Patent Abstract:
The present invention conducts, monitors, and regulates the sporting-event that takes place over an extended geographic area, during an extended time period, with intermediate event-based stages occurring before arriving at the finish line. The sporting competition will require the participants to demonstrate a multitude of skills with each participant having to complete a task or tasks at each intermediate stage in the competition prior to proceeding to the next stage, and ultimately, to finish the race. To finish, a contestant, or team of contestants, must have accomplished a task or set of tasks at each intermediate stage for each of the designated segments along the course route of the contest. In that way, the present invention will conduct an endurance race that is more akin to marathon foot race with intermediate event-based stages, as opposed to a modern fishing competition.

Full Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to systems and methods for a unique form of competition or contests in the sport of fishing and hunting. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A sport is an organized, competitive, entertaining, and skillful activity requiring commitment, strategy, and fair play, in which a winner can be defined by objective means. Generally speaking, a sport is a game based in physical athleticism. 
     Sports and sporting competitions are governed by a set of rules or customs. Physical events such as scoring goals or crossing a line first often define the result of a sporting competition. However, the degree of skill and performance in some sports, such as diving, dressage and figure skating, is judged according to well-defined criteria. 
     There are artifacts and structures that suggest that the Chinese engaged in sporting activities as early as 2000 BC. Traces of the earliest sports activities, such as hunting, archery and rowing race, can be seen from some bronze ware of the late Neolithic Age as well as from other articles. For example, artifacts such as a lacquered wooden comb of the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC) feature an ancient Chinese sports activity called “jiaodi.” Of early origin, it is a game similar to wrestling of modern times. The ancient “jiaodi” was performed by athletes wearing ox horns and wrestling with each other imitating wild oxen. Various sports activities can be found in historic expressions such as mural paintings, stone paintings, brick paintings, pottery figurines and poems. 
     Monuments to the Pharaohs indicate that a number of sports, including swimming and fishing, were well-developed and regulated several thousands of years ago in ancient Egypt. Other Egyptian sports included javelin throwing, high jump, and wrestling. Ancient Persian sports such as the traditional Iranian martial art of Zourkhaneh had a close connection to the warfare skills. Among other sports that originate in ancient Persia are polo and jousting. 
     A wide range of sports were already established by the time of Ancient Greece and the military culture and the development of sports in Greece influenced one another considerably. Sports became such a prominent part of their culture that the Greeks created the Olympic Games, which in ancient times were held every four years in a small village in the Peloponnesus called Olympia. 
     Sports have been increasingly organized and regulated from the time of the ancient Olympics up to the present century. Industrialization has brought increased leisure time to the citizens of developed and developing countries, leading to more time for citizens to attend and follow spectator sports, greater participation in athletic activities, and increased accessibility. These trends continued with the advent of mass media and global communication. Professionalism became prevalent, further adding to the increase in sport&#39;s popularity, as sports fans began following the exploits of professional athletes through radio, television, and the internet—all while enjoying the exercise and competition associated with amateur participation in sports. 
     Records are kept and updated for most sports at the highest levels, while failures and accomplishments are widely publicized in sport news. While conduct may vary, sports participants are expected to display good sportsmanship, and observe standards of conduct such as being respectful of opponents and officials, and congratulating the winner when losing. 
     Modern fishing contests or tournaments are common recreational competitions on lakes, bays, rivers and larger saltwater bodies, generally focusing on the number of fish of a specific species caught or the weight (combined or otherwise) of the fish caught, during a specific time period on a single body of water. 
     As well as being a form of recreation for the participants, much sport is played in front of an audience. Most professional sport is played in a theatre of some kind; be it a stadium, arena, golf course, race track, or the open road, with provision for the (often paying) public. Large television or radio audiences are also commonly attracted, with rival broadcasters bidding large amounts of money for the rights to show certain fixtures. 
     The football World Cup attracts a global television audience of hundreds of millions; the 2006 final alone attracted an estimated worldwide audience of well over 700 million. The Cricket World Cup is another sporting event which attracts a global audience. The 2007 Cricket World Cup attracted about 2.3 Billion viewers all over the world. In the United States, the championship game of the NFL, the Super Bowl, has become one of the most watched television broadcasts of the year. Super Bowl Sunday is a de facto national holiday in America; the viewership being so great that in 2007 advertising space was reported as being sold at $2.6 m for a 30 second slot. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     There are a number of advantages of the proposed and preferred system and method for conducting an endurance competition or contest (e.g. hunting or fishing competition) with event-based intermediate stages. Specifically, the present invention conducts the sporting competition by keeping track of, monitoring, and regulating an endurance sporting competition through its various intermediate event-based stages. The sporting competition will require the participants to demonstrate a multitude of skills, along with a certain amount of the “luck of the catch” at the various intermediate stages. The participant has to complete a task or tasks at each stage in the competition prior to proceeding to the next stage, and ultimately, to finish the race. The present invention conducts, monitors, and regulates the sporting-event that takes place over an extended geographic area, during an extended time period, with intermediate event-based stages occurring before arriving at the finish line. 
     In comparison to existing sporting competitions that only test the abilities of the contestants to perform a certain activity (e.g., catch as many largemouth bass as possible) in a single environment (e.g., a single lake) in a predetermined period of time (e.g., four hour period), the proposed competition is much broader in scope and its requirements. In a fishing competition, the proposed contest system may vary both the type and the size of fish sought as well as the location over which the fish must be caught. In addition, the time period may be extended or shortened, so that the contestant must catch the fish in a certain time period (e.g., 24 hours) or all of the fish in a combined time period (e.g., 7 days) or be disqualified or disadvantaged in some manner. 
     Awards and/or prizes may be awarded for First, Second, Third, or any other place that completes the tasks and makes it to the finish. Consequently, the proposed contest system requires competing participants to not only display superior skill and “luck of the catch,” but to also engage in a test of endurance—testing physical stamina and the durability of their equipment. 
     The proposed contest system is an event-driven event with an endurance component. In one embodiment, the system would combine a fishing tournament and a first-to-the-finish line race. Existing fishing competitions are very similar to one another, with minor differences in the specific fish targeted, the location of the contest, the methodology for scoring the recorded catches, and the methodology for ranking and awarding winners of the contest. The proposed contest system would support a more challenging, complex and interesting competition to the contestants as well as to the spectators. Because of its unique and variable aspects, a unique system is needed to account, monitor and support the competition. 
     The proposed invention is a system and/or method that conducts a sporting competition that does not focus on the quantity of scoring (e.g. recorded catches in fishing competition) during a predetermined time period, but rather on a race to a finish line over an extended distance (without or without planned stops) where each intermediate stage requires completing particular tasks to qualify for progressing to the next stage of the race. The outcome of the contest may be decided, primarily, on who finishes the predetermined course in the shortest amount of time or on accumulated point totals that are tallied by the system. To finish, a contestant, or team of contestants, must have accomplished a task or set of tasks at each intermediate stage (e.g. recorded the required catches) for each of the designated segments along the course route of the contest. In that way, the present invention will conduct an endurance race that is more akin to marathon foot race with intermediate event-based stages, as opposed to a modern fishing competition. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as preferred modes of use, further objectives, and advantages thereof, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a system configuration illustrating the components and system interconnections for input information in the present invention, 
         FIG. 2  is a system configuration illustrating the components and system interconnections for output information in the present invention, 
         FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  are system configurations illustrating the components and system interconnections for event monitoring and display information in the present invention, including the monitoring equipment used at various stages in the competition, 
         FIG. 4  is a flow-chart showing the steps involved with conducting the endurance sporting event with intermediate event-based steps, 
         FIG. 5  is a flow-chart showing the monitoring of various activities that occur in the endurance sporting competition, 
         FIG. 6  is a flow chart illustrating the process that competing fishermen would follow in competing in the contest on an example Saltwater contest course, such as that shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 7  is a flow chart illustrating the timeline of an example contest held along the Texas Coastal bay systems, running from Sabine Pass on the far east edge of the Texas coast, down to Port Isabel on the southern tip of the Texas coast. 
