See General Rules page for further clarification - Failure to be familiar with rules may result in disqualification
Captains’ meeting at 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 16th, at Ludington Waterfront Park
2 DAY EVENT, Sat & Sun, July 17th & 18th No fishing after 2 pm Saturday, July 17th
3 DIVISIONS – Pro, Am, Big Fish - See entry form for details. All entries must fish from minimum 18 foot boat outside Ludington Harbor entrance.
RULES - When you submit your registration fee, you are required to read and understand completely all rules pertaining to this tournament. Ignorance is no excuse! Questions, call Capt. George at (231) 845-1779. Captains Meeting is held specifically for you to insure all participants are clear on rules and their interpretation.
OBSERVERS -Observers will be mandatory in Pro Division only. Each team must supply an observer over 18 years old each day. Strict rules will apply to observers and their responsibilities. Observers must attend Captain’s Meeting. Observers will be required to be aboard assigned boats at 5:15 AM on tournament days. Failure to do so may result in the disqualification of the OBSERVER’S TEAM for that day. There will be no exceptions and no refunds for disqualified teams. Observers will be required to log each legal fish caught. Observers will insure compliance of all tournament rules. You may send a different observer each day, but all observers need to be at the Captain’s Meeting. We will assign, as close as possible, observers on similar sized boats; however, observers may or may not be aboard the same boat both days. Some leeway must be allowed. Observers must have a watch synchronized to Tournament committee time. Observers will be required to log START and RETURN times (inside pier heads) for team assigned. At the discretion of Tournament Committee, observers may be placed on Amateur Division boats at any time during tournament hours. Protests must be submitted by no later than 1 hour after tournament ends for that day to be considered.
TOURNAMENT TIME – 6am -2 pm each day for all divisions. Boats will leave from just outside the Ludington pier heads at 6 am and be to the pier heads by 2 pm each day. Observers on Pro Team boats will be required to log exact times. No fishing after 2 pm on Saturday, July 17th unless tournament has been canceled for the day before minimum 4 hours of fishing. Spotters will be in place on the pier heads to check for boats returning late. Any late boats will be penalized 10 points for each minute late. When directed, listen to Channel 68 for exact countdown to 2 pm each day.
COMMUNICATION - Radio silence for this tournament for Pro Teams only. Cell phones, pagers, or other communication is prohibited during tournament times. NO BOAT-TO-BOAT COMMUNICATION WHATSOEVER! Tournament communication will begin on Channel 68. After tournament begins, Pro Team radios must be switched immediately to Channel 9. At 1:45 PM we will announce on Channel 9 to switch back to #68 for Tournament Countdown. No radio communication except to monitor Channel 9 for tournament official announcements or emergencies. Cell phones or pagers activated during tournament hours disqualify the team immediately. No Side Bands, No CBs, No electronic communication whatsoever. There are no radio restrictions for Amateur division teams.
LOCATION - Captain’s Meeting and Weigh-in at Ludington Waterfront Park.
CAPTAIN & CREW - A Captain for each team must be designated and identified on registration form. The number of fishermen may vary. The same fishermen do not have to fish both days. Pro Team observer may be used as team member if necessary for 9 rod limit, however his license becomes that team’s responsibility.
BOAT SIZE - Boats must be at least 18’ long and have a marine radio.
WEIGH IN – When you return with your catch proceed immediately to weigh station for weigh-in. Boats with mandatory observers may transport their coolers from their dock. Transported coolers must be at weigh station no later than 1 hour after tournament ends each day. After the weigh-in you cannot fish for the remainder of the day. Weigh-in begins at 10 am. Please drain coolers before weigh-in; excess water or loose ice may result in a 5 pound deduction from overall weight.
