Sunday September 17th OFFICIAL RULES & PRIZE CATEGORIES 2023
- ELIGIBLE SPECIES: The following 9 species will be eligible for prizes: Bluefish, Spot,
Speckled Trout, Flounder, Gray Trout, Croaker, Red Drum 18-26″, Sand Mullet, & Oyster Toad. - PORT ASSIGNMENT: Anglers may fish anywhere in Virginia waters but must return to the Onancock
Wharf weigh-in site by 5:00 P.M. to be eligible for prizes. - FISHING HOURS: Fishing will begin at 6:30 A.M., and all anglers must be present at the
weigh-in site by 5:00 PM. It is the responsibility of participants to synchronize with Tournament
time. - ENTRY FEES: Adult: $25; Youths 15 and under: FREE when fishing from a registered boat.
- ENTRY FORM: The entry form must be completed in its entirety by the boat captain/owner.
- DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES (REGISTRATION): 10:00 A.M. September 16 (or 10:00 A.M. on bad-weather
date). - BOAT ANGLERS: All persons on a boat must be registered to fish in the tournament and must pay
entry fee. YOUTH ANGLERS ARE FREE – if fishing on a registered boat. - BOAT INSPECTION: The Tournament Committee reserves the right to inspect any or all boats
entered in the Tournament. - LIABILITY: All boats shall adhere to U.S. Coast Guard and State requirements and regulations.
The Eastern Shore of Virginia Anglers Club, the Town of Onancock, event sponsors, and any volunteer
workers will not be responsible for a participant failing to comply with Tournament rules or for
accident, injury, or damage that may occur during the Tournament. - JUDGING TIES: If, after the final weigh-in, a tie exists, the earliest fish entered will be
the winner. - CONSERVATION: Participants are encouraged to release fish they do not plan to eat or enter in
the Tournament. Our rules conform to Virginia’s slot limits for red drum and striped bass, so if
you catch one of these fish that exceeds those limits, please handle and release them carefully. - METHOD OF CATCH: All fish must be caught by rod and reel or hand line. All fish must be
identifiable as to species and must not be cut, bitten, speared, shot, or otherwise mutilated in
any way except by hook or gaff marks. No commercial gear may be used. - WEIGH-IN: Weigh-in begins at 4:00 P.M. Each contestant may enter the weigh-in line only one
time with only one fish per eligible species. - COMMUNICATIONS: The Tournament Committee chairman can be reached at 757-709-8697.
- SPECIES ELIGIBILITY: Each angler is responsible for identifying the fish they present to the
weigh master, and is responsible for making sure that it meets current state and tournament rules
regarding length. - WEIGHING FISH: The weigh master is solely responsible for determining the weight of fish. At
his or her discretion, the weigh master may inspect any fish presented for weigh-in. Any fish may
also be inspected by a marine biologist or conservation officer. - MEASURING FISH: Each angler is responsible for making sure that the fish they weigh in meets
current state and tournament rules for minimum and maximum total length. The weigh master will
measure fish to make sure that they conform to these rules, following these published VMRC
regulations: “Total length means the length of a fish measured from the most forward projection of
the snout, with the mouth closed, to the tip of the longer lobe of the tail (caudal) fin, measured
with the tail compressed along the midline, using a straight-line measure, not measured over the
curve of the body. Snout means the most forward projection from a fish’s head that includes the
upper and lower jaw.” - WEATHER CONDITIONS: In the event of bad weather, the Tournament Committee may elect to
postpone the Tournament provided that the decision is made by 8:00 A.M. on the Tournament morning.
Adverse weather developing after fishing has started will place the decision of whether or not to
continue in the hands of the owner/captain. In the event of Saturday’s fishing being postponed, the
Tournament will be moved to Sunday, September 17. - RULES VIOLATIONS: Any violation of Tournament rules will be grounds for disqualification.
Questions or issues not covered by the rules will be resolved by the Tournament Committee. - DRAWINGS: All participants will be entered into drawings for dozens of valuable
fishing-related prizes, leading up to the Grand Prize drawing worth more than $300. You don’t have
to weigh in a fish to be eligible for the drawings, but YOU MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN A DRAWING PRIZE.
PLEASE PATRONIZE OUR SPONSORS
PRIZE WINNERS & CATEGORIES: There are 12 prize categories for 2023 Winning entries will be
determined by weight in the following categories:
A. Largest and second-largest adult-caught entries in all eight species categories
B. Largest and second-largest youth-caught entries in all eight species categories
C. Heaviest speckled trout, The Bob Tytus Award
D. Heaviest oyster toad
E. Heaviest Anglers Club member caught fish, The George Phillips Award
F. Best adult-caught fish-closest to citation weight.
G. Best youth-caught fish-closest to citation weight.
H. Heaviest Puppy Drum
I. Captains of Boats landing adult-caught species winner
Link to registration form in PDF http://www.esanglersclub.org/wp-content/uploads/Bay-Challenge-Registration-Form-2023.pdf
Link to official rules in PDF http://www.esanglersclub.org/wp-content/uploads/Bay-Challenge-Rules-2023.pdf