Rules of Competition
V0.8 05-May, 2008

1. Eligibility
a. Tournament is open only to active PJSA members who have their current membership fully paid at the start of the tournament.
b. Participants may enter individually, or may enter their boat.
c. Boat entries will cover the boat and all recreational crew that may fish on board the boat during the tournament period. (PJSA defines recreational as non-charter fishermen. Expense sharing is not considered to be a charter.)
d. PJSA members running charters aboard their own boats are eligible to submit only fish caught by the themselves during a charter. Fish caught by a charter crew are not allowed.
e. Individual tournament participants may fish aboard any boat.

2. Categories and Eligible Species
a. There will be two categories to the PJSA Tautog and Sea Bas Tournament: tautog and sea bass.
b. All fish must be weighed-in to be eligible for consideration.
c. Boats catching cod or Pollack weighing more than 35 pounds will be eligible for a special prize from the PJSA tournament committee.
d. All entries must be in compliance with applicable federal and state size and bag limit regulations.

3. Tournament Dates and fishing times
a. Tournament runs for 7 contiguous months beginning April 1, ending November 1.
b. Boats and individual anglers may make any number of individual trips, and may stay offshore for any number of days during each trip.
c. Boats are under no obligation to fish on any given day during this period, and the decision to fish is the responsibility of the captain of each boat.
d. In the event that we don't have at least two entries in either of the categories as of the close of the scheduled dates, the Tournament Committee will have the option of extending the tournament for a fixed period of time for one or both categories. Extensions may be granted for either or both categories, but only for categories with fewer than two entries. Extension will be at the discretion of the Tournament Committee.

4. Fishing Limitations
a. Fishing expeditions must begin and end out of a New Jersey or Delaware port. Departure and return must be from the same port.
b. Boats may depart and return at any time during the fishing tournament.
c. Boats may fish anywhere as long as they do not travel more than 40 nautical miles offshore of New Jersey, and not more than 40 nautical miles south of Cape May.

5. Eligible Fishing Tackle and techniques
a. Tackle selections are limited to rod and reel. Tackle may be of any size or line class.
b. Contestants may bait fish, jig or use live bait.

6. Scoring
a. Scoring will be based on weight of the largest individual fish weighed in each category.
b. Each boat or individual will be allowed to enter its single largest fish into each category.
c. A larger fish entered will displace an earlier entry by a boat or an individual. PJSA will make available a list of the current status of tournament contestants on its Web site or via email.
d. In the event of a tie for first place of either category, the PJSA tournament committee will declare a tie, and winners will share the trophy.

7. Verification of Fish
a. Weigh In
i. All weigh-ins must take place on land.
ii. All fish captured must be weighed in on a certified scale.
iii. A photo of the fish should be submitted with the entry form within two weeks of the original catch, or by November 1 (which ever date is earlier).
iv. Photographs remain the property of their owners, but photographer agrees to allow unlimited use rights to PJSA for use in its Web site, advertisements and collateral materials.

8. Awards
a. There will be prizes issued for first place in both the tautog and sea bass categories.
b. Boats catching cod or Pollack weighing more than 35 pounds will be eligible for a special prize from the PJSA tournament committee.
c. Note: There will be no cash awards presented by PJSA.

9. Entry Fees