2008 ORANGE BEACH SPEARFISHING TOURNAMENT RULES

1.   Diving is open to all waters between the Destin Pass and the west end of Horn Island.
2.   Competition begins at 12:01 a.m. Friday, September 19th and ends when scales close at 6:00 p.m.
      Saturday, September 20th, 2008. Scales will be available from 4-6 p.m. both days.
3.   Bad Weather Rule: 12 consecutive hours without a small craft caution issued by
      the National Weather Service (NOAA) Reporting Station 42040 constitute a valid tournament.
4.   All SCUBA diving contestants must be SCUBA certified and possess a Certification Card.
5.   All fish must be speared by the diver while submerged and must be brought to the beach or
      boat by the diver who speared it. Fish caught by line or by means other than a spear gun are not
      eligible. Eligible fish are amberjack, barracuda, flounder, grouper and snapper.
6.   Only rubber powered and pneumatic spear guns, loaded by contestants muscle power, will be
      permitted. Gas guns, power heads, shark darts, or spears powered by explosive means,
      or chemicals, will not be permitted.
7.   All fish are subject to autopsy. No frozen fish will be accepted. Any attempt to defraud or cheat
       in the tournament in any way, will automatically disqualify the offender and all his/her fish.
8.    Both male and female contestants will be eligible for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place cash award, but may
       win only once in each of five (5) categories.  All contestants must enter their own fish.
9.    No ties will be considered. An entry must exceed the weight of the previously entered fish.
       Decisions by the WEIGHMASTER are final!  Fish must be weighed at the scales located at the
       Tacky Jack's Marina ONLY.
10.  Winners must be present at the awards ceremony, or notify a Tournament official personally in
       advance if a representative is to accept an award on their behalf.
11.  All protests must be submitted in writing before the awards ceremony. Tournament official will
       rule on these prior to this time. Decisions by the Tournament Officials will be final.
12.  All fish weighed in remain the property of the contestant.
13.  The Master Spearfisher award will be given to the diver that shoots the most categories and has
       the highest score.  Fish do not have to place to be counted.
14.  Scoring is as follows:  Ten (10) points per fish CATEGORY entered and one (1) point per POUND,
       up to Fifty (50) points maximum per category.
15.  A Team award will be given to the team accumulating the most points. Points are awarded
       as follows: 1st place = 5 points, 2nd place = 3 points, 3rd place = 1 point. Team points will be
       counted from the top three (3) finishers of the team. A team must consist of at least two divers
       with a maximum of six.
16.  Divers must state team affiliation on the registration form.
  
                                                                DIVE SAFE !