A Season-Long Catch & Release Tourney

[Canalman]

I'm sure most of you remember the Tourney For Chuck that I sort spear-headed last fall. ( ) I used that as kind of a practice run for a tournament idea that I had been mulling over for a few years. JohnR and I had talked about running it on S-B and things got away from us and then finally this year, I decided to go for it. I have a hard time looking at the standings for the few other long-duration striper tournaments out there... the killing seems very unnecessary. Don't take this to mean that I'm all catch and release, because I'm not and I enter a few kill tourneys each year--but I really only enter a fish if I feel that I have a chance to place.
I've taken the basics of the Tourney For Chuck and expanded on them, with a more complete set of rules, an option to fish as an individual or to compete as a two-man team. I have worked hard to get great prizes and so far I have a VS250 from Van Staal, an armload of rods from Century, tops from Stormr, plugs from Linesider69, Afterhours, Guppy and Super Strike, surf bags from MAK Surfcasting and all kinds of gear from The Saltwater Edge and Cape Cod Tackle/M&D's and I have a bunch more people lining up to sweeten the pot even more!

There is a Team Event for surfcasters only, The Surfcaster's Classic
And the individual competition, The Coast-Wide Cow Hunt, has categories for both boat and surf.

Check out the tournament website here GoTight.Net - Surfcasting & Striped Bass Tournaments Online
and follow the facebook page here www.facebook.com/Gotight.Net

I've devised a way to follow the fishing stats of you and your opponents and there are tons of ways to win. Hopefully this breed of catch and release tourney will catch on, we need to preserve the species and I think this is a step in the right direction, hopefully you guys will feel the same way.

-Dave

[bart]

awesome

[JLH]

Nice idea! Looking forward to fishing it this season.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[Sea Dangles]

Good idea but why another tournament?

[Slipknot]

I love it
this sounds like the kind of tournament I would enter

I love the Surfcasters' Classic



I looked at it and see that it does not include dead bait, why not? live bait and lures, that sounds like rigged eels or chunks can't be used, maybe it's an oversight

it doesn't start until May16th, that sucks but I understand

[bassballer]

Did a good job on this.

[BatesBCheatin]

Don't know the details yet, but if it's anything like Zeno's SCJ picture contest Striperthon I'm in.

In any case the idea is sounds excellent as the kill tournaments need to become a thing of the past.

[scottw]

love it Dave....look forward to supporting your effort

...had the most fun last year fishing these types of events, especially when paired up with guys I hadn't fished with before, hopefully the nature of the tournament and good participation will turn the trend in tournaments overall in this direction...

[smk379]

Dave I really think this is an awesome idea. Like someone already said I can see alot more future tournaments being run similar to this. I wish they would do something like this for the C and R category in the striper cup, would definitely promote more catch and release in that tournament. I emailed otw and pitched that idea to them last fall but looks like it didn't catch.

I could see it now, the start of a new sport - Major League Surfcasting lol
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[Sea of Atlas]

Looks great! Love the Box of Twinkies prize

[Canalman]

I haven't joined the Cup since 2006, and even when I did, I didn't enter any fish. I really love releasing bigger fish. Of course I've killed my share, but the thought of killing 5 (or more) big fish in one season is outside my mental capacity or something. I just can't do it. I kept one fish last year and it ended up winning a tournament and I still regret not releasing it.

The big thing here is that this needs to be promoted. If you guys like the idea, please spread it around on FB or other boards etc. just remember gotight.net that's easy to remember.

Thanks for the support!
The only downside of running this thing is that I can't fish it! And it's going to be an assload of work, but it's something I really believe in.

-Dave

[Canalman]

Originally Posted by Sea of Atlas

Looks great! Love the Box of Twinkies prize

That I stole from a Wiffle Ball tournament I used to play in all the time. Thank god they brought Twinkies back for some reason it doesn't sound the same when it's box of Susie Q's

[Canalman]

Originally Posted by smk379

I could see it now, the start of a new sport - Major League Surfcasting lol
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

The stats will definitely add a new edge to tournament fishing. And I will run it just like Tourney For Chuck (RIP ) where there will be updates throughout each weekend and through the whole season, posted here, FB, Twitter etc. I really think it will be exciting.

-Dave

[Linesider82]

Dave kudos to the C&R tournament & to the current catch and kill tournaments that plan to follow suit.

[DZ]

Originally Posted by Canalman

I really love releasing bigger fish. Of course I've killed my share, but the thought of killing 5 (or more) big fish in one season is outside my mental capacity or something. I just can't do it. I kept one fish last year and it ended up winning a tournament and I still regret not releasing it.

