2014 AOTY

A bit late on this one (sorry), but here's an update as to where we are.  We have a few rules clarification for the year.

1) We are going to enforce a mouth shut policy on entries.  There is just too much unclarity otherwise.
2) All measurements will be rounded down to the nearest 1/4".
3) We'll take sturgeon off the list.

Expect updates to the main page in the next few days.  As in the past, we will allow entries from the 1st 2 weeks of January, but you don't have to pay until January 14.  This gives us a chance to transition over the system, but allows you to start fishing for AOTY.

-Allen

Already on my to start measuring. Im excited for this years opportunities.

Good call.  I was going to suggest the same three things... and a few others.

Wishing everyone good luck in 2014 AOTY.

Anyone measuring fish now needs to take note. Mouth shut... Completely.

Anyone measuring fish now needs to take note. Mouth shut... Completely.

+1

Why are you taking Sturgeon off the list?  You can still retain them in some areas???

If it's just because you can't keep them below Bonnieville and the lower Willy, that's sad.

"Go fish new locations" was the reasoning that was given to me previously.

It's a bad idea to have a contest which includes catching a species that's so depressed that they add more and more restrictions to year after year.

I just read a report (can't remember source) about sturgeon numbers being up.

I just read a report (can't remember source) about sturgeon numbers being up.

True or not, NWKA likes to be a good steward to our resources.  That's one of the reasons we only allow entries from catch/keep fisheries.  With so much focus on taking the pressure off sturgeon and facilitating a recovery, it was decided to drop them from the list of scoring species.

-Spot-

If this is the case, then wouldn't this effect "every" species that have a limited catch season?  Why would they be limited if they were not depressed as well?  Haven't we seen and debated on this site people trying to close marine fisheries?   Will the fish only be removed "if WE don't agree" with those rule changes?

So long Cabbies.  See ya later Halibut......  where is the line going to be drawn?

not trying to argue, I'm just curious.

Why are you taking Sturgeon off the list?  You can still retain them in some areas???

If it's just because you can't keep them below Bonnieville and the lower Willy, that's sad.

"Go fish new locations" was the reasoning that was given to me previously.

+1

If this is the case, then wouldn't this effect "every" species that have a limited catch season?  Why would they be limited if they were not depressed as well?  Haven't we seen and debated on this site people trying to close marine fisheries?   Will the fish only be removed "if WE don't agree" with those rule changes?

So long Cabbies.  See ya later Halibut......  where is the line going to be drawn?

not trying to argue, I'm just curious.

Well, the honest answer is that the line is drawn where we draw it.  In this case, there are a couple of factors.  Yes, being depressed is one.  The other is that it isn't a species that gets much attention in AOTY.  We average ~2 sturgeon entries a year.  The combination of those 2 led us to the judgement that it isn't a very important species in terms of AOTY, so we removed it.

-Allen

It's a bad idea to have a contest which includes catching a species that's so depressed that they add more and more restrictions to year after year.

You mean like steelhead?

Anyone measuring fish now needs to take note. Mouth shut... Completely.

Wow this is getting so serious it doesn't sound fun anymore. How the hell I am supposed to reduce my impacts on catch and release fish while trying to press them on a board, close their mouth, and get a photo?

I was just looking to donate some money to a good cause and enjoy a friendly competition.

Wow this is getting so serious it doesn't sound fun anymore. How the hell I am supposed to reduce my impacts on catch and release fish while trying to press them on a board, close their mouth, and get a photo?

I was just looking to donate some money to a good cause and enjoy a friendly competition.

The AOTY is still a good cause and a great way to stimulate friendly competition.  Since not every member knows every other member, rules are needed to ensure that everybody is measured against a common scale.

All of these types of rules are based on complaints.  In order to keep it simple and keep the complaints to a minimum, we've gone to the "mouth completely shut" rule.  It eliminates the subjectiveness required for "mouth relaxed" and prevents any complaints about lower jaws being hyper-extended.  You wouldn't believe how much discussion time was spent on the "fairness" of entries in 2013. 

Some of the Complaints Registered by Contestants:
Hyper-extended Jaw
Pinched Tails
Cleaned Fish / Cut gills (Increased length)
No picture that shows both ends of the measuring device
Fish doesn't touch the end of the Hog Trough
Not using a Hog Trough
Paralax errors that add length
Closed Water Body
No picture of kayak in the image
Wrong Species (Selected to Increase Points)
Guided Trips
Unfair to travel to states other than your home
No PFD
Assisted Catch
Mother Shipping
Assisted Transportation
Native Fish (Out of Season or in closed waters)
Contestant doesn't work full-time
Contestant is a Pro-Staff
Contestant is a Guide
Too Hard to follow rules while fishing from a kayak
Approval of catch too slow

It's hard to please everyone all the time.

-Spot-