Tournament Rules, License Enforcement

[clt_capt]

So this may be a dead horse, but the DQ of last year's (2010) Big Rock Winner still kinda bugs me - The tournament shouldn't be responsible for enforcing Federal or State regulations - that is the job of those respective enforcement agencies. Should the mate have received a fine for no license - YES, Should the fish been DQ'd - IMHO - No way.

Below are the rules from the WMO that make a whole lot of sense - and the rules from the Big Rock - that seem very wishy washy to me - Thoughts?

WMO - Rule #3
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Participants are assumed to have all necessary permits, licenses and/or registrations required by law. However, it is not the responsibility of the tournament officials or directors to verify that all required permits, licenses and/or registrations are acquired by anglers participating in the tournament. Failure of a winning angler to have obtained any or all required permits, licenses and or registrations shall not be the basis for a protest to be filed under the General Tournament Rules, or for a fish to be disqualified.


Big Rock
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North Carolina Recreational Fishing License: As of 01/01/2009
The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries will require a recreational fishing license for anyone participating in fishing aboard a vessel. This includes a license for the captain, the mate and the anglers. These individual licenses can be purchased on a 10-day, annual or lifetime basis.
252-726-7021. http://www.ncfisheries.net/recreational/NCCRFL.htmParticipant is responsible for knowing all state and federal regulations or any recent changes that may occur.

[Bert Rodgers]

Simple is good

[Carolina Ride]

My bosses thoughts exactly and very well said. He always stated he did not believe it is the job of a tournament to enforce the government's laws BUT the tournament could do so as was done in the case of the Citation during the 2010 tournament and the Court upheld their decision.

For the record, we did not fish the Big Rock this year nor will he fish Pirates Cove this week just because he hates intrusive demands of government in all phases of our lives.

[gottaflylee]

In the Capt. Eddy Haneman Sailfish Tournament, we require the # of the boats HMS permit, but we do not worry about about fishing licenses, that is the job of DMF.

[sunrise]

Rules are rules by definition, not discretions.

[scattered_grass]

My bosses thoughts exactly and very well said. He always stated he did not believe it is the job of a tournament to enforce the government's laws BUT the tournament could do so as was done in the case of the Citation during the 2010 tournament and the Court upheld their decision.

For the record, we did not fish the Big Rock this year nor will he fish Pirates Cove this week just because he hates intrusive demands of government in all phases of our lives.

you guys better get used to not fishing then because it's only going to get worse.

[HOLWACHAGOT]

Rules are rules by definition, not discretions.

WE GOT WAY TOO MANY RULES THOUGH....
and ridiculous rules promote indiscretion.
I think the WMO rules make the Big Rock Rule makers look like wholeasses.

Holwachagot

[Glenn W]

As I understand the Big Rock's rules, one could protest and have a winning fish disqualified because the winning boat's EPIRB was either out of date or not properly registered--- heaven forbid--- lock the scoundrels up--- shackle and chain the entire crew because a 20-year old kid didn't have an up-to-date chicken **** state fishing license .
This intrigues me considering the BIG Rock is more than happy to pay winnings to, and not disqualify, a fugitive from justice.

Common sense is common sense--- then there are rednecks who like to pretend they are Philadelphia Lawyers.

[SharkJP]

As I understand the Big Rock's rules, one could protest and have a winning fish disqualified because the winning boat's EPIRB was either out of date or not properly registered--- heaven forbid--- lock the scoundrels up--- shackle and chain the entire crew because a 20-year old kid didn't have an up-to-date chicken **** state fishing license .
This intrigues me considering the BIG Rock is more than happy to pay winnings to, and not disqualify, a fugitive from justice.

Common sense is common sense--- then there are rednecks who like to pretend they are Philadelphia Lawyers.

SFC needs a "like" button just like facebook. Well said glenn.

[Curmudgeon]

For the record, we did not fish the Big Rock this year nor will he fish Pirates Cove this week just because he hates intrusive demands of government in all phases of our lives.

Intrusive government? Really? It wasn't what the tournament did, it was what a boat crew didn't do - have all the licenses clearly required by tournament rules (not to mention state law). I'm sure the folks at the Big Rock fretted and agonized over your loss, as did Pirates Cove. But your boss needs to get over it already, it was a simple rule that wasn't followed and resulted in what usually happens at tournaments - disqualification! The fact that it was a winning fish just makes it that much more of an 'oh, schit' moment. Life's a bitch, you learn from mistakes, and life usually goes on, at least for most ...