2011 Bellingham Salmon Derby – Official Rules

1.Fees and prizes. We Use Certified Scales

a)    The derby begins at 12:01 AM July 8^th 2011 and ends as 12:00 Noon July 10^th 2011.  

b)    Adult Derby tickets cost $50 per person. Tickets go on sale June 1. All ticket sales end at 5 PM Thursday July 7. Adult derby ticket sales will be limited to 500 total tickets.

c)    Kids 12 and under can enter the kids derby for free when accompanied by an adult ticket purchase. Kids derby tickets not eligible for adult derby winnings and adult boat raffle. Kids must not turn 13 by the end of the derby.

d)    Kids may purchase an adult derby ticket to enter the adult derby.

e)    Adult cash prizes and first, second, and third place prizes in the kids derby are as described in the Derby literature; other prizes may change.

f)    The first fish recorded at a given weight wins a tie. Ties will be decided by time of entry. A coin toss will decide identical times. Fish will be marked after weigh-in. All fish must be whole and fresh caught and may not be altered in any way.  Any fish showing signs of having been altered, frozen or in any way unnaturally preserved will be disqualified.  Any fish entered may be retained by officials until awards ceremony Sunday afternoon.  All fish are subject to inspection at official’s discretion.

g)    Contestants must show a valid derby ticket and a valid Washington State Saltwater Fishing License and a valid Washington State Salmon Card showing the catch properly recorded before entering a legal fish in the derby.

h)    All contestants must fish according to the applicable laws of the State of Washington. Fishing is limited to Marine Area 7 as defined by the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife. Each contestant must play and weigh-in his or her own fish. Any participant found to be fishing in violation of Washington State laws will be disqualified

i)    If any person aboard any boat that has derby contestants fishing does not have a derby license or proof that they purchased one, including children, and skippers and mates aboard charter boats, all ticket holders aboard that boat will be disqualified from the derby. Provided that infants and small children not angling (and not in possession of a WDFD Catch record Card) shall not be required to have a ticket.

j)    All fish being entered in the derby must be transported to an official derby weigh station only by water.

k)    All adult ticket holders will automatically be entered in the 2011 Northwest Salmon Derby Series boat giveaway.

l)    First, second, and third place winners in the adult derby will be awarded the cash prizes and need not be present at the awards ceremony to claim their prizes. All other consolation prizes will be awarded to those present at the awards ceremony. Names of the winners will be called based on the weight of their fish from highest to lowest. First, second and third place winners in the Kid’s Derby need not be present at the awards ceremony to claim their prizes. (See Awards Ceremony below).

m)    All disputes will be decided by derby officials, whose decisions will be final.

n)    Tickets are fully transferable, provided that the transferee is otherwise eligible to compete and that his or her contact information be provided to derby officials before the start of the derby. One person may purchase tickets for other contestants; in that event the person buying the ticket shall be determined to agree to these rules on behalf of the other contestant(s) for whom the tickets were bought.

o)    All winners are responsible for any taxes that may be due as a result of winning the prize and shall be required to submit to derby officials any tax identification information, including Social Security numbers, in order to qualify for prize. Merchandise prizes shall have no cash value. All prizes shall be final at the time of award.

p)    No contestant may win more than one “ladder” prize (i.e. a prize based on the size of the fish) regardless of the number or the size of the fish entered. This does not apply to Bonus Prizes or giveaway/raffle prizes.

2. Weigh Stations – All fish must be weighed in at one of the official derby weigh stations by a derby official. All fish being entered must be transported to the weigh in station only by water. Weigh stations will be established and manned as follows:

Bellingham – Squalicum Harbor Boat Launch. The weigh station will be set up near the top of the boat launch and will be open Friday from 4PM to 7 PM, Saturday from 2 PM to 8 PM and on Sunday from 10 AM to 12:00 Noon.

Deer Harbor. The weigh station will be set up near the Harbor Office and will be open Friday and Saturday from 12 PM to 8 PM.

3. Awards ceremony. The awards ceremony will be held Sunday, July 10 at Squalicum Harbor in Bellingham in the area adjacent to the Port of Bellingham Offices in Harbor Center. This is the area inside the walkway near the Squalicum Harbor Boat launch and Gate 10. Food and drinks will be provided. The food starts at 1:00 PM and the awards ceremony will start at 2:00 PM. 100’s of prizes will be awarded.

    The winners of the first, second and third place cash prizes need not be present to collect their prizes. If you do not attend the awards ceremony you will be responsible to contact a derby official to make arrangements to get your prize after the awards ceremony. No prizes will be awarded before the awards ceremony. Winners of the first, second and third place prizes for the kid’s derby do not have to be present at the awards ceremony to collect their prizes. If you do not attend the awards ceremony you will be responsible to contact a derby official to make arrangements to get your prize after the awards ceremony. Derby officials will attempt to contact absent winners after the derby.

    All other prizes and awards will be given away at the awards ceremony. Prizes will be awarded to derby entrants in order from the largest fish down to the smallest fish weighed in. If any prizes remain after these prizes have been awarded, a raffle will be held with all remaining tickets and all remaining prizes will be raffled away to those present.

4. Responsibility.  Anyone entering the Derby, or providing assistance to Derby Officials or contestants, agrees to hold the Derby Committee, sponsors, and officials harmless for any damages or claims which may arise; and, in particular, if you choose to participate, you agree that you are responsible for your own safety. This Derby is independent of the Northwest Marine Trade Association – which is sponsor of the Northwest Salmon Derby Series, and which is responsible for all Series matters, including boat giveaways. The Derby is not responsible for any changes that may be required due to factors beyond Derby control. The Derby Committee shall have final word on any disputes regarding Derby rules, awarding of prizes, or other Derby matters. Contestants who observe a violation of Derby Rules should report it immediately to Derby Officials. Violators will not be eligible for prizes, and may be barred from future competition.