         FIG. 8  is a map providing an example of a course from start to finish through the bay systems along the Texas Coast, indicating the starting point, each of seven exemplary stage areas  302 ,  305 ,  307 ,  309 ,  311 ,  313 , and  315 , each of seven stage area recording stations  303 ,  306 ,  308 ,  310 ,  312 ,  314 , and  316 , if the example contest used recording stations to record qualifying catches, and finishing point  316  of the contest. 
         FIG. 9  is a map providing an example of a course from start to finish through a River (riparian) Freshwater Contest Course, in this illustration, the example of a contest held on the Mississippi River, from Minneapolis-St. Paul to New Orleans. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In  FIG. 1 , the information input components and system interconnection  10   a  are shown with the computer-based system  11  being coupled to an input-output device  12  via connection  13 , workstation WS 1    15  via connection  14 , workstation WS 2    17  via connection  16 , workstation WS 3    19  via connection  18 , and a memory database  21  via connection  20 . Information input into the system  11  can be captured and received by the parts of the system  10   a  shown in FIG.  1 . The computer-based system  11  has a central processing unit, memory, and ports for supporting input/output connections. The computer-based system  11  is coupled to an interface  22  via connection  23 , and the interface is coupled to a gateway  25  via connection  24  and a telephone switch  26  via a connection  27 . The telephone switch  26  is coupled to the gateway  25  via connection  56 . The gateway  25  is coupled to the Internet  31  via connection  30 , and the telephone switch  26  is coupled to a telephone network  34  via connection  29 . 
     A mobile unit  48  associated with a participant in the competition or that participant&#39;s vehicle is coupled by a radio signal  49  to a radio access network antenna  42 . The mobile unit  48  can transmit information from the participant includes event-based information, completion of tasks, photo documentation of task completion, location information or other information about the progress of the participant in the competition. The format of these transmissions can be electronic mail, text messages, instant messaging, or uploading of information onto the computer system  11 , social network site or applications program devoted to the participant or the sporting competition. The mobile unit  48  is coupled to the participant vehicle  51  via connection  50 , and a GPS (global positioning satellite) unit  53 . The GPS unit  53  obtains positioning satellite signals from several geosynchronous satellite(s)  54  in order to calculate positioning and location information. This positioning and location information is transmitted to the system  11  via radio transmission  55  or through the radio transmission  49  through the mobile unit  48 . 
     The progress of the competition can be monitored by the monitor input unit  46 , which can be coupled to the computer system  11  via the connection  43  and  28 . Alternatively, the information input into the monitor input unit  46  can be transmitted to the computer system via the telephone network using connection  43 ,  36  and  37 , or the Internet  31  connection via connection  43 ,  36  and  32 . Also, the information input into the monitor input unit  46  can be transmitted to the computer system  11  via a radio transmission  47  through the radio access network  42  and  40 , and through the telephone network  34  or the Internet network  31 . The information input into the monitor can be input by a participant, an observer, or a judge associate with the competition. 
     The progress of the competition can be visually recorded or provided in real-time by video unit  44 , which can be coupled to the computer system via connection  28 . Alternatively, the information input into the monitor input unit  46  can be transmitted to the computer system via the telephone network using connection  43 ,  36  and  37 , or the Internet  31  connection via connection  43 ,  36  and  32 . Also, the information input into the monitor input unit  46  can be transmitted to the computer system  11  via a radio transmission  47  through the radio access network  42  and  40 , and through the telephone network  34  or the Internet network  31 . The information input into the monitor can be input by a participant, an observer, or a judge associate with the competition. 
     The radio access network includes radio access network antenna  42  coupled to a substation switch SS  40  via connection  41 . The substation switch SS  40  is coupled to the gateway GW  39  via connection  38 . The substation switch SS is coupled to a telephone network  34  via connection  35  or the Internet  31  via connection  37  and  33 . The gateway is coupled to the Internet  31  via connection  32 . 
     In  FIG. 2 , the system components and interconnections  10   b  associated with information output are shown with system  11  being coupled to an input-output device  12  via connection  13 , workstation WS 1    15  via connection  14 , workstation WS 2    17  via connection  16 , workstation WS 3    19  via connection  18 , and a memory database  21  via connection  20 . Information input into the system  11  can be captured and received by the parts of the system  10   a  shown in  FIG. 1 . The computer-based system  11  has a central processing unit, memory, and ports for supporting input/output connections. The computer-based system  11  is coupled to an interface  22  via connection  23 , and the interface is coupled to a gateway  25  via connection  24  and a telephone switch  26  via a connection  27 . The information output from the computer system regarding the progress of the participants in the competition can be transmitted and displayed by the parts of the system  10   b  shown in  FIG. 2 . Moreover, all this information may be transferred to a television or cable provider server for broadcasting the competition in real-time, on a tape-delayed basis, or in an on-demand basis. 
     The computer-based system  11  is coupled to the gateway  25  via connection  28  and the broadcast interface station  78   b  via connection  78   a . The broadcast interface station  78   b  is coupled to the gateway  25  via connection  56 . The broadcast interface station  78   b  is coupled to a television/video network system  58  via connection  57 . The television/video network system  58  is coupled to the Internet  59   a  via connection  59 . 
     The television/video network  58  is coupled to various broadcast or display units via connection  72 . These display units include, for example, a television  76 , video display  73 , high definition television/video display TD  75 , and real-time pay-per-view displays  74 . These monitors and displays will receive and display video and television video and sound coverage of the competition in real-time or as previously recorded. The previously recorded video and sound presentations will be maintained and deposited for future use on the computer-based system  11  working in conjunction with database memory  21 . 
     The Internet  59   a  is coupled to web-based and mobile Internet Protocol (IP) access components via connection  60 . The mobile IP and web-based components coupled to connection  60  include remotely-coupled devices such as a computer  61 , a smart monitor screen display  62 , or a smart mobile phone device SC  63 . The connection  60  may also link the Internet  59   a  to a gateway  64 , which is coupled to a radio access network substitution SS  66 . 
     The network substation SS  66  is coupled to a remote access network antenna  68  via connection  67 . The antenna  68  is coupled via wireless radio electronic connection  69  to one or more mobile units  70   a ,  70   b , and/or  70   c . These display and computer devices may also be coupled to the computer-based system  11  through a telephone system such as that shown at  34  in  FIG. 1 . 
     All of these mobile units  70   a ,  70   b ,  70   c  and remotely coupled computers  61  and  63  and monitors are capable of display web pages maintained and updated by the computer system  11  regarding the progress of the competition, real-time video of the present or past competitions, stored video coverage of the competition, participants in the present or past competitions, re-plays of video presentations or television shows based on the present or past competition, statistics/standing of past and present competitions, profiles of the participants, interviews and news reports regarding the competition or its participants, and links to related websites or sponsors&#39; websites. The website information displayed on these devices will be prepared, maintained, and deposited in the computer-based system  11  working in cooperation with the database memory  21  and workstations WS 1    15 , WS 2    17 , and WS 3    19 . 
