FISHING RULES FOR CENTRAL ZONE TOURNAMENTS
2006/2007 SEASON

• The Zonal Chairman, who represents NSWGFA organises Central Zone Tournaments on behalf of the Zone’s registered Clubs. The Tournaments are open to all financial members of Central Zone Clubs.

         These Clubs are:

• Broken Bay Game Fishing Club
• Sydney Game Fishing Club
• Botany Bay Game Fishing Club
• Port Hacking Game Fishing Club
• Wollongong Game Fishing Club

         Any future Clubs that are accepted within the Zone can participate.

• Zonal Waters

         Central Zone Waters are the coastal waters within the bounded areas by 32.50000S in the north and 35.06.000S in the South.

• Boat Registration

All Boats wishing to fish the Central Zone Competition must be registered with their respective Clubs and comply with their Club Safety Rules. Each Club must provide the Central Zone Chairman with a copy of the Boat Registration Form for all boats intending to fish Central Zone. This form must provide a photo of the vessel and all other information relating to Safety, Radios and information that may be of use for safety purposes. No boat shall participate in any Zone event without compliant requirements.

• Event Registration

Club Secretaries must advise the Central Zone Chairman of the name of Boats competing and the number of anglers attending the Saturday Night BBQ by 7.30pm on the Wednesday before the Tournament.

The Zone Chairman will advise the Host Club for arrangements to be made for berthing, food and all other facilities required. All entries after 7.30pm on the Wednesday will be considered a ‘Late Entry’ and will attract an additional fee of $20.00. NO entries will be accepted after 7.30pm on the Friday evening preceding the event.

• Entry Fee/Boat Registration

The entry fees are $20.00 per boat for each weekend and must be presented to the Zonal Chairman on the Saturday Night of the event. Alternatively an Annual Fee of $75.00 can be paid through each Club Secretary prior to or at the commencement of the Season. It will still be necessary for Skippers to enter their Boat for every round of the Central Zone Tournament through their Club Secretary whether they have paid in advance or not.
        
Note: No refund will be paid for a boat paying an annual fee that misses any round of the competition.

A Registration Book provided by the Zonal Chairman will list the participating boats in each Club. Two competing anglers from each boat must sign this Registration Book.

If the book is not signed, no points will be eligible for the Boat or Club. If a Club advises the Central Zone Chairman that a boat is registered and the boat does not participate in the event, the Club must still pay the Fee and payment must be remitted on the evening of the event.

1.5      Saturday Evening Meal
The Host Club will provide a meal on the Saturday Night at a Maximum Charge of  $20.00 per head. If the host club has an alternative selection of food they can make this available to participating anglers. Anglers are requested to participate in the evening meal provided by the Host Club.

1.6      Angling Committee
In the event of any disputes, protests etc the Angling Committee will consist   of the Club Presidents (or their representatives) under the Chairmanship of the Central Zone Chairman. Should the Central Zone Chairman be unavailable then the Host Club President shall Chair the Meeting. If a rule relating to competition is not specifically covered under the Central Zone Rules then the Tournament rules of the host club will apply to all boats and Anglers whether entered in the host Club’s tournament or not.

1.6a     Conduct
It is the expectation that all participants will conduct themselves in a responsible and courteous manner to the Tournament Officials, other Competitors and the general public at all times during a tournament. Penalties for misconduct may include loss of points or disqualification from a Central Zone tournament round.

1.7  Bad Weather

To avoid taking unnecessary risks in the event of bad weather, the Host Club Tournament Committee will decide whether the day will be a Tournament Day or not. Skippers should establish contact with the Tournament Committee if they consider the event will not or may not proceed.

In the event of the Weather Bureau issuing a weather report which is a “Gale Warning” or a higher category of warning affecting a particular day of the Tournament then the Host Club will automatically cancel that day’s fishing. If a “Gale Warning” or higher category of warning is issued after the commencement of fishing only those fish captured or tagged at the time fishing is cancelled or prior will count towards pointscore. Any fish still being played which is subsequently captured or tagged will not count towards the Club, Boat or Angler’s pointscore for Central Zone or the Saturday night awards.

On the issuing of a “Gale Waring” or “higher category of waring” all Boats should immediately return to Port.

It is the responsibility of every boat owner to be aware of the sea conditions and decide if these conditions are safe to operate in. The Zone Chairman, N.S.W.G.F.A or the Host Club shall in no way be responsible for any loss or damage, or injury occasioned by the vessel putting to sea or remaining at sea in conditions the vessel cannot operate safely in.

1.8      Ineligible Boats
The Host Club, or Central Zone Chairman, will advise via 2meg Channel 2284,VHF Channel 72 or 27Meg Channel 27.940 Radio on the Sunday, any participating boats not eligible to score points; i.e. non attendance or Register not signed by two crew members of the participating Boat at the Saturday Evening Meal / BBQ.

1.9       Communications
Communications will be conducted on 2Meg Channel 2284, 27Meg Channel 27.940 or VHF Channel 72. It is the Host Club’s responsibility to provide 2 Meg and 27 Meg or VHF relay to Game Fish Base. Participating Boats must inform the Host Club if they Will be communicating on any other than 2 meg Channel 2284 before the event. In the event of a vessel not answering two consecutive radio schedules, the Host Club MUST proceed with ‘ Missing Vessel Report’, as per current N.S.W.G.F.A regulations.

