You'll have to figure something out. Set the camera on timer or something. It doesn't have to be an award winning cover photo, but if I had it so you only had to take one pic, you could pass the tournament tags out to everyone on the beach and have them all shoot pics for you... know what I mean? I fish alone a lot, but I'd figure it out somehow. :)

Probably the best thing to do would be to figure out a good way to shoot the pic before you make a cast. Honestly, even if you held the fish against your body with one hand and held the camera out with your other so your face and some of the fish could be seen in the pic, it would qualify.

-Dave

There should be an amendment that if a participant is seen with a dead fish over 40" during the whole season they are automatically disqualified from the tournament and are ineligible to win prizes. :hihi:

What you decide to legally kill and keep is your business but why would anyone want to keep a fish over 40"? :hs: That is too many meals from a single bass for a family to eat safely (if the fish happens to be a high toxin level fish then repeated meals from it creates high exposure).

Stick to your guns Dave and keep this "recreational". You have a chance to start something truly unique. Once you include R&R Comm Lic holders it becomes a different ballgame.

DZ

They are generally not for one's family to eat. They are to show off on the backs of bikes, to friends, the internets, bait shops, and anyone else that will show them attention for their 'trophy'. Killing for braggers rights I think it's called. :rocketem: But we know that. Sorry getting off topic but not looking forward to the canal fish kills of May and June.

I absolutely love the idea of this tournament! I have my team mate penciled in, just need to work out the details.

I am all for you being able to participate as well, even keeping your eligibility to win prizes. The requirement of a photograph should eliminate any accusations of cheating.

Maybe the site should consider a forum dedicated to pics of released fish only.......as a way to promote the practice. Could certainly include pics from this tourney as well.

Already in the works :)
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That's the decision I came to as well Dennis. But it was an angle worth considering. Ultimately, as you say, it's about promoting the benefits of C&R and fostering good practices. I have nothing against commercial anglers it's their legal right to do it, but in this tourney, it's all recs.

Thanks for presenting both sides of the argument guys!
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I appreciate that, but Im not going to take any prizes. It just seems wrong. But Team GoTight will be competing. :uhuh:
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I hope this is a "tongue in cheek" comment because if it isn't, I disagree wholeheartedly. It's your business if you want to kill a fish over 40". I'm not advocating it but it's your god given right to keep whatever you want providing you are within the law.

And Bruce, to answer your question about dead bait, if I made it sound like their use is illegal in the rules I made a mistake. I'll review the wording today. Any lure or legal live or dead bait is okay.

Sorry for the confusion
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There should be no pics display because the background such as rocks, sand and water can reveal the location. There should be a non participant of the tourney that is honest, tight lipped and able to gather the pics and data sent to him or her via a pm with a pic upload. In my opinion Canalman Dave would suit this position or a designated nominee with similar attributes.

I think he was joshing Paul, and don't worry, that will not become a rule. I don't want to remove anyone's right to keep something for food or a trophy.. What I DO want is to make it possible to enter any fish without killing it and not to give people a reason to kill a big fish when they otherwise would have let her swim.
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Agree with all you have stated Dave. I'm in and will help support in any way I can

Not going to happen. Part of the fun of this kind of thing is seeing what everyone else has caught. When I shoot pics I just make sure there are no obvious landmarks in the background. It's your responsibility to protect your spots. But the photos have to be made public for this to work.
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Thanks Paul
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Great idea about removing obvious landmarks, problem solved

Sounds extremely reasonable....thanks!
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"Good on ya" Dave and John

New promotional flyer...http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphoto...64387250_n.jpg

Wow, that's big... didn't meant to blanket the entire thread!

No Problem - we'll make more :rotf2:

Great idea for the tourney. As far as pictures go, they make those little plastic tripods that are 6" in length by 2" in diameter. Camera fits right on top of it with a snap in piece. The tripod easily stashes away in a plug bag tube.

Never thought of that...

Do you mean something like this?

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...L._SL1500_.jpg


Amazon.com: Zeikos ZE-TR5A Flexible Tripod: Camera & Photo

There I go with GIANT images again

Interesting, this is something I need to get. I'm always scrambling to find a good rock to put my camera on top of for all my self portraits.
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Yes, I have something like that and it works perfect. I set it up in the same places each time and use the 10 second timer on the camera. I have areas where I know to stand ahead of time so it works out perfect. I usually am able to keep the fish in the water the whole time too, so they can be released in good shape. Only time it sucks is if youre out a ways wetsuitting...

I'll be taking that advice for sure

I've added a club affiliation feature now as well, now we can have a Team S-B and compete against other clubs.
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I'm in! Gotta find a dedicated fishing partner that can catch fish.
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They don't have to catch fish..that's why Slips on my team, like golf its a handicap.
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:laughs:
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Thats funny dude :)
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Gotta find a partner... got a club meeting Tuesday we'll see than
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The Saltwater Edge added a pile of stuff to the prize lists yesterday.

First and foremost, they are offering up a Shimano Tranx for the Cow Hunt grand prize in the Boat category!

Then they threw in gift certificates for...

All four placing teams in the Surfcaster's Classic

$100 for each member of the team that wins the weekend they are sponsoring! (8/1 - 8/4)

$50 for each youth category winner

For a full breakdown of the prizes so far, Click Here.

my skins aren't too cool anymore unfortunately, the fridge died and I had to toss a bunch of them.

I was looking for the comment about embedding the tourney tag in your photo's with your iphone, how is that even possible?

Interesting thought - you could probably find a watermark app. Not sure if Dave wants to do that though as he would need to make a watermark for different apps periodically and maybe only a handful using it.

I found this on the rules page

TOURNAMENT TAGS:
28. The weekly TOURNAMENT TAG will be uploaded to a secure location in the wee hours of each Thursday morning. TAGS must be included in the photo for each fish entered into the tournament. You may also download it onto your cell phone and show the TAG on your phone screen in the photo as well.

How about an example ahead of time of how to do this and an explanation with simple directions?
is that possible Dave?
thanks