SUPER SWEEPSTAKES

1. ELIGIBILITY, ENTRY FEE AND REQUIREMENTS

a.      This tournament is only open to participants. All anglers on each boat must be registered in SALMON-A-RAMA to participate.

b.      The entry fee is $150.00 per boat.

c.      All applications and payments must be received no later than July 12, 2024, at 6:00pm.

d.      Entry fees are non-refundable after July 12, 2024, 6:00pm, except in the event of the cancellation of the tournament. Any refunds will be made by mail via check after the conclusion of the tournament.

e.  Every boat must be equipped with an operating VHF marine radio that can transmit and receive channels 16 and 68. All boats should monitor channel 68 for contest information.

f. A boat identification number will be provided at the captains meeting and must be displayed on the Starboard side of the participant’s boat during the contest.

g. All entrants will be required to provide at least one of the following forms of contact to be used for updates and communications regarding the tournament. These contacts will only be used for official tournament business and will not be provided to any other organization or person for any purpose.

·       Phone number capable of receiving text messages (preferred)

·       E-mail

·       Phone number capable of receiving voice call.

2. DATES AND HOURS

The tournament will be held on Monday July 15, 2024.

There are two possible rain dates.

·   Rain date #1. Saturday, July 20, 2024.

·   Rain date #2. Thursday, July 18, 2024

Rain date #1 is also the potential rain date for the 2024 SALMON-A-RAMA Two In A Boat contest scheduled for Sunday, July 14. Two In A Boat will be given priority in the event a rain date is needed for that event. If this is case, Super Sweepstakes will use rain date #2

If a rain date is needed, new entries will be accepted by a SALMON-A-RAMA official up to July 19, 2024, at 6pm for rain date #1 and July 17, 2024, for rain date #2

If neither rain date works the contest will not be held and full refunds will be given 

The tournament schedule will be as follows:

a.      Captain’s Meeting – Friday, July 12, 2024, Location: Tournament HQ (Paul P. Harris Rotary Park. 5 Fifth Street Racine WI) at 6:00pm.

b.      Each boat and crew must have at least one member in attendance at the Captain’s Meeting.

c.      Fishing Period – Monday, July 15, 2024 - 5:00am to 1:00pm.

d.      The contest will be considered official if a total of three (3) hours are fished.

3. START AND FINISH

a.      All boats must start from and return to Racine by water.

b.      Check in will begin at approximately 4:15 am. The Tournament Committee Boat will check-in all boats by visual and/or VHF radio (Channel 68). All boats will be subject to a random cooler check before or during check in.­

c.      Run Time. There will be a shotgun start as soon as all boats are checked in (approximately 4:30 AM). The official run time start will be announced by Tournament Control on VHF channel 68.

d.      The official start of the fishing period will be announced by Tournament Control at 5:00am on VHF channel 68.

e.      No lines may be placed in the water before the 5:00am start announcement. You are on your honor.

f.       By the end of the fishing period (1:00 PM) each boat must within the check in area. The check in area is defined as West of the green can and no further North than the main harbor entrance and West of the green can and no further South than a line from the green can East to shore. Boats that do not arrive by 1:00 PM will be disqualified, no exceptions. See Image 1.

Image 1 – Check In Area

4. WEIGH-IN

a.  A crew member will disembark with the sealed cooler of fish and signed catch log and proceed directly to the weight station.

b.  Once arriving at the weigh station, the cooler must be sealed and remain closed until opened by a SAR official.

c.   Entrants are responsible for determining what fish will be part of their catch to be weighed. Tournament scales will not be used to sort fish. The first 10 fish on the scales will be the used for the official weight.

5. GENERAL FISHING RULES

a.      All fish entered must be caught on hook and line in accordance with the DNR regulations of the state which has jurisdiction over the waters being fished.

b.      Any violation of USCG or DNR rules will result in immediate disqualification at the discretion of the SAR committee.

c.      Each boat is limited to a maximum of nine (9) rods and a three-person limit of fifteen (15) fish, per DNR rules.

d.      Each boat may weigh a maximum of ten (10) fish, with a maximum of four (4) lake trout.

e.       Fish entered for any bonus prizes must be part of the ten (10) fish tournament box.

f.      Fish may be released when caught. Fish to be released must be returned to the lake immediately.

g.        There are no distance limits as to where a tournament boat may fish as long as all traveling is done on the water.

h.        All fish kept must be recorded on the catch log.

i.      Each boat that reaches the fifteen-fish limit shall immediately cease fishing, bring in all lines, and return to the harbor.