• ANGLING RULES

Shall be per G.F.A.A and N.S.W.G.F.A Rules as published in each Association’s Rule Book as current at the date of the Tournament Event.

2.1       Point Score

• Capture*
• Tag & Release*
• Minimum Weights*

* - As per N.S.W.G.F.A Rules

•  Weighing of Fish

Fish captured on Saturday must be weighed at the Host Club Weigh Station and will only be accepted when bought to the station by boat. Fish or Tag cards may NOT be delivered by any other means i.e. by road etc.

In the event of an emergency or mechanical breakdown, the Central Zone Chairman, or his delegate may waive this rule. Boats seeking to have the rule waived must first contact the Host Club, who will relay the request to the Central Zone Chairman and await instructions before making alternative arrangements. If the Central Zone Chairman is not available, the Host Club will advise.       

Fish caught on Sunday may be weighed at the competing boat’s homeport. Details must be reported to the Central Zone Chairman as per rule 2.3

Recording of Tag & Release

• Tag & Release cards for Saturday must be accompanied by a Capture Certificate and be presented to the Weigh Master and to the Central Zone Chairman at the Host Club. NB: Tag & Release Cards will only be accepted from boats berthing at the Host Club on the Saturday Night, subject to Rule 2.2a.

• Tag & Release results for Sunday must be communicated to the Central Zone Chairman by respective Club Secretaries by Facsimile, Mail or Email  (TELEPHONE CALLS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED) BY 4.30PM ON THE THURSDAY FOLLOWING THE TOURNAMENT.

Tournament results that are NOT received by 4.30p.m on the following   Thursday WILL NOT BE COUNTED.

• All Tag & Release cards or accompanying Capture Certificates must clearly show the TIME the fish was Tagged & Released. Tag & Release cards not showing the time of release will be deemed last for the day in the case of a count back.

• Recording of Captures
• All Capture Certificates for Saturday must be presented to the Central Zone Chairman at the Host Club via the Weighmaster.
• Capture results for Sunday must be communicated to the Central Zone Chairman as for Tag & Release Rule 2.3b
• All Capture Certificates must clearly show THE TIME of Capture.   

PLEASE NOTE:
Strict adherence to Rules 2.3b and 2.4b will allow the Central Zone Chairman to have complete results of the Tournament back to Club Secretaries within seven (7) days

•   Radio Schedule

•          FISHING DATES

3.1         Fishing Times

• As per Host Club’s times. The Sched Boat will remind everyone of times on the first two scheds.
• Club times are as follows for 2006/2007

•   Saturday Awards

Only Capture and Tag and Release results recorded by 8.00pm will be eligible for Saturday Awards for a Sponsor’s contribution for the highest point scoring BOAT in both Capture and Tag & Release and a bottle of Scotch for the winning ANGLERS for the days results. In the event of a tie, a ‘Count Back’ will decide the winner.

•  Trophies

The following list of Trophies will be presented at the Annual Central Zone Dinner to be arranged by the Central Zone Chairman.
Points for Captures by Honorary Members will be counted as Boat Points only and will not qualify for Angler Trophies.   

***JUNIOR ANGLERS - A junior angler becomes a senior angler on his/her 16th birthday.          


CHAMPION CLUB & RUNNER UP to be decided by adding together the scores of   the top five boats only from each Club. The scores for the top five boats will not be cumulative from one competition weekend to another, but the top five boats on each weekend will qualify. This applied to both Capture and Tag & Release.

4          CONTACT NUMBERS 

                                        
             
4.3       Central Zone Chairman

Central Zone Administration

Clubs within the Central Zone may approach the Zonal Chairman for assistance with regard to N.S.W.G.F.A matters and any matter that may consolidate the Members and Associations relationship. Clubs may have special projects that the Zone can financially contribute to. It is the Zonal Chairman’s responsibility to administrate the Zone in all aspects with regard to the Zone Clubs’ requirements, taking into consideration financial and governing regulations.

NSWGFA Central Zone - Tournament Calendar2006 - 2007
           

Port Hacking GFC
30th September & 1st October        Port Hacking 100 Tournament                Central Zone Round 1

Wollongong GFC                                   
21st & 22nd October                           Wollongong Open Tournament             
Central Zone Round 2

Botany Bay GFC
26th & 27th January                           Bill Heyward Memorial Tournament      Central Zone Round 3

Broken Bay GFC
17th & 18th March                              Broken Bay Invitational Tournament    Central Zone Round 4

Sydney GFC
6th & 7th April                                     Sydney Easter Classic                              Central Zone Round 5

2007 Riviera NSW Interclub Tournament
24th & 25th February                        Interclub Day 1 & 2                                    Port Stephens
27th February                                     Ladies Day Tournament                           Port Stephens
3rd & 4th March                                 Interclub Day 3 & 4                                    Port Stephens

Central Zone Presentation Dinner
Date & Venue to be advised            

Central Zone Pointscore after Port Hacking CZ Tournament