1. PARTICIPATION AND ELIGIBILITY: Participation is open to anyone 18 Years of age or older. Minors are eligible to register and participate with a parent or guardian who also participates in the event. Minors must have the signature of his or her parent or legal guardian on the entry form as applicable to any state, commonwealth, county, or federal regulations or law. The obligation to know these rules falls upon the parent. A completed entry form and $50 entry fee ($65 after Sept. 12, 2008) must be received no later than the September 26th, 2008 captain's meeting. Entry fee for youth division (15 and under) is $35 Entry fees may be transferred to another participant or refunded provided notification is received by the TKAA Tournament  prior to the captains' meeting. Entry fees will not be transferred or refunded after the captains' meeting.

2. DIVISIONS & PRIZES:

OPEN: Trophies and prizes will be awarded for the largest fish in each division. See section 11 for scoring criteria. Winners will be based on the total scores for the longest fish on their camera. Slam Division - Winners will be decided by the cumulative points of the longest fish of 3 fish of the target species. (redfish, flounder, and spotted trout)

Individual Species Divisions - Largest fish in each of the four divisions.  (Redfish, flounder, speckled trout, and striper) Division winners will not be able to double dip, (e.g. if the biggest trout is part of a winning slam, it cannot win in the other divisions).

FLY DIVISION: There will also be fly-only divisions for participants using fly tackle only. Number of places awarded is based on the number of entrants with a minimum of 15. There are additional rules for the fly-only division:

Can compete in open division, but not double dip. Will also have division specific prizes to be announced.

• Only fly tackle is permitted on the boat. Flyfishing division anglers cannot chum, or use scent, or bait on their flies. Flyfishing division participants must abide by IGFA flyfishing rules. 
• Your fly tackle and the measuring stick must be in the launch picture that is first on your roll of film.
• Your fly rod must also be visible in the pictures of scoring fish.

FEMALE DIVISION: Can compete in open division, but not double dip. Will also have division specific prizes to be announced.

YOUTH DIVISION: Open to anglers 15 and under. Can compete in open division, but not double dip. Will also have division specific prizes to be announced. Reduced entry fee of $35.

Other rules, divisions, and prizes may be announced at the captains meeting or on theTKAA website.

In the registration raffle, prizes will be awarded by the pulling of numbers and the total number of prizes in the raffle will be determined by the number of donated items.

3. SAFETY: Safe boating will be observed at all times. DURING COMPETITION, EACH CONTESTANT IS REQUIRED TO FOLLOW U.S. COAST GUARD REGULATIONS INCLUDING POSSESSION OF COAST GUARD APPROVED TYPE III PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICE (PFD), PFD MUST BE DONNED WHILE PADDLING. A WHITE LIGHT AND A WHISTLE IS MANDANTORY AND MUST BE ON BOARD.

4. MANDITORY CAPTAINS MEETING: All participants must attend the  September 26th, 2008 Captains Meeting; special considerations may be made in certain circumstances. The meeting will be held at 7:00pm at The Lake Wright Conference Center, 6280 Northhampton Blvd., Norfolk, VA.

5. STARTING TIME: Launching can begin at safe light. That time will be determined at the captains meeting. All entrants wishing to enter fish must return their pictures/camera in to tournament headquarters (Lake Wright Conference Center) between 2:00 and 4:00pm on tournament day. You must be in line by 4pm, no exceptions.

6. COMMUNICATIONS: the use of mobile communication is allowed.

7. SPORTSMANSHIP: all contestants are required to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy and conservation. Intoxication will be cause for immediate disqualification. No alcoholic beverages or the use of illegal drugs is allowed. This rule extends through and includes signing of the check-in form at tournament headquarters. The illegal use of drugs, participation in any criminal activities, or other conduct reflecting unfavorably upon efforts to promote safety, sportsmanship, fair competition and compliance with tournament rules and the law are grounds for disqualification and/or rejection of any applicant from participation. This will also entail the return of any prizes awarded. The TKAA Tournament Committee  and Director will seek legal remedy if necessary.

8. PERMITTED FISHING METHODS: All fish must be caught live via hook and line. The selection of baits is up to the discretion of the participant.

