General Rules

LUDINGTON OFFSHORE CLASSIC Big Lake Sport Fishing Tournament July 15-18, 2010

GENERAL RULES

IMPORTANT!!!   See specific rules page for each tournament.  General Rules apply unless otherwise stated for each specific tournament.  If you elect to fish this tournament, you agree by your signature to read, understand and accept all rules & regulations pertaining to this event, and to abide by the decisions of the Tournament Committee.  Failure to be familiar with rules may result in disqualification.

CAPTAINS’ MEETING - Amendments or changes to rules may be done at Captains Meeting prior to each tournament.  For these reasons we would suggest entire team attend.   Captains’ meetings are held in the big tent at Ludington Water Front Park.  Rules will be discussed and finalized at Captain’s Meeting.

FINAL PAYOUTS – Will be posted after the Captains meeting, based upon number of teams registered, and posting will supersede ALL previously posted payout projections.  Once final payouts are posted there can be no refunds of registration fees. 

BAD WEATHER - In case of bad weather, 4 hours of fishing constitutes a completed tournament.  If we cannot start fishing on the 1st day of a 2-day tournament by 11:00 a.m. due to weather conditions, tournament will be canceled for the day, and fishing will be allowed for tournament boats for the rest of the day.  On day two, if we start at 11:00 a.m., fishing will end at 3:00 p.m.  After fishing minimum of 4 hours the 1st day of any 2-day event, no fishing will be allowed for the remainder of that day.  It is your responsibility to monitor Channel 9 for safety and emergency tournament information.  If tournament is called off before a minimum of 4 hours is fished, the whole day will be cancelled and no fish will be weighed.  If, due to unforeseen circumstances, any tournament is cancelled in its entirety, a refund check will be mailed within 14 days.  However, a portion of the registration fee may be retained to cover administrative costs.

A weather boat committee will be selected at the Pro/Am Captains’ meeting.  This committee, in conjunction with Tournament Control, will make all weather-based decisions once the fishing period has commenced.  If the tournament must be called early due to poor weather conditions, ALL events and divisions will be cancelled for the day.  All boats will be notified on Channel 9 and be asked to switch to Channel 68 for a weather-related announcement.  Tournament Control will inform all boats of the new deadline to return to the harbor.  The deadline will be 1.5 hours from the time of the announcement.  For example, if Tournament Control announces that the tournament will be called due to bad weather at 10:00 am, all boats must return to the harbor by 11:30 am.  Fishing will be permitted during that hour and a half, as long as the boat returns to the pier heads by 11:30 am.  All boats that are late in returning to the pier heads will be penalized 10 points per minute late.  No exceptions!

NUMBER OF RODS - Maximum number of lines fishing is 9.  Fishing means “in the water.”  10 or more lines in the water at any one time disqualify the team.  One slider per rod will be allowed, however, sliders may not exceed 72 inches.  Maximum 2 baits per rod.

RADIO - Marine radio required.  Monitor Channel 9 for tournament traffic alert.  Tournament Control will monitor Channel 9 throughout the day in case of an emergency or situation that requires immediate attention.  All traffic will be sent to Channel 68.  All tournaments will start and end on Channel 68.  See specific rules page for Pro/Am and Ladies Classic.  Radio silence teams switch to 9 when tournament starts.  You’ll be directed to 68 at 1:45P pm.

MICHIGAN LAWS - All State of Michigan fishing laws must be observed. A written DNR violation on tournament days disqualifies team with no refund.

LIMITS & SCORING - See specific tournament info for catch limit, length specifications and scoring methods

GAFFING FISH - Gaffing fish is not allowed.  Foreign substances, including ice packed into the fish’s mouth or body cavities, will disqualify the entire team.

WEIGH-IN - Weigh-ins will be done by as boats arrive.  Boats without observers must proceed immediately to weigh-in. Boats with mandatory observers may transport their coolers from their dock to the weigh stations. Transported coolers must be at weigh station no later than 1 hr. after tournament ends each day.  Observer and at least one team member must stay with the cooler at all times until their fish are weighed.  At Captain’s Meeting final weigh-in procedures will be posted for all Divisions.  Please drain coolers before weigh-in.  Excess water or loose ice may result in 5 lb deduction from overall weight.

CAPTAIN & CREW - A Captain for each team must be designated and identified on registration form.  Where observers are required, however, it is your team’s responsibility to ensure the observer put on your boat has a fishing license if necessary, to complete your rod allotment.  Short-handed crews are allowed, however, sufficient legal fishermen are required to comply with maximum 9 lines.  Same fishermen do not have to fish both days.

DNR REGULATIONS ALLOW 3 RODS PER PERSON ON LAKE MICHIGAN RESULTING IN A 3 MAN CREW TO LEGALLY USE THE MAXIMUM 9 ROD LIMIT FOR TOURNAMENT FISHING.

IDENTIFICATION - All tournament boats must clearly display the provided identification flag at all times during the tournament.

DISABLED BOATS - Boats must return through the pier heads under their own power.  No boat may come in direct physical contact with another boat unless authorized by Tournament control.  Physical contact will result in disqualification for both teams.  Obviously boats in distress, dangerous or life threatening situations must be dealt with accordingly.  Disabled boats that arrive late will not be able to weigh in for that day only.   Once Tournament begins you cannot change boats for any reason.

POLYGRAPH EXAMINATIONS - All participants who weigh fish and are eligible for cash and prizes may be required to submit to a polygraph examination.   Failure to comply will result in immediate disqualification and forfeiture of any and all cash and prizes.

CHEATING - Cheating will not be tolerated.  We offer a $500.00 reward for information that results in disqualification.  Anyone caught cheating will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law, banned for life from all Ludington Tournament events and their names sent to all Great Lakes Tournament Officials.

PROTESTS - Any protest must be submitted to Tournament Official within 1 hour after posted tournament fishing time ends each day.

PRO TEAMS DEFINED - For the purposes of this tournament, a “Pro Team” is defined as any of the following:

1) Any licensed charter boat, or 2) Any crewmember that is, or has been within past 2 years, a licensed Great Lakes charter captain, or

3) Any crewmember that is the owner/operator of a business that manufactures a Great Lakes related fishing product

For the purposes of this tournament, the following will NOT be considered a “Pro Team”:

1) Any crewmember that is a licensed “river-only” guide/captain, 2) Any crewmember that is an employee of a tackle manufacturer or retailer, 3) Field testers, and 4) Retailers.

Amateur teams who win the Ludington Offshore Classic two (2) years in a row will be required to fish in the Pro Division the following year.

If you have questions about your Pro-Am status call George Freeman at (231) 845-1779 for clarification before you register. Failure to fully disclose all pertinent information may result in disqualification with absolutely NO refund and NO prizes awarded.  It is your responsibility to comply with the Pro/Am Rule.

OBSERVERS - You are a guest! Swearing, drinking, sleeping is not acceptable behavior.  You have a very important job to do.  Carry out your duties as unobtrusively as possible. You will have 1 hour only after fishing time ends to file your protest.

QUESTIONS? - Contact Ludington Chamber of Commerce at 800-783-4456 or 845-0324