The 2010 “Rebel King Mackerel Tournament”, Format/Rules.

The Spring 2010 “Rebel King Mackerel Tournament” format and rules…………….

The History Begins: The RKMT Fishing tourney idea begins simply as a means to offer Pier King Mackerel anglers the opportunity of a little friendly competition from the Piers "Tee" end here at Ocean Crest. We have received many requests for events like this and are obliged to offer it. The event date is set on the first full week-end in May, which historically marks the first of the season’s major runs of King Mackerel into our inshore waters. The fishing will be held beginning Friday May 7th through Sunday May 9th 2010. * see tournament scheduling enclosed for event hours.

The Pier King Fishers choosing to fish the event are the mainstays of North Carolina’s coastal piers and are among the most avid anglers here at Ocean Crest Pier on Oak Island. These anglers are seeking the largest fishes from coastal piers like ours. Thanks to these avid anglers, events like this are made possible. Please welcome yourselves to join in on the fun and action...................

This 8th year event is open to anglers 13 - 100 years of age who will showcase their angling talents. The RKMT event is the among the more favorite tourneys held here each year.

Tournament Director/Chair: Dave Cooper. Tournament Co/Chair and event Coordinator: Melinda Cooper

Dave is the owner and president of Ocean Crest Pier Inc. Melinda is Dave’s wife and business partner. Dave also manages the day to day operations of Ocean Crest Pier and is himself an avid angler. Dave has a personal affection for the specie specific “Art of Pier Trolley Fishing for King Mackerel” and likens himself to the anglers who practice the art and the benefits of the common bonds among anglers associated with the practice. He has participated in the past as an angler in many Pier King Mackerel Tournaments along the Carolina Shorelines. Dave also hosts, designs and serves as Tournament Director for all the Tournaments, Fishing Contests and Fishing Derby's held at Ocean Crest Pier. Dozens of these events have been held at the pier and are well received and among the most attended along the North Carolina Coastline these past seven fishing seasons. That personal angling foundation is the driving force behind seeing that the Tournament Rules are fairly balanced, and beyond reproach. "These Tournaments are with-out doubt designed for "Anglers by an Angler".

The Tournament Director will act as the legal agent and sole adjudicator in the event.

The Director will assure each of the ( 50 possible maximum entrants-see note below) that they will be offered the opportunity to fish the event on a level playing field and that no issue will arise that will interfere with the outcome of their individual efforts to win or the integrity of the event. The Director guarantees the event will take place as scheduled “outside of bad weather related issues, acts of God, or the safe well being and security of the piers customers.”. These situations no one has any control over. The Director guarantees "The Primary Prizes will be awarded". He may assign his responsibilities to his agent/s who will abide by all tournament guidelines set forth by the Director.

Costs: The Entry fee has been set @ $50.00 per angler. The net amounts of all entry fees ($40.00 per angler) are being offered to the anglers as the Primary prize pool. ($10.00) of the Gross entry fees of ($50.00) per angler will be with-held to cover the cost of the Sunday May 9th meal being provided to paid entrants. No administrative fees are withheld from the Primary entry fees.

Here are the answers to several questions anglers frequently ask concerning OCP fishing tournaments.......................................

What day begins and what day ends the official sign-up period?
Angler participants may begin signing up on March 1st 2010. They may continue until all (50) positions are filled according to tournament rules. In the event all (50) available positions have been taken prior to 5pm Thursday May 6th 2010, no other entries will be made automatically available.

The 5pm Thursday May 6th date and time will be considered the official sign-up cut-off.

Where do or how do anglers obtain entry applications?

Anglers wishing to fish the event may pick up Tournament applications at the Ocean Crest Pier tackle shop in person during business hours at 1409 east Beach Drive, Oak Island, NC 28465 [1-910-278-6674], print one via the “oceancrestpier.net”, website. Participants my find the pertinent tourney application “PDF file” under the forums list "Pier Tournaments", or request one in writing via Fax at [1-910-278-6008.]