     In  FIG. 3   a , the monitoring system components and interconnections are shown. The computer-based system  11  is coupled to database memory  21  via connection  21 , to an input-output unit  132  via connection  13 , and to workstations WS 1    15 , WS 2    17 , and WS 3    19  via connections  14 ,  16  and  18 , respectively. The computer-based system  11  is also coupled to a display  84  that can display information retrieved from computer-based system  11  via connection  82 . The computer-based system  11  is also coupled to a monitor work station  77  via connection  77  for remote access to the computer-based system  11 . The interface  22  is also coupled to a gateway  25  network via connection  24  and a telephone network switch  26  via connection  27 . 
     The competition and progress of the participants can be monitored by the monitor workstation  77 , the video and television cameras VF 1    86 , VF 2    87 , VF 3    88 , VF n    89  and mobile units MV 1    48   a , MV 2    48   b , and MV 3    48   c . The video and television cameras  86 - 89  can record actual footage of the competition participants for real-time play-back through the computer-based system  11  to spectators and observers using the output devices disclosed and described in  FIG. 2 . The spectators can select which video or television footage to watch by selecting the particular video feed component VF 1 , VF 2 , VF 3 , to VF n  to receive footage. The footage can be real-time or deposited in the computer-based system  11  and its database memory  21  for viewing at a later time. 
     The video and television feed cameras VF 1    86 , VF 2    87 , VF 3    88 , and VF n    89  are coupled to the interface  22  via connection  88 . These devices may also be connected to the telephone switch  34  via connections  90  and  91  or the internet  31  via connection  90 . The mobile units MV 1    48   a , MV 2    48   b , and MV 3    48   c  are coupled to the computer-based system  11  through a radio access network  40 , which is coupled to the mobile units  48   a  to  48   c  via connection  49 . The radio access network  40  is coupled to the telephone network  34  through connection  35 , and is coupled to a gateway  39  via connection  39   a . The radio access network  40  is also coupled to the computer-based system  11  via connections  35 ,  83  and  82 . 
     The gateway is coupled to the Internet  31  via connection  32 , and the Internet is coupled to the gateway  25  via connection  30  and the computer-based system  11  via connections  81  and  82 . The telephone network  34  is coupled to the telephone switch  26  via connection  29 . These interfaces and interconnections all provide communication support for coupling the monitoring devices MON  77 , MV 1  to MV n  ( 48   a  to  48   c ) and video and television feed cameras VF 1    86  to VF n    89 . 
     In  FIG. 3   b , various monitoring equipment is shown at various stages in the competition. For instance, the Start Stage  2000  is shown next to Intermediate Stage  2050 , the Intermediate Stage 2  2075 , then Intermediate Stage 3  2100 , and the Finish Stage  2150 . For the Start Stage  2000 , there is an input monitor workstation shown at  2005  that is coupled to the computer-based system  11  and the video/television feed cameras VF 1    2010  to VF n    2015  that provide video and sound feeds to the computer-based system  11 . A large display  2020  for spectators is also located at the Start Stage, which is also coupled to the computer-based system  11 . The coupling of these monitor and display components to the computer-based system  11  comports with the interconnections described in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3   a.    
     At Intermediate Stage 1  2050 , the participant PA 1    2058  is monitored by video feed camera VF 1    2051 , which provides feed video to the computer-based system  11 . At Intermediate Stage 1  2050 , the participant PA 2    2057  is monitored by video feed camera VF 2    2052 , which provides feed video to the computer-based system  11 . At Intermediate Stage 1  2050 , the participant PA 3    2056  is monitored by video feed camera VF 3    2053 , which provides feed video to the computer-based system  11 . At Intermediate Stage 1  2050 , the participant PA n    2055  is monitored by video feed camera VF n    2054 , which provides feed video to the computer-based system  11 . A monitor workstation M  2005   a  is also located at the Intermediate Stage 1, and provides information and input regarding the progress of the contestants in the competition at Stage 1  2050  to the computer-based system  11 . These components are coupled to the computer-based system  11  in the designated in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3   a.    
     At Intermediate Stage 2  2075 , the participant PA 1    2080  is monitored by video feed camera VF 1    2076 , which provides feed video to the computer-based system  11 . At Intermediate Stage 2  2075 , the participant PA 2    2081  is monitored by video feed camera VF 2    2077 , which provides feed video to the computer-based system  11 . At Intermediate Stage 2  2075 , the participant PA 3    2082  is monitored by video feed camera VF 3    2078 , which provides feed video to the computer-based system  11 . At Intermediate Stage 2  2075 , the participant PA n    2083  is monitored by video feed camera VF n    2079 , which provides feed video to the computer-based system  11 . A monitor workstation M  2005   b  is also located at the Intermediate Stage 2, and provides information and input regarding the progress of the contestants in the competition at Stage 2  2075  to the computer-based system  11 . These components are coupled to the computer-based system  11  in the designated in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3   a.    
     At Intermediate Stage 3  2100 , the participant PA 1    2101  is monitored by video feed camera VF 1    2105 , which provides feed video to the computer-based system  11 . At Intermediate Stage 3  2100 , the participant PA 2    2102  is monitored by video feed camera VF 2    2106 , which provides feed video to the computer-based system  11 . At Intermediate Stage 3  2100 , the participant PA 3    2103  is monitored by video feed camera VF 3    2107 , which provides feed video to the computer-based system  11 . At Intermediate Stage 3  2100 , the participant PA n    2104  is monitored by video feed camera VF n    2108 , which provides feed video to the computer-based system  11 . A monitor workstation M  2005   c  is also located at the Intermediate Stage 3, and provides information and input regarding the progress of the contestants in the competition at Stage 3  2100  to the computer-based system  11 . These components are coupled to the computer-based system  11  in the designated in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3   a.    
     For the Finish Stage  2150 , there is an input monitor workstation shown at MON  2151  that is coupled to the computer-based system  11  and the video/television feed cameras VF 1    2152  to VF n    2153  that provide video and sound feeds to the computer-based system  11 . A large display  2154  for spectators is also located at the Start Stage, which is also coupled to the computer-based system  11 . The coupling of these monitor and display components to the computer-based system  11  comports with the interconnections described in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3   a.    
     In  FIG. 4 , the processing program steps conducted by the computer-based system  11  are shown starting at the Start Step  1000 . From Step  1000 , the process flow proceeds to Step  1002  by Step progression  1001 . The Step  1002  records that the participant is entering the next Intermediate Stage. After step  1002 , the program proceeds to inquiry  1004  at step progression  1003 . 
     Moreover, the participant may have a flag pole on its vehicle or other indicator of tasks completed, which should remain unchanged until the next task is completed. At inquiry  1004 , the program will inquire if the participant has completed any required tasks or events. If the answer is “no” to that inquiry, the program proceeds via step progression  1004   a  to inquiry  1018 . At inquiry step  1018 , the program inquires if the participant has used all of his or her allocated time to complete that particular Intermediate Stage, if there is a time limit assigned by the competition. If not and the participant still has an allocated time period to complete the Intermediate Stage, then the progress will proceed back to step progression  1003  and then inquiry  1004 , wherein the question regarding completion of tasks will be asked again. All websites and listing of standings will remain unchanged while a task has been uncompleted, and the to-be completed tasks can be designated as uncompleted by those words or another indicia (e.g. stop sign, red dot, etc.). 
