2009 Fish Derby Rules

In order to qualify for the Derbies, please read carefully and note the changes to the 2009 Derby Rules.

These rules pertain to the Valdez Fish Derbies sponsored by the Valdez Fish Derby Committee and its board of directors.
The Valdez Fish Derbies consist of four events: The Halibut Derby, Silver Salmon Derby, Kids Pink Salmon Derby and the Women's Silver Salmon Sisterhood Derby.

The Kids Pink Salmon Derby is in it’s 2nd year for the 2009 season. This derby is open to entrants in four age groups (5yrs to 7yrs, 8yrs to 10yrs, 11yrs to 13yrs, and 14yrs to 16yrs). Prizes will be awarded for the largest three fish entered in each age group. The Derby will be held on July 18th, 2009, weigh-in hours for the entrants will be from 10:00am to 5:00pm on this day. There are no special derby rules that apply to this event, however, those entrants that are 16yrs of age must have an Alaska State fishing license.

The rules hereinafter are consistent for all Derbies sponsored by the Valdez Fish Derby Committee unless a rule is defined as pertaining to a specific derby (i.e. Halibut Derby only).

Rules and Regulations

The rules of the Derbies hereinafter described shall be considered final and binding on both contestants and sponsors and serving for the duration of the Derbies. Judges may, at their discretion, meet such emergencies as they arise with additions to, or amendments of these rules. The Derbies' judges have the power to make decisions in the matters pertaining to the Derbies including eligibility, time limits, weights, and questions relative to participation and conduct of the Derbies; and their decisions shall be final and conclusive on all issues.

Waiver of Liability

All entrants shall recognize that their signature on a Derby ticket is a waiver of liability absolving the Valdez Fish Derby Committee, its officers, directors, and sponsors of the Derbies of any or all damages or liability growing out of the contest by entering the Derbies.

Eligibility to Enter

Any man, woman or child, regardless of age, wishing to enter the Derby, who has complied with the rules of the Derbies, shall be eligible, except only those entrants who are eligible for one of the age groups in the Kids Pink Salmon Derby may enter that derby. Each applicant for entry shall be subject to approval of, or rejection by, the judges.

Qualifications

Contestants wishing to take part in the Derbies shall qualify as follows:

  1. Derby Tickets: Any person wishing to enter into competition for the prizes shall purchase a ticket, either a daily ticket or a season ticket. All daily tickets must be valid for the day of fishing. Season tickets are valid the day of purchase through the end of the derby season (species specific). Every derby ticket purchased offers you the chance to win derby raffles, door prizes at the Awards Ceremony, and gain admission for one person to the “Spawn 'til Dawn” Party. Each daily ticket purchased equals 1 raffle ticket and each season ticket purchased equals 5 raffle tickets for the truck drawing. If your name on the ticket is not legible, the Valdez Fish Derbies reserves the right to not award you the prize.
  2. Tackle: Fishing in the Derbies must be done with regular sport fishing gear. All fish must be caught on rod and reel. Entrants must fish one rod only. A reserve rod may be carried if desired. Any hand-lines, commercial long line gear or commercial nets found on board the boat will disqualify that boat and all contestants on board.
  3. Conduct of Contestants: Failure to live up to any of the prescribed requirements or failure of the contestants to conduct themselves as a sportsperson during the Derbies shall automatically disqualify the contestant from the Derby and (the participation in) eligibility for prizes. If any two contestants observe and file a written complaint against any other contestant for un-sportsmanlike conduct, said contestant must apply for reinstatement by written application to the judges of the Derbies.
  4. Non-Entrants Fishing with Entrants in Boat: Non-entrants may NOT fish in the same boat with entrants with the following exceptions:
    A. Entrants may fish alongside non-entrants while on board a charter boat which is engaged in a passenger-for-hire service. It will be the responsibility of the charter boat captain to insure that the rules concerning hooking and landing are complied with. The charter boat's captain must pre-register with the Valdez Fish Derbies to act as a contestant witness.
    B. All entrants (including children) must have a valid Derby ticket to participate in, and act as a witness in the Derbies. In all other cases, non-entrants may go along for the enjoyment of the outing; however, non-entrants' participation in fishing will disqualify the boat.
  5. Boats: All vessels fishing in the Derby should adhere to all state and federal rules and regulations. All vessels fishing in the Derby must leave from and return to the Valdez small boat harbor to be eligible. For more information please contact the U.S. Coast Guard MSO Valdez at (907) 835-7217, Alaska Department of Fish and Wildlife- Glennallen office (907) 822-3263- Cordova office (907) 424-3184.
  6. Fishing from Shore: Fishing will be allowed from shore, but all fish must be taken from saltwater only and must comply with all State of Alaska fishing regulations. No fishing is allowed within 300 feet of the Solomon Gulch Hatchery.
  7. Witness of Catch:
    A. A Valdez Fish Derbies participant shall have a valid Derby ticket to be eligible for entering and registering a fish. One witness to the actual catching and landing of the fish is required. The witness must be a valid participant of the Valdez Fish Derbies or the operator of a charter boat, provided the charter boat is in fact engaged in passenger-for-hire and the captain is previously registered as a witness with the Valdez Fish Derby Committee.
    B. Participants fishing on shore shall be within 100 feet of each other while fishing, to comply with the witness requirement of section 7A.
    C. A person engaged in the Derby, fishing alone in a boat, may have their catch witnessed by an adjoining boat as long as the boat is fishing in the Derby and has visual contact with the person engaged in Derby fishing, sufficient to confirm that all Derby rules were complied with and the witnessing boat is in compliance with all Derby rules.
  8. Time: Derby fishing time shall be 24 hours per day (Derby day begins at 12:01 A.M. and ends at 12:00 midnight, except where otherwise noted). However, fish can be weighed in only during weigh-in station hours and in accordance with weigh-in rules at the Valdez Fish Derbies Weigh-In Station for Silver Salmon and at the float station near the foot of the ramp closest to the Harbor office for Halibut. Anyone catching a derby fish on the valid day listed on his or her derby ticket may weigh-in a fish that day.
    Weigh-In Hours:
    May 23 - July 24: 3:00 P.M. - 9:00 P.M.;
    July 25 - Sept 5: 12 NOON - 9:00P.M.;
    July 18: Kids Derby weigh in hours: 10 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.
    Aug 8: Women’s Derby weigh in hours: 9:00 A.M. - 6:00 P.M.
    Sept 6: 8:00 A.M. - NOON.
  9. Landing Fish: Each contestant must hook, play, and bring fish to the side of the boat or edge of the shore and only then may aid be received (shooting of halibut is allowed).
  10. Weighing of Fish: The following rules must be complied with for a fish to be entered in the Derby:
    A. Assistance may be provided for halibut. All fish entered in the Derby will be weighed in the “round” and in the presence of the contestant and the Derby official(s) or fish weigh-in contractor. All fish placed on or hung from the scales will be allowed to rest for fifteen-seconds prior to the weight being recorded.
    B. At the time the fish is weighed, the contestant must have one qualified witness who observed the fish being caught and the tackle used, and complies with the witness requirements in section #7.
    C. All fish must be cut open in the presence of the Derby Official or fish weigh in contractor immediately after weighing. Any evidence of fish tampering will result in permanent disqualification.
    D. An entrant and the witness must show valid Derby tickets at the time their fish is being weighed.