LIMITS for PRO TEAMS - Catch 15, weigh best 12 (maximum of 9 any one species). The boat limit of fish shall not exceed the limits for the number of fish in possession allowed by the legal anglers on board as established by the Michigan DNR. In the event that there are three or more licensed fisherman on a boat the tournament limit shall be a maximum of 15 fish each day in the proportions defined by tournament rules. The boat limit of 15 cannot contain more than 12 Salmon or nine “others” of one species (Lake Trout, Brown Trout, Steelhead). Any Salmon taken in excess of 12 must be released. The maximum number of others in possession as part of the maximum of 15 shall be 9 of the same species. Any “other” in excess of 9 of the same species must be released. When the 15th allowed legal fish is landed the boat limit is reached, and fishing must cease. When you reach your 15 fish limit, Observer must list exact time on Observer Sheet and Captain and Observer must both sign. All legal fish in each species must be retained until the stated tournament limits are reached. For example, the maximum of 15 might consist of 12 Salmon and 3 others or 6 Salmon and 9 others or some combination of not more than 12 Salmon and not more than 9 others (Lake Trout, Brown Trout, Steelhead) of each species, but in no case more than a total of 15 fish. (At weigh- in, no more than 9 of 12 fish weighed may be Salmon.) Fish must be released if DNR size limit of 10” for Salmon, Brown Trout and Steelhead or 20” for Lake trout is not met. Captains have the discretion to keep or release a Salmon, Brown Trout or Steelhead measuring between 10” and 10.5” or a Lake Trout measuring between 20” and 20.5”, allowing the Captain to determine if the fish will still meet DNR minimum size requirements at the official weigh station. Salmon, Brown Trout or Steelhead over 10.5” and Lake Trout over 20.5” must be kept. Once a fish is measured, determination must be made immediately to keep or release the fish. Once a fish is kept it cannot be released at a later time. Observers note that every effort must be made to net and land each fish. This is a no cull division. Observer must verify the exact length of all undersized fish returned to the lake. Returning fish without measuring is cheating and you will be disqualified with no refund. Any intentional act such as, but not limited to, shaking off, breaking off, burning off, etc. a fish, will subject team to disqualification. Any boat can fish in the Pro division.
LIMITS FOR AMATEUR TEAMS - Catch 15, weigh best 10 (maximum of 7 Salmon or 6 any other one species). The boat limit of fish shall not exceed the limits for the number of fish in possession allowed by the legal anglers on board as established by the Michigan DNR. In the event that there are three or more licensed fisherman on a boat the tournament limit shall be a maximum of 15 fish each day in the proportions defined by tournament rules. The boat limit of 15 cannot contain more than 12 Salmon or nine “others” of one species (Lake Trout, Brown Trout, Steelhead). Any Salmon taken in excess of 12 must be released. The maximum number of others in possession as part of the maximum of 15 shall be 9. Any “other” in excess of 9 of the same species must be released. When the 15th allowed legal fish is landed the boat limit is reached, and fishing must cease. When you reach your 15 fish limit, Observer (when required) must list exact time on Observer Sheet and Captain and Observer must both sign. All legal fish in each species must be retained until the stated tournament limits are reached. For example, the maximum of 15 might consist of 12 Salmon and 3 others or 6 Salmon and 9 others or some combination of not more than 12 Salmon and not more than 9 others (Lake Trout, Brown Trout, Steelhead) of each species, but in no case more than a total of 15 fish. (At weigh- in, no more than 7 of 10 fish weighed may be Salmon.) Fish must be released if DNR size limit of 10” for Salmon, Brown Trout and Steelhead or 20” for Lake trout is not met. Captains have the discretion to keep or release a Salmon, Brown Trout or Steelhead measuring between 10” and 10.5” or a Lake Trout measuring between 20” and 20.5”, allowing the Captain to determine if the fish will still meet DNR minimum size requirements at the official weigh station. Salmon, Brown Trout or Steelhead over 10.5” and Lake Trout over 20.5” must be kept. Once a fish is measured, determination must be made immediately to keep or release the fish. Once a fish is kept it cannot be released at a later time. Every effort must be made to net and land each fish. This is a no cull division. The exact length of all undersized fish returned to the lake must be verified by observer (if present). Returning fish without measuring is cheating and you will be disqualified with no refund. Any intentional act such as, but not limited to, shaking off, breaking off, burning off, etc. fish, will subject team to disqualification.
