Connecticut Administrative Code › Title 26 - Fisheries and Game › 159a - Sport Fishing in the Marine District › Commercial Fishery Possession Limit › Section 26-159a-26 - Marine fishing tournaments

Current through July 10, 2024
No person, club, or organization shall conduct, in
				  Connecticut marine waters, a fishing tournament or derby which is open to
				  persons sixteen years of age or older without having first registered such
				  tournament or derby as provided in this section.
(a) Each person, club, or organization
				wishing to conduct a fishing tournament or derby in marine waters shall
				register such tournament or derby with the Commissioner on forms provided by
				the Commissioner. Information required on such registration shall include, but
				not be limited to, the full name and address of the registrant; name of the
				tournament or derby; sponsor; general capture location; date(s); starting
				time(s); check-in time(s); check-in location(s); anticipated number of
				participants; target species, daily bag limits; size limit; entry fee; and
				total value of awards.
(b) Each
				registrant shall, within seven days after conducting a tournament or derby,
				report to the Commissioner, on forms provided by the Commissioner, information
				on the results of the tournament or derby. Such information shall include, but
				not be limited to: total number of participants; total hours fished; total
				number of each species caught, the numbers released alive and dead and
				retained; and the individual length and weight of each fish
				weighed-in.
(c) Representatives of
				the Commissioner shall be provided access to all tournament or derby areas
				during the event, for the purposes of observation, assessment and law
				enforcement. Said representatives shall be allowed to collect biological and
				statistical information on any or all fish caught by registered participants in
				the tournament or derby.
(d)
				Tournament or derby officials must agree to provide, upon written request, any
				or all fish entered in the tournament or derby to the Commissioner or to any
				representative of the Commissioner.
(e) The Commissioner may grant, for any
				registered tournament or derby, an exemption from the prohibition on culling or
				high-grading specified in sections
				26-159a-4 and
				26-159a-7
				of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, provided that the
				Commissioner determines that the tournament or derby meets all of the following
				conditions:
(1) The tournament or derby
				director submits a written proposal to the Commissioner detailing the equipment
				and measures the tournament will use to ensure the survivability of fish taken
				in the tournament, including: the capture, handling and storage of fish by
				tournament entrants on the water during the competition, by tournament
				officials at the weigh-in and by tournament officials when transporting and
				returning fish to the water. Said proposal shall also include the tournament or
				derby rules, shall specify any penalties that will apply to entrants bringing
				in or weighing dead fish, shall be submitted no later than 120 days prior to
				the tournament and shall be determined by the Commissioner to adequately
				address potential fish mortality issues;
(2) The tournament operates for a limited
				duration, with a maximum of 72 hours from the official start of the tournament
				to the final weigh-in deadline;
(3)
				When using baited hooks or lures with baited hooks, the use of non-offset
				circle hooks is required;
(4) The
				tournament format specifies the live release of all fish and imposes
				significant penalties for entrants landing or weighing in dead fish;
				and
(5) The tournament format
				specifies that any tournament participant that culls or high-grades dead fish
				from his catch before the tournament weigh-in shall be disqualified from the
				tournament.