Official Rules – Hobie Fishing Worlds 10/11

All contestants shall follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy and conservation and shall conduct themselves in a manner that is a credit to themselves, to Hobie, Hobie’s sponsors, the sport of fishing and Hobie’s efforts to promote the sport.

 

All contestants are expected to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, safety, and conservation. Any infraction of these fundamental sporting principles may be deemed cause of disqualification. Maximum courtesy must be practiced at all times, especially with regard to boating and angling in the vicinity of non-competitors who may be on tournament waters. Any act of a competitor, which reflects unfavorably upon Hobie, the Hobie Fishing Worlds event, Hobie’s Sponsors, the sport of fishing and Hobie’s efforts to promote fisheries conservation, clean waters, and courtesy, shall be reason for disqualification. Anglers shall, at all times, conduct themselves in a professional manner that demonstrates integrity, honor, and respect toward fellow competitors, tournament staff and the general public and does not reflect unfavorably on the Hobie Fishing Worlds event, its members, representatives, or sponsors.

 

Following are examples of unacceptable behavior by competitors in the Hobie Fishing Worlds event that will be cause for disqualification:

 

• Heated public disagreements with the Hobie Fishing Worlds tournament directors or staff, other competitors, fans, and volunteers before, during or after the event.

• Public attacks through media, including social media, upon the integrity of Hobie, the Hobie Fishing Worlds, host town, host city, host state or host region, rules, staff, or officials.

• Public comments that an angler knows, or should reasonably know, will harm the reputation of Hobie, the Hobie Fishing Worlds, tournament director or its sponsors.

• Displays of anger and displeasure for reasons related to fishing competition where members of the public, including other anglers, spectators, sponsor(s), or the media, are present.

• Publicly questioning or criticizing a tournament official or official decision, ruling or penalty except through the proper channels which are outlined in the Rules and Regulations.

• Abuse (physical, verbal, threatening or slanderous) of tournament officials, volunteers, fellow competitors, Hobie, the Hobie Fishing Worlds, host town, host city, host state or host region, or others connected with the Hobie Fishing Worlds.

• Offensive or slanderous comments with racial, cultural, or sexual overtones regarding event officials, event personnel or fellow anglers.

• Intentionally interfering with a fellow angler’s ability to compete.

• Violation of, or failure to comply with, any of the rules of the event.

• Consumption and/or possession of alcoholic beverages or any kind of mind-altering substance during registration or tournament hours.

• Abuse of, or addiction to, mind-altering substances.

• Suspension/disqualification, probation or ban from any tournament or fishing organization globally.

• Each contestant agrees to submit, by registering for this tournament, to a polygraph or voice stress analysis examination and to abide by its conclusion.

• Consumption of alcohol or any mind-altering substance is strictly prohibited prior to a truth verification test.

• Refusal to participate in the polygraph or voice stress analysis examination will result in disqualification from the tournament.

• Failure to pass an examination, if administered, can result in disqualification from the tournament.

• Truth verification tests will be used at Hobie Fishing Worlds Tournament Directors discretion, and the determination of the meaning of the results will be made solely by the Tournament Director.

SAFETY

• The event organizers shall provide a PFD to all Worlds’ anglers. All anglers shall wear a fastened provided PFD at all times on the water. No other PFD shall be worn. The personal flotation device must always be worn on the outside of all clothing.

• At the morning check-in each competitor shall be issued with a numbered key tag for that day only. Anglers may be issued with a different key tag number each day.

• All anglers MUST return their key tag to the key tag board when they return to the event site at session finish time, regardless of whether they are measuring fish or not.

• In the event of angler(s) not returning their key tag to the key tag board, by the session finish time, the event organizers shall commence a search for the missing angler(s).

• IHFWA committee will encourage fisheries and boating officers to attend all HFW tournaments to police safety regulations, registration, relevant boating legislation, as well as alcohol and drug laws.

• IHFWA committee’s sportsmanship principals dictate that care of fellow anglers is of the upmost importance. If an angler or boat is in distress, it is expected that other anglers will assist. Remember that safety is more important that your day’s catch.

• At the discretion of the tournament director, tournament days may be shortened, postponed, or canceled due to unsafe weather or water conditions.

