Current Bream Electric Series Rules

[Bear]

Breamers, we've taken this opportunity to review where we want the Super Punt series to go and how the current rules effect those who wish to fish the Punt series. We have had some concerns that the series has not been too successful in developing non-boaters to fish as it has placed pressure on those with the smaller craft. With that in mind, we will be revamping the Super Punt Series as it exists and in 2006 we will have the Bream Electric Series for the first time. This will open the series up to those with larger boats, while still giving those, like myself, the advantage to the speed and agility the smaller punts have given us. Please take the time to read the new rules carefully with particular attention to livewells, boat size and etiquette. As you may have guessed, some of these rules will flow through to the other WABT series and we will be making announcements on these soon.

Many thanks,

[Bear]

WA Bream Electric Tournament Rules 2006

Pre Entry Requirements

Entry forms to all WA Super Punt events are available on-line at
BreamMaster.com, at Anglers Anonymous located at unit 4 / 255 Bannister Road in Canning Vale and also through Anglers Paradise located at 793A Canning Highway in Applecross. WAFM will also have entry forms for all WABT events

Entries will be filed in order of receipt of correctly completed entry
forms and payment.

Non-boaters spots will be filled on a first come first served basis only.

Entries for all events will close last mail on the Friday before the
tournament start. Late entries will be accepted if the angler has
contacted WABT prior to the event.

Entries will be accepted on the day of the event as long as full monies are paid and an entry form is filled out correctly.

Entry Fees (GST included)
Boaters: $55
Non-boaters: $55

You must be 16 years of age in the calendar or older to enter as a boater.

Anglers aged between 14 and 16 years of age will be permitted to fish only as a non-boater with the supervision of an adult. 14 to 16 year olds will only be permitted to fish with their own parents or with an adult nominated by their parents. Parent's written permission is required.

Boats

There are no limits to boat lengths. However, all boaters with boats greater than 3.85m in length will be drawn with a randomly drawn non-boater as required. All boaters in vessels less than 3.7m in length will fish on their own unless there is a shortage of vessels. WABT would then like the aid of those with smaller vessels to help with NB allocations

All vessels must have livewells with a minimum of 60l fully recirculating or be fully insulated and aerated. WABT reserve the right to reject boats that do not have acceptable livewells or aerators. Plastic tubs, rubbish bins and other non-insulated tubs will not be accepted.

The only means of propulsion allowed is electric. All trailable boats must be licensed and insured and must have sufficient electric power.

No boats will be allowed to carry fuel tanks on the water at any stage even if they are empty.

All boaters must ensure that an official has viewed a copy of their
current boat insurance policy at the start of each year. You will not be permitted entry to the tournament unless this insurance policy has been shown. A copy can be attached with your entry form at the start of each year.

WABT reserves the right to disallow unsafe boats (for either anglers or fish) to compete.

Starts

Each session will start with a "motocross" type line up start.

Fishing Rules

Any speed restrictions, non-boating or non-fishing areas must be adhered to, unless advised otherwise at the briefing.

Anglers must fish within the current Fisheries guidelines.

Anglers may fish any line class with spin, baitcast, spincast or fly
fishing tackle

Only artificial lures and flies are to be used, there is no bait fishing
allowed.

Fishing is not permitted within any defined non-boating or non-fishing areas. If you are asked to leave any area, you must do so.

All pairs of anglers are to stay with each other at all times, to ensure safety and to validate co-anglers catches. Additionally, anglers are not permitted to fish from outside their fishing vessels at any time during sessions, including fighting and landing fish. If a boater, his non-boater and their fish become separated at any time both their catches for that day will be forfeited.

WABT reserves the right to place camerapersons on boats and swap non-boater positions to accommodate this need.

In the case of physical or medical emergencies, WABT officials will judge the acceptability of catches.

Etiquette

During fishing sessions, no mobile phones or radios should be turned on or used, except in an emergency.

Boats should remain at least 50 metres while fishing. If a
boat is already fishing in a spot that angler has the right of way and if you wish to start fishing near them you should start fishing at least two cast distances (60m) apart in the opposite direction of their drift. If at anytime a boat with the right of way can cast to your boat you are too close.

