J&B Tackle and the Tri-State Tournaments have decided to bring the Block Island Sharkfest home to Connecticut, this year taking place the week of July 2 – 9, 2016. This season’s event will be run out of Niantic, CT and the format has changed to a week-long event with the option of one overnight or two day trips. Hopefully this format will allow for more participation by appealing to small and large boats, families as well as the hardcore tournament crews alike.
This is the first year for the event with the new format, so the rules are subject to change up to the Captain’s meeting on July 1st. Input will be accepted from participants and sponsors to build this into the best event possible. If you have any questions please contact J&B Tackle at 860-739-7419 or via email at [email protected].
TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW
July 2nd – 9th, 2016. A Captain’s meeting will be held on Friday, July 1, 2016 and an awards party will be held on Sunday, July 10. Boats have the option of picking two consecutive days staying overnight or two separate day trips. Overnight trips may not exceed 36 hours and day trips my not exceed 14 hours. Boats are not permitted to leave the check-in point prior to 5am on any fishing day (overnight or day trip.) All boats wishing to weigh fish must be inside the Niantic River Bridge prior to 7pm on a day trip or 5pm on an overnight. (If a boat is locked outside the bridge due to a bridge closure the boat must contact the Tournament Committee via cell phone or Tournament Channel VHF Ch.69 for exception.) Boats fishing overnights may weight a fish on the first day and return to the fishing grounds immediately following the weigh-in. Scales close at 7pm on all days. All fish must be at the scales prior to 7pm any on a day trip or 5pm on the second day of an overnight or will not qualify.
All boats are required to have a representative present at the captain’s meeting or must sign that they acknowledge responsibility for any rules changes or clarifications made at the Captain’s meeting. The captain’s meeting will be help at 6:30 pm on Friday, July 1, at the Dock Restaurant (9 First Street, Waterford, CT.) All forms must be completed and submitted prior to the conclusion of the captain’s meeting. At this meeting, participants will be informed of the tournament procedures, enter Calcutta’s and receive their captain’s bags, t-shirts and rules. This will also be the opportunity for participants to raise questions regarding tournament procedures.
Boats are permitted to leave from any marina, but all boats must use Race Rock Lighthouse as the departure check-in point for their trip; check-in will be done via text message. Boats are required to have a designated phone for the check-in purposes and that phone must be operational and capable of the check-in procedure for check-in as well as weigh-in. Any boat weighing a fish without the designated phone operational and containing the required tournament information for check-in and weigh-in will have their fish disqualified.
CHECK-IN PROCEDURE
- An initial text to the tournament committee announcing your departure. Text must be from check-in point.
- A return text from the committee containing an authorization code.
- A text from the tournament boat back to the committee containing a picture of the code on the boat# card with Race Rock in the background.
- A confirmation text from committee sending you off. All texts must be present at the time of weigh-in.
- Upon returning the tournament committee must be notified at least 30 minutes prior to your arrival at the Niantic River via text or voice to the committee cell number. Cell numbers will be given at the captain’s meeting on July 1.
CALCUTTA CATEGORIES
Largest Shark
Largest Mako Winner Take All
Largest Mako Split 80/20
Largest Thresher Winner Take All
Largest Thresher Split 80/20
Largest Day Trip
Largest Overnight
2016 SHARKFEST PRIZE QUALIFICATIONS
First Place Largest Shark by Weight: $8000.00
Second Place Largest Shark by Weight: $4000.00
Third Place Largest Shark by Weight: $2000.00
First Place Largest Mako by Weight: $2000.00
Second Place Largest Mako by Weight: $1000.00
First Place Largest Thresher by Weight: $2000.00
Second Place Largest Thresher by Weight: $1000.00
Most Sharks Released: Custom Rod with Reel
*Prize money is based on a 50 boat field and will be adjusted accordingly*