All completed entry applications not being mailed in should be delivered by hand to the Ocean Crest Pier Tackle shop located @ 1409 East Beach Drive. Oak Island, NC. Those being mailed should be forwarded to the following address.

Tournament Director
Spring 2010 “RKMT”
615 Cumberland Street SE
Bolivia, NC 28422

Note* All mailed entries should be made in the form of a money order or personal checks. Please do not send cash. We do not want any of the entries to suddenly disappear.

Does the entry fee cover the daily pass price to fish Ocean Crest Pier?
No.

The entry fees are paid back to winning anglers via the primary prize pool and the daily fishing rate fees are additional costs to anglers. Anglers holding OCP "2010 Season King Fishing Passes" may use those with-out additional daily pier fishing costs. Those are currently available @ ($297.50)”. All other anglers fishing the event not holding or choosing not to purchase seasonal passes must purchase either individual daily "King Fishing Passes" @ $15.00 per day or they may choose to purchase a discounted 2010 3 day individual "Multi Day King Fishing Pass" which is available @ ($42.00).

How many anglers are allowed to fish the event, what are the costs and how will the prizes be paid out?

Prize Pool, Entering, Costs: The event is limited to the first (50) *qualifying anglers signing-up and paying their ($50.00) entry fees. The Maximum Guaranteed pay-out is based on this 50/30/20 % percentage split of the Net Entry fees @ ($40.00 of each paid entry). The Guaranteed Primary prizes for the (3) largest qualifying fish will be based on a 50/30/20 % split. * Based on whether all the 50 paid positions fill, that split would pay out the following amounts via bank check.

Example of pay-out based on 50 paid participants. 50 entrants x $40.00 = $2000.00 possible maximum prize pool.

50/30/20% Split
1st Place Winner: 50%
2nd Place: 30%
3rd Place: 20%

Rules, Regulations, and Qualifications

Rules: The 2010 Event is Limited to the first 50 paid entries. *See Note”. “The Tournament Director may extend the number of qualifying entrants if he sees a benefit to the over-all success of the event to upwards to a total of (56)”. There are no guarantee's he will do so.

There is limit of one entry per applicant. All anglers will be fishing from the deck of Ocean Crest Pier. All qualifying fish must be hooked, fought and landed via the deck of Ocean Crest Pier. Anglers must use the two rod anchor/fighting rod method more commonly referred to as "Trolley Fishing" during the event. There is a limit of (1) primary prize award per tournament angler from among the (3) total primary prize awards offered in the event.

The Piers "Tee" is being reserved for "Tournament Only" anglers fishing the event and no other angler/s not fishing the event will be allowed inside the "Tee" during the 3 day event. * Tournament officials are exempt from the exclusion.

Each tournament angler is required to be on premises @ 6.am each day. The Standard Procedures that begin in the tackle shop @ 6 am for the Lottery draw for 'Tee' positions will be held each day. Anchor setting will begin @ 7am or nearest to day break (Sunrise) as possible. No angler will be allowed to enter the fishing areas of the pier, pre-select equipment stowage locations, and "No one" will be allowed to preset anchors or begin fishing until all tournament anglers have set anchors as a group. The Official Tournament Pier Master (assigned by the tournament director) will maintain control of the “Community Bait Tank,” In the event there are less baits available at the beginning of each days fishing than there are contestants. and all available baits will be provided on a lottery draw from names of all contestants. Anglers arriving late (after 6 am each day) will be given a position on a first come first served bases from rear Tee positions. Late contestants will be required to wait until all previous positions have been set.

All equipment will be tagged during the event at the beginning of each tournament day. That equipment will be considered the equipment upon which an angler must fight and land a qualifying fish. Anglers may only replace/switch-out equipment that has become damaged during the event so long they have 1st notified Tournament officials and are given the green light to do so. The replacement “Rod” must be tagged by tournament officials.

What happens if an angler just wants to change out equipment that’s not damaged?