     If the allocated time period  1018  is expired the step progression  1019  is taken to step  1020 . At that step  1020 , there is a decision made based on the rules specified for the sporting competition whether the participant is eliminated from the competition or given some point deduction (or other disadvantage) so that the participant can continue to participate in the competition. 
     If the rules dictate elimination of the participant, the program will proceed on progression step  1022  to the stop participation box  1023 . An information signal may be broadcast to the participant subject to elimination, as well as other participants that the fat that the subject participant is eliminated. Website listings and standings will be revised to show the eliminated status with some indicia like a “skull or cross bones” or “giant black X,” and the participant&#39;s vehicle may be required to fly a certain flag or show a light configuration that indicates elimination (e.g. pirate&#39;s flag, or four red lights, etc.). 
     If the rules dictate that the participant is not eliminated from the competition, the system may send a message to the participant notifying them to proceed to the next Intermediate Stage with a “green light” indicator message, but that progression to the next Intermediate Stage was not based on completion of tasks. Instead the computer-based system  11  will notify the participant to proceed to the next Intermediate Stage, but will deduct points or provide some other disadvantage to the participant because he or she did not complete the tasks in the allocated time. Website listings and standings will be revised to show the disadvantaged or penalty status of the participant with some type of negative indicia, and the participant may have to display a negative indicia on their vehicle (e.g. red flag, red light) to show their failure to complete a stage in the allocated time. After (or simultaneous therewith during step  1021 ) recording the penalty, the participant will proceed to the next Intermediate Stage where the computer-based system  11  will record his or her arrival at the next Intermediate Stage at step  1002 . 
     If at step  1004 , the program will record any event or task completion by progressing through step  1005  to the record step  1006 . The program operating at computer-based system  11  will be notified of task completion by the participant or observers, perhaps with photographic proof of completion. Once recorded, all websites standings and listings will be updated with an indicator that the specified task has been completed. The completion of the task may be broadcast to the other participants in the contest, and the participants participating in the contest will be notified that the task completion has been continued by the computer-based system  11  being a text message or some indicia message like a green light. The participant may also be allowed to show an indicia of task completion on his vehicle, such as fly a certain flag representative of the task or illustrating a certain light to represent task completion. 
     Once the task is recorded and notifications are transmitted, the progress operating on the computer-based system  11  will inquire at step  1008  whether all tasks required for the Intermediate Stage are completed. If not, the program will proceed on step progression  1016  to step progression  1004   a  to test the time allocation. If all tasks have been completed, the program will proceed on step progression  1009  to an inquiry of whether the final stage has been completed. If not, the program progression will proceed on step progression  1011  to step  1002  where the participant will be given a “go” indicator to proceed to the next stage, and the system will record the participants&#39; arrival at the next stage. If so, the program will proceed on step progression  1012  to step  1013  where the participant will be given a “go” indicator to proceed to the finish line and the system will record the participants&#39; arrival time at the finish line. 
     As with the other steps in the program, the messages to the participants may be given by text message or other indicia regarding the proceed step. Also, the participant may be allowed to display an indicia of stage contest completion by flying flag or flags or illuminating certain lights on their vehicle. All website standings and listings will be updated to display event status of the participant, and the stage or contest completion may be broadcast to all participants or any interested spectators of the competition. 
     In  FIG. 5 , the different activities conducted at each phase of the competition are shown. This flow chart at  FIG. 5  starts at the Start Step  1050 , proceeds along the step progression to step  1052 , where the system will monitor the start at step  1053 , record video streams at step  1056  and receive information at the computer-based system  11  at step  1057 . Steps  1053  are coupled to the other steps and the stage step  1052  by connections  1060 ,  1055  and  1054 , respectively. Step  1056  is coupled to the other steps and the stage step  1052  by connections  1060 ,  1061  and  1059 , respectively. Step  1057  is coupled to other steps and the stage step  1052  by connections  1061 ,  1055  and step  1058 , respectively. 
     Step  1052  will proceed to stage step  1071  via step progression  1070 , where the system will monitor the start at step  1053 , record video streams at step  1056  and receive information at the computer-based system  11  at step  1057 . Steps  1053  are coupled to the other steps and the stage step  1052  by connections  1060 ,  1055  and  1054 , respectively. Step  1056  is coupled to the other steps and the stage step  1052  by connections  1060 ,  1061  and  1059 , respectively. Step  1057  is coupled to other steps and the stage step  1052  by connections  1061 ,  1055  and step  1058 , respectively. 
     Step  1052  will proceed to stage step  1071  via step progression  1070 , where the system will monitor the start at step  1053 , record video streams at step  1056  and receive information at the computer-based system  11  at step  1057 . Steps  1053  are coupled to the other steps and the stage step  1052  by connections  1060 ,  1055  and  1054 , respectively. Step  1056  is coupled to the other steps and the stage step  1052  by connections  1060 ,  1061  and  1059 , respectively. Step  1057  is coupled to other steps and the stage step  1052  by connections  1061 ,  1055  and step  1058 , respectively. 
     Step  1052  will proceed to stage step  1071  via step progression  1070 , where the system will monitor the start at step  1053 , record video streams at step  1056  and receive information at the computer-based system  11  at step  1057 . Steps  1053  are coupled to the other steps and the stage step  1052  by connections  1060 ,  1055  and  1054 , respectively. Step  1056  is coupled to the other steps and the stage step  1052  by connections  1060 ,  1061  and  1059 , respectively. Step  1057  is coupled to other steps and the stage step  1052  by connections  1061 ,  1055  and step  1058 , respectively. 
     As an overview, the systems and methods support and conduct the proposed contest from a starting position a Starting Point. The starting point may be at the same location, at the same exact time, or staggered in some fashion (e.g., (i) at different locations, at the same time; (ii) at the same location, at different times; (iii) at different locations, at different times). Each contestant (or team of contestants) are expected to catch at least one fish of one or more varieties or sizes of fish. Alternatively, in the case of a team of contestants, each member of the team may be required to catch a fish from a designated species or from a group of multiple designated species. 
     All contestants are expected, then, to record their catch(es) as qualifying catch(es), before moving from the first stage area to the second stage area. In each succeeding stage area, the contestant may be required to record their qualifying catch(es) in that stage area before moving to the next stage area in the contest course. Once they have recorded qualifying catches in all of the stage areas, the contestant, or team, may then proceed to the finishing point. The first contestant to reach the finishing point with qualifying catches in all stage areas, wins the contest places for the contestants, who finish the contest with qualifying catches in all stage areas, will be based on the order in which they arrive at the finishing point after completing their qualifying catches in all of the stage areas. 
     The invention as described herein is intended to operate in a variety of geographic settings and configurations as to the type of fishing (freshwater river, freshwater lake, saltwater bay, saltwater offshore), or Hunting (game, bird), the mode of transportation allowed (e.g., powered watercraft, unpowered watercraft, bicycle, motorcycle, automobile, foot) and the species or groups of species of fish (or other animal) targeted in the contest. Some key components or features include the elements of time, with or without breaks, as in a race, as well as endurance, over a pre-defined distance or pre-defined amount of time. 
     The invention is designed to offer variations in the configurations of particular contests. For example, a fishing contest could require contestants to complete a predefined course along either a saltwater coastline, or a freshwater river, or a series of unconnected lakes within a predetermined period of time. In each of the fishing variations, contestants could be required to catch specific species or combinations of specific species of fish either during their completion of the entire defined course, or before progressing from one predetermined section of the course to the next section of the course. 
