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River Center Junior Angler Tournament

River Center Junior Angler Tournament

July 1 - July 30, 2023

SPONSOR

Tournament Rules

Tournament Format and Registration:

·         All participants must register online at http://www.lrdrivercenter.org/jrangler2023

·         Visit the River Center if you need to complete your registration in person.

·         Participants are required to download the ReelTime Tournament app (Fish On) to your smartphone and create an account. Parents with multiple children fishing should create an account for themselves and then register their anglers under their account.  This will enable you to be able to switch between anglers when uploading catches.

·         It’s easy to participate! Between July 1, 2023 and July 30, 2023 when you catch a fish, be sure to snap a selfie that includes the junior angler, the 2023 River Center lanyard (or bracelet), and the fish. Then use the FishOn Tournament app to submit the details of your catch and the associated photo (photographic evidence is mandatory for a fish to count in the tournament).  If you want to participate and don’t have access to a smartphone, please contact the River Center for assistance. You MUST be registered before submitted entries will be counted.

·         The tournament is open to anglers between the ages of 5 and 17.

·         Anglers are scored on the diversity and quantity of their catches. The more fish you catch and the more species you catch, the better your chances are to win.

·         Species will be verified by a panel of fishing experts.

·         Registration is open until July 30, 2023.

·         $25/per child to participate – includes a t-shirt and gift bag. Awards will be announced at our award ceremony on Friday, August 4th

·         Anglers and a parent are encouraged to attend our Captain’s Meeting on June 30, 2023 at 6:00 pm at the River Center. At this meeting, we will discuss rules and offer assistance downloading the tournament app.

 

Rules and Regulations:

·         Registered anglers are scored by submitting photographs and information about their catch. Photos must include the angler with their catch and a 2023 River Center lanyard or bracelet to be counted toward their total score. Lanyards and bracelets may be picked up at the River Center at 805 North US Highway One, Jupiter 33477 on Friday, June 30, 2023 at 6:00 pm at our Captain’s Meeting.

·         Please contact the River Center if you would like to receive lanyards or bracelets by mail.

·         Lanyards and bracelets will not be given out prior to June 30, 2023.

·         We encourage anglers to maintain a “Fish Log” (sample attached) and the associated photos to help us work through any scoring discrepancies.

·         Points will be awarded based on the number of fish species and the number of individual fish caught. Anglers will receive one (1) point for each individual fish, and two (2) points for each species captured during the tournament. Note: scoring in the app must be manually adjusted to account for the points associated with the number of species caught. This will be done at the end of the tournament.

o   Example: An angler submitting photographs of two (2) Mangrove Snapper and one (1) Checkered Puffer would be scored as follows:

      Fish Points (1 point for every fish caught):                 3 points

      Species Points (2 points for each species caught):     4 points

            Total Tournament Points:                                           7 points total

·         All participants must abide by State of Florida Fishing Laws and Regulations. Note: children under 16 are exempt from the fishing license requirement.  Go to www.myfwc.com for more details. We recommend anglers download www.fishrulesapp.com, which provides recreational saltwater fishing regulations in an easy to use interface.

·         All fish must be caught by hook and line. No more than 2 hooks per line may be used (e.g., fish caught on sabiki rigs with more than 2 hooks may not be entered).

·         Fish must be a minimum of 5 inches to qualify for points. Fish less than 5-inches total length will not be considered in judging. Need a ruler? Use the back of the tournament badge to see if your fish is long enough.

·         In an effort to protect our released fish, we request that anglers use circle hooks (available at your local tackle shop).

·         Species Limits: Participants will receive points for up to 25 fish for each individual species during the tournament.

o   Example: Each angler will receive points for a maximum of 25 individuals of a given species. If an angler reports catching 50 largemouth bass, the angler will receive credit for the first 25 largemouth bass.

·         Tournament boundaries are all freshwater and saltwater in Martin County and Palm Beach County.

·         Prizes will be awarded to the top scoring anglers in their age group. Age groups are as follows: 5-7, 8-10, 11-13, and 14-17.

Recommendations:

·      We recommend that anglers use circle hooks with natural bait (shrimp, squid, worms) to avoid gut-hooking fish.  Circle hooks are a safer option for fish and helps them to recover once released.  Using circle hooks requires a slightly different technique to set the hook in the fish jaw.  Gently pull the line instead of jerking it when the fish bites.

·         Always handle the fish with wet hands to preserve their slime coat.  This coating helps them to fight disease.

·         Record the number of days that you fish and the duration of your fish trip (if you want to include your location that would be great too! Shhhh. We promise not to tell where your best fishing hole is to other anglers).  We want to start collecting this data to help scientists assess and track fish stocks.