• Emergency calls should be made to a tournament official when possible.

• Competitors are expected to use sound judgement and are accountable for their own actions when faced with a potentially dangerous situation. (i.e., lightning, excessive wind, rough waters, recreational and commercial marine traffic, hunting areas, etc.)

HOBIE KAYAKS

• All anglers shall fish from the supplied, identically rigged, 2024 Hobie Mirage® 14 Pro Angler 360-XR kayaks.

• No decals, mounts, fittings, or modifications shall be made to the factory supplied kayaks.

• No external maps may be used and or added or inserted into the supplied Lowrance sounder.

BRIEFING

• Attendance at daily briefings is mandatory for all anglers. (See the event noticeboard for exact briefing times).

• Arriving late to a briefing may incur a starting time penalty of not less than 5 minutes and not more than 2 hours.

• Failure to attend a briefing shall result in that angler penalized 27.55 inches (70cm) per day late.

DAILY CHECK-IN

• Check-in times shall be announced at Registration, the Daily Briefing and posted on the official Noticeboard.

• ALL anglers must collect their key tag before the start of each day’s briefing. Failure to do so may result in time penalties at the rate of 4 inches (10.16cm) per minute late or part thereof.

• Anglers/Managers cannot collect key tags for other anglers.

• After the morning check-in each day and before the start, angler’s kayaks may be inspected and checked for safety equipment.

• Session start method shall be announced by the Tournament Director at the Daily Briefing and posted on the official Notice Board.

STARTING PROCEDURE

• The order of entry may be used to determine the start method. Start methods include;

Order of entry, single file start e.g., #1 entry first away, #2 entry, second start, etc.

Group start, all competitors start together in single start line.

Gate start in which all anglers start on single start line, however split direction at the two turning gates.

Other as required for safe fleet start.

• All competitors shall pedal across the defined start line and in the specified direction. Failure may result in a penalty and deduction of length from a minimum of 4 inches (10.16 cm) to a maximum of 40 inches (101.67cm).

• The tournament organizers reserve the right to modify any starting order and procedure as required.

• The Tournament Director shall announce the start method at the official briefing.

FISHING

• Anglers must abide by all the local fishing and boating regulations. Hobie and local authorities may patrol the tournament waterways.

• ALL session start times shall be announced by the tournament director the previous day and posted to the official notice board.

• Kayaks should remain a cast apart 30 yards (27 meters) while fishing.

• All fish must be at least the minimum legal length. Fish below the minimum size shall be released immediately.

The legal lengths are as follows:

TBA

• Any angler on the tournament waterway outside of session times shall be disqualified for that day.

FISHING METHODS

• Cast-and-retrieve only – no trolling, no live baits, no dead baits.

• Only artificial lures and flies shall be used during competition.

• Alabama style rigs or multi-rigs are not allowed.

• Trolling as a method of fishing is NOT allowed. Long-lining and drifting with current/wind are allowed. Trolling is defined as directly using the vessel’s propulsion to present a lure.

• Commercially sold scents may be added and used.

• Only ONE rod, either a casting, spin casting, spinning rod and reel or fly rod shall be used at any one time.

• The rod must be handheld, at all times while fishing.

• Fish grips of any type shall not be used.

• No fish are to be kept on stringers.

• An angler’s catch must be safely released before casting before fishing may resume.

• Hobie shall supply landing nets to all anglers. Only landing nets supplied by Hobie shall be used.

• ALL fish shall be caught in a conventional sporting manner. A cast must be fully retrieved before an angler may select another rod.

• Anglers shall not catch or measure fish that have been caged or confined in an area prior to the tournament.

• ALL fish must be caught from the provided Hobie kayak. The angler shall not be outside the kayak, for any reason, between casting and landing of the fish.

• Portaging is prohibited.

• During the hours of competition, contestants shall not obtain or receive assistance, including but not limited to the following: a non-competitor’s boat; the placing of markers by a non-competitor; being towed by or riding on motorized vessels; or receiving electronic, voice or data communication from a non-competitor.

INFORMATION GATHERING & COMMUNICATION

• The purchasing of, or bartering for, information about locating or catching fish on tournament waters (other than through commercially available sources) is not permitted during the OFFICIAL PRACTICE period through the conclusion of the tournament.