BIG FISH LIMITS - Weigh one fish (heaviest fish) per day.
TOURNAMENT COOLER – PRO TEAMS - Please drain excess water from coolers. Observer and one team member will be required to accompany tournament cooler to weigh station and insure weigh-in corresponds with Observer’s catch report data. No more than 12 minimum 10-inch fish, (20-inch Lake Trout), may be in tournament cooler at weigh station. Any combination of 12 fish cannot exceed 9 Lake Trout, 9 Salmon, 9 Steelhead, or 9 Brown Trout. Extra fish or fish under 10 inches, (20 inches Lake Trout), will be disallowed, PLUS a penalty of one fish will be deducted from your catch for each extra or under size fish you have beginning with the smallest of that species. Questionable sized fish will be measured at weigh station. Weigh Station measurement may supercede team measurement. Short fish will be disqualified and penalties will be assessed. Observers are required to measure marginally sized fish. Fish less than 10”, (20” for Lake Trout), must be promptly returned, fish 10.5” and over must be kept except Lake Trout which must be 20.5”. Captain has the option to keep any Salmon, Brown trout or Steelhead measuring between 10” and 10.5 “ or Lake Trout measuring between 20” and 20.5” (See Limits for Pro Teams). Stretching fish, squashing fish, breaking their neck or any manipulation to alter the length of the fish will disqualify team. Observer must record exact length of fish that need to be measured during tournament hours. Captain, observer and weigh-master, will sign weigh-slips. Once weigh-slip is signed by all, there can be no change. Re-weighing is not allowed after weigh slip has been signed.
TOURNAMENT COOLER – AMATEUR TEAMS –. Please drain excess water from coolers. Observer (when required) and one team member will be required to accompany tournament cooler to weigh station and insure weigh-in corresponds with Observer’s (when required) catch report data. No more than 10 minimum 10-inch fish, (20-inch Lake Trout), may be in tournament cooler at weigh station. Any combination of 10 fish cannot exceed 6 Lake Trout, 7 Salmon, 6 Steelhead, or 6 Brown Trout. Extra fish or fish under 10 inches, (20 inches Lake Trout), will be disallowed, PLUS a penalty of one fish will be deducted from your catch for each extra or under size fish you have beginning with the smallest of that species. Questionable sized fish will be measured at weigh station. Weigh Station measurement may supercede team measurement. Short fish will be disqualified and penalties will be assessed. Observers (when required) are required to measure marginally sized fish. Fish less than 10”, (20” for Lake Trout), must be promptly returned, fish 10.5” and over must be kept except Lake Trout which must be 20.5”. Captain has the option to keep any Salmon, Brown trout or Steelhead measuring between 10” and 10.5 “ or Lake Trout measuring between 20” and 20.5” (See Limits for Pro Teams). Stretching fish, squashing fish, breaking their neck or any manipulation to alter the length of the fish will disqualify team. Observer (when required) must record exact length of fish that need to be measured during tournament hours. Captain, observer (when required) and weigh-master, will sign weigh-slips. Once weigh-slip is signed by all, there can be no change. Re-weighing is not allowed after weigh slip has been signed. Drop fish at weigh station immediately upon return.
TOURNAMENT COOLER – BIG FISH Division – Please drains excess water from cooler. Weigh your heaviest fish only - Blocked or bagged ice. Bring immediately to weigh station.
TOURNAMENT SCORES – PRO & AM - 1 Point per pound, 10 Points per fish using our certified tournament scales. Fractional weight of .05 -. 50 lbs. will not count for points, .55 -.95 will count as 1 point. Our scales weigh in increments of 5/100’s of a pound. For Big Fish contest, exact weight of fish will be used.
TIE BREAKERS - When points and pounds are used, total weight will break ties. If still tied, biggest fish will be used if that weight is available for all boats involved. If not, prize will be split. BIG FISH ONLY prizes will be split. Place prizes will be added together (ex 2nd & 3rd) and then split.
If you have any other questions, please call Chamber office at 1-800-783-4456.