     A hunting version of the invention could require contestants to complete a predefined course laid out over a geographic area comprising a single mass of land, or a course over several non-contiguous geographic areas, within a predetermined period of time. In each of the hunting variations, contestants could be required to shoot or photograph specific species of game or birds during their completion of the course, or before progressing from one predetermined section of the course to the next section, or before moving from one non-contiguous geographic area to the next. 
       FIG. 6  is a flow chart showing the basic structure, method and system design of a preferred contest. In this illustration, a time line  100  is shown, starting with contest start  101  and ending with contest finish  123 . Along time line  100 , there are Seven (7) stage areas, each of which are denoted by a triangle pointed downward at locations  103 ,  106 ,  109 ,  112 ,  115 ,  118 , and  1212 . Of course, in alternate embodiments, the number of stage areas, along with the locations, may vary. Stage areas generally refer to the location that the specific event must occur. For instance, a contestant may be expected to catch a small mouth bass in the certain location of a river. Additional requirements may be added as well. 
     For instance, the small mouth bass must be caught with an artificial lure, in shallow water, from a boat. Or, the contestant may be required to catch a combination of fish, for instance a smallmouth bass, a largemouth bass, and a walleye in each stage area before moving to the next. Or, the contestant may be required to catch one smallmouth bass with an artificial lure and one small mouth bass with live bait before moving from one stage area to the next stage area. Other variations could require the contestants to begin the contest with NO BAIT, requiring them to catch their own minnows, shad or other live bait while completing the overall contest course. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 6 , upon starting the contest, at contest start  101 , contestant(s) enter first stage area (stage area 1), at  102 . Of course, the contest start, at  101 , may physically start at first stage area (stage area 1). Contestant(s) are then expected to catch the required species of fish, at  103 , and record the catch(es), at  104 , in first stage area (stage area 1) before moving to the next stage area, namely second stage area (stage area 2). 
     After having completed the fishing and recording requirements of the previous stage area, namely first stage area (stage area 1), contestant(s) are able to enter second stage area (stage area 2), at  105 . There, at second stage area (stage area 2), contestant(s) must catch the required species of fish, at  106 , and record the catch(es), at  107 , in second stage area (stage area 2) before moving to the next stage area, namely third stage area (stage area 3). 
     After having completed the fishing and recording requirements of the previous stage area, namely second stage area (stage area 2), contestant(s) are able to enter third stage area (stage area 3), at  108 . There, contestant(s) are expected to catch the required species of fish, at  109 , and record the catch(es), at  110 , in third stage area (stage area 3) before moving to the next stage area, fourth stage area (stage area 4). 
     After having completed the fishing and recording requirements of the previous stage area, namely third stage area (stage area 3), contestants are able to enter fourth stage area (stage area 4), at  111 . There, contestant(s) are expected to catch the required species of fish, at  112 , and record the catch(es), at  113 , in fourth stage area (stage area 4), before moving to the next stage area, namely fifth stage area (stage area 5). 
     After having completed the fishing and recording requirements of the previous stage area, the contestants are able to enter fifth stage area (stage area 5), at  114 . There contestant(s) are expected to catch the required species of fish, at  115 , and record the catch(es), at  116 , at fifth stage area (stage area 5) before moving to the next stage area, namely sixth stage area (stage area 6). 
     After having completed the fishing and recording requirements of the previous stage area, the contestant(s) are able to enter sixth stage area (stage area 6), at  117 . There, contestant(s) are expected to catch the required species of fish, at  118 , and record the catch(es), at  119 , in sixth stage area (stage area 6) before moving to the next stage area, namely seventh stage area (stage area 7). 
     After having completed the fishing and recording requirements of the previous stage area, namely sixth stage area (stage area 6), contestant(s)s are able to enter seventh stage area (stage area 7), at  120 , which in the illustration shown in  FIG. 1  is the final stage area. There, contestant(s) are expected catch the required species of fish, at  121 , and record the catch(es), at  122 , in seventh stage area (stage area 7), before finishing the contest, at  123 . 
       FIG. 7  is a flow chart that shows a detailed timeline of a possible contest, with four contestants or teams of contestants competing with one another. While the geographic location of the disclosed competition may change,  FIG. 8  depicts a high level map of the Texas coastline on the Gulf of Mexico, indicating the Starting Point, each of seven exemplary stage areas, each of seven (7) stage area recording stations, if the example contest used recording stations to record qualifying catches, and the finishing point of the contest. 
     Potential paths of contestants are shown along path  304 , from Sabine Pass in the East to Port Isabel in the Southwest. As shown in  FIG. 8 , the Texas coastline is broken into a number of stage areas, the precise boundaries of which, of course, can be modified. Again, for the exemplary purposes only, the first stage area  302  (Sabine Pass), second stage area  305  (Galveston), third stage area  307  (Matagorda), fourth stage area  309  (San Antonio Bay), fifth stage area  311  (Aransas), sixth stage area  213  (Upper Laguna), and seven stage area  315  (Lower Laguna). Path  304  starts at contest starting point  301  and concludes at finish point  316 . Circles  303 ,  306 ,  308 ,  310 ,  312 ,  314 , and  316  designate, within each of the stage areas  302 ,  305 ,  307 ,  309 ,  311 ,  313 , and  315 , stage area recording stations or qualifying stations for stage areas  302 ,  305 ,  307 ,  309 ,  311 ,  313 , and  315 , respectively. 
     In particular, to be more specific geographically as a way to further understand the disclosed contest and related systems and methods, referring to  FIG. 7 , contest starting point  301  is in the Sabine area on the border between Texas and Louisiana (northeast edge of the Texas Gulf Coast). First stage area  302 , referred to as “Sabine Pass and Lake” in  FIG. 6 , includes Sabine Lake and Sabine Pass. First recording station  303  at first stage area  302  (in  FIG. 8 ) is located in a marina or waterfront facility at Sabine Pass. Competing contestants of fishermen will move between stage areas via the IntraCoastal Canal or path  304 . Second stage area  305 , referred to as “Galveston Bay Complex” in  FIG. 7 , includes East Galveston Bay, Trinity Bay, Galveston Bay, West Galveston Bay, and Christmas Bay. Recording station  306  for second stage area  305  is located at San Luis Pass, between West Galveston Bay and Christmas Bay. 
     Third stage area  307 , referred to as “East and West Matagorda Bays” in  FIG. 7 , includes East Matagorda Bay, West Matagorda Bay, and Lavaca Bay. Third Recording station  308  for third staging area  307  is located on the water in Port O&#39;Connor, Tex. Fourth stage Area  309 , referred to as “San Antonio Bay”  FIG. 7 , includes Espiritu Santo Bay, San Antonio Bay, and Mesquite Bay. Fourth recording station  310  for stage area  309  is located on the water at Seadrift, Tex. Fifth stage area  311 , referred to as “Aransas Bay-Copano Bay-Redfish Bay” in  FIG. 7 , includes Aransas Bay, Copano Bay, Redfish Bay, and Corpus Christi Bay. 