There are no daily allowances given under Tournament rules. You may choose to use different equipment at the beginning of each new day so long it is properly tagged. In the event that an anglers reel becomes short spooled during a fish on situation it is allowable to tie in another fighting rod/reel so long no advantages are given to the angler by having the line hand lined by another while doing so. The angler must control the fish while the tie-in procedure takes place. Reversing the procedure following the same rule will not disqualify a qualifying fish.

How many rods may I use during the event?

Anglers are allowed to use the following equipment during the event. One Fighting Rod. One Anchor Rod, and One Bait or Bottom Fishing Rod. Anglers must remain with their equipment when-ever it is being used during the event. Cast net use is allowed under the standard Ocean Crest Pier Guidelines during the event. Tournament Official's may restrict the use of any equipment it deems inappropriate during the event.

The events actual event hour begins as close as possible to those posted below. Weather conditions and acts beyond anglers control dictate anchoring, etc. Anchor setting will begin as close to 7 am as possible. No fishing will be allowed until all participating anglers’ anchors are set. The ending hours of the event are listed for each day below.

Friday May 7th - 7am .........until 7pm
Saturday May 8th - 7am.....until 7 pm.
Sunday May 9th 7am .........until 3 pm.

Awards ceremony afterwards beginning at 4pm Sunday May 9th.

Note: All Fish in a “Fish-On” situation must be landed before the "strike of the clock hour hand" each ending hour during each of the individual Tournament Days to qualify. Simply meaning that all fish in a "Fish On Situation" must be decked during the time period after every ones anchor is set each tournament day and before the ending "strike of the clock hour hand" each ending hour each Tournament Day to qualify. The actual beginning time of the event is set @ as close as possible to 7 am. The event ends @ 7:00 pm May 7th, 8th and 3:00 pm May 9th.

Weighing in of the fish must take place with-in five minutes of landing for anglers "Qualifying a fish "during the tournament no matter the hour or day.

What happens if an angler is in a fish on situation and lands a fish by 7 pm?

This simply means that a 7:00 pm landing must be weighed in no later 7:05 pm Friday May 7th, and Saturday May 8th, and a 3pm landing by 3:05 pm at the latest to qualify the fish Sunday May 9th.

Weighing in of fish: Tournament officials will weigh each fish in on the same State certified scales with-in 5 minutes of its landing
.

Landing a Fish: The deck of the pier is the landing area.

"Fish On Situation" what does that mean? Simply that a fish has taken by striking action or has become attached to the baited hooks of the terminal leader material upon which a fighting line/ and a rod/reel is secured. Commonly known as a "Fish Run".

I want to fish but my schedule doesn't allow me to fish all three days, what choices do I have?

Anglers who wish to fish the event but work or personal schedules restricts the number of days they will be here may fish any of the days they so chose. The entry fees remain the same $50.00.

What happens if I'm unable to stay for the entire event? Let’s say your work schedule, or health reasons forces you to miss being here at the end to the event, etc.

If you weigh in a fish that remains (1) of the top three qualifiers you're winnings will be mailed to you. If by chance the blind draw format (see below) comes into play and you haven’t entered a qualifying winning fish, your name will be entered into that pool of names just the same and your winnings will be mailed to you. The event guarantees you the same opportunity to win whether or not you’re able to participate at all any of the three days so long no fish are landed by other anglers and you have paid entry fees, etc. It's a safe bet! Remember that only one primary prize is available to any tournament participant disregard less how that comes about. Refunds will not be issued to any angler participating in the event for any reason whether they are unable to fish any portion of the event or not. These anglers’ names will be included in the blind drawing for primary prizes in the event that applies.

Can anglers leave the "Tee" area during the event?

Anglers may bait and bottom fish once they are set up on the "Tee". These activities are restricted too the 1st 100 feet of the pier behind the "Tee" area.

What about leaving these areas while taking rest breaks and visits to the parking lot or restroom?

