Rules & Regulations

California Coho Championship

1. Dates and Times

  1. Tournament dates are Saturday, August 21st and Sunday, August 22nd, 2010.
  2. Registration will be available online at: http://www.wcftournaments.com.
  3. The awards ceremony will commence immediately following the weigh-in on Sunday, August 22nd at the Lake Oroville Spillway Ramp.
  4. Time limits are as follows for Saturday August 21st, Lines in 6:00 am. - Lines out 5:00 pm. Sunday, August 22nd, 2010, Lines in 6:00 am. - Lines out at 2:00pm.
  5. There shall be no fishing by tournament contestants except during tournament hours either day of the tournament. Pre-fishing prior to event is allowed.
  6. Boats may start check-in at 5:00 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday for inspection. Captains Packets shall be given when your boat is inspected prior to launch Saturday morning.
  7. An official W.C.F.Tournament Fishing Log sheet will be provided for each team. The Captain shall select a team representative from the crew that must record each fish as soon as it is boated. You are responsible for providing your own pen (Blue or Black ink only). The Tournament Fishing Log Sheet will be signed by the team representative and the boat Captain. The Captain or Team Representative must submit this form to the W.C.F.T. Committee Weigh-In Station. (This form is to help California Fish and Game with a creel count).

2. Eligibility

  1. All persons 16 years of age and over are eligible to enter. Anyone under the age of 16 is eligible to fish as long as one of their parents/guardians is on-board the vessel.
  2. All persons aboard the vessel (Private or Charter) must be registered in this event including the Captain and 1st mate.
  3. All water craft must comply with all U.S.Coast Guard Standards of equipment and safety.
  4. This is a team event and all entrants must provide a Team Name and designate a Team Captain. You agree that the Team Captain will be the sole recipient of any cash or merchandise awards. Dividing of prizes will be handled by the Team Captain, NOT the Tournament Committee.
  5. Teams consist of 2 to 5 anglers.
  6. Maximum of 5 anglers: Maximum of 10 rods only to be fished with at any one time per boat.
  7. If a team has an under age angler aboard, they (the underage minor), may only fish with 1 rod. Example: 4 tournament anglers = 8 rods + 1 for the under age angler, for a total of 9 rods being fished at once.

3. Entry Fees

  1. Entry fee is $350.00 per boat.
  2. Must be post-marked NO LATER than midnight, August 14th, 2010.
  3. This tournament will not be canceled or rescheduled due to weather conditions. No Refunds will be made.

4. Scoring

  1. Each tournament is won by total overall weight.
  2. A maximum of ten (10) fish will be allowed to weigh-in for the total overall weight for each day of the tournament, unless you are entered in the Alternate Species Contest; then you will be allowed a maximum of ten (10) Contest fish plus one (1) Alternate Species fish.
  3. Big Fish is a separate category but may still be used in the total weight category.
  4. For Big Fish Category: two zip ties will be provided (one for each day) and each fish must be marked with a zip tie through the mouth to be entered... no exceptions will be made. Unmarked fish will not be weighed.
  5. Fish weight is determined down to 1/100th's of an ounce. The use of 1/100th lb. is only for determining the Total Overall Weight.
  6. The Total Overall Weight is calculated by weighing the Big Fish seperately followed by weighing any remaining fish together. These two weights are added together to result in the Total Overall Weight. The Alternate Species fish does not count towards Total Overall Weight.
  7. All measurements will be taken from the tip of the nose to the V in the tail.
  8. There is a minimum of 13" length from tip of the nose to the V in the tail for any fish to be weighed in.

5. Points

  1. Winners will be determined by a total accumulation of points based on:
    1. Ten (10) points per legal fish weighed, plus
    2. One (1) point per pound of the Total Overall Weight. Fractions of a pound will be rounded down to the nearest whole pound. No Exceptions. This is for Point issuance ONLY.
      Example: (Total Overall Weight of 20.3 lbs will be awarded 20 points.)
      Total Overall Weight of 22.9 lbs will be awarded 22 points. etc.
  2. The team accumulating the highest number of points will be the winner, followed by the team with the next highest accumulation, and so on.
  3. The following species will be eligible: Coho Salmon. Any other species brought to official weigh-in will result in an automatic forfeiture of points of that specific fishing day (with the exception of an existing entry into the alternate species category).
  4. As each team fishes each tournament, their points will be totaled, up to and including, the final tournament of the year which is the Lake Shasta "California King Salmon Championship" in September 2010.
  5. At the end of the "California King Salmon Championship" Tournament, and after the winners of that event are announced, the final tally of points will be arrived at and the winner with the most points for the year will be crowned the Team of the Year...2010.

