Niantic Sharkweek Registration and Rules

KEY INFORMATION

Tournament Dates and Hours: June 25th-July 3rd, 2022, A Captains meeting will be held on Friday Night June 24th 2022 via FACEBOOK live (@Tristatecanyonshootout) Rules, Captains Buckets and T-Shirts Can be picked up at J&B Friday June 24th after 3pm or at the Dock Restaurant from 5:30 to 6:30. Awards Cocktail Party will be held at the DOCK Restaurant, Waterford on Sunday July 3rd following the fishing hours.

Boats have the option of picking two consecutive days staying overnight or two separate day trips. Overnight trips may not exceed 36 hours and Day trips my not exceed 14 hours. Boats are not permitted to leave the check-in point prior to 5am on any fishing day (Overnight or Day Trip). Weigh-in will be at the The Dock Restaurant in Waterford, CT. All boats wishing to weigh fish must be inside the Niantic River Bridge prior to 7pm on a day trip or 5pm on an overnight. (If a boat is locked outside the bridge due to a bridge closure the boat must contact the Tournament Committee via cell phone or Tournament Channel (VHF Ch.69) for exception. Boats fishing overnights may weight a fish on the first day and return to the fishing grounds immediately following the weigh-in. Scales close at 7pm on all days. All fish must be at the scales prior to 7pm any on a day trip or 5pm on the second day of an overnight or will not qualify.

Captain’s Meeting: All boats are required to have a representative sign that they acknowledge responsibility for any rules, changes or clarifications made at the Captains meeting. The captain’s meeting will be held on Friday June 24th via a YouTube video. Link will be made available via online posts and emails to participants. Any ques­tions and comments should be sent to Tristateshootout@gmail.com.

Notice: The Tri-State Niantic Sharkweek Tournament will not be responsible for any penalty or fine incurred by any angler or boat who boats a species which does not meet Federal and/or State size limit requirements or other restrictions. It is the responsibility of the angler and team to be aware of current Federal and/or State regulations regarding catching and/or boating species of fish eligible in this tournament. Fish which do not meet the Fed­eral and/or State regulations may no be brought back to the dock regardless of weight and will not be eligible for any prizes. As a NMFS Permitted Tournament all anglers must used circle hooks on all baits while fishing in this Tournament!

Electronic Check-In Information:
Dockage and Check-in point: Boats are permitted to leave from any Marina, one of two check in points Check-in Point #1 Montauk point showing Montauk light, Check-in Point #2 Block Island windfarm towers (any tower). Fog Safety option: In the event of thick fog for the safety of the vessels a picture on the GPS with the check-in card showing the proximity to the check-in point will be accepted. GPS units must show the vessel and the vessels position. Check in will be done via text message. Boats are required to have a designated phone for the check-in purposes and that phone must be operational and capable of the check in procedure for check-in as well as weigh-in. Any boat with weighing a fish without the designated phone operational and containing the required tournament information for check-in and weigh-in will have their fish disqualified. Check-in will consist of: 1) An initial text to the Tournament committee announcing your departure. Texts must be from Check-in point. 2) A return text from the committee containing an authorization code. 3) A text from the Tournament boat back to the committee containing a picture of the code on the boat# Card with choice of check-in point in the back­ground. 4) A confirmation text from committee sending you off. All texts must be present at the time of weigh-in. 5) Upon returning the Tournament committee must be notified at least 30 minutes prior to your arrival at the Niantic via text or voice to the committee cell#. Cell #’s will be given at the Captains meeting.

Points System:
Mako, Thresher, or Porbeagel over 68” 300 pts
Mako, Thresher or Porbeagel under 60” 100 pts
Tiger Shark Release 200 pts
Hammer Head, Dusky, Brown 75 pts
Blue Sharks & Undistinguishable 15 pts

The 2022 Points for Weighed Sharks are the following:
Only Mako and Thresher Sharks qualify to be weighed, must meet minimum requirements
Mako or Porbeagel 1 pt per pound
Thersher 3/4 pt per pound

Minimum Requirements
Mako 71” for Males & 83” for Females
Thresher Shark 150 lbs or greater
*NEW*
Bluefin Tuna 27” – 47” (2) 47” – 73” (1)
Tuna are measured using the curved fork length method
All boats fish under HMS Angling rules while entered in a Tournament