OFFICIAL TOURNAMENT RULES

Tournament Date, Saturday JULY 9th, 2021

Lines in: 6am

Weigh ins close 5:30pm

Foul weather

The tournament is scheduled rain or shine.  However, if fishing conditions are determined to be unsafe a reschedule date of July 16th may be offered.  In the event the tournament is rescheduled entrants may request a refund in full within 24 hours of announcement. In the unlikely scenario that this is the case the decision will be made by 6pm July 8th and all registrants notified via email. 

General Rules

Angler/Rod Restrictions 

Tournament Vessels are limited to 6 rods in the water at any one time and no more than 6 anglers may be present on the boat. If chartering a vessel, the captain and/or mate are considered part of the tournament team and count towards the total number of anglers. All fish must be caught by the registered angler/team aboard the registered vessel by hook and line only.

Boundaries 

All vessels must depart and return from New Jersey waters. Vessels may not depart from their port prior to 4am the day of the tournament. . Northern / Southern Boundary Point is the southern tip of the Axle Carlson Artificial Reef Site (39º59.772’N •73º59.376’W) and the Northern side of the Point Pleasant Canal in the bay. You may not fish another region boundary during the tournament. Doing so will result in forfeiture of entry fees and prize money won.

Fish and Prize eligibility

Prizes are based on the weight of the single heaviest fish 18” or larger. Teams may weigh in 2 summer flounder greater than 18” and are eligible to win 2 prizes in each their region and overall.

Entry, Calcuttas & Payouts

The tournament entry fee for private vessels is $200. These fees make you eligible for the following tournament prizes:

Single Heaviest Summer Flounder

Overall

1st - 15% of all entry fees collected

2nd - 10% of all entry fees collected

3rd - 5% of all entry fees collected

Regions (Payouts for Both North and South Jersey)

1st - 15 % of entry fees collected in your region

2nd - 10% of entry fees collected in your region

3rd - 7.5% of entry fees collected in your region

4th - 5% of entry fees collected in your region

5th - 2.5% of entry fees collected in your region

Special Prizes

Weigh Station - The heaviest fish weighed in at each weigh station will receive a $100 gift certificate to that weigh station.

Jr Angler - Anglers in each region 16 and under who weigh in the heaviest summer flounder will win a prize pack.

Calcutta’s

Calcutta Options

Calcutta’s are single entry and payout both regionally 60% overall 30% and 10% to the club.

Entrants will either enter the single fee Calcutta wholly or decline. Entrants in the Calcutta have the option to add on a $500 high roller entry

Heaviest Fluke: Single heaviest summer flounder over 18”

Heaviest Slot: Single heaviest summer flounder between 17-17.99”

Heaviest Bycatch: Single heaviest skate, smooth or spiny dogfish

High Roller Fluke: Single heaviest summer flounder over 18”

Calcutta Option: $300 entry fee breakdown:

Heaviest Fluke: $60 of entry paid to the regional winner. $30 of entry paid to the overall winner.

Heaviest Slot: $60 of entry paid to the regional winner. $30 of entry paid to the overall winner.

Heaviest Bycatch: $60 of entry paid to the regional winner. $30 of entry paid to the overall winner.

Calcutta High Roller Add-on: $500

Heaviest Fluke: $500: $300of entry paid to the regional winner. $150 of entry paid to the overall winner.

Weigh in Locations: You muse weigh in at your registered weigh station

Keyport, Up Front Bait and Tackle

Belmar, Fisherman’s Den

Point Pleasant, Fisherman’s Supply

LBI, Fisherman’s Headquarters/Jingles

Atlantic City, One Stop

Cape May, Jim’s Bait & Tackle

Weigh in Process

You must register for a weigh station upon paying entry fee. You must arrive at your designated weigh station prior to 5:30pm.

Upon arriving to weigh station your registered captain must be present and present fish for weigh in.  You are limited to weighing in fish based on the prizes you are eligible for. We will not check the weights of multiple fish to see which is heaviest.  Have your fish ready to go upon entering the weigh station.  

You must photograph your fish on the scale and photograph your completed weigh slip in the event any weigh ins are contested we will use these photographs as evidence. We also request you take a photo with the fish while on the vessel.   Failure to do this may result in forfeiture of prize monies.

Results require confirmation and are tentative pending any written disputes.

Winners will be confirmed and announced within 48 hours of close of weigh in. Winner checks will be eligible for disbursement within 10 business days following tournament. Entrants winning more than $600 will be required to fill out IRS Form W9.

Anyone wishing to contest the results must do so in writing within 24 hours of announcement by providing testimony and/or evidence to matt@njfishingclub.com.

*****Winners may be required to take a polygraph test cost paid by NJ Fishing Club. Failure to comply with polygraph within 14 days or failing test results will result in forfeiture of winnings.*****

***How the fishing club makes money on the tournament.

We pay about 4% in processing fees on all transactions. We reserve 30% of the money from the entry fees and 10% of the monies from the calcutta’s. After the processing fees are deducted the club retains about 26% and 6% respectively. The rest of the monies are paid out to the anglers. When our events are cancelled, we still have to pay processing fees and take a loss.

Our goal is to be completely transparent during all of our events. We will post all of the entry’s and breakdowns the morning of the event and the results as soon as they are confirmed.

We charge a registration fee to offset these costs against past and future losses.