6. Prizes

  1. The tournament committee will finalize and post the payout schedule prior to the start of the tournament.
  2. At least 90% of the tournament entry fees will be awarded. The remainder of the entry fees will be used to defray the cost of the tournament.
  3. Payouts are guaranteed! In the event that there is an extremely low entry turnout the tournament committee reserves the right to alter the payouts. If this occurs the tournament committee must give the Captains no less than 3 days notice, by e-mail, to the amount the payouts will be. If at that point in time the captain decides not to participate, he will have 24 hrs to respond, by e-mail or phone, and he will then get his entry money back.

7. BIG FISH Contest

  1. Big Fish scoring is determined by weight. If two (2) fish weigh the same, then length will determine the winner.
  2. Length will be determined by measuring from the tip of the nose to the V in the tail.
  3. All rules for weigh-in shall remain the same as stated in the Weigh-In section of the tournament.
  4. Two zip ties will be provided (one for each day) and each fish must be marked with a zip tie through the mouth to be entered... no exceptions will be made. Unmarked fish will not be weighed.

8. Alternate Species Contest

Entry fee is $25. All entries must be postmarked by NO LATER than midnight, August 14th, 2010. The following species will be eligible for the Alternate Species Contest: Rainbow Trout. One fish may be weighed in each day.

9. Fishing Rules

  1. The Captain agrees to use good judgment in regard to existing and projected weather conditions, listen to and heed the warnings of the U.S. Guard and local weather reports, before and during the tournament. The Captain further agrees not to jeopardy themselves or others on the boat during the tournament, and also agrees to have personal flotation devices aboard and to operate under Coast Guard regulations.
  2. You must use a watercraft; NO BANK FISHING.
  3. All Government (State & USC) regulations for boating and fishing will apply.
  4. Boats may be inspected by tournament officials at any time of the competition while on or off the water. All boats will be inspected prior to launch which will commence at 5am the 1st and 2nd day of the tournament.
  5. All boats returning at the days end of fishing, must come to the dock and have cooler sealed by a W.C.F.T. Official, and then must move out and re-line up for trailering your boat (away from dock area), to allow others to proceed to drop off their coolers-- before loading your boat on the trailer.
  6. Each boat will be given numbered identification device which must be prominently displayed on the boat.
  7. All competitors upon registration agree to abide by all rules. It is the responsibility of the Captains to make sure all rules are followed by their respected team members.
  8. All fish entered must be fairly caught on hook and line, in accordance with the conservation laws, and retrieved by rod and reel, on angling tackle ("Legal Angling Tackle for the Waters Fished").
  9. All team members must fish out of the same vessel, you cannot split your team members up between multiple vessels. You are allowed to only fish out of the vessel you indicate on the entry form.and may not change vessels during the tournaments.
  10. Fish must be caught in the mouth. Any fish having cuts, gaff marks, gill net or puncture marks anywhere on the body will be questioned.
  11. It is unacceptable for the tournament committee to dispose of fish (dead or alive).
  12. You agree that the California Department of Fish and Game may remove any or all fish after weigh-in for research and or study at their own discretion.
  13. Officials will be patrolling the fishing waters through-out the duration of the tournament.

10. Boundaries

  1. Boats leaving the start zone prior to the official start time will be disqualified.
  2. All boats must enter and exit the designated area. The designated area will be the Spill Way Boat Ramp.
  3. There are no distance limits set on where a tournament boat may fish (subject to 11 d and e).
  4. You may not fish in any Harbor. All Harbors are off Limits. You may not fish in any area not designated as "Lake". All rivers, streams etc. (at the point where 1st white water starts), that empty into the Lake are considered Off-Limits.
  5. Competitors may not go ashore or aboard houseboats, but only designated areas, without consent by the Tournament Director. This will be grounds for disqualification of your team.
  6. Anchoring and/or drifting is allowed, but you may NOT tether to the shore in any manner.

11. Start and Finish

  1. You may proceed onto the lake after passing inspection but no lines will be allowed in the water until the start of the fishing period.
  2. The Committee will keep the official clock for the contest.
  3. Once a fishing period is declared closed by the Tournament Committee no more fish may be boated. All boats must proceed directly to the weigh-in station.
  4. All boats must check-in upon returning to the Harbor at the end of each fishing period.
  5. All speed and no wake zones must be observed.

