As tournament organizers we are hearing some comments about the scoring system and their’s debate on the weighting factors assigned to the method and style categories and whether that’s fair. So, here’s the rationalization behind why we created the scoring system the way we did.
This tournament is a Catch & Release tournament which ultimately requires some means of defining a fishes size. Length & girth measurements were considered, but to simplify things, we selected length only. To define length, two photo’s are being required to provide perspective to a fishes real size in relation to multiple objects found in the two photos. This two photo requirement is designed to confound photo manipulation, making cheating harder to pull off. And for those contending fish, we will be looking closely at the submitted pictures to assess whether they’ve been digitally altered.
To address what we as organizers feel are factors of social and ethical concern and fairness, we created the two categories, method and style and in each category are variables having distinct weighting values assigned. These weighting factors (wf) will effect a fishes overall score and that is the intent!
Method (Boat - wf .85; Shore - wf 1.0)
This category speaks to the issue of shore access and the mobility advantage boat fishermen have. In creating the weighting factors and assigning numeric values to each variable, we did so to favor the shore fisherman and help level the playing field.
Shore fishermen are limited by access and their ability to move around. When a distinct location isn’t producing fish, an angler fishing from a boat can easily motor across the bay and try new locations. That’s a huge advantage which greatly increases an anglers odds of catching fish. These weighting values offset the mobility advantage anglers fishing from boats have.
“Shore access” is a secondary consideration and a major social issue we will all need to recognize. More and more private land owners are posting their properties and even boat access is becoming limited. For shore anglers, accessing good fishing locations is a challenge and disadvantage. This observation should strike a harmonious chord with all anglers and the weighting factors assigned indirectly focus attention on this issue.
Style (Bait - wf .75; Artificial Lure(spin) - wf .90; Fly - wf 1.0)
This category addresses how anglers catch stripers and the weighting factors support the Catch & Release ethic of the tournament. The assigned values for each variable are designed to address specific ethical concerns and to level the playing field for all anglers.
As tournament organizers we view this striper fishery as a world class “sports fishery”. As such, we value it for the recreational opportunity it presents. Adopting a catch & release ethic for the tournament was of significant importance. It represents an approach to fishing which is sustainable and results in the majority of fish being released. And those anglers who believe in this approach, want the fish to be returned to the ocean healthy and alive, to spawn and produce many babies. These fish represent the future of this resource, one which we want to protect.
The rational behind the assigned weighting values is influenced by this desire to protect the fishery and it represents the justification for having the distinct weighting factors.
As fishermen, we have all likely experimented with a variety of differing strategies when fishing for stripers. We can most certainly say that natural bait is unparalleled in its ability to produce results. Whether fishing with worms, eels, green crabs, chunked herring or live mackerel, bait fishermen stand an improved chance of landing a really big fish using such techniques. Using bait is an advantage and the assigned weighting factor was intentionally created to offset that advantage. Some might suggest it’s heavy handed, but the assigned weighting value not only levels the playing field, but is designed to reinforce an ethic. As tournament organizers we are actively promoting the sustainability of the resource and embrace a catch & release ethic for the tournament.
The practice of bait fishing employs a strategy of letting a fish swallow the bait before setting the hook. Bait fishing and the use of triple hooks often results in damage to the fish from it being hooked deep in the throat. For “meat” fisherman, that’s of minimal concern, but for the purposes of this tournament, where the format is Catch & Release, we as the organizers want to encourage fishing techniques that minimize harmful impact to the fish (for those anglers using bait, consider the use of circle hooks, which are single hooks designed to hang on the lip and be less damaging to the fish). The assigned weighting value is intended to encourage the use of artificial lures and flies as an alternative fishing technique, an approach that can be very effective.
With respect to the weighting values assigned to artificial lures and flies, it is more apparent and easier to understand. Spin fishing is easy to learn and the variety of effective lures make anglers success a favorable probability. A novice can be given a spinning rod and within minutes acquire the skill necessary to repeatably catch stripers using spin fishing equipment. Fly fishing is much different. It can take years to learn the techniques and methods required to consistently catch striper using this equipment. The assigned weighting values recognize this disparity and are designed to offset the spin fishermans advantage.
Conclusions
For anglers considering participation in the tournament, the scoring system, which applies weighting factors for the method and style by which you fish might seem unfair. However, it is the intent of the tournament organizers to create a level playing field for all participants. This scoring system is a divergence from the norm, but is also intended to address social and ethical considerations tournament organizers feel are important. Is this unjust? We think not, and all participants in the tournament are required to play by the same rules.
Some have commented that “if they catch a huge striper using bait, a lesser size striper might win the tournament”. That is true! And conversely, you as an angler have a choice as to how you approach fishing. Your choice, will ultimately influence the score you achieve for fish registered for prizes in the tournament. The scoring system is clearly defined, so make your decision as to what strategies and techniques you will employ and be satisfied with the resulting score. “An old fisherman once said, it’s not the size of the rod that matters, but how you use it”. The point is, it’s not about how big the fish is, but also about your approach to fishing!
For those anglers hung up on size, we don’t want to diminish your accomplishments, but want to recognize those really great fish and the anglers who catch them. We have created a robust website to support the tournament. On that site is a photo slide-show element where photo submissions will be posted. Not only will your pictures be posted on the site, but we intend to periodically distribute a “Bragging Rights” summary document defining tournament standings, and the anglers with the best catches will be recognized there. The distribution of this document will be to “Official Registration Sites” and also to news and media organizations throughout Maine. Such photos could make you a celebrity and provide you with “15 minutes of fame”. So, if you catch a huge fish, you can be assured of recognition… so smile! And, if the photo is really great it might just end up on next years tournament poster!