     Fifth recording station  312  for fifth stage area  311  is located at the JFK Causeway between Corpus Christi Bay and Upper Laguna Madre. Sixth stage area  313 , referred to as “Upper Laguna Madre,” includes the Upper Laguna Madre, Baffin Bay, and Alazan Bay. The sixth recording station  314  for stage area  313  is located on the water on the Upper Laguna Madre. And, the seventh stage area  315 , referred to as “Lower Laguna Madre” includes the Upper Laguna Madre, and Arroyo Colo. The seventh recording station  316  for Seventh stage area  315  is located on the water in Port Isabel, Tex. 
     To further understand a disclosed contest, an example of such a contest is shown in  FIG. 7 . Referring to  FIG. 7 , timeline  200 , is shown in hours, extending from left to right. Teams of contestants 1-4 are represented by various geometric shapes  202 ,  242 ,  247 , and  249 . Each team  202 ,  242 ,  247 , and  249  enter stage area 1, at time  203 . Referring to  FIG. 8 , stage area 1 (in  FIG. 7 ) corresponds to first stage area  302 , which is the Sabine Pass or “Sabine Pass and Lake,” as shown in  FIG. 7 . As a point of information, the Sabine Pass is the coastal line between the States of Texas and Louisiana. Similarly, the finish line is Port Isabel, near stage area 7, which is labeled “Lower Laguna Madre” in  FIG. 7 , is near the border between State of Texas and Mexico. 
     In the example shown in  FIG. 7 , teams  202 ,  242 ,  247 , and  249  reach the finish line, at different times,  241 ,  246 ,  251 , and  254 , respectively. In order to complete this course, contestants might be required to catch fish in each of seven major bay areas that lie between the start and end points. For example, as depicted in  FIG. 8  and discussed above, the Texas coastline with the Gulf of Mexico, between the State of Louisiana and Mexico can be divided up into seven staging areas: (i) Sabine Pass and Lake; first stage area  302 ; (ii) Galveston Bay Complex; second stage area  305 ; (iii) East and West Matagorda Bays, third stage area  307 ; (iv) San Antonio Bay, fourth stage area  309 ; (v) Aransas Bay-Copano Bay-Redfish Bay, fifth stage area  311 ; (vi) Upper Laguna Madre, sixth stage area  313 ; and (vii) Lower Laguna Madre, seventh stage  315 . 
     As devised and shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , a team of contestants may be required to catch one fish from a set group of fish species from each of these seven designated areas or stage areas. And, once a team of contestants has recorded the required catch in the first area, the team may proceed to the second area. When the team of contestants records the required catch in the second stage area, the team of contestants may proceed to the third, and so on. The designated species required to be caught along the way could also include a requirement that the team of contestants must catch at least one fish from each of the designated species, before completing the contest. 
     For example, in the above Texas coastline example shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , competing teams could be required to catch fish from the three primary in-shore gamefish species from this area, such as Southern Flounder (flounder), Red Drum (redfish), and Spotted Seatrout (speckled trout). Next, a team could move forward from the first area by catching, for example, a flounder in first stage area. Thereafter, a team may be expected to catch a redfish in second stage area, after which a team could move on to third stage area and so on. If, by the time a team reaches the final stage area, namely seventh stage area, and, if a team had caught fish from just two of the three required species, a team would have to catch the remaining species before they could finish. In other words, if by the time the team reached Port Isabel, the last stage area, seventh stage area, if the team had caught redfish and trout, but no flounder, the only species they could catch in the last area to qualify to finish would be a flounder. 
     In this specific example of a contest shown in  FIG. 7 , the proposed contest has a timeline  200  estimated to require forty-eight (48) hours for competing first to fourth teams  202 ,  242 ,  247 , and  249 , to finish. Though the rules may be modified, the general rule assumptions for this hypothetical contest are shown in box  203  are as shown: In particular, teams consist of two Fishermen. Transportation between stage areas is by motorized boat, no trailering is allowed. There are seven stage areas. Each team must catch one of three species in each stage area. Each team must catch at least one of the three species before finishing. Each team member must catch at least one of the three before finishing at certain stage. A team records only one species per stage area. Designated fish species are as follows: Southern Flounder (flounder), Red Drum (redfish), and Spotted Seatrout (trout). 
     In addition, qualifying species flags  255  (or some other indicia indicating the requirement has been met) are given to teams and team members when they record the first fish caught in each required species. To qualify to finish in the example contest described in  FIG. 7 , each team must record one redfish, one trout, and one flounder in any of the seven stage areas and receive a species qualifying flags for each species. Each team member must also qualify to finish by recording one redfish, one trout, and one flounder in any of the seven stage areas and receive an individual qualifying flag for each species. 
     Exemplary Results of First Team  202   
     In the example of a potential contest, the results of which are shown in  FIG. 7 , first team  202  enters first stage area  302  (in  FIG. 8 ), at  203 , in the first hour of the contest. In first stage area  302  (in  FIG. 8 ), team member  1 B catches a flounder, at  204 , in the first hour; first team member  1 A catches a flounder within the second hour, at  205 . First team  202  records the flounder as its team qualifying catch for first stage area  302 , at time  206 . Some sort of acknowledgement, such as qualifying flags  207 , are given to first team  202 , for first team member  1 A, for flounder, and, for second team member  1  B, for Redfish, at some sort of a qualifying station for first stage area  302 . 
     First team  202 , then, enters second stage area  305  (in  FIG. 8 ), at time  208 , in the sixth hour. First team member  1 A catches a redfish in the seventh hour, at time  209 . First team member  1 B catches nothing in second stage area  305  (in  FIG. 8 ), at time  210 . Therefore, first team  202  records a Redfish as its qualifying catch for second stage area, at time  211  and is awarded an individual qualifying flag for flounder/redfish. First team  202  now has team flags for flounder and redfish. First team member  1 A has individual qualifying flags for flounder and redfish, and first team member  1  B has a qualifying flag for redfish, at time  212 . 
     Thereafter, first team  202  enters stage area  307  (in  FIG. 8 ), after 11½ hours, at time  213 . First team member  1 A catches a redfish in the thirteenth hour, at time  214 . First team member IB catches a redfish in the fifteenth hour, at time  215 . First team  202  records redfish as its qualifying catch in third stage area  307  (in  FIG. 8 ), at time  216 . As a result, first team  202 , first team member  1  A, and first team member  1  B qualifying flag counts are unchanged in third stage area  307  (in  FIG. 8 ), at time  217 . 
     First team  202  enters stage area  309 , after 18 hours, at time  218 . First team member  1 A catches a redfish in the twenty-first hour, at time  219 . Team member IB catches a trout in the twenty-third hour, at time  220 . First team  202  records the trout as their qualifying catch for fourth stage area  309  (in  FIG. 8 ), at time  221 . First team  202  receives a qualifying flag for trout, first team member  1  B receives a qualifying flag for trout, first team member  1  A&#39;s qualifying flag count remains unchanged, at time  223 . 
     First team  202  enters fifth stage area  311  (in  FIG. 8 ), after 25 hours, at time  224 . Team member IB catches a redfish in the twenty-seventh hour, at time  225 . Team member  1 A catches a trout in the thirty-first hour, at time  226 . First team  202  records the trout as its qualifying catch for fifth stage area  311  (in  FIG. 8 ), at time  227 . Team member  1 A now has all 3 qualifying species, at  228 . Team member IB&#39;s qualifying flag count remains unchanged, at  229 . 