12. Weigh-In

  1. Saturday, August 21st, 2010, the Weigh-in will begin at 4pm.and all entrants must physically be in the weigh-in line no later than 6:00 pm.
  2. Sunday, August 22nd, 2010, the Weigh-in will begin at 1pm.and all entrants must physically be in the weigh-in line no later than 3:00 pm.
  3. Saturday August 21st, 2010, All fishing must cease prior to 5 pm, and all boats must be at the harbor lined up and off plane by 5:30 pm. This will be monitored by video with a timer in order to settle disputes, if any. Each Boat must be inside Five Hundred (500) feet of the ramp at 5:30 pm. Each boat must proceed directly to the Weigh-in Station or as otherwise directed by the Tournament Committee.
  4. Sunday, August 22nd, 2010, All fishing must cease prior to 2 pm, and all boats must be at the harbor lined up and off plane by 2:30 pm. Each Boat must be inside Five Hundred (500) feet of the ramp at 2:30 pm. Each boat must proceed directly to the Weigh-in Station or as otherwise directed by the Tournament Committee.
  5. All fish presented for weigh-in must be in a COOLER - NO EXCEPTIONS.
  6. In order to weigh-in your fish your Team Representative must present the team identification puck that you are given at the start of the tournament.
  7. Upon returning to the harbor the Captain must present their cooler at the dock to be sealed by a committee member. Handling of fish by anyone other than tournament official is prohibited.
  8. At least one team member must remain with the sealed cooler until surrendered to the weigh-in committee.
  9. Competitors coolers must be marked with team name (no Exceptions).
  10. At weigh-in the Team Representative will present his sealed cooler along with a signed Tournament Fishing Log Sheet.

13. Boat Inspections

The tournament Committee may board any vessel prior to the fishing period to search for any fish. The presence of any fish on a tournament boat prior to the fishing period will result in disqualification.

14. Protests

  1. A five (5) person Rules Committee will resolve disputes. Their decision will be final and binding.
  2. Protests must be presented to the Tournament Committee in writing on the day of infraction by 3:00 pm or no later than 15 minutes after the final boat has weighed in. This protest must be accompanied by $100. This fee will be refunded if the protest is upheld, otherwise the tournament will retain the $100.

15. Cancellations

This tournament will not be canceled or rescheduled due to weather conditions.

16. Polygraph Testing

The Captain of each team that places in the top 6 money slots as well as Big fish winner agrees to take a Polygraph test after the final weights have been determined. Refusal to take the Polygraph test will result in disqualification of the Captain and his or her team for any prizes. Drug or alcohol consumption could make an individual unfit to take the test.

17. Disqualifications and Penalties

  1. Disqualification for any reason will result in the forfeiture of all entry fees for the tournament.
  2. Failure to comply with any of the rules listed in Section 8 will result in disqualification.
  3. Failure to proceed directly to weigh-in will result in disqualification.
  4. If you arrive at the weigh-in point with more than 10 fish in your cooler you will be disqualified.
  5. Competitors may not go ashore or aboard houseboats, during the tournament periods, but only designated areas, without consent by the Tournament Director. This will be grounds for disqualification of your team.
  6. Failure to be in the zone area by close of the fishing day will result in disqualification.
  7. Any team entering fish that have been altered in any manner (IE; ice or foreign objects found lodged in fish), as to increase weight of the fish, or taken in violation of any California State or Fish & Game laws will be disqualified from the tournament.
  8. Boats may not run Gunwale to Gunwale with any other boat nor may objects be passed to any other boat or person on the lake. Violation of this Rule will result in Automatic Disqualification.
  9. You agree that award recipients are responsible for paying all taxes on all monies and prizes to the State of California and IRS, and refusal to provide proper Social Security information will result in disqualification.
  10. Any people conducting themselves in a disorderly or intoxicated manner will be expelled from the tournament, and may be denied re-entry to future tournaments.
  11. You agree to submit, if required by a Tournament Official, your fish for microscopic tissue examination, internal examination, entering the cavity through an incision or through the use of a probe and not limited to temperature probes.
  12. Failure to submit to a polygraph examination will result in disqualification.
  13. Failure to submit an Official Tournament Log Sheet with the signature of the Captain and Team Representative will result in disqualification.

18. Liabilities

  1. All reasonable precautions will be taken by the Tournament Committee to protect persons and property during the tournament. Neither the Tournament Committee, volunteers or sponsors, can or will be responsible, for the safety of persons, for accident, theft, damage by fire, vandalism or any other cause for loss to a contestants property.
  2. Participants understand and agree to hold harmless the aforementioned groups and individuals from liability or damage as may be incurred from participation in the tournament.
  3. The Captain is responsible for being able to identify the different species of fish and that all rules of the tournament are followed.
  4. You agree that all persons aboard the vessel must carry a valid California Fishing License, including the Captain.

19. Rule Changes

The Tournament Committee reserves the right to change any of these rules and post changes up to 45 minutes prior to the start of the tournament.

Note: our advisory board will review any situations that are not addressed by the Rules and Regulations on a case-by-case basis.