RULES AND REGULATIONS

Getting Started

1. The Hook & Paddle - Miramichi event is an online tournament run through Angler’s Atlas website and their mobile app MyCatch.

2. Hook & Paddle events are for all ages, anyone can register - MyCatch registration is currently only able to support individual registration. For those participants sharing a mobile device, participants must login to their own account to submit their catches through the manage accounts feature.

3. All participants must register for the tournament via https://hookandpaddle.ca/product/2022-season/

4. There will be no registration fee to use Angler's Atlas & the MyCatch app but all contestants must register via this URL https://www.anglersatlas.com/tournament/563/2022-hook-paddle-miramichi-2022

5. All catches must be submitted through the MyCatch app for approval and catches will be automatically culled if you submit a longer fish of the same species.

6. In order for catches to be sent properly, you must use the same login email and password for both the Angler’s Atlas website and the MyCatch app.

7. You will receive an automatic email confirming that you have entered the tournament and that your payment has gone through.

8. Once accepted into the tournament, download the free MyCatch mobile app which is available for both iOS (Apple App Store) and Android (Google Play Store) and login to activate the tournament on the app using the same login email and password that you used to register in the tournament.

9. By participating in this event your name may be publicly visible.

10. A great resource to refer to is our How To Register For A Tournament video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7o3PzcIoGo4&t=8s

11. Protecting anglers’ privacy is a priority, and any location data collected during the tournament will not be released to the public. Our promise to anglers is “Secret Fishing Spots Stay Secret”. See below for further details.
    
    

Data Privacy and Fisheries Research

“Secret Fishing Spots Stay Secret” — This is our primary commitment to anglers who report their catches through MyCatch. So what does this mean in practice?

1. Angler’s Atlas does not release MyCatch GPS data to the public. It is treated as confidential and is provided to fisheries researchers under strict conditions.

2. Every research team we work with must sign a data sharing agreement that sets the terms of use for the data.

3. Data is anonymized before it is provided to the researcher.

4. Researchers agree not to share the data with anyone else.

5. Researchers cannot use the data for any purpose other than the research specified in the agreement. 

6. Exact location data cannot be published as part of the scientific research. Instead, it has to be generalized to a larger region so the location cannot be reverse engineered. 

7. Angler’s Atlas may release data to a law enforcement agency if compelled to do so under court order.

 

These data privacy rules are designed to protect our angler’s private data, to conserve the fisheries, and to make sure we maintain a trusting relationship with our anglers into the future. If anyone has any questions, please feel free to reach out to Angler’s Atlas President directly by email ([email protected]).

 

Catch Reporting Rules

1. This event is catch and release only. Eligible species are listed below.

2. In order for each catch to qualify, a photograph of the fish on a measuring device must be taken using the MyCatch app (ie. photos cannot be uploaded from a photo gallery or other source). 

3. All contestants must have GPS/location services enabled on your cell phone for their catches to qualify. Your location data will be protected. For more information, see details below.

4. This is a total length measurement tournament. NOT fork length. See pic for reference. The total length of a fish is measured from the tip of the nose or jaw to the tip of the tail with the tail pinched.

5. The nose of the fish must be at the start or zero mark on all measuring devices and the total length is taken where the longest length of the tail crosses the measurements on the measuring device.

6. The photo must be taken from a birds-eye view looking down on the fish. 

7. All fish must be measured with the right side down (the right side of the fish must be facing down or touching the board) and the left side of the fish facing upwards.

8. For this event, you must use an approved ‘bump board’ that clearly shows the length of the fish. NO tape measures will be accepted. The nose of the fish must be aligned with the start of the measuring board and be clearly touching the ‘bump’, with both the nose and the tail clearly visible in the photograph. If you have questions about your bumpboard, contact [email protected]

9. Tournament organizers reserve the right to adjust entries.

10. A photo that does not clearly show the overall length of the fish, including head and tail, on the ruler WILL NOT BE SCORED. More than one attempt to get a valid scoring photo is allowed. The app will prompt you to either accept the photo or retake a photo.

11. The mouth is allowed to be open, closed, or anywhere in between, so long as the fish meets the other above requirements.

12. A second photo, often called the Hero Shot, may be submitted and is optional for this event. 

13. A third option is a live video release of the fish which may also be submitted and is also optional for this event. 

14. The app works out of cell range, and catches will synchronize with the server once the user opens the app when back in cell range, or via a wifi signal. Photos are date, time, and location stamped to the moment that they are taken. If the catches are not synced by the prizing deadline, they will not qualify for prizes.