    E. Halibut must be hung by the tail for weigh-in purposes.
    F. If a “snag mark” is found on any salmon, that fish cannot be entered in the Derby.
  11. Prizes: No one contestant may win more than one of the top three season prizes for each Derby (Not to include Women's Silver Salmon Sisterhood Derby). No one contestant in the Silver Salmon Derby may win any more than four daily Derby prizes during each Derby (30 days).
    A. Salmon: The contestant who catches the heaviest salmon by round weight and presents that fish to the weigh-in station within the prescribed period, and having complied with all Derby rules as applicable, shall be judged the winner. OVERALL: 1st, 2nd, 3rd: The three heaviest salmon weighed in during the entire season will be awarded the top three overall prizes in order of ranking by weight.
    B. Halibut: The contestant who catches the heaviest halibut by round weight and presents that fish to the weigh-in station within the prescribed period, and having complied with all Derby rules applicable, shall be judged the winner. OVERALL: 1st, 2nd, 3rd: The three heaviest halibut weighed in during the entire season will be awarded the top three overall prizes in order of ranking by weight.
    C. Protests: Protests of any nature must be made in writing to the Derby's Judges Committee before the prizes have been awarded.
    D. In the case of ties, the first logged fish weighed will be awarded the higher prize.
    E. All prizes must be claimed in Valdez within thirty (30) days after the prize list is made public. No merchandise may be redeemed for cash. No prizes will be exchanged. The final prize list is binding.
    F. Any taxes on cash or other prizes are the sole responsibility of the accepting individual winners. Certain prizewinners will be asked to provide a tax identification number. Winning contestants reserve the right to refuse any prizes of their choice. Reported dollar value will reflect the actual value of the prize received.
    G. The values shown on the prize list are set by the donors. The Valdez Derby Committee will not be responsible should any prize prove to be of less value than shown in the donor's estimates.
    H. The Valdez Fish Derby Committee reserves the right to use any entrant's name and/or photo in any advertising and/or promotion of future Derbies without compensation.
    I. Contestants need not be present to win. Be sure your correct name, mailing address, and phone number is on the Derby ticket. Legibility of name and address are important for expeditious awards.
    J. Weekly prizes are awarded based on a week consisting of Sunday 12:01 A.M. through Saturday 12 midnight. All weekly prizes will be awarded the following Monday. The first and last week of the Derbies may be adjusted by one day more or less to accommodate the weekends.
    K. Daily prizes are awarded based on a day consisting of 12:01 A.M. through 12 midnight. All daily prizes will be awarded the following day.
    Please note: The Close of each Derby Day is 12 Midnight.
  12. Fish Species: All fish entered in the Derbies must be of the species defined by the Derby ticket entry and judged as to its species. Any questionable entry shall be reviewed by the Derby Judges Committee or Derby Official with 48 hours of notification to determine eligibility or disqualification. Decisions as to the authenticity of the species by the Derby Official or Judge will be final and binding.
  13. Fishing Boundary:
    Halibut: The waters of Prince William Sound and the North Gulf Coast.
    Salmon: All saltwater north of a line from Rocky Point to Point Freemantle. Contestants may not fish from any fresh water. Any boat observed fishing outside of the boundary lines shall be disqualified for that days Derby.
  14. Entry Fees: Each contestant must pay a fee for each of the two derbies as follows:
    A. Daily Derby Ticket $10.00
    B. Seasonal Derby Ticket $50.00
    C. Women's Silver Salmon Sisterhood Derby Ticket $25.00
  15. Starting and Ending Dates/Times of the Derbies:
    A. Halibut: Saturday, May 23th. 12:01 A.M. Sunday, Sept. 6th -Noon
    B. Salmon: Saturday, July 25th 12:01 A.M. Sunday, Sept 6th -Noon
    C. Women's Silver Salmon Sisterhood: Saturday, August 8th 12:01 A.M. Saturday, August 9th 6:00 P.M.
  16. Weigh-In Station Times and Locations:
    A. Halibut: All halibut weigh-ins will take place at the floats in the small boat harbor. Fish hanging locations are provided between D&E floats and between I & J floats. May 23th July 24th: 3 P.M-9P.M.; July 25th Sept 5th.: NOON 9:00 P.M.;
    Sept 6th: 8:00 A.M. Noon.
    B. Salmon: All salmon weigh-ins will take place at the Derby weigh-in trailer across from the Harbormaster on Chitina Street;July 25th- Sept 5th.: NOON -9:00 P.M.;
    Sept 6th 8:00 A.M.- Noon.
    C. The contestant must present the fish for entry and weigh-in (Please read rule #10 Weighing Fish). All fish must be cut open for inspection after weigh-in. Opening of the fish must be performed by the contestant, Derby official, or fish weigh-in contractor. The contestant must witness the opening and inspection of the fish. The presence of any foreign item will disqualify the catch. Any line and/or equipment used to hang the fish during weigh-in will be independently weighed and subtracted from the total scale weight.
  17. Overnight Charters:
    A. Derby participant must have a derby ticket for each day that they are fishing on an overnight charter.
    B. The day the fish is weighed, is the day it is counted for the derby, even if it was caught the prior day.
    C. Derby participant must have a derby ticket for the day that they weigh their fish.
    D. Derby participant can weigh a fish the day after it's caught, but only during weigh in hours.

©Sound Web Solutions, LLC.