Mathews Rotary Annual Rockfish Tournament 2024 Rules
December 7-8
4. This is a Two-day tournament. You can fish either Saturday, Sunday or both days. Only one fish per angler per day and the two heaviest fish per boat per day that are between 19 and 24 inches in length in the open category will be weighed for cash prizes. Additional fish between 19 to 24 inches submitted for the special prizes may also be weighed. Each boat is eligible to win the cash prize from the open category with the two heaviest fish caught that are between 19 to 24 inches over the two-day tournament.
6. All participants must adhere to the Virginia Salt Water Fishing Tournament and the Salt Water Fishing Regulations as determined by the Virginia Marine Resources Commission. We encourage all anglers to catch and release all fish that are not in the running for winning a category.
7. The tournament director listed on the entry form is ineligible to compete.
8. This is a CAPTAIN’S CHOICE tournament. It is the captain’s responsibility to decide whether to fish. A GAIL WARNING is the ONLY weather condition that will cancel fishing. If a gale warning is posted by NOOA at 6:00am on Saturday or Sunday, that day will be canceled. If both days are canceled a drawing for the cash prizes will be held at Morningstar Marina on Sunday at 5:00. If there are questions about cancelations call Andy Eubank at 540-539-0070.
9. No lines in the water prior to sunrise on both days of the tournament.
10. All fish must be caught in a sportsman like manner on hook and line. Fish must be hooked and played by a single angler who does not receive assistance from anyone. Hand lining between the terminal end snap/snap swivel and the fish for the purpose of netting is permissible. Gaffing rockfish is illegal in Virginia and is therefore prohibited. Any fish showing fresh marks other than those made by landing nets or hooks may be disqualified. Failure to maintain a contestant’s fish on ice and in good condition my result in disqualification. Anglers presenting a fish to be weighed will be required to attest to the above at weigh in.
11. WEIGH-IN PROCEDURE: The tournament committee will monitor VHF channels 69. Please use other channels to communicate between boats.
a) If weighing in by boat you must be in Milford Haven before 4:00pm on December 7 and 8, in sight of the Morningstar Marina docks and contact the Weigh Master STAN ALLEN on VHF channel 69 or by phone, 804-815-4170, with the boat number and that there is a fish to be weighed. Then proceed in an orderly safe manner to Morningstar Marina. Please use the outside of “L” dock for unloading. Do not tie up any longer than needed.
b) If coming to the weigh-in by vehicle, the angler with a tagged fish to be weighed must be in line by 4:00pm at the waterside weigh station at Morningstar Marina. If you are in route at 3:45 please call 804-815-4170, we will wait.
c) The weigh station will be open from 2:00pm to 4:00pm on December 9 and 10. No exceptions.
12. The weigh master, Stan Allen, with assistance from the Virginia Marine Police will confirm that the fish being weighed have not been tampered with and were freshly caught the day of the tournament. The heaviest fish weighed may be dissected.
13.The winning fish will be determined first by weight then by length, and must be between 19 to 24 inches (nose to furthest tip of the tail along a straight line) in that order. ALL PRIZES WILL BE PAID TO THE PERSON WHO SIGNED THE ENTRY FORM, regardless of the person who caught the fish. To avoid misunderstandings the Tournament Committee urges all participants to develop their own arrangement for the distribution of prizes among captain and crew.
14. All boats should be equipped with a functioning VHF radio. To reach tournament headquarters use VHF channel 69 or call 804-815-4170.
15. The Tournament Committee reserves the right to inspect any boat that participates in the tournament.
16. Any protest concerning a violation of the rules must be presented to the Tournament Committee in writing at weigh-in between 2:00pm and 4:00pm on the day of the alleged violation.
17. Tournament fishing is limited to the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries but not beyond the MD/VA state line and 200 yds east of the CBBT.
18. FISH CONSERVATION IS ENCOURAGED! Please limit your catch on tournament days. All boats should have a functional safe de-hooking device and an accurate hand scale on board. Please support catch and release.
19. Violation of any of the above rules will constitute grounds for disqualification. THE TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE’S DECISIONS SHALL BE FINAL.
For more information please call or text the Tournament Director Frank Thomas 804-938-6088 or email [email protected]
Mathews Rotary 17th Annual
Rockfish Tournament 2023 Rules
December 9th-10th
December 7-8
- The deadline for entries is Friday, December 6th, 2024 at 7:00pm. Captain's night is moved this year to Morningstar Marina FROM 5-7pm. Tournament registration materials, including captain’s bags and fish tags for every boat must be picked up at that time.
- Guaranteed $4,000.00 in cash prizes: Open category, 1st $2,000.00, 2nd $1,000,00, 3rd $700.00.
- All fish in all categories must be between 19 and 24 inches and compliant to all rules outlined by Virginia Marine Resources (VMR) for December.