• Any use of or communication with a guide or guide services, directly or indirectly, pertaining to tournament waters within 30 days of the event is prohibited, other than through publicly available sources.

• During official tournament days, contestants may not solicit information about locating or catching fish on tournament waters from anyone except other anglers confirmed in the tournament and through publicly available sources. Quasi-public websites, blogs and/or social media pages set up for the specific purpose of sharing information with individuals or a small group of individuals are NOT publicly available sources.

• Any collaboration on or off the water with other competitors or non- competitors for the purpose of sharing or pooling winnings is strictly prohibited.

• The purchasing of or bartering for information about locating or catching fish on tournament waters (other than through commercially available sources) is not permitted 30 Days prior to the event and through the conclusion of the tournament.

• ANY use of or communication with a guide or guide services, directly or indirectly, pertaining to
• tournament waters within 30 days of the event is prohibited, other than through publicly available sources.

• Anglers may not solicit fishing or waterway information from anyone in an attempt to gain a
• competitive advantage from the start of the first official practice or pre-fish day – WEDNESDAY  26TH JUNE 2024 to the conclusion of the event.

• During the tournament hours of each day (First Launch- Fishing Concludes) Anglers may not utilize  any electronic devices for private communication with competitors or non- competitors to share or receive info on tournament waters, fishing strategies, techniques or anything that could provide an advantage.

• Any collaboration on or off the water with other competitors or non- competitors for the purpose of sharing or TEAM strategies is strictly prohibited and will result in the disqualification of all involved.

• Any questions or concerns about tournament rules or violations need to be communicated with the Hobie Fishing Worlds Tournament Director – Steve Fields immediately and initially to be considered.

INTERPRETATION & ENFORCEMENT

• All Federal, State, and Local laws, rules, markings, orders, and warnings must be followed and will  always supersede Hobie Fishing Worlds. Violation of any laws may be grounds for disqualification.

• All violations of laws will be turned over to the proper authorities for investigation and possible prosecution. This includes, but is not limited to, cheating, harassment, wildlife violations, illegal drug use, and any other illegal activity.

• These rules will remain subject to change by Hobie Fishing Worlds Officials.

• Special Rules and amendments may be announced, added, or omitted for special circumstances or clarification at the judgement of Hobie Fishing Worlds Officials.

• Interpretation and enforcement of these rules will be left exclusively to Hobie Fishing Worlds Officials.

• Decisions of Hobie Fishing Worlds Officials/ tournament director(s) are final in all matters and are not subject to appeal.

• A violation of tournament rules may result in penalties, disqualification, or banishment at the
• discretion of Hobie Fishing Worlds Officials.

FISHING BOUNDARIES

• All fishing locations shall be identified by the Tournament Director at the daily briefing and posted on the official notice board.

• The fishing arena shall be announced at briefing each day. Out of bounds areas will be provided whenever possible at the anglers briefing.

• The fishing boundaries may be embedded in the supplied maps on the Lowrance unit.

• Angler’s kayaks shall not be inside any out of bounds area, anglers lure and line shall be considered to be an extension of the kayak.

• Anglers shall not cast, land a lure or fish in any out of bounds location.

• Anglers must remain within the boundaries set out by the Tournament Director. Failure to adhere to this rule shall result in disqualification for that day.

PREFISH BANS

• Anglers fishing in the Hobie Fishing World Championship will not be allowed to access the tournament arena from and including Friday May 26^th, 2024, until and including Wednesday June 26^th, 2024. The arena is deemed to be within 200 miles (321 kilometers) of the start area. A map may be shown on the official event website.

• During the pre-fish ban no contestant shall be on tournament waters, and no person shall be on tournament waters to locate fish or gain fishing information on a contestant’s behalf.

REGISTRATION AND BRIEFING

• Registration, Briefing, Start, and Finish times may vary. Please read the Noticeboard and pay attention to briefing announcements to confirm times. (See the event noticeboard for exact briefing times).

• The tournament key tag allocation shall be on the morning of the pre-fish days and competition days and will close 30 minutes before the session begins.