WABT sportsmanship would dictate that care of fellow competitors is of utmost importance. If an angler or boat is in distress it is expected that other competitors will assist.

Anglers should check in with WABT officials after every session to allow officials to ensure they have returned safely.

WABT will encourage Fisheries and Boating Officers to attend all WABT tournaments to police safety regulations, registration, relevant boating legislation as well as alcohol and drug laws.

Scoring

Anglers are allowed to weigh in 2 Bream each session that are at least 26cm to the tip of the tail.

It is up to each angler to point out fish that may be Big-Bream for the day.

All sessions will be six hour sessions.

Weigh In

Boats that are not back within the defined finishing area by the allotted weigh-in time will be penalised at the rate of 50 grams per minute per angler. If a boat returns later than 15 minutes after weigh-in time both anglers will be penalised 750 grams and all fish caught will not be weighed. There will be no exceptions to this regardless of circumstance.

Anglers will finish a session by the boater or non-boater placing the key back on the appropriate peg before the session finishes. Anglers placing their key on the peg after the session finish time will incur the relevant penalty.

Any other rules not stated here will be as per normal AOY Bream rounds.

Angler's of the Year

The Angler of the Year rewards the angler who is the most consistent highly placed angler throughout the Super Punt rounds, with points per round allocated according to placing. The first placed angler in each event receives 100 points, and each place below that receives one less point eg.

Place Points
1 100
2 99
3 (tied) 98
3 (tied) 98
5 96
....and so on. Anglers do not need to catch a fish to receive AOY points. This rewards anglers who have made the effort to attend and fish events to the best of their ability. Note that a negative score will impact on AOY points.

Anglers catching no fish for a tournament will incur a 10 AOY point
penalty to reward anglers who have landed a fish during a tournament.

Ties will be settled by count back. The angler with the largest and
subsequent largest bag will gain the higher place, otherwise the first angler to reach their score gains the higher place.

Anglers with zero points will score equal Super Punt AOY points.

Anglers completing a competition with negative points will be placed below anglers scoring zero points in AOY calculations.

At the end of the Super Punt Rounds, AOY points are tallied and Angler of the Year will be determined. Typically, anglers need to fish all events in the State Series to be in the running for the AOY title.

Prizes

Winning Boaters on the Day will receive as follows (based on 10 anglers).

1st $200
2nd $125
3rd $75

Where a Non-Boater or junior finished in a place, they will receive the equivalent in product.

Big Bream also receives product prizes.

[bubba]

No boats will be allowed to carry fuel tanks on the water at any stage even if they are empty.

Is this going to include boats with built in tanks?

[Bear]

Can't help built in tanks Bubba, not good to empty them any way.

[bubba]

I mean are you going to allow them? Since the new ruling (and I think its a good one) prevents fuel tanks on boats

[Bear]

The idea is to encourage all boats, so I'll allow them. Pretty hard to miss if they do try and use them.

[Bear]

The smaller boats as stated get preference to fish on their own if we have enough bigger boats for NB's. If we get to a stage where we need some of the smaller boats to fish with a NB, then those who wish to will get first preference.

HTH.

[peter_d]

just an idae on the points system.....

how about a bigger gap between places say 5pts difference you could do this in a similar way to yachting 0 = 1st...5 = 2nd least points wins at the end of the last heat would make for interesting fishing with the onus on consistancy

[peter_d]

another point might be to have a scrutineering day where all boats are checked out rather than doing it 'on the day ' and having to scrub someone out??

[Bear]

That is something we're planning Peter, but it would also help if people made it to pre-start on time

[Mark M]

One point to Bear...

Your serve Pelican Pete....

[peter_d]

thats what happens when you let your wife navigate !!

i was thinking more like before the series start or in my case at time to go

are you allowed to choose who you can go with if they are less than sixteen no matter what boat size.

[Bear]

Pairings are still random.

when do the pairings take place. is it on the day