GENERAL RULES

1. REGISTRATION-

BASIC ENTRY REGISTRATION FEE IS $150 PER ANGLER BEFORE 5/1/24 & $200 PER ANGLER AFTER. REGISTRATION CAN BE COMPLETED ONLINE AT www.fishnpaddle.com OR AT ONSITE REGISTRATION ON 6/21/24.

2. FISHING DATES-

Jun 22-23, 2024

3. FISHING TIMES-

LINES IN 5:30AM AND OUT AT 3PM. ANGLERS MUST CHECK IN WITH TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE BEFORE LINES IN WATER TO SIGN WAIVERS AT:

A. ON SITE REGISTRATION 5:30PM-7PM FRIDAY JUNE 21, 2024 AT THE SHARK ON THE HARBOR/ATLANTIC TACKLE PARKING LOT IN WEST OCEAN CITY. ANGLERS' MEETING IS 7:00PM- 7:20PM FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2024. PLEASE PARK IN COMMERCIAL HARBOR LOT AND WALK TO ATLANTIC TACKLE. DO NOT PARK IN ATLANTIC TACKLE'S LOT.

B. ANGLERS WHO CANNOT ATTEND THE ANGLERS' MEETING ON FRIDAY MUST CHECK IN SATURDAY MORNING AT 5:30-6AM IN COMMERCIAL HARBOR OR MAKE ARRANGEMENTS WITH THE TOURNAMENT PRIOR TO THE ANGLERS' MEETING.

ANGLERS MAY NOT PUT BOATS IN WATER PRIOR TO 5AM.

ANGLERS CAN TAKE BREAKS ON BEACHES OR DOCKS FOR LUNCH OR RESTROOMS AT MANY WATERFRONT RESTAURANTS BUT CANNOT FISH FROM A PIER. ANGLERS ARE PERMITTED TO BEACH THEIR BOATS AND FISH FROM LAND WITHIN 20 FEET OF THEIR VESSEL AND MUST BE ATTACHED TO IT WHILE FISHING. ANGLERS ARE NOT PERMITTED TO FISH INTENTIONALLY DOWNSTREAM OF ANOTHER VESSEL CHUMMING.

ANGLERS ARE NOT PERMITTED TO FISH TETHERED TO A BRIDGE OR PIER.

4. BOUNDARIES-

ANGLERS ARE PERMITTED TO FISH ALL ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS WITHIN WORCESTER COUNTY, MARYLAND AND OUT 3 MILES TO THE EEZ. THIS INCLUDES SINEPUXENT BAY AND ASSAWOMAN BAY, AND PART OF CHINCOTEAGUE BAY BEHIND ASSATEAGUE ISLAND. ANGLERS ARE PERMITTED TO TRANSPORT THEIR PADDLE VESSEL VIA CAR/TRUCK TO ALL WORCESTER COUNTY/OCEAN CITY PARKS AND BOAT RAMPS AND PUBLIC ACCESS POINTS INCLUDING PUBLIC BEACHES. CHESAPEAKE BAY TRIBUTARIES WITHIN WORCESTER COUNTY ARE NOT PERMITTED.

5. ONSITE REGISTRATION AND ANGLERS MEETING-

ON SITE REGISTRATION 5:30PM-7PM FRIDAY JUNE 21, 2024 AT THE SHARK ON THE HARBOR. ANGLERS' MEETING IS 7:00PM- 7:20PM FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2024. FOOD & DRINKS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT SHARK ON THE HARBOR. WE WILL HAVE DOOR PRIZES & RAFFLES AT THE ANGLERS' MEETING.

6. RESPONSIBLE SEAMANSHIP-

ANGLERS AND ANY OTHER MEMBERS ON A VESSEL ENTER THIS TOURNAMENT AT THEIR OWN RISK. ANGLERS MUST MAKE THEIR OWN JUDGEMENTS WHETHER TO FISH UNDER THE PREVAILING WEATHER CONDITIONS BASED ON THE SIZE AND SEAWORTHINESS OF THEIR VESSEL, THEIR SEAMANSHIP SKILLS AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT FACTORS KNOWN. ANGLERS SHALL STRIVE TO FISH GREATER THAN 20 FT FROM OTHER TOURNAMENT BOATS (I.E., STRONG CURRENTS MAY CAUSE LESS THAN THIS FROM TIME TO TIME SO BE AWARE OF THE SEA CONDITIONS). IF SOMEONE NEEDS ASSISTANCE IN EXTREME CIRCUMSTANCES, CONTACT COAST GUARD ON CHANNEL 16 AND THEN CONTACT TOURNAMENT VHF CHANNEL 69 OR TOURNAMENT PHONE AT 443-783-7410. WE WANT PEOPLE TO HAVE FUN AND BE SAFE.

