Fall 2008 Tournament - October 22-25, 2008

1. The deadline for entry fee shall be October 22, 2008, at 9:00 pm. The tournament reserves the right to deny entry to anyone. The entry fee shall be $500 per boat prior to September 30, 2008. All entry fees received after September 30, 2008 after 5:00 pm shall be $600.

2. Once officially registered, all entry fees are non-refundable.

3. A boat may be replaced after the entry deadline if due to breakdown or loss of seaworthiness but is subject to approval by Tournament Rules Committee.

4. Any Tournament Official or Tournament Sponsor entering the Tournament in compliance with the Tournament rules is eligible for any, and all prizes.

5. Prizes are awarded solely on the basis of fish weight. In the event of identical weights, the first fish weighed shall be declared the winner.

6. There will be no weather days. This is a Captain's Choice Tournament. Boats will be allowed to fish two of the three fishing days. Any fishing session lasting four or more hours will constitute a fishing day for the Tournament. In the unlikely event of a hurricane watch or warning before the Tournament begins all entries will be carried over to the next scheduled Calcutta Wahoo Challenge.

7. Official Fishing times (EDT) Per Global Positioning System (GPS). No lines or teasers in the water before or after official fishing hours each day. All fish entered for competition shall be hooked during official lines in. Official time will be GPS time.
October 23, 2008  8:30 am - 2:30 pm
October 24, 2008  8:30 am - 2:30 pm
Ocotber 25, 2008  8:30 am - 2:30 pm

8. This is a rod and reel, hook and line tournament. Fish shall not be mutilated in any way other than hook and/or gaff marks. The following practices are illegal in this Tournament: a) Use of hand line or rope attached to the line or leader, b) shooting, harpooning, or lancing and c) no participant may transfer a fish from one boat to another.

9. ONLY Wahoo may be entered into competition.

10. Hooks must be removed from all fish.

11. No Wahoo less than 20 lbs will be accepted.

12. All fish must be fit for human consumption and pass an inspection performed by a Marine Biologist at the weigh station.

13. Only 1 (one) fish per category, per boat, per day will be accepted by the Tournament, except for Wahoo weighed in under rules #27 for the Lady Angler and #28 for the Youth Anglers (only 1 fish per day per category will be accepted for Lady Angler). All fish will be returned to the boat after being weighed.

14. Attempted weight alteration of fish will automatically disqualify the boat from the tournament. IGFA rules apply regarding mutilated fish. The Rules Committee reserves the right to cut open any fish for inspection of suspected weight altering efforts such as inserted weights, ice, water, etc.

15. At least one person from each boat should be represented at the Captain's Meeting and is responsible for knowing the rules including any changes that may take place at the Captain's Meeting.

16. Fishing Boundaries: All boats fishing in The Calcutta Wahoo Tournament must fish between the Southern boundary of 33 degrees 30 minutes North latitude and the Northern boundary of 35 degrees 10 minutes North latitude. All fish must also be hooked within those coordinates.

17. The Rules Committee reserves the right to inspect all boats entered into the competition at any time.

18. Rules, infractions, and disqualification: The violation of any Tournament rule(s) shall constitute grounds for automatic disqualification from the Tournament. The Rules Committee shall be the sole judge for any violation of the rules and its decision shall be final.

19. A Marine Biologist will be on hand for the purpose of advising the Rules Committee and Weigh master. The Weigh master has the right to refuse any fish.

20. Two or more boats congregating (close enough to pass fish) after official lines in each day may be disqualified from the Tournament unless, in the event of an emergency requiring assistance from another boat after communications with the Rules Committee.

21. Fish must be weighed in from the boat in which they were caught and they must come in under their own power. If a boat is not able to make it to the weigh station due to clearance or draft an official tournament vessel will be available to bring fish and a crew member to the weigh scales. No overland transportation of fish to the weigh station will be allowed. Fish must come directly to the weigh station.

22. Official Weigh master will be at Katherine Davis Park located on the Morehead City waterfront. Scales will be open from 3:30 PM to 6:00 PM on Thursday, October 23, Friday, October 24 and Saturday, October 25, 2008. No fish will be accepted after the official scheduled closing of the scales.

23. All protests shall be made to the Rules Committee in writing and shall be accompanied by a $250 cash deposit. All protests shall be made no later than 30 minutes after the last fish has been weighed each day of competition. If the Rules Committee upholds the protest, the $250 deposit shall be returned; otherwise, the $250 cash deposit becomes property of the Calcutta Wahoo Tournament.

24. Polygraph Tests may be administered to the top money winners (captain, mate and angler) and others as deemed necessary by tournament officials. Individuals that are required to take the polygraph test must not have consumed alcohol or any controlled substance within eight hours prior to the test.

25. All Tournament participants consent and authorize the Tournament Committee, sponsors, and their advertising/public relations agencies to use and reproduce names, voices, and/or photographs, whether taken or recorded and circulate the same for any and all purposes of publicity and advertising of all kinds and descriptions in any and all media formats.

26. Small Boat Division prizes are awarded to boats under 40’ manufacturer’s length.  The boat must be registered in Level V.

27. Lady Angler Prize is for the largest Wahoo caught by a Lady 16 years and older. The Lady Angler must catch the fish and accompany fish to scales.

28. Youth Angler Prizes are for the largest 5 Wahoo’s caught by Youths 15 or under. The Youth Anglers must catch the fish and accompany fish to scales.

29. All boats (Charter and Recreational Vessels) entered into the tournament must adhere to all Federal and State Regulations, including the possession of all licenses and permits. Infractions of these regulations will result in disqualification of weighed fish and/or disqualification from the tournament.

30. Any boat having possession of more than 2 Wahoo per person per boat will result in disqualification from the tournament.

31. Participation in any tournament not sanctioned and/or approved by the Calcutta Wahoo Challenge Executive Board, in which the official results are used for awarding prizes or monies, will result in disqualification from the Calcutta Wahoo Challenge.

For the purpose of safety, all boats should comply with U.S. Coast Guard regulations according to size. Boats should be equipped with a VHF radio. Tournament Committee will be monitoring VHF channel #71.