15. A great resource is the MyCatch video that shows how to complete an entry: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqwbAFFQE-w

How To Win the Hook & Paddle Series

There will be several individual tournaments that make up the series they will take place all over New Brunswick.  Each tournament will be a catch, photograph and release event.  Participants can enter one or all of the tournaments, and are trying to catch as many different eligible species as possible.  From each event anglers will submit their best length of each species caught.  You can upgrade your previous totals as the series continues at different tournaments.  Upon completion of the final tournament of the series, the angler with the highest combined species length and bonus points will be crowned as the SERIES WINNER, there will be prizes at each tournament as well for the overall winners at the end of the series.

 

How to Win Individual Tournaments

Each tournament will be a catch, photograph and release event. Participants are trying to catch as many different eligible species as possible in that tournament.  From each event, anglers will submit their best length of each species caught, the lengths will be added up, and prizes will be awarded for top finishers at each tournament.

 

Scoring

Rankings determined by combined length of eligible species caught that day. Bonus points will be awarded for the following of each tournament:

1st + 5pts

2nd   + 4

3rd    + 3

4th    + 2

5th    + 1

• 3pts for catching Longest Target Species (see tournament details)

• 1pt for catching Target Species

 

Rules and Regulations for Hook and Paddle Tournaments:

1. All tournaments are shotgun start at 8:00 am and photos must be submitted by 3:00pm. The Boat Launch for the Miramichi event is TBD. Tournament fishing must be within the specified times and boundaries. Fish caught outside this time or boundaries will be disqualified. These are Catch-Photo-Release events only.

2. Fishing must be done via a single person kayak OR paired up in a canoe within the specified boundaries for each tournament.  All anglers must launch from the designated launch location, participants are not able to pack up and relocate within the boundaries during the tournament hours. See each locations boundary maps provided on http://hookandpaddle.ca/hp_locations

3. All fishing must comply with provincial, Energy and Resource Development updated regulations. These can be found on their website http://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/departments/erd/natural_resources/content/fish.html

4. We have listed 16 species that are eligible for entry, with bonus points awarded for Target Species. The greatest length of each fish species caught will be added together to determine each tournament standings. Total length is the measurement from the tip of the closed mouth as it contacts the measuring device, to the tip of the tail (with the tail collapsed) in order to get the longest possible length measurement. Each participant is responsible for knowing the difference between species that are eligible.

5. At least one clear, detailed, color photo showing full-length side view of fish must accompany each entry. The fish should fill as much of the frame of the photograph as possible. Both the fish and device should be the same distance from the camera. The photos must be clear enough to easily tell the length of the fish. Judges have the authority to make each call on a case to case basis.

6. All anglers must submit their photos as per the posted tournament submission time to qualify their catches. Photos will not be accepted after the posted schedule time.

7. As guests of the host facilities and surrounding areas we must act in am responsible manner both on and off the water. Failure to comply may result in disqualification and possible removal from tournament or host site.

8. Hook and Paddle does not support the keeping or harvesting of fish during the time frame of its events.

9. Rods and Bait — Each Participant will be allowed a maximum of two lines in the water at any time (unless otherwise stated).  Additional rods may be rigged and ready, but not in use. Artificial and Live baits are permissible for each tournament (unless otherwise stated)

10. It is the responsibility of the angler to know all the regulations and to obtain all angling licenses and related permits.
    

11. Tournament registration will not be refunded under 24 hours’ notice of your cancellation. We are happy to work with you to join the next available tournament.
    
    
    Hook and Paddle Tournaments:

1. We realize anglers like to pre-fish the tournament locations, which we encourage. But we suggest you try not to fish 24 hours prior within the tournament boundaries as it could affect the tournament success.

2. With regards to sportsmanship, we strongly ask that you refrain from information sharing during tournament hours to other anglers. Especially when it pertains to species, location and lures.

3. Respect other anglers space on the water approx. 10 feet away

4. If you are ready for the tournament, please feel free to push out in front of the launch location as you wait for the shotgun start. This will assist with congestion at tournament launch locations.
   
   Please respect the rules, have a great time and keep your Boat-A-Float!

Eligible species:

Striped Bass