2013 TFCTTT Rules

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This page contains information regarding the rules and regulations of The Fishing Crew Team Tournament Trail. Please read through them carefully before applying or participating in a TFC Team Tournament Trail event.

Eligibility

Anyone 18 years and older or a minor with a legal guardian, with a valid SD fishing license is eligible to fish in the tournaments. Entry fee is $450.00 per team per event. $50 from each team's entry fee will go directly to the team of the year pot. A $25.00 membership fee is also required. All contestants must check in at the rules meetings (on) Saturday nights 6:00 pm at each site. For insurance reasons, at least one member from the team has to attend the rules meeting or your team will not be able to participate and will forfeit your entry fees. Site for the rules meeting will be posted on the web-site at www.thefishingcrew.com. To fish for Team of the year, each team will be allowed only one substitute throughout the year. Substitute can not be from another team. Once you fish with one team that is your team otherwise you will forfeit that event for Team of the Year points. The only way a substitute can be used in the championship is if they have fished during the regular season with that team.

Tackle & Equipment

Artificial and Live lures may be used. Each contestant may use two rods. Only two fishermen are allowed per boat. (Camera person is the exception). 350 max motor horse power. Life jacket must be worn any time the boat is on plane. Marine band radios must be on channel 72 during tournament hours (If you don’t have a marine band radio you must inform tournament officials)

Boat Checks

All contestants will be checked before their boat is backed into the water. Boats will also be checked on the water during tournament hours. Any one refusing to allow patrol boats to check your boat will be disqualified. IF the patrol asks to board your boat to check tags you must allow them to board your boat. If conditions are so rough that it cannot take place they may ask you to go to calmer water to complete the check. All patrol boats will be dressed in the TFCTTT colors and will have identification they will show you.

Boundaries

The boundaries will be the same for all events. The boundaries will be as far as you can make it there and back on one tank of gas. There will be no filling of gas on the water or caring any gas along.

Grievances

Anyone who has a grievance of any kind must submit a check/cash for $250 to tournament director. The party or parties that are being accused of the violation will be brought behind closed doors and the issue will be discussed with everyone involved present. You will meet your accusers. The Tournament Director, acting as the moderator, will hear both sides of the issue and make the final decision. All situations will be handled professionally. If any contestant becomes aggressive or verbally abusive they will be removed from the tournament site and disqualified from the event and all other TFCTTT events with NO EXCEPTIONS. If your grievance is found to be true, your $250 deposit will be returned and the party or parties will be dealt with as the Tournament Director deems necessary. All violations of SD Law will be turned over to the authorities.

Fishing Hours

The tournaments will be held from 7 am to 3 pm Sundays at each event site. Any team arriving to the flag boat past 3:00pm will be disqualified. Tournament director has the right to change the fishing hours if necessary.

Scoring – Largest Weight in Five Fish

All events will be tag fish events. There will be 7 tags per boat. Only 2 can be over 20 inches and the rest must be 15 inches minimum. Each team will bring there best 5 fish to the scale. Heaviest weight will win!!! All 7 tags must be returned to the scale master. If you have seven fish tagged, bring your best five to the scale. Your other two tagged fish will be released into a holding tank. Do not remove the tags yourself; this will be an automatic disqualification with NO EXCEPTIONS. If you do not have all your tags used up, you still need to bring all 7 tags to the weigh-in site with your official TFCTTT information and turn them into the STAFF. If you do not return your tags after each event and you are fishing more TFCTTT events, you will be the last boat released in the next event. If more then one team has this infraction, the tournament director will determine the order your boat. Unused tags need to be brought to the staff un-clipped. Basically bring them back as you received them. Bringing them back clipped without a fish will be an automatic disqualification with NO EXCEPTIONS.

Ties

All ties will be decided by a coin flip. With all winnings and trophy’s to the winner of the coin flip

Boat Departure

All teams will line up behind the tournament directors flag boat and be led out starting with Boat number one and so on. You will pass by the flag boat one at a time at a no wake speed. After showing your number card to the flag boat and he confirms your number you can take off. Boat departure position will be determined on a first come first serve basis. The only exception will be the winner of each event will be boat one out in the next event, except at the Championship. There will be random drawing at the rules meeting for boat number one.

Entry Fee

$450.00 per team per event and an annual one-time only $25.00 membership fee per person. $50 from each team's entry fee will go directly to the team of the year pot. Entries will be closed 7 days before each event. Any late entries will have a $50.00 late fee

Note

Each contestant will sign a waiver form. This form will be a sign of release that will pertain to cell phone use on the water during tournament hours. By signing this form you will agree to allow the director to access your incoming and outgoing calls and text messages if needed. If you refuse you will be disqualified. In no way are we looking to stop you from having cell a phone on you. We are simply stating if you decide to use them during tournament hours to gain a fishing advantage you will be disqualified. We cannot stop contestants from forming teams and working together before the event. Once you are on the water, there will be no communication during tournament hours. We will be watching for those of you who feel the need to push the limit! Please understand the reason behind my thinking. All contestants that have family issues, jobs, etc that require cell phone access; this will need to be communicated to the tournament director at the rules meeting. This will stop confusion throughout the event. I truly understand the importance of family, work and being able to get in touch in case of an emergency. On the other hand, entries should understand where we are coming from with the amount of money that is on the line. Thank you for your understanding and if you have any question regarding the above notice, feel free to contact the Tournament Director.

Team of the year

TOTY points will be given to each team that checks in and returns there number board starting with the first place team getting 120 point and on down to the last place team getting 1 point. 2013 TOTY will pay out 3 places 1st getting 50% plus plaques and jackets. 2nd 30% 3rd 20%

For example if we have:

Event one 80 teams X $50= $4000
Event two 60 teams X $50= $3000
Event Three 80 teams X $50= $4000
The Championships/TFC open event 160 teams X 50= $8000
                                                                             $19000

(Minus the cost of plaques and jackets)

1st $9500
2nd $5700
3rd $3800

You must fish all events to qualified to win this