1. The deadline for entries is Friday, December 15^th, 2023 at 8:00pm. Every captain or designee must register at Yankee Point Marina in the Captains Lounge Restaurant at 1303 Oak Hill Road, Lancaster, VA 22503 between 4:00pm and 8:00pm that day. Tournament registration materials, including captain’s bags for every boat must be picked up at that time. Raffle tickets for prizes will be sold at Captains meeting and at weigh in station for $5 each. Raffle prizes given at the Award ceremony. Must be present to win.
2. Cash Prizes in the Open category are 100% of entries fees paid out in a 70/20/10 format.
   • Open category: 1^st -70%, 2^nd -20%, 3^rd -10%.
   • Youth (16 and under) category: 1^st $250.00, 2^nd $100.00, 3^rd $50.00
   • Calcutta for biggest fish overall. $100 entry. Bridge to Bridge location applies. Calcutta fish CANNOT be used for in Open category. Entries over 31 inches for Calcutta must provide dated photo showing length of fish on official 48” measuring board provided at time of entry. Fish must be released unharmed and in good condition. Calcutta prize = 100% of Calcutta entry fees.

• All fish in all categories (except Calcutta) must be between 20 and 31 inches long and compliant to all rules outlined by Virginia Marine Resources (VMR) for December.

3. The entry fee is $200.00 per boat with up to 4 anglers, $50.00 for each additional angler. There is a 50-boat limit. Entry forms may be mailed to Yankee Point Marina, 1303 Oak Hill Road, Lancaster, VA 22503, or presented at the registration on Friday, December 15^th,
4. There will be a “Shotgun Start” on Saturday morning from the “Green #3” marker just outside Yankee Point Marina. Participation in the “Shotgun Start” is voluntary and not required. Anglers that chose to participate will receive four (4) complimentary raffle tickets.
5. Tournament fishing is limited to the Rappahannock River and its tributaries between Robert O. Norris Bridge and The Downing Bridge.
6. This is a two-day tournament. You can fish Saturday and/or Sunday. The heaviest two fish per boat per day that are between 20 and 31 inches in length, with no more than one fish per angler per day, will be weighed for cash prizes in the open category. For the two-day tournament, each boat is eligible to weigh in with its two heaviest fish that had been eligible for daily weighing. Additional fish between 20 to 31 inches long and caught by anglers 16 year’s old and younger may also be weighed and considered for prizes in the Youth category.

• Please note: All fish submitted for weigh in must be accompanied by the angler or representative of the boat. If you fish both days and weigh a fish both days only the heaviest two will be eligible for cash prizes.

7. Dockage to be provided free of charge at Yankee Point Marina from Friday through Sunday night. Reservations must be made in advance by contacting the Tournament Director at Todd@yankeepointmarina.com
8. All entry forms must be signed by the vessel captain, or a designated responsible person. That individual must be at least 18 years old and be onboard the boat during the tournament.  Every angler that will be fishing in the tournament must be listed on the entry form. All participants must adhere to the Virginia Salt Water Fishing Tournament and the Salt Water Fishing Regulations as determined by the Virginia Marine Resources Commission. We encourage all anglers to catch and release all fish that are not in the running for winning a category.
9. The Tournament Director listed on the entry form is ineligible to compete.
10. This is a CAPTAIN’S CHOICE tournament. It is the captain’s responsibility to decide whether to fish.   A GAIL WARNING is the ONLY weather condition that will cancel  If a gale warning is posted by NOAA at 6:00am on Saturday or Sunday, that day will be canceled. If both days are canceled a drawing for the cash prizes will be held at Yankee Point Marina on Sunday at 5:00.  If there are questions about cancelations call Todd Patterson at 804-462-7635 ext 1930.
11. No lines in the water prior to 7am on both days of the tournament. Lines out 4:00 PM
12. All fish must be caught in a sportsman like manner on hook and line. Fish must be hooked and played by a single angler who does not receive assistance from anyone.  Hand lining between the terminal end snap/snap swivel and the fish for the purpose of netting is permissible.  Gaffing rockfish is illegal in Virginia and is therefore prohibited.  Any fish showing fresh marks other than those made by landing nets or hooks may be disqualified.  Failure to maintain a contestant’s fish on ice and in good condition my result in disqualification.  Anglers presenting a fish to be weighed will be required to attest to the above at weigh in.
13. WEIGH-IN PROCEDURE:  The tournament committee will monitor VHF channels 69.  Please use other channels to communicate between boats.
    • Weigh-in station and leader board is in the tent located at the end of the haul-out slip.
    • You must bring your catch in by boat to Yankee Point Marina before 4:00pm, in sight of the Yankee Point Marina docks and contact the weigh master Todd Patterson or his assigns on VHF channel 69 or by phone, 804-462-7635, with the boat number and that there is a fish to be weighed. Then proceed in an orderly safe manner to the transient dock or your assigned slip.  Do not tie up any longer than needed on the transient dock.
    • The weigh station will be open from 1:00pm to 5:00pm. No exceptions

14. The weigh master will be Todd Patterson or his assigns with possible assistance from the Virginia Marine Police to confirm that the fish being weighed have not been tampered with and were freshly caught the day of the tournament.  The heaviest fish weighed may be dissected.
15. The winning fish will be determined first by weight, then by length (nose to furthest tip of the tail along a straight line). ALL PRIZES WILL BE PAID TO THE PERSON WHO SIGNED THE ENTRY FORM, regardless of the person who caught the fish.  To avoid misunderstandings the Tournament Committee urges all participants to develop their own arrangement for the distribution of prizes among captain and crew.
16. All boats should be equipped with a functioning VHF radio.  To reach tournament headquarters use VHF channel 69 or call 804-462-7635.
17. The Tournament Committee reserves the right to inspect any boat that participates in the tournament.
18. The Tournament Committee reserves the right to place “observers” on any boat at any time for any reason.
19. Any protest concerning a violation of the rules must be presented to the Tournament Committee in writing at weigh-in between 2:00pm and 4:00pm on the day of the alleged violation.
20. FISH CONSERVATION IS ENCOURAGED!  Please limit your catch on tournament days.  All boats should have a functional safe de-hooking device and an accurate hand scale on board. Please support catch and release.
21. Violation of any of the above rules will constitute grounds for disqualification. THE TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE’S DECISIONS SHALL BE FINAL.

For more information please email the Tournament Director Todd Patterson, Todd@yankeepointmarina.com, or by phone, 804-462-7635.