• Failure to sign in for your key tags within the allocated time shall result in an angler starting in the last position plus 10 mins and not more than 2 hours regardless of reason for absence.

• The Daily Briefing shall be held after the close of key tag allocation.

• It is a requirement of entry that all anglers shall attend the entire briefing. Failure to do so shall result in an angler starting in the last position plus 10 mins regardless of reason for absence.

• Hobie Fishing Worlds 10_11will have the official Registration and Briefing the evening before day one of the tournament. Failure to attend the Registration and entire Briefing may result in an automatic disqualification from the championship.

EVENT FORMAT

The Hobie Fishing World Championship may consist of two Pre-Fish or Practice days, and three days of competition (Weather permitting).

WEDNESDAY | 26^TH JUNE 2024

• Registration & Key Tag Allocation at Event Site | 7:00am
• Mandatory Morning Briefing at Event Site | 7:30am
• RAM MOUNTS Practice – Pre-Fish Day 1 | (session times announced at briefing)

THURSDAY | 27^TH JUNE 2024

• Registration & Key Tag Allocation at Event Site | 7:00am
• Mandatory Morning Briefing at Event Site | 7:30am
• SPONOSORS Practice – Pre-Fish Day 2 | (session times announced at briefing)

FRIDAY | 28^TH JUNE 2024

• Registration & Key Tag Allocation at Event Site | 6:00am
• Mandatory Morning Briefing at Event Site | 6:30am
• LOWRANCE Championship Day 1 | (session times announced at briefing)

SATURDAY | 29^TH JUNE 2024

• Registration & Key Tag Allocation at Event Site | 6:00am
• Mandatory Morning Briefing at Event Site | 6:15 am 
• Championship Day 2 |(session times announced at briefing)

SUNDAY | 30^TH JUNE 2024

• Registration & Key Tag Allocation at Event Site | 6:00am
• Mandatory Morning Briefing at Event Site | 6:15 
• Championship Day 3 | (session times announced at briefing)

KEY TAGS AND PENALTIES

• Key Tags shall be placed on the key tag board immediately on return to the event site, at completion of the session. Tags not returned by the allotted time shall be penalized at the rate of 1 inch (2.54 cm ) per minute. This may apply to Pre-Fish Days.

• If an angler returns later than 15 minutes after session finish time, the angler shall be disqualified for the day and forfeit their day’s catch. This may apply to Pre-Fish Days.

• Penalties shall be deducted from the angler’s accumulated length and may incur a negative score.

• The key tag shall be placed on the key tag board by the angler.

• Other anglers, guests, families & friends cannot collect and return key tags on behalf of anglers.

SCORING – CATCH PHOTO RELEASE (CPR) WILL BE VIA THE TOURNEYX TOURNAMENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

TourneyX® has been tested by hundreds of tournament directors and thousands of anglers across the country. There is no other system that makes managing tournaments easier. Your phone will need to be able to use the cell services in Canada.

To use the TourneyX scoring system, we have a few small but important steps.  

PHOTO CRITERIA

• Anglers must be able to submit their original photos to our tournament submission application. There will be no manual submissions.

• No edited, manipulated, screenshot, or video clip of fish picture will be accepted or utilized to make a scoring judgement.

• Each fish photo must include all the following criteria to avoid penalties or disqualification:

• The entire Bass, from the tip of the lip to the end of the tail, on an approved measuring device, while in a tournament legal vessel.

• Bass must be laying with the tip of the lip against the post end of the measuring device.

• Measuring device post must be visible.

• The mouth of the Bass must be CLOSED COMPLETELY to receive full score.

• The tail of the Bass must be lying flat on the board and will be measured to the longest point.

• Pinching and holding the tail is permitted.

• Bass orientation must be facing to the left, tail to the right, belly toward the angler.

• Measuring device markings must be clearly visible. Including the actual numbers.

• The assigned unique identifier’s number must be clearly visible.

• One overhead photo shot frame (not shot at a drastic angle).

• Fish must be clear of any holding devices including fishing lure or hook.

• The lip, eye, and end of tail cannot be obstructed in the photo, even by your hand or identifier.

• Hand or fingers must not be “in” the gill plate.