7. TACKLE, ANGLING AND VESSEL REQUIREMENTS-

ALL FISH MUST BE CAUGHT ON A FISHING ROD AND REEL WITH A HOOK AND LINE BY ANY CONVENTIONAL METHOD. TROLLING, CHUNKING, JIGGING, CASTING, KITE FISHING, AND LIVEBAITING ARE PERMITTED. WADE FISHING WITHIN 20 FEET OF COMPLETELY BEACHED OR TETHERED ANCHOR KAYAK IS PERMITTED. NO LIMITS ON LINES OR FISHING RODS UNLESS REGULATED BY THE STATE OF MARYLAND. KAYAKS, BOTH FOOT PROPULSION AND PADDLE, ARE PERMITTED. STAND UP PADDLEBOARDS ARE PERMITTED. CANOES AND TANDEM KAYAKS ARE PERMITTED AND EACH ANGLER MUST REGISTER AND CAN ONLY WEIGH IN THEIR RESPECTIVE CAUGHT FISH. VESSELS SHOULD BE EQUIPPED WITH ALL COAST GUARD VESSEL EQUIPMENT AS THIS TOURNAMENT IS IN NAVAGATIONAL WATERS AND WE ENCOURAGE A HANDHELD PHONE OR VHF TO BE ON BOARD FOR SAFETY. MOTORIZED PROPULSION IS NOT PERMITTED. IF SOMEONE NEEDS ASSISTANCE IN EXTREME CIRCUMSTANCES CONTACT COAST GUARD ON CHANNEL 16 AND THEN CONTACT TOURNAMENT VHF CHANNEL 69 OR TOURNAMENT PHONE AT 443-783-7410.

A PFD IS REQUIRED TO BE WORN AT ALL TIMES DURING FISHING AND PADDLING. A HANDHELD VHF IS RECOMMENDED FOR EACH ANGLER.

8. FEDERAL AND STATE REQUIREMENTS-

ALL ANGLERS ENTERED IN THE TOURNAMENT WILL FOLLOW THE ANGLING POSSESSION LIMITS AND SIZE REGULATIONS DETERMINED BY APPLICABLE FEDERAL AND STATE OF MARYLAND LAWS/REGULATIONS AND WILL OBTAIN NECESSARY FEDERAL AND STATE LICENSES BEFORE FISHING IN TOURNAMENT. ONLY OPTIONAL ENTRY OPEN RELEASE DIVISION D AND DIVISION E ARE EXEMPT FROM SIZE MINIMUMS.

9. PASSING A FISH TO ANOTHER VESSEL-

PASSING A FISH TO ANOTHER VESSEL IS PROHIBITED.

10. WEIGH INS-

WEIGH INS ARE 12-4PM SATURDAY AND 12-4PM SUNDAY AT ATLANTIC TACKLE AND SPECTATORS ARE WELCOME. ANGLERS WHO WANT TO RELEASE FISH CAN COME TO SCALES MULTIPLE TIMES EACH DAY. ANGLERS MUST BE IN FRONT OF ATLANTIC TACKLE AND CONFIRMED BY THE TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE BEFORE SCALE CLOSING TIMES ON SATURDAY OR SUNDAY TO WEIGH FISH EACH DAY. BOATS MUST CONTACT TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR ON CHANNEL 69 OR PHONE 443-783-7410 PRIOR TO CLEARING THE HARBOR TO GET INSTRUCTIONS FOR WEIGH INS.

11. QUALIFYING FISH-

QUALIFYING FISH ARE LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES:

1. STRIPED BASS

2. BLUEFISH, RIBBON FISH, HOUNDFISH

3. COBIA

4. DRUM (RED & BLACK DRUM)

5. FLOUNDER (SUMMER & WINTER)

6. BOTTOMFISH (I.E., SHEEPSHEAD, BLACK SEA BASS, TRIGGER FISH, SPADEFISH, CROAKER, SPOT)

7. SEA TROUT (I.E., GRAY & SPECKLED TROUT)

8. MACKEREL (I.E, SPANISH & KING)

ANGLERS MAY WEIGH ALL FISH CAUGHT EACH DAY WITH RESPECT TO MINIMUM SIZE AND DAILY POSSESSION LIMITS FOR THE ATLANTIC & COASTAL BAYS. CLICK ON: www.eregulations.com/maryland/fishing/atlantic-ocean-coastal-bays-seasons-sizes-limits/

12. REQUIREMENTS TO WEIGH FISH-

ANGLERS MUST BE PRESENT AND HAVE A CATCH REPORT IN HAND BEFORE TOURNAMENT OFFICIALS WILL WEIGH AND ENTER THEIR CATCH. ALL WEIGHED FISH ARE SUBJECT TO EXAMINATION BY TOURNAMENT OFFICIALS AND MUTILATED FISH ARE NOT PERMITTED TO BE WEIGHED. OFFICIAL WEIGHT ON SCALE WILL BE DETERMINED BY WEIGHMASTER DESIGNATED BY TOURNAMENT OFFICIALS. WEIGHMASTER WILL ROUND WEIGHT TO NEAREST TENTH OF A POUND. LIVE FISH FOR RELEASE WILL BE PUT BACK BY TOURNAMENT OFFICIALS. ANGLERS MAY RETURN TO SCALES MULTIPLE TIMES WITH LIVE FISH DURING WEIGH IN PERIODS EACH DAY.