     First team  202  enters sixth stage area  313  (in  FIG. 8 ), after 33 hours, at  230 . Team member IA catches a trout in the 34th hour, at time  231 . Team member  1 B catches nothing in sixth stage area  313  (in  FIG. 8 ), at time  232 . First team  202  records the trout as their qualifying catch for sixth stage area  313 , at time  233 . First team  202 &#39;s qualifying flag counts remain unchanged, at  323 . 
     First team  202  enters seventh stage area  315  (in  FIG. 8 ), which is the final area, after 39 hours, at  235 . Team member  1 A catches a trout in the forty-first hour, at time  236 . Team member  1 B catches a Flounder in the 44th hour [ 237 ]. Team member  1 B now has all 3 qualifying species, at  238 . First team  202  record&#39;s team member  1 B&#39;s flounder at the finishing point recording station, at time  239 . First team  202 , team member  1 A, team member  1 B now has all required qualifying flags, at  240 . First team  202  finishes the contest in 45 hours, at time  241 . 
     Exemplary Results of Second Team  242   
     Second team  242  enters first stage area  302  (in  FIG. 8 ) at the same time first team  202  does. Second team  242  has similar experiences in first stage area  302  through seventh stage area  315  (in  FIG. 8 ) as First team  202 . Second team  242  records qualifying catches of all three (3) required species for the second team by third stage area 3, at time  243 . Second Team member  2 A records qualifying catches of all three (3) required species by fifth stage area  311  (in  FIG. 8 ), at time  244 , and team member  2 B records qualifying catches of all three (3) required species by sixth stage area  313 , at time  245 . Second team  242  finishes the contest in 47 hours, at time  246 . 
     Exemplary Results of Third Team  247   
     Third team  247  enters first stage area  302  (in  FIG. 8 ) at the same time as first team  202  and second team  242 . Third team  247  also has similar experiences to those of first team  202  and second team  242 . Species qualifying catch requirements are met by Third team  247 , at time  248  and third team member  3 B, at time  249 , by fourth stage area  309 . Team member  3 A finally meets three qualifying species catches requirement, at time  250 , while fishing in seventh stage area  315 . Third team  247  finishes in 44 hours, at time  251 . 
     Exemplary Results of Second Team  249   
     Fourth team  249  enters first stage area  302  (in  FIG. 8 ) at the same time as first team  202 , second team  242 , and third team  247 . Fourth team  249  falls behind the other teams and does not enter the Seventh stage area  315 , until the 46th hour, at time  253 . Fourth team  249  finishes well after the 48th hour, at time  252 . 
     Scoring Options 
     A variation of the rules would allow contestants to fish in teams, in which each team of 2, 3, or more fishermen would compete against other teams. This variation could either be structured so that each contestant team must catch one of the designated species before moving from one area to the next (anyone of the members could catch the one fish needed); or, every member of the contestant team could be required to catch one the designated species before moving to the next area (2 team members, 2 fish out of the designated species must be caught). Alternatively, if just one fish per team is required, the rules could require that each member must record catching at least one fish of each designated species somewhere along the course before finishing. In the example shown in  FIG. 7  and discussed above, if there are two members and the team has caught a flounder in first stage area  302  (in  FIG. 8 ), a trout in stage area  305  (in  FIG. 8 ), a redfish in third stage areas  307  (in  FIG. 8 ), fourth stage area  309  (in  FIG. 8 ), and fifth stage area  311  (in  FIG. 8 ), a trout in sixth stage area  313  (in  FIG. 8 ), but team member A has not recorded a flounder, the team&#39;s required catch for seventh stage area  316  (in  FIG. 8 ) would be a flounder, caught by team member A. 
     Alternate Ways of Recording the Event (“the Catch”) 
     There is a multitude of ways that one can record a catch. For instance, fish caught can be released, consistent with “Catch and Release” policies, once the catch has been documented (e.g., photographed, witnessed, measured, weighed, etc.). The photograph is then submitted to contest officials, who use the photographed measurement to determine the relative size of the recorded catches, and then rank the submitted catches from all competing fishermen. 
     Alternatively, competing fishermen to bring the fish they have caught to a central recording station, where the fish are weighed or otherwise measured and recorded. To record a fish in these circumstances, the fisherman must present the fish alive. It is then released by officials of the fishing contest, or in some cases under the supervision of wildlife biologists or representative of local, state, or even federal game and fish authorities. 
     As another modification, in non-catch and release version of the preferred embodiments of the fishing contests, the competing fishermen are required to bring the fish they have caught during the contest to a central location where the fish are measured and weighed. In this version, no attention is paid to the condition of the fish (e.g., alive or dead), as long as they meet legal requirements for presiding fish and wildlife authority in whose jurisdiction the contest is conducted. Competing fishermen either keep their fish after having them recorded, or turn them into the contest officials, who in turn either donate them to relief kitchens, cook and serve them to contest participants, or simply dispose of them. 
     There are further modifications or alternative formulations of the preferred embodiment. One such alternative is to establish multiple recording stations along the contest route. These recording stations would be manned throughout the contest, or until the last of the registered competing fishermen or teams had recorded their required catch for that recording station&#39;s area. In the Texas Coast example above, recording stations are preferably established at easily accessible locations (ideally in Marinas or other similar water-side facilities) in the Sabine Pass area, in the Galveston area, in the Matagorda area, on San Antonio Bay, in the Aransas Bay area, in the Upper Laguna Madre area and at the finish position in the Port Isabel area. 
     These recoding stations at these locations would record the weight and species of each fish submitted and then would take possession of the fish and insure that the fish were released alive. The fish would have to be alive and in survivable condition in order to be submitted and therefore recorded for qualification to move on to the next stage area. Upon having a catch recorded at a stage area&#39;s recording station, the contestant would be issued a certified flag marker for that stage area or given some other indicia of having completed the stage. A flag has the advantage of being a visible reminder to the contestant as well as communicate the success or status of the completion of each task to the other contestants. For instance, each stage area could have a different color flag mark and/or a different shape or have other indicia showing the relative place, etc. Once the flag marker was issued, the contestant, or team, would be able to proceed to the next stage area on the contest route. 
     An additional alternative is to employ a number of “chase vessels” to follow the competing fishermen. The “chase vessels” may be equipped with video cameras for the purpose of recording the fishing action of various competing fishermen, or teams. Each contestant, or team, would be issues a GPS tracking device so that their exact location could be recorded at all times. Each contestant, or team, would also be required to have a radio and cell phone with them, and to use these communication devices to report each catch they wish to record. 
     Once a catch is reported, one of the chase vessels would proceed to the GPS coordinates of the reporting fisherman, or team. When the chase vessel reaches the location of the reporting fisherman, a contest official on the chase vessel would weigh, and or measure the catch, verify that it is in a survival condition, record the catch photographically and/or video graphically, and supervise the release of the recorded fish. The contest official would then issue the contestant, or team, a certified flag marker for the stage area where the catch was recorded. With this certified flag marker, the Contestant, or team, would then proceed to the next stage area on the contest Route. 
     In the example of the Texas Coast contest discussed above in reference to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , competing fishermen, or teams, would have to possess all seven certified flag markers to finish in contention for the contest. 
     Scoring Methods 
     The outcome of the contest could be determined in two types of scoring methods. 
     One scoring method, referred to as a first scoring method, would simply rank the finishing contestants or teams of contestants in the order in which they successfully completed the contest, with the first to finish determined as the winner, the second to finish as second place and so on. 
