2017 Hobie Predator Open, NL
Jachthaven Atlantica, Stad aan het Haringvliet, March 25 – 26
Kayak anglers from all over Europe will have the opportunity to test their skills on the Haringvliet, the Netherlands for a chance to qualify and represent Team Europe for the 2017 Hobie World Championships.
The second edition of this 2-day event will start from Jachthaven Atlantica in Stad aan het Haringvliet, NL. The marina has direct access to the tournament arena, het Haringvliet. Anglers will be targeting Zander and Perch in a Catch, Photo and Release format. The entry fee is 50 EUR (Early-Bird).
Schedule & Daily Itinerary
Fishing Waters are the Haringvliet. The Haringvliet bridge will be the border of the tournament arena.
Daily Itinerary:
Friday, Mar. 24 – Registration, 4pm – 7pm. Mandatory Capt. Briefing 7pm
Saturday, Mar. 25 – Tournament Day 1
Sunday, Mar. 26 – Tournament Day 2
Pre-Register via email: [email protected]
For more information visit the Facebook event site.
The Rules
1. Registration and Entry Fee: All participants must completely fill out the official registration form. In order to receive the form please send an email to [email protected]. Entry fee (Early bird) will be 50,00 EUR per angler. Early bird registration ends March 15th. On-site registration fee will be 70,00 EUR.
2. Format: Anglers will be participating in a two day event using CPR format. It´s a Zander & Perch only competiton. 3 Zander and 3 Perch shall be the daily target (unless otherwise advised by the Tournament Director). Anglers must be using an approved Hawg Trough measuring device.
3. Vessel: Anglers must be fishing from a non-motorized vessel. Kayak, Canoe, and SUP are the only permitted watercrafts in this event. Only one person per vessel. Sails are not allowed.
4. Launch and access: Anglers are only allowed to launch at Marina Atlantica in Stad aan het Haringvliet (Event site). Anglers must have a valid VISPAS fishing license. Any area marked off-limits is to be honored. Any angler caught launching or fishing in an off-limits area will be disqualified.
5. Catch:
a. All fish must be taken with a fishing rod, line and hook on the day of the tournament. No other methods are permitted.
b. Artificial lures and flies only.
c. Fish must be hooked in the mouth. Fowl hooked Fish are ineligible.
d. No live bait.
e. Only 1 rod may be used at a time.
f. Trolling is NOT permitted.
g. Any angler caught violating these rules will be disqualified.
h. Legal fish lengths are as follows: Zander 43cm – Perch 23cm
6. Token: Anglers will be given a Token for each day of the tournament. This token is very important to the angler as it must be in the picture of your fish for the fish to count. This token is also how you check-in on time at the end of each day. An angler is responsible for this token from the moment it is assigned to them until they check in for the day. No replacement tokens will be available.
7. All anglers must have their key tags on the board by the nominated finish time. Failure to do so will result in time penalties at the rate of 1cm per minute late (or part thereof) and disqualification of the bag for returns over 15 minutes late.
8. Photo: All fish must be photographed on an approved Hawg Trough measuring device. You are allowed to use a camera phone or digital camera for the picture.
a. Fish must be lying flat, facing left to right, with mouth closed in a natural resting position centered against the vertical portion of the Trough. The fish must appear in a natural state. Any manipulation of the fish will result in a penalty. The tail will be measured as it lies.
b. Only the anglers’ hand can hold the fish down on the board. Use of bands, grips, stringers, etc… Will result in a disqualification of that fish.
c. Photo must be taken on the angler’s kayak with the Token clearly visible in every picture for it to count.
d. Anglers are responsible for having pictures clear and visible for the judge’s view. Multiple shots of a fish for clarity are acceptable and “hero” shots are encouraged. The judge and Tournament Director have official say on a fish’s length.
e. Anglers should be prepared with SD card or cord to plug into a computer with whichever allowed camera device they are using. Expect to unlock cell phones that are used and to relinquish cell phones or cameras requiring cords for download until judging is completed.
9. Judging: The judge will round up to the nearest full cm from where the tail lies. A 30.1cm length fish will be recorded as 31cm , a 30.5cm will be 31cm, a 30.9cm will be 31cm. Judges have full discretion on open mouth and where the tail lies. If there is a questionable photo, judges can ask tournament director to make final ruling. Once the anglers daily bag is judged and submitted, an anglers’ day total is final.
10. Ties: In the event of a tie, the angler with the largest fish in the aggregate will be declared the winner. If still tied, then the tie will be broken by the official time given at the judges table at the time of check in. The angler with the earliest check in time will break the tie. All rules are applied as interpreted by the Tournament Director, and the Director’s decision is final.
11. Safety: All anglers are to follow the laws specifically stated by the local fishing associtation. Each angler must have a valid fishing license – VISPAS – for the days they will be on water. All participants must wear their life vest through the duration of the competition.
12. Ethics: Anglers are to use sportsmanship on and off the water. Be respectful of other participants that are launching or fishing in similar areas to you. Anglers are expected to follow all the rules. Each angler can be subjected to a lie detector test to validate honest participation. Anyone caught cheating could receive punishment by law and receive lifetime bans from other kayak fishing events and tournaments.
13. Penalties:
a. Open Mouth on fish; 1cm deduction penalty.
b. Unnatural manipulation of the fish; .1cm deduction penalty
c. Any device, other than the hand, holding a fish to the trough; 1cm deduction penalty.
d. Token and/ or boat missing in photo; Fish in photo will not be counted.
e. See Rule No. 7.
14. Disqualifications:
a. See Rule No. 7.
b. Anglers Violating the Catch Rules.
c. Any fish on a stringer or restrained no Hawg Trough by any other means than competitors hand.
15. Formal complaints: Any participant wishing to file a formal complaint against a competitor must do so in writing previous to the conclusion of check-in at each day. This complaint must be turned in, in writing, specifically explaining the violation and by whom; it must be signed and turned into the Tournament Director with a 100 EUR deposit.
16. Rules interpretation is exclusively left to the Tournament Director. Decisions of the Tournament Director are final in all matters and are not subject to appeal.
– Any/all rule changes will be posted for viewing on the notice board during the event and will be announced per email.
– All rules are subject to change without notice at the discretion of the Tournament Director.
17. Prize Table:
a. The winner will qualify for the Hobie World Championship 7. If the winner cannot attend, the next place finisher will receive that opportunity and so on.
b. Prizes won or received at the event are final. There is no official trading or switching of items won.
