weather committee and it is a Captain’s choice tournament. All team captains, members, boat owners and all other participants are responsible to determine that their craft is sea-worthy, and are advised and encouraged to be familiar with the current local weather conditions and forecasts to determine if conditions permit the safety of the boat, crew, anglers and guests to proceed to depart to sea and return in a safe and prudent manner. The tournament reserves the right to cancel the tournament. The tournament will determine by 6 pm, Friday, July 27th if Sunday, July 29th will be fished. For updated messages, please call 757-461-3391 (Norfolk Marine) or 757-262-8422 (Jason). If one of the two eligible days of fishing is declared fishable, it shall constitute the tournament.

17.) Captain’s Bag: Our goal is to provide the owners of each respective brand that we represent (new) with authentic tournament sportswear by that brand in the captain’s bags. Owners of re-powered boats will be supplied with Yamaha authentic sportswear, and owners of used boats purchased from Norfolk Marine will be provided with the aforementioned brands sportswear and we will try to accommodate all reasonable requests. 

18.) Prize Categories: Norfolk Marine will be providing a wide assortment of prizes supplied from a number of our manufacturers, vendors, & our dealership. We will be providing an overall prize & glass trophy to the “Top Offshore Boat” and the “Top Inshore Boat” using a point system of 5 points for a 1st place fish, 3 points for a 2nd place fish, and 1 point for a 3rd place fish FOR ADULTS & 3 points for a 1st place fish, 2 points for a 2nd place fish, and 1 point for a 3rd place fish FOR JUNIORS. We will be providing an overall prize & glass trophy as well to the “Top Adult Angler” and the “Top Junior Angler” using the above point system.  The following Species will be eligible (release categories will be factored by length and/or time released): OFFSHORE: Billfish, Wahoo, Tuna, King Mackerel, Dolphin, Amberjack. INSHORE: Bluefish, Cobia, Croaker, Flounder, Spanish Mackerel, Spot, Tautaug, Sea Bass, Spadefish, Red Drum (Release Only). The Top 2 places for each species will receive a door prize TBD. We will also be calculating the top overall boats per BRAND of (Grady-White, Sea Hunt, Parker, Robalo, and Carolina Skiff). Winners of these categories will receive a special prize from each respective boat manufacturer.  We will continue the category this year for the growing popularity of spear fishing which will be a great door prize for the heaviest combined weight of 2 fish. The spear fishing category will be for Adults only and will not count towards the point totals. The goal of the tournament committee is to make everyone a winner and recognize those that top the leader board in style!

19.) Cancelation Policy: If the tournament is declared unfishable or canceled, there is no refund on paid entries. In the event of a natural disaster, or act of God, or no eligible fish are weighed in, or the tournament cancels all eligible days of fishing due to adverse weather conditions, the tournament will have a drawing from the registered tournament teams to award the door prizes. The drawing will be held at 6:30 pm at the banquet at Bay Point Marina on July 28^th, 2012. A team representative must be present to win. If no registered team member is present within 5 minutes of their team’s number being drawn, the tournament will keep drawing until a winner is selected.

22.) Federal and State Regulations: The weight and/or length of the eligible fish submitted for weigh-in are subject to State and Virginia and/or Federal laws. All tournament boats must possess current and valid Virginia Saltwater Fishing Licenses and any other permits as required by applicable law at time of weigh-in. Any team without valid permitting and/or in violation of State and/or Federal law may have their fish disqualified at time of weigh-in.

24.) Waiver /Disclaimer : It is expressly understood that participants in this tournament enter at their own risk, and that Norfolk Marine Company, Bay Point Marina, Little Creek Marina, Vinings Landing Marine Center,  the Tidewater Grady-White Club, Tournament Directors, Officers, Tournament Sponsors, Committees and all other persons connected directly or indirectly with the operation of said tournament, shall be exempt from any liability whatsoever for liable, slander, loss, damage, negligence, harm, injury or death suffered by any participant, entrant, vessel and equipment, companions and guests, boat captains, mates, crew members, which may occur during or in conjunction with this tournament. By signing the official tournament registration form, the boat owner, captain and mate(s), anglers and guests, consent that the tournament may use without payment or restriction any photographs, video footage, in which he or she may appear for any purpose whatsoever, including but not limited to resale, advertising, commercial or promotional material. By virtue of signing the Tournament entry form all participants agree to the final decision of the Tournament Rules Committee. It is understood that the spirit intended of the tournament is to be enjoyable and in good fellowship for all participants to help raise money for Catchin’ For Kids. 10% OF ALL ENTRY FEES WILL GO TO CATCHIN’ FOR KIDS, a 501 (c)(3) charity that Norfolk Marine actively sponsors. We believe raising additional funds for needy and underprivileged children in the Hampton Roads communities through this tournament is a great way to show our support to a great cause.

25.) Venue: It is expressly understood that all participants consent and agree that the City of Norfolk General District Courts shall be the sole venue for litigation arising out of participation in the Tournament.