Very nice statement Dave - I commend you.

DZ

[Canalman]

MAJOR CHANGE IN THE SURFCASTER'S CLASSIC RULES/FORMAT!!

After speaking with a few teams that were on the fence about entering because of the upfront obligations to pick 8 weekends to compete, we're making a change.

Your entry fee now gives you the option to fish as many as 14 weekend tournaments or as few as six (6). Your qualifying score will--no matter how many events you enter--be reached by adding up your teams's six (6) highest scores.

I wish I thought of this yesterday. Head-to-Head matchups are no longer part of the Classic! Please share this post and get the word out!!

[beamie]

Originally Posted by Canalman

The only downside of running this thing is that I can't fish it! And it's going to be an assload of work, but it's something I really believe in.

-Dave

Oh Balogna......

Dave fish it, this is mainly for fun to maybe win some gear not millions. This is a common rule that most every tourney has but I thought was always overblown. If everyone is on the honors system then it is all good. If your're worried about it, fish it for the fun and honors and if you happen to win put the prize back in the kitty.

I agree this does look like alllllot of work, I wish you the best of luck.....

[Canalman]

hahaha, I have been thinking about entering a team and just, as you said, removing my ability to win a prize. Good chance I will do that. Thanks for making me feel better about the idea!

[Canalman]

Originally Posted by DZ

Very nice statement Dave - I commend you.

DZ

Thanks Dennis, if I'm blessed with the opportunity to catch another 50, she's going back. If I ever keep another big fish, it's going to have to bottom out the 60# Boga! And even then I might not... that's one of those situations where you don't know what you'll do until it happens...

hope I get that chance!

[JLH]

Originally Posted by Canalman

MAJOR CHANGE IN THE SURFCASTER'S CLASSIC RULES/FORMAT!!

After speaking with a few teams that were on the fence about entering because of the upfront obligations to pick 8 weekends to compete, we're making a change.

Your entry fee now gives you the option to fish as many as 14 weekend tournaments or as few as six (6). Your qualifying score will--no matter how many events you enter--be reached by adding up your teams's six (6) highest scores.

I wish I thought of this yesterday. Head-to-Head matchups are no longer part of the Classic! Please share this post and get the word out!!

The head to head concept was a cool idea but having to commit to certain weekends upfront was going to be a challenge this season. I like this change!

[Canalman]

Originally Posted by JLH

The head to head concept was a cool idea but having to commit to certain weekends upfront was going to be a challenge this season. I like this change!

Exactly, not only that but now I don't have to juggle everyone's schedules... this will make it a million times easier for everyone.

[JohnR]

That is a good change.

Dave has been working hard on coming up with a Great, Fun, & Competitive no kill tourney for Surfcasters.

Major Kudos for pulling it off too.

[Canalman]

The Saltwater Edge and River's End Tackle just signed on as sponsors for both tourneys.


Don't forget there are categories for boat and surf in the Cow Hunt!

[numbskull]

Originally Posted by Canalman

Thanks for the support!
The only downside of running this thing is that I can't fish it! -Dave

Why can't you enter the individual stage like everyone else? As a matter of fact we should insist on it. After my ignominious defeat in the Chuck tourney I want another shot at you

[tysdad115]

Anyone need a partner for this event? I'm going to put Tyler in the youth division but he wont be able to fish as often to compete . So I need a partner for the competition as Soups probably wont be fishing much this year. The good thing is it will be dark, so no one will see your with me.

[Slipknot]

I fish by myself mostly Andy, but I'd consider it seeing how you asked, I don't catch many fish though so I'm not sure you'd want me


can I use eelskins?

[Canalman]

You can use anything you want that's legal Bruce, no white abalone or sealacamp! but eelskins are cool

[Canalman]

Originally Posted by tysdad115

Anyone need a partner for this event? I'm going to put Tyler in the youth division but he wont be able to fish as often to compete . So I need a partner for the competition as Soups probably wont be fishing much this year. The good thing is it will be dark, so no one will see your with me.

Tyler can fish with you... he doesn't have to be with you for every fish you catch and he'll be automatically entered into the Cow Hunt

[tysdad115]

I sent Tylers waiver/consent form to you at info@gotight.net Dave. Is that where we send the forms?

[tysdad115]

Originally Posted by Slipknot

I fish by myself mostly Andy, but I'd consider it seeing how you asked, I don't catch many fish though so I'm not sure you'd want me


can I use eelskins?

Sounds good to me Bruce, I hardly catch any either but this sounds fun.