Anglers fishing the event must remain on Ocean Crest Pier property while their tournament equipment is on the rail. Anglers using the restroom or visiting the tackle shop must first notify the Pier Master of their "Non-Fishing Status" beforehand and on returning to the "Tee" with-in 15 minutes. Anglers must also notify the Pier Master of their "Return to fishing Status" upon returning to the "Tee" area. Anglers must be prepared to man their own equipment at all times.
While "Non-Fishing Status" anglers are taking breaks the pier master will take charge over those anglers equipment until their return to the "Tee". If necessary tournament officials will issue a "all call" in order to attempt to notify an angler of a fish on situation. No one may crank, hand line or retrieve the fish or line in lue of the angler who is unavailable for any reason and have that fish count towards the Tournament prizes. Any fish fought or landed via a tournament entrants equipment while that individual is out of the "Tee' area or in a "Non- Fishing Status" who fails to respond to the "all call" immediately will not qualify for primary prizes. It may be landed though and not count towards prizes. Tournament anglers leaving the "Tee" but remaining on OCP property for periods of time longer than fifteen minutes are required to remove their fighting rods from the rail and cart those.

Tournament anglers who leave the premises of OCP property must remove their equipment from the property firsthand. Any tournament angler leaving OCP Property who chooses to return and have plans re-entering the fishing arena may do so under the rule provision regarding late arrivals by anglers. Previous Rail positions will not be held or guaranteed.

All other Pier Rules and Policies will apply to tournament anglers. These rules are subject to modification at any time and with-out notice.

Primary Fish Specie:

The “2010 RKMT Tournament" is a primary "King Mackerel” event. If a total of 3 qualifying "Kings" are landed by 3 different tournament anglers then secondary species, will not pay out.

Primary prizes will be awarded first from among those qualifying fish (Kings) who meet State and Federal mandates. Currently that is set at 24". There is a 3 per angler bag limit daily under those mandates. Example: The largest three Kings caught by three different participants during the tournament would sweep the pool of primary prize monies.

Secondary Prizes: There will be several classes of secondary prizes offered to anglers fishing the event.
We have also acquired several other valued secondary prizes which include, Vouchers for free meals from local OKI restaurants, Fishing tackle, Fishing clothing, and also a nice variety of gifts and certificates for merchandise from Local OKI businesses that support your individual efforts.

What happens if none (0) or less than 3 qualifying "King Mackerel are landed during the event but other fish species are?

In the event less than three total Qualifying King Mackerel are landed during the event the following Species of fish may also qualify for winnings.

These Species are considered secondary and Primary Prize Monies will be awarded to anglers catches who meet State and Federal Mandates, size and bag limits filling any voids in the 3 Primary Prize payout positions. These fish will be weight recorded as well during the event just in case.
They are in payout order as follows including size minimums. At no time shall any other Species of fish other than a Qualifying "King Mackerel" supersede a Qualifying "King Mackerel in regards to the primary prize pool.

Spanish Mackerel 12" minimum (Fork Length)
- is the 2nd qualifying specie.

Bluefish 12" minimum (Fork Length)
- is the final and 3rd qualifying specie.

What happens if no one lands even a single qualifying fish?

This is a Guaranteed Payout event. All Primary prize monies will be paid out. If weather conditions, acts of God, or that no one could plan for stop the event from taking place (3) names will be blind drawn from among all paying entrants’ names and those persons will be awarded the Primary prizes. In the event it's just a matter that no fish are landed the same procedure will apply. In the event less than the (3) total qualifying fish are landed from either the Primary specie (Kings) or Secondary species ( Spanish Mackerel or Bluefish) the remaining positions will be filled using the same blind drawing format. There are no foul weather rain dates, rescheduling, or refunds offered via this format.

Qualifying a catch/fish:

Anglers must fight and land their own fish on their own equipment. During a fish on situation each angler must man their equipment and be prepared to help see that each angler lands their fish successfully. The passing of fighting rods along the rail is allowed but no angler other than the angler in the fish on situation is allowed to crank the reel in order to retrieve the fish.* Note. See Americans With Disabilities below.

Hand lining the fighting line in order to retrieve the fish by the angler involved in the fish on situation is allowed only. Landing gaffs or nets will be allowed to land fish. Each angler may choose 2 gaffers/netters of their choice that will assist in seeing the fish landed. All other anglers will assist those attempts as requested by tournament rule or tournament official. The Tournament Director, his appointee/s and participating anglers can not offer any absolutes regarding fish landings. By entering the event “No angler" fishing the event will hold another person responsible either personally or legally for a failed attempt.