• If a fish has a visibly glossy eye or odd markings, we ask that the competitor take video of that fish to prove it is alive, showing it going from the board to the water and actively swimming away.

• Any questionable issues with a fish should be immediately brought to the Hobie Fishing Worlds Tournament Directors’ attention.

• Quality of the photo submitted is the responsibility of the angler.

**All criteria above must be met, or the photo may not be scored**

PENALTIES (for Reference Only)

• Mouth cracked or slightly open – .5” deduction (1.27cm)
• Mouth blatantly open- 1”-2” deduction (2.54 cm / 5.08cm)
• Lip or full tail not touching board: No score.

 MEASURING DEVICE

• The supplied metal measuring board is the mandatory and official measuring devices for the  Hobie Fishing Worlds 10_11 Tournament.

• No other measuring board shall be used.

• A clean measuring device is expected to ensure we can give you a proper score.

• A photo of the official measuring board will be shown prior to the completion starting within the rules. 

COMMUNICATIONS / SOCIAL MEDIA

• During tournament hours, the use of cellular telephones, marine radios, walkie-talkies, CBs, pagers, or any electronic device to communicate fishing information or to contact anyone, including family members for any reason other is strictly prohibited. Anglers caught communicating in the ways listed shall be disqualified for that day.

• Communication among anglers is allowed on the water only by non-electronic methods.

• Anglers may be requested to provide the Tournament Director his or her phone to see last number called and timestamp during Tournament Days.

• The use of Social Media is permitted to make Hobie Fishing Worlds 10_11 posts, live feeds only. All posts should include the following tag #HFW10_11 and #hobiefishingworlds.

• Emergency calls are permitted and should be made to a tournament official if/when possible.

• Emergency numbers shall be posted on the official noticeboard if applicable.

NAVIGATIONAL AIDS / CHARTS

• The use of navigational aids, marine charts on tablets, smartphones or any hand-held device is not allowed.

• The use of personal charts / cards shall not be permitted. The Tournament Director has the right to inspect equipment at any time during tournament days including pre-fish / practice days.

• Only Hobie supplied cards / charts shall be used and only with supplied Lowrance fitted sounders.

PROTEST

• All protests must be submitted to the Tournament Director, in writing, in English, along with a $100 USD (cash) non-refundable, within twenty (20) minutes of the end of the session time for each day to be valid.

• Any concerns regarding clarification of rules shall be discussed with the Tournament Director BEFORE the start of the session each day.

• The protester also agrees that if there is a question of verifying the charge of a protest that he or she may be subject to take a polygraph and agree to testify in a court of law if necessary. If the Tournament Director, or polygraph, upholds the protest, the cash deposit shall be returned to the contestant submitting the protest.

FISHING LICENSE

• A “Sportsman “Canadian Fishing License and an “Outdoor Card” is required for this event and will be required to enter the event.

MINIMUM HOURS REQUIRED FOR A WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

• In the event of unfavorable weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances, a minimum of 4 hours over 3 days shall constitute a world championship.

• In the event of less than 4 hours being fished, no World Champion shall be declared for that year.

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE – UNITS OF MEASUREMENTS

• The official language of Hobie Fishing Worlds 10_11 event is English and in case of dispute over the translation, the English text shall prevail.

• The word “shall” is mandatory and the word “may” is permissive.

• HFW 10_11 will be scored in inches.

EVENT APPAREL

• During Navigation, Pre-Fish and Competition hours only approved event apparel and hats shall be worn by all anglers. Penalties may apply.

RULES AND RULE CHANGES

• Rules interpretation is exclusively left to the Tournament Director and Decisions of the Tournament Directors are final in all matters and are not subject to appeal.

• If there is a conflict between languages the English text will take precedence.

• Any/all rule changes will be posted for viewing on the event notice board and on the event website prior to session starting times each day.

• All rules are subject to change without notice at the discretion of the Tournament Directors.

• ALL rules are applied as interpreted by the Tournament Directors and/or by the International Hobie Fishing Worlds Committee (IHFWC) and the Director’s decision is final.

• The Tournament Directors and or the IHFWC has the right to modify, change or move the arena location.

AMENDMENTS

All updates / changes will be listed here.