13. SCORING/POINTS AWARDED FOR WEIGHT-

EACH POUND WILL EQUAL 100 POINTS PER POUND (i.e., 10.1 LB FISH = 1010 POINTS.) EACH FISH IS GIVEN A WEIGHT POINT SYSTEM EQUAL TO ONE 100 POINTS PER POUND. ANGLERS WILL RECEIVE A BONUS 50 POINTS FOR EACH FISH DEEMED ALIVE BY THE WEIGHMASTER THAT IS RELEASED AFTER WEIGH IN BY TOURNAMENT OFFICIALS.

14. IN EVENT OF TIE OF WEIGHED FISH-

TIES WILL BE SPLIT EQUALLY.

15. RULE CHANGES-

TOURNAMENT RULE CHANGES MAY BE MADE BY THE TOURNAMENT OFFICIALS AT ANY TIME UP TO 3 DAYS BEFORE THE TOURNAMENT DATE. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ALL PARTICIPANTS TO FAMILIARIZE THEMSELVES WITH ALL RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THIS TOURNAMENT AND TO ABIDE BY THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THIS TOURNAMENT.

16. PROTESTS & POLYGRAPH-

PROTESTS ARE DISCOURAGED AND WILL REQUIRE A $500 NONREFUNDABLE PROTEST FEE. PROTEST MUST BE MADE IN WRITING ALONG WITH A CHECK WITHIN 1/2 HOUR AFTER SCALES CLOSE. ALL WINNING TEAMS ARE SUBJECT TO A POLYGRAPH TEST IF REQUESTED BY THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR WITHIN 24 HOURS AFTER SCALES CLOSE.

17. RIGHT TO DENY ENTRY-

TOURNAMENT RESERVES THE RIGHT TO DECLINE AN ANGLER ENTRY. AN ENTRY FEE PAID WITH A DISHONORED CHECK OR CREDIT CARD SHALL AUTOMATICALLY VOID THE REGISTRATION. ANYONE UNDER THE AGE OF 18 MUST HAVE LIABILITY WAIVER SIGNED BY A LEGAL GUARDIAN.

18. CREDIT CARD TRANSACTION FEE-

CREDIT CARD TRANSACTIONS REQUIRE A 3% TRANSACTION FEE ON THE AMOUNT CHARGED.

19. DISCLAIMER-

IT IS EXPRESSLY UNDERSTOOD THAT ALL REGISTERED ANGLERS, AND ANY OTHER PERSON HERE AS KNOWN AS PARTICIPANTS WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE FISH N PADDLE SALTWATER SLAM HERE AS KNOWN AS THE TOURNAMENT, DO SO AT THEIR OWN RISK AND JUDGEMENT. THE PARTICIPANTS HEREBY INDEMNIFY AND AGREE TO HOLD HARMLESS, THE TOURNAMENT, AND ITS RESPECTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, VOLUNTEERS, AGENTS, PARTNERS, MEMBERS, AND/OR ATTORNEYS (COLLECTIVELY THE "TOURNAMENT PARTIES") FROM AND AGAINST ANY AND ALL CLAIMS THAT ARISE FROM OR IN CONNECTION WITH ANY NEGLIGENT ACT OR OMISSION OF THE TOURNAMENT INDEMNIFIED PARTIES. ALL PERSONS CONNECTED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY WITH THE OPERATION OF THE TOURNAMENT WHETHER INDIVIDUAL, LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY OR CORPORATION, SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY WHATSOEVER FOR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY AND / OR ANY OTHER DAMAGE INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY DAMAGES ARISING FROM LIBEL, SLANDER, LOSS, DAMAGE, NEGLIGENCE, HARM, INJURY OR DEATH. THE TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REFUSE ENTRY TO ANY BOAT, TEAM OR PERSON. PARTICIPANTS SPECIFICALLY AGREE AND CONSENT TO THE USE OF ANY PHOTOGRAPHY IN WHICH THEY APPEAR OR AUDIO RECORDING BY THE TOURNAMENT FOR ANY PURPOSE WHATSOEVER, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, RESALE, ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL, WITHOUT COMPENSATION OR RESTRICTION OF ANY KIND.