5th Annual Dare County Boat Builders Challenge

Welcome to one of Pirate’s Coves crown jewel tournaments that’s just for owners
of boats hand-crafted in the legendary Dare County. For those lucky individuals
owning a Paul Mann Custom, Bayliss, Scarborough, Spencer, Ritchie Howell,
Blackwell, Holton, or any other boat made in Mann’s Harbor or Wanchese, THIS
TOURNAMENT IS JUST FOR YOU.

New for 2008, The Dare County Boat Builders Foundation have decided to add
an additional day of fishing to the 5th Annual Boat Builders Challenge at Pirate’s Cove.
You will fish the best two days of three.

Last year, DeWalt Power Tools was the Diamond sponsor and the event hosted 35 boats
from North Carolina and other states. Our one-of-a-kind waterfront pavilion will play
host to several national and local sponsors whose merchandise will be available for
purchase onsite. Come compete against the best and enjoy the camaraderie of
being a Dare County boat owner.

Boat slips are limited so register today.

Click here to download the registration form.

Registration:
July 17

Days of Fishing:
July 18, 19 and 20

AWARDS FEES:

      85% of the Entry Fee is donated to the Dare County Boat Builders Foundation.

RULES:

1. Registration will be held on Thursday July 17, 2008, from 6-8 pm at Pirate’s Cove Marina Tournament Pavilion, registration is open to boats built in Dare County only. The Captain’s meeting will be held at 7:30pm.

2. Boats will fish 2 out of 3 fishing days. Fishing hours are from 9am-3pm July 18 and 19 and from 8am-2pm on July 20. No lines or teasers in the water prior to 9am or after 3pm. Any billfish hooked and reported to the Committee Boat prior to 3pm may be played until caught or released.

3. Lay Day – A registered member of the fishing team or boat’s crew must turn in a form declaring one lay day by 9am that day at Pirate’s Cove Marina Booking Desk.

4. Official Clock – TIME STARTS THE FIRST DAY OF THE TOURNAMENT. Official tournament time will be continuous GPS time. In case of a tie, time of catch/release will be used to determine the winner. The Rules Committee may consult the Committee Boat log to reach a decision based on fractions of a minute or sequence of catch.

5. Boundaries – All fish must be hooked within tournament boundaries with are: North 41350; South 40000; East 26700; fish can then be played outside boundaries until caught or released.

6. Point System – All billfish must be released to obtain points. This is a release ONLY tournament with the exception of the game fish category which includes dolphin, tuna, and wahoo. All releases for blue marlin, white marlin, sail fish, spear fish, and sword fish will count as 70 points each. In the event of a tie, the team catching the equal number of fish first wins.

7. Tackle – All IGFA rules apply unless otherwise noted. All fish must be hooked and caught by angler. For more about anglers, see 8 below. Unconventional, non-trolling techniques are strictly prohibited. No backing into schools, casting, use of casting tackle, use of live bait or live bait teasers.

8. Anglers – There is no limit to the number of eligible anglers per boat. All anglers must be registered with the Tournament Director prior to each eligible day’s fishing. Any fish caught by a non-registered angler will be disqualified. No person who has been a captain or mate (for hire on a sport fishing boat) or paid angler in the last 12 months can qualify as an angler.

9. Releases – In order to qualify a billfish as a release one of the following conditions must be met: (1) the leader is touched by a team leader, angler or mate, OR (2) the knot or swivel connecting the leader to the main line touches the rod tip.

10. Scoring/Score sheets – The scoring table, located in the Tournament Pavilion, will close Friday and Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 7pm. Scorecards must be turned in by closing in order to receive points that day. Scorecard must show date, angler’s name, junior or lady angler designation, time of release and signature of anglers and captain.

11. Reporting catch – All billfish released must be reported to a committee boat (to be announced at the Captain’s meeting) on the VHF radio channel 74 or Side Band Radio channel 4149.0. Only billfish releases need be reported. Hook-ups in the last 10 minutes of each day will also require reporting to the committee boat. The committee boat will respond with a time of release. If committee boat cannot be raised, then a verifiable report must be given to another tournament boat. Note boat name on scorecard.

12. Game fish – if you’re entered in category 4, Game Fish, you’ll be eligible for trophies and cash for the 1st and 2nd place of each of the following species: wahoo, dolphin, tuna (including yellow fin, black fin, and big eye). Fish are to be brought to the weigh station each day by a team representative no later than 8pm for weighing by the weigh master. If two or more entries are the same weight, then the fish with the largest total measurements (length and girth) shall be deemed the winner. If the weight and total measurements are the same, the fish with the earliest weigh in time will determine the winner.

13. Protests / disputes – must be submitted in writing to the Tournament Director by 9am on the day following the catch of the disputed fish and by 6:30pm on Sunday July 20. The rules committee at their discretion may use polygraph test to reach a decision. By virtue of signing the entry form all participants agree to the final decision of the rules committee.

14. Cancellation Policy – If the weather and/or other conditions exist that require cancellation of the tournament, refunds will be paid less tournament expenses. The decision to cancel the tournament will be made by the tournament director.