To permit safe catch and release, circle hooks should be used with all natural or live bait.

During the hours of competition, contestants may not obtain or receive assistance, including but not limited to following a non-competitor's boat, the placing of markers by any non-competitor, towed by or riding on motorized vessels or electronic, voice or data communication from a non competitor. All participants must have with them a non-motorized vessel like a kayak or canoe. Other non-motorized vessels will be permitted at the discretion of the TKAA Tournament Committee and Director. No electric or combustion engines permitted on the boat during the event. Contestants may leave the boat to stand or to wade while fishing but must within sight of their kayak. Bank or wade fishing while your kayak is on a roof rack or trailer, is prohibited. Kayaks, canoes or committee-approved non-motorized (human powered) craft are the only mode of on-the-water transport allowed.

TANDEMS/SHARING. It is permissible for more than 1 entrant to share the same watercraft. However each paddler must pay and compete as a single angler. They must  also have their own camera (unless sharing under digital photography rule), their own picture of the vessel at put in on their camera roll, and is scored separately. Fish may NEVER be shared among entrants.

9. PROHIBITED: There is absolutely NO FERRYING (i.e. using another vehicle or boat, motorized or not to transport your kayak to a fishing location while on the water.)

10. PERMITTED FISHING LOCATIONS: Anywhere within a 50-mile radius of the Norfolk, VA, area as shown on the map below. Specific parameters will be discussed at the captains meeting. All participants must use “pubic accessible” launch areas. Using private property will result in disqualification.

11. SCORING: The tournament is a catch, photo, and release format. Species division winners will be determined by the length of the longest fish. For the slam divisions it is the combined length of the 3 longest fish for target species. At the captains meeting each contestant will be issued an identifier, score sheet, and measuring device for uniformity. Participants must use their own digital cameras, and a card reader will be used to download pictures.  The identifier must be visible in every picture. If there is no identifier, then the picture is disqualified. Score sheets must also be filled out completely and correctly, failure to do so will result in disqualification. All photos become property of the TKAA. The first photo on the roll must be of the angler, the second photo will be the rigged boat at put in. Fish must be photographed in or on boat, (vessels should be distinguishable in photo) next to provided tape measure. The photo must show clearly the length of the fish. Length is determined from the tip of the lower jaw to the natural (un-pinched) tip of the tail. Only Red Drum, Spotted Trout, Flounder, and Striped Bass (Wildcard) can be entered for species prizes. Length should be measured to the nearest quarter inch. All species are worth 1-point per inch. Lengths will be verified and scored by a state biologist. The judging committee makes the call and the tournament director is the final authority. In the event of a tie, the angler who returned their photos first, will be the winner.

12. DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY. Participants may only use digital cameras for recording scoring fish. Entrants must bring the storage chip from their camera to check-in or bring the download cable for their camera so that pictures may be retrieved. Cameras may be shared – in the event of camera sharing both entrants’ kayaks at launch must be initially on the roll, and each entrant will use a different unique scoring token as directed at the captains meeting, both in the launch picture and the fish scoring pictures. In the scoring fish pictures the appropriate entrant’s kayak must also be in the picture. The following media formats can be handled without a cable at check-in:

a. CompactFlash Type I
b. CompactFlash Type II
c. SD Card
d. miniSD
e. MultiMediaCard
f. RS-MMC
g. Memory Stick
h. Memory Stick PRO
i. Memory Stick Duo
j. Memory Stick PRO Duo
k. SmartMedia
l. xD

13. RELEASE OF LIABILITY: A waiver and release of liability statement is part of the entry form. It is required of each contestant that they take responsibility for themselves while participating in any tournament activities.

14. RULE CHANGES: Rule interpretation will be left exclusively to the  TKAA Tournament Committee and Director;  all decisions are final in all matters and are not subject to appeal.

15. PROTEST: any and all protest must be submitted in writing, 30-minutes before the start time of the captains meeting, or 30-minutes before the official check-in period. All protests will be reviewed by members of the TKAA Tournament Committee and director. All Committee decisions will be final  and are not subject to appeal.