 6. SCORING

a.      Winners will be determined on the total accumulation of points. Points will be assigned as ten points per fish and one point per pound.

b.      The following species shall be eligible for points: COHO SALMON, CHINOOK SALMON, BROWN TROUT, STEELHEAD (OR RAINBOW TROUT), LAKE TROUT and PINK SALMON

c.  All winners will be determined by the Tournament Committee, and their decision will be final.

7. PRIZES

a.      The prize money pool for top boats will consist of 85% of the total entry fees collected. The other 15% will go to the Salmon Unlimited to help improve the Lake Michigan fishery.

b.      Cash prizes will be awarded to the top 20% of the boats entered based on 85% of total Super Sweepstake entry fees.

c.      In case of ties, the prize money between the two or more places the participants would have won will be divided equally between the tied contestants.

d.      Participants may win more than one prize.

e.       The single largest fish of 5 eligible species (COHO SALMON, CHINOOK SALMON, BROWN TROUT, STEELHEAD (OR RAINBOW TROUT) and LAKE TROUT, will win $500.00 for the Decore Tool & Manufacturing Inc Big Fish Prize. In case of a tie, the money will be split.

f.  The largest fish of each of 5 eligible species (COHO SALMON, CHINOOK SALMON, BROWN TROUT, STEELHEAD (OR RAINBOW TROUT) and LAKE TROUT will each win $100.00 for the Decore Tool & Manufacturing Inc Big Fish of Species. In case of a tie, the money will be split.

g.  All boats that do not win a prize for either top 20% of boats, big fish or big fish of species will be entered in a random draw for Kirk Pivovar Tournament Community prize of $350.00. Winner must be present for the drawing that will take place during announcement of other winners directly following weigh in.

8. CANCELLATIONS

a.      The Tournament Committee will announce their decision if the contest will be run no later than one hour before check in is scheduled to begin. Notification morning of the contest will be made by the tournament committee on VHF marine radio channel 68. If possible, a decision will be made the evening before and communicated via SALMON-A-RAMA website, social media, text, or e-mail as applicable. The Tournament Judges may cancel the Tournament at any time when, in their opinion, the conditions could be dangerous to persons or property.

b.      The Tournament Committee may also decide to delay the start of fishing or to cut short the fishing due to deteriorating weather conditions.

c.      The make-up date will be as described in section 2. For anyone registering after the cancelation of the original date, you must see a SALMON-A-RAMA official no later than Friday July 19, 2024, at 6pm for rain date #1 and Wednesday July 17, 2024, for rain date #2

d.  All rules listed for the original July 15, 2024; date apply.

9. PROTESTS

a.      All protests must be made in writing to the Tournament Committee before 5:00pm on the day of the tournament.

b.      Any written protest given to the Tournament Committee must be accompanied by a $250.00 deposit, returnable if the protest is judged valid.

c.      A panel of three (3) judges appointed by the Tournament Committee will resolve all disputes.

d.      Winners and any person involved in any formal protest may be subject to rules listed in the General Rules section of the SALMON-A-RAMA Website, prior to the awarding of prizes. Such persons must be available to be tested within 2 weeks of the event.

e.      The decision of the Tournament Committee and/or its duly appointed panel of Judges shall be final.

10. RULE CHANGES

a.      The Tournament Committee may change or modify any of these rules, as necessary. Any changes will be communicated at the Captain’s Meeting. In the event a rain date is needed there will not be a second captains meeting. In the event that changes are made between the original date and rain date they will be communicated via SALMON-A-RAMA website, social media, text, or e-mail as applicable and by the tournament committee via VHF radio on channel 68 during check in.

11. LIABILITY EXCLUSION

a.      Each contestant shall accept responsibility to protect persons and property from injury or damage during the contest, and Salmon Unlimited of Wisconsin shall not be responsible for the safety of persons or property of participants, regardless of cause.

b.      All participants further agree to hold Salmon Unlimited of Wisconsin, its officers, tournament committee and volunteers harmless from any liability for damage incurred because of participation in the Tournament, in whatever form or manner said liabilities or damages might be incurred.