     A second scoring method, referred to as a second scoring method, would increase the strategic complexity of the contest by using a scoring system in which points were awarded to the contestants or teams of contestants completing the contest, with several different embodiments: As a modification to this scoring method, the scoring system would award points on a sliding scale: The contestant or team of contestants who finished the contest first would get 40 points out of 100; the contestant or team of contestants who finished the contest second would get 15 points out of 100; and the contestant or team of contestants who finished the contest third would get 5 points out of 100. The remaining 40 points would be divided and awarded to the teams based on the si and/or number of fish caught. 
     If the contest were to designate 3 species the contestant or team of contestants who caught the largest of each species would get 10 points and the contestant or team of contestants who caught the largest number of fish would get 10 points. In this way, the contestant or team of contestants who did not finish the contest first could still accumulate the largest number of points overall and prevail in the contest. For example, if first team  202  finishes first and is awarded 40 points, and Second team  242  finishes second and is awarded 15 points, and third team  247  finishes third and is awarded 5 points, and second team  242  also has the largest fish in both Species A and Species B, and has caught the largest number of fish overall, Second team  242  will receive an additional 30 points for a total of 45 points. 
     If Third team  247  has the largest fish in Species C, then First team  202 , who finished first, does not receive any additional points. The Scoring results would then show: First team  202 , 40 points; Team  2 , 45 points, Third team  247 , 10 points. Second team  242  would be the overall winner. The strategic complexity of this scoring method would reward contestants or teams of contestants who were able to more successfully apply their fishing skills (and luck) while also successfully completing the contest course in at least the top three positions. In this case, a contestant or team of contestants who found the opportunity to record more or larger fish might make the strategic decision to slow their pace in order to capitalize on the catch opportunities. The modification would require that more than one fish per contestant, or per member of a team of contestants, could be recorded in each stage area, with the largest of the selected species of fish being used as the Qualifying Catch. 
     A potential modification to this second scoring method could be used where a contest designated only one species of fish, the system would still award a sliding scale of points to the order of contestants or teams of contestants who finish in the first three positions. But, the system would then award the remaining points to the largest single fish and the largest number of fish recorded by all finishers. 
     For example, first to finish would get 40 points out of 100; second would get 15 points out of 100; third would get 5 points out of 100. Then, the contestant or team of contestants who caught the largest overall fish would get 30 points; and the largest overall number of fish would get 10 points. If first team  202  finishes first and gets 40 points, but Second team  242  finishes second and also catches the largest fish, and third team  247  finishes third for 5 points, and has the largest number of fish, the scoring results would be: First team  202 , 40 points; team  2 , 45 points; third team  247 , 15 points. Second team  242  wins. If first team  202  finished third with the most fish, but also had the largest single fish, the result would be: First team  202 , 40 points; team  2 , 15 points; third team  247 , 45 points. Third team  247  wins. 
     These modifications have the advantage of making it possible for contestants, or teams of contestants, who do not finish in the top three positions, to be awarded at least as many points as the first to finish (however, in the case of a tie between the first finisher and another contestant, the first finisher would be declared contest winner). 
       FIG. 9  is a map providing an example of a course from start to finish on The Mississippi River, indicating the Starting Point, each of 15 Example stage areas, each of 15 stage area recording stations, if the example contest used recording stations to record Qualifying Catches, and the Finishing Point of the contest. In this example, the contest starting point  401  is in the Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn. area. 
     First stage area  402  is in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area and runs from the starting point  401  in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area to a recording station  403  at Bay City, Wis., which is approximately 100 miles downriver from the starting point  401 . 
     Second stage area  404  is in the La Crosse area and runs from the recording station  403  to a recording station  405  at La Crosse, Wis., which is approximately 1500 miles downriver from the first stage area  402 . 
     Third stage area  406 , Dubuque, runs from the recording station  405  to a recording station  407  at Dubuque, Iowa [ 407 ], approximately 180 miles downriver from second stage area  404 . 
     Fourth stage area  408 , Quad Cities, runs from just below Dubuque, Iowa to the recording station  409  for fourth stage area at Rock Island, Ill., approximately 150 miles downriver from third stage area. 
     Fifth stage area  410 , Fort Madison, runs from just below Rock Island, Ill. to the recording station  411  for fifth stage area  410  at Fort Madison, Iowa, approximately 150 miles downriver from fourth stage area. 
     Sixth stage area  412 , Hannibal, runs from just below Fort Madison, Iowa to the recording station  413 , at Hannibal, Mo., approximately 140 miles downriver from fifth stage area  410 . 
     Seventh stage area  414 , St, Louis, runs from just below Hannibal Mo. to the recording station  415  for seventh stage area  414 , at St. Louis, Mo., approximately 180 miles from sixth stage area  412 . 
     Eighth stage area  416 , Cape Girardeau, runs from just below St, Louis to the recording station  417  for eighth stage area  416  at Cape Girardeau, Mo., approximately 170 miles downriver from seventh stage area  414 . 
     Ninth stage area  418 , Caruthersville, runs from just below Cape Girardeau, Mo. to the recording station  419  for ninth stage area  418  at Caruthersville, Mo., approximately 150 miles downriver from eight stage area  416 . 
     Tenth stage area  420 , Memphis, runs from just below Caruthersville, Mo. to the recording station  421  for tenth stage area  420  at Memphis Tenn., approximately 130 miles downriver from ninth stage area  418 . 
     Eleventh stage area  422 , Rosedale, runs from just below Memphis, Tenn. to the recording station  423  for eleventh stage area  422  at Rosedale, Miss., approximately 180 miles downriver from tenth stage area. 
     Twelfth stage area  424 , Vicksburg, runs from just below Rosedale, Miss. to the recording station  425  for twelfth stage area at Vicksburg, Miss., approximately 180 miles downriver from eleventh stage area  422 . 
     Thirteenth stage area  426 , Natchez, runs from just below Vicksburg, Miss. to the recording station  427  for thirteenth stage area at Natchez, Miss., approximately 100 miles downriver from twelfth stage area  424 . 
     Fourteenth stage area  428 , Baton Rouge, runs from just below Natchez, Miss. to the recording station  429  for stage area  14  at Baton Rouge, La., approximately 120 miles downriver from thirteenth stage area  426 . 
     Fifteenth stage area  430 , New Orleans, the Finish Line stage area, runs from just below Baton Rouge, La. to the recording station  431  for fifteenth stage area  430  at the Finishing Point  431  in New Orleans, La., approximately 150 miles downriver from fourteenth stage area  14 . 
     Additional Embodiments 
     Another variation on this invention is the possibility of applying it in other fields of outdoor sporting competition. One example would be a similar contest in the field of hunting. For example, a contest covering a predetermined geographic course, similar to those geographic courses used in the fishing competition examples, could involve hunting for a variety of species, including dove, turkey, ducks, geese, feral hogs, predators, deer, sheep, elk. Just as with the fishing example, the hunting version could involve multiple species in a single contest. It could also involve a limited time period in which contestants were required to complete the geographic course. 
     An example contest could be one in which contestant hunters would be required to hunt ducks along the entire Texas Coastline and to shoot one of a group of subspecies of duck, for example, Gadwall, Widgeon, Mallard, and Pintail in each stage area before moving to the next stage area. As with the fishing example, they could also be required to shoot at least one of each species before completing the contest. Note it is also possible to string together hunting seasons, such as a hunter would be expected to hunt ducks in a duck season, in Texas, and a deer, in deer season, in Colorado. While the invention has been particularly shown and described with respect to preferred embodiments, it will be readily understood that minor changes in the details of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6