NC Flatfish Rules
September 16-17, 2011 @ Inlet Watch Marina, Wilmington, NC
NC Flatfish Rules and Regulations
(click here for a downloadable pdf version of the 2011 NC Flatfish Rules)
1. The primary payouts go to the heaviest total of up to two flounder weighed in.
2. The tournament’s entry fee allows you to have as many anglers on your boat as you’d like (within safety limitations).
3. The one fishing day is Saturday, September 16. The tournament will reserve the right to hold Sunday, September 17, as an optional foul weather day.
4. There are no checkouts and no boundaries.
5. Fish must be caught during tournament hours. No lines in the water until after 7:00 a.m.
6. All boats must show their boat number to the weigh-in boat by 4:00 p.m. The weigh-in boat will be located approximately 25 yards off of the entrance to Inlet Watch Yacht Club.
7. Scales will open at 1:00 p.m. at Inlet Watch Yacht Club. No weigh-ins allowed before 1:00 p.m.
8. All fish weighed in will become the property of the NC Flatfish Championship.
9. Any angler, if directed by the tournament committee, must submit to a polygraph test within 72 hours after the last fish has been weighed. This decision is at the sole discretion of the tournament committee. Should the test be failed, the tournament committee reserves the right to forfeit all winnings awarded to the winner in question.
10. All protests made to the tournament committee shall be accompanied by a $250 cash deposit. All protests shall be made no later than one hour after the last fish has been weighed. The $250 cash deposit will be returned if the tournament committee upholds the protest. The $250 cash deposit will become the property of the NC Flatfish Championship if the protest is not upheld. All decisions of the tournament committee shall be final.
11. The four TWTs (tournament within a tournament)—Big Fish TWT, Two Fish TWT, High Roller Big Fish TWT, and High Roller Two Fish TWT—all have a payout ratio of 1st—50%, 2nd—30%, and 3rd—20%. Participants in the tournament are not required to enter the TWTs. It is offered as another way for you to win money.
12. Prizes are awarded solely on the basis of fish weight. In the event of identical weights, the first fish weighed shall be declared the winner.
13. All boats must meet USCG inspection and safety requirements.
14. All fish must be caught on hook and line.
15. All fish must be weighed in from the boat in which they were caught. No overland transport to the weigh station will be allowed, and a crewmember must accompany fish to weigh-in.
16. By signing the entry form, the captain and crew, etc. consent that the NC Flatfish Championship may use without payment or restrictions any photographs in which he or she appears for any purpose whatsoever, including but not limited to resale, advertising, commercial, or promotional material.
17. Two or more boats seen congregating may be disqualified from the tournament.
18. This tournament does not have any boundaries; however, there are a few restricted areas. A boat may not fish Sunny Point, the CP&L intake wall, and/or within 25 yards of Inlet Watch Yacht Club.
19. A boat may make landfall to discharge passengers, equipment, or other items. However, no person and no thing may be put on the boat regardless if the boat is making landfall or not.
20. All fish will be received and inspected by the terms of the weigh master.
21. No cut or mutilated fish will be accepted.
22. A boat is eligible to win more than one secondary prize.
23. The Junior Angler must be 14 years of age or younger and must accompany the fish to the scales. Anyone 14-years-old or younger is automatically considered a junior angler.
24. The Lady Angler must accompany the fish to the scales.
25. The Senior Angler must be at least 55 years of age and must accompany the fish to the scales. Any male 55-years-old or older is automatically considered a senior angler.
26. The Sea Tow prize goes to the heaviest single flounder weighed in by a boat with a current Sea Tow membership.
27. The Got-Em-On prize goes to the heaviest single flounder weighed in by a boat with a current Got-Em-On Fishing Club member.
28. The Bell-Hart Marine/Mercury prize goes to the heaviest of up to a two flounder total weighed in by a boat with a Mercury engine.
29. The tournament committee has the right to refuse entry from any applicant. If an entry is refused, then 100% of the applicant’s entry fee will be returned.
30. All captains and crewmembers are responsible for reading and following all rules and regulations set forth by the NC Flatfish Championship.