Do mutilated fish qualify? No fish caught which is parted or mutilated by an angler hands from being whole by cutting action, no matter the method will qualify during the event. A catch must be presented for weigh in, in the condition in which it is landed in order it qualify for entry and prize considerations. It is illegal in North Carolina to part by cutting action any regulated fish specie while an angler is still in the action or processes of fishing aka “Lines in the water”.

Does this mean a fish is disqualified if it is mutilated, parted or bitten by another fish or shark and becomes less than whole? No. It would be impossible for an angler to predetermine or control what Mother Nature controls. A naturally mutilated fish “shall remain” a qualifying catch during the tourney, so long it still meets state and federal minimum length regulation qualifiers and is with-in an anglers daily bag limit total.

Americans with Disabilities (ADA). All OCP Tournaments are designed with ADA requirements in mind. Any angler needing modifications in order to participate may do so in writing. These requests should be either presented in person or by delivered by mail and addressed to the "2010 RKMT" Tournament Director @ 1409 East Beach Drive. Oak Island, NC 28465. Verifying Documentation to the limitation may be requested and all reasonable attempts will be made accommodating such requests. Anglers seeking modification and all supplied verifying documentations shall be kept in the strictest of confidence.

This is a family event open to anglers of all skill levels between the ages of 13 years of age and 100.

Alcohol Consumption: Tournaments held at Ocean Crest Pier are "Alcohol Free". Participants are strictly prohibited from consuming alcoholic beverages while on Ocean Crest Pier OCP/LLC premises. Tournament viewers, visitors, or participants guests may consume alcohol purchased here at Ocean Crest "Only outside of tournament area's" while on the pier property. No Tournament viewer, visitor, or participant’s guest may consume alcohol purchased here at Ocean Crest inside of tournament area's of OCP property. No Tournament viewer, visitor, or participant guests will be allowed inside the “Tee" area if they have consumed any alcoholic beverages, whether those have been consumed on or off-site. No exceptions! Violators will we removed from the premises of Ocean Crest Pier Inc. property, with-out recourse. We ask participants remind their guests of these policies.

Becoming a Qualifying Angler:

Anglers fishing the event are agreeing to abide by all aforementioned Tournament and Ocean Crest Pier Fishing Policies. During the event tournament anglers will be restricted from the Consumption of Alcohol, Cursing, and Uncivil language, Aggressive Arguing, Physically Fighting, Threaten behavior or Cheating. Violators will be excluded from further participation. Without Refund and removed from the premises of Ocean Crest Pier Inc., aka Ocean Crest Pier property.

Refusing to help or interfering with attempts to successfully land a fish will result in barring from the event and the property of Ocean Crest Pier Inc. Sportsmanship behavior is expected, no less will be accepted. Tournament fees will be forfeited in the event an angler is removed from the event for any reason with-out recourse.

Those persons choosing not to fish the event of their own accord or who are unable too after signing up and paying entry fees may do so with-out refund, their names will be entered into the blind pool drawing if that situation applies (see above). Anglers evicted from the tournament and property will be excluded from this blind drawing or any other primary winnings a fish catch may have qualified them for. Any angler who has been or is currently subjected to the barring, restriction, or previous removal from the premises or the property of Ocean Crest Pier are strictly prohibited from participation.

We would like to thank each of you for joining in as contestants during the event and being patrons of the pier.

We're looking forward to having each of you here and wish you the Very Best of Luck!

King On!......................................Dave/ Ocean Crest Pier Inc.

The Tide Schedule for Oak Island Friday May 7th through Sunday May 9th 2010.

May 7th High Tide @ 3.20 am ....................Low Tide @ 9.00 am
May 8th High Tide @ 4.00 pm ..................Low Tide @ 9.50 am
May 9th High Tide @ 4.50 pm ....................Low Tide @ 10.45 am