- Special prizes of $100 for the heaviest fish landed in each of these categories:
- Junior (15 years and younger)
- Senior (65 or older)
- Female
4. This is a Two-day tournament. You can fish either Saturday, Sunday or both days. Only one fish per angler per day and the two heaviest fish per boat per day that are between 19 and 24 inches in length in the open category will be weighed for cash prizes. Additional fish between 19 to 24 inches submitted for the special prizes may also be weighed. Each boat is eligible to win the cash prize from the open category with the two heaviest fish caught that are between 19 to 24 inches over the two-day tournament.
- Categories: Other weighed rockfish between 19 to 24 inches from that boat may be eligible to compete for one or more of the special category cash prizes. Boats must decide what category to place each fish, for example, open, junior, senior, and woman. The same fish can not be used for two categories.
- Tagging: All fish submitted for weighting must be tagged with the appropriate tag PRIOR to surrendering the fish at the weigh station. All tags must be marked with the boat number. Tags for fish being weighed for one of the special categories will have the boat number plus a “J” for junior, “S” for senior, “W” for woman and a photo with the Rotary tape measure for the longest.
- All fish in all categories must be compliant with VMR Rockfish guidelines for December.
6. All participants must adhere to the Virginia Salt Water Fishing Tournament and the Salt Water Fishing Regulations as determined by the Virginia Marine Resources Commission. We encourage all anglers to catch and release all fish that are not in the running for winning a category.
7. The tournament director listed on the entry form is ineligible to compete.
8. This is a CAPTAIN’S CHOICE tournament. It is the captain’s responsibility to decide whether to fish. A GAIL WARNING is the ONLY weather condition that will cancel fishing. If a gale warning is posted by NOOA at 6:00am on Saturday or Sunday, that day will be canceled. If both days are canceled a drawing for the cash prizes will be held at Morningstar Marina on Sunday at 5:00. If there are questions about cancelations call Andy Eubank at 540-539-0070.
9. No lines in the water prior to sunrise on both days of the tournament.
10. All fish must be caught in a sportsman like manner on hook and line. Fish must be hooked and played by a single angler who does not receive assistance from anyone. Hand lining between the terminal end snap/snap swivel and the fish for the purpose of netting is permissible. Gaffing rockfish is illegal in Virginia and is therefore prohibited. Any fish showing fresh marks other than those made by landing nets or hooks may be disqualified. Failure to maintain a contestant’s fish on ice and in good condition my result in disqualification. Anglers presenting a fish to be weighed will be required to attest to the above at weigh in.
11. WEIGH-IN PROCEDURE: The tournament committee will monitor VHF channels 69. Please use other channels to communicate between boats.
a) If weighing in by boat you must be in Milford Haven before 4:00pm on December 7 and 8, in sight of the Morningstar Marina docks and contact the Weigh Master STAN ALLEN on VHF channel 69 or by phone, 804-815-4170, with the boat number and that there is a fish to be weighed. Then proceed in an orderly safe manner to Morningstar Marina. Please use the outside of “L” dock for unloading. Do not tie up any longer than needed.
b) If coming to the weigh-in by vehicle, the angler with a tagged fish to be weighed must be in line by 4:00pm at the waterside weigh station at Morningstar Marina. If you are in route at 3:45 please call 804-815-4170, we will wait.
c) The weigh station will be open from 2:00pm to 4:00pm on December 9 and 10. No exceptions.
12. The weigh master, Stan Allen, with assistance from the Virginia Marine Police will confirm that the fish being weighed have not been tampered with and were freshly caught the day of the tournament. The heaviest fish weighed may be dissected.
13.The winning fish will be determined first by weight then by length, and must be between 19 to 24 inches (nose to furthest tip of the tail along a straight line) in that order. ALL PRIZES WILL BE PAID TO THE PERSON WHO SIGNED THE ENTRY FORM, regardless of the person who caught the fish. To avoid misunderstandings the Tournament Committee urges all participants to develop their own arrangement for the distribution of prizes among captain and crew.
14. All boats should be equipped with a functioning VHF radio. To reach tournament headquarters use VHF channel 69 or call 804-815-4170.
15. The Tournament Committee reserves the right to inspect any boat that participates in the tournament.
16. Any protest concerning a violation of the rules must be presented to the Tournament Committee in writing at weigh-in between 2:00pm and 4:00pm on the day of the alleged violation.
17. Tournament fishing is limited to the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries but not beyond the MD/VA state line and 200 yds east of the CBBT.
18. FISH CONSERVATION IS ENCOURAGED! Please limit your catch on tournament days. All boats should have a functional safe de-hooking device and an accurate hand scale on board. Please support catch and release.
19. Violation of any of the above rules will constitute grounds for disqualification. THE TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE’S DECISIONS SHALL BE FINAL.
For more information please call or text the Tournament Director Frank Thomas 804-938-6088 or email [email protected]
Mathews Rotary 17th Annual
Rockfish Tournament 2023 Rules
December 9th-10th
| 2023_mathews_rotary_rockfish_tournament_rules.docx |
| stb_card_july2023.pdf |