Official 2012 AOTY Thread

2012 AOTY signups are now open.  See the box in the upper right hand corner of the front page for a Paypal link.

The rules for 2012 are included below.  Please note there are some rules clarifications and updates to the points per inch.  Many of the rules clarification were to address rules that left too much uncertainty and debate.

A. Points Per Inch value have been completely updated.  The goal here was to make a trophy fish worth ~200 points.
B. Change to the mouth shut rule to add "slightly ajar".  This is to address concerns with C&R as well as difficulties in determining if the mouth is completely shut in pictures.  Do not push this rule. We will disqualify without a seconds thought.  Also note that it is no loner acceptable to measure against a reference and measure later.
C. Clarification on eligible waters.  See additions to Rule #4, The intent is to disqualify private waters and fish farms.

-Allen


------------------------------------------

1.   All fish entered must be caught by hook and line (i.e. hooked, fought, and landed) from a human power kayak (i.e. no sail or motors), without aid from anyone else and using methods deemed legal according to the body of water from which they are caught. No mothershipping allowed, the kayak must be under human powered control from launch until landing.
2.   Photographic evidence of fish size (total length for most species, for sturgeon use fork length) against a measuring device must be provided. Fish must be measured in a natural position with either the mouth shut or slightly ajar. The mouth can not be pulled/extended open.  Abuse of this rule will result in that entry automatically being disqualified.  The AOTY committee will make final rules in this regard.  There is no longer an exception for sturgeon.  Clear photographic evidence against a measuring device is required for sturgeon now.
3.   The pool runs from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012. Fish caught prior to payment of entry fees are ineligible.
4.   All fish entered must be caught in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, British Columbia, or Alaska.  Fish caught from waterways with restricted access to the public, such as members only or private waterways or aquaculture operations, are not allowed.  Fish caught from waters where anglers have to pay on a per fish basis, such as trout farms, are not allowed.
5. The pool covers the following twenty species/groups: Walleye, Kokanee, Sturgeon, Greenling, Lake Trout   , Steelhead, Cabazon, Panfish, Rockfish, Smallmouth, Chum, Surf Perch, Cutthroat, Largemouth, Lingcod, Rainbow Trout, Halibut, Flounder, Chinook, Coho.
6.   Only fish that you can normally keep and eat (per the regulations pertaining to the waters you are fishing in) are eligible.
7.   The biggest fish from each angler's top ten species will be used towards the angler’s total points.
8.   Panfish are defined as the following common names (freshwater sunfish, crappie, yellow perch).
9.   Entries must be posted within 2 weeks of being caught and photographed. No "hoarding" of entries.




Points per inch
---------------------
Walleye      7
Kokanee      10
Sturgeon      3.75
Greenling      11
Lake Trout   6
Steelhead      6
Cabazon      8
Panfish      12.5
Rockfish      8
Smallmouth   10
Chum      6
Surf Perch      12.5
Cutthroat      8
Largemouth   9
Lingcod      5
Rainbow Trout   7.5
Halibut      4.25
Flounder      8
Chinook      5
Coho         6

A. Points Per Inch value have been completely updated.  The goal here was to make a trophy fish worth ~200 points.

Sweet!

C. Clarification on eligible waters.  See additions to Rule #4, The intent is to disqualify private waters and fish farms.

Did that actually happen?

Okay, I'm in. 

I can sense you all trembling in fear.

Thanks for your work on this, Allen!

Here are the changes for anyone who's curious. It should be a fun year!
                    2011      2012     Change
Cabazon          8          8          0
Chinook           4          5          1
Chum              5          6          1
Coho               5          6          1
Cutthroat         7          8          1
Flounder          7          8           1
Greenling         9          11          2
Halibut           3.5         4.25      0.75
Kokanee          9          10         1
Lake Trout       5          6          1
Largemouth      8          9          1
Lingcod           4          5          1
Panfish           12        12.5       0.5
Rainbow T        7        7.5        0.5
Rockfish          7          8          1
Smallmouth       9         10        1
Steelhead         5         6          1
Sturgeon         3.5       3.75       0.25
Surf Perch       12        12.5       0.5
Walleye           6          7          1

Nice updates Allen!

This is going to be a good year for AOTY.. I'm starting to get the feeling this could be one of the best years yet..

Remember, its also our entry fee's for AOTY that help support our site.

Here's to a great year on the water!

C. Clarification on eligible waters.  See additions to Rule #4, The intent is to disqualify private waters and fish farms.

Did that actually happen?

Not that I know of.  The question has come up, so to make things crystal clear, the wording was added.

-Allen

Updated one rule to reflect that sturgeon are measured using fork length.

-Allen

5. The pool covers the following twenty species/groups: Sturgeon, Chinook, Coho, Chum, Halibut, Rockfish, Cabezon, Lingcod, Striped Bass, Large Mouth Bass, Small Mouth Bass, Trout, Kokanee, Walleye, Panfish, Steelhead, Flounder, Greenling, and Surf Perch.

...

Points per inch
---------------------
Walleye      7
Kokanee      10
Sturgeon      3.75
Greenling      11
Lake Trout   6
Steelhead      6
Cabazon      8
Panfish      12.5
Rockfish      8
Smallmouth   10
Chum      6
Surf Perch      12.5
Cutthroat      8
Largemouth   9
Lingcod      5
Rainbow Trout   7.5
Halibut      4.25
Flounder      8
Chinook      5
Coho         6

You include cutts and lake trout in the point list, but not the list of eligable fish.  There's striped bass in the list of eligable fish but not the points list.

Thanks for your work on this, Allen!

Here are the changes for anyone who's curious. It should be a fun year!

       2011   2012   Change
Cabazon       8   8   0
Chinook       4   5   1
Chum       5   6   1
Coho       5   6   1
Cutthroat       7   8   1
Flounder       7   8   1
Greenling       9   11   2
Halibut       3.5   4.25   0.75
Kokanee       9   10   1
Lake Trout    5   6   1
Largemouth   8   9   1
Lingcod       4   5   1
Panfish       12   12.5   0.5
Rainbow T    7   7.5   0.5
Rockfish       7   8   1
Smallmouth   9   10   1
Steelhead       5   6   1
Sturgeon      3.5   3.75   0.25
Surf Perch      12   12.5   0.5
Walleye      6   7   1

You want stats?  I'll give you stats.  Here are some stats using the new PPI applied to the database of all AOTY fish entered as of a couple months ago.  The median and the max poins are reported.  Also the length at which 200 points would be scored.  At the bottom of the table the median of the median's and max's and the average of the median's and max's.  Bonus points if you can tell me the difference in the median and the average and why they are reported!!!

Some species have low max scores mostly because we haven't had a lot of those species entered and for those species I don't believe we've had trophy fish entered.  The definition of trophy is debatable.  I used MY definition.   

-Allen

PPI    len@200 med max Walleye 7 28.6 133 168 Kokanee 10 20 115 240 Sturgeon 3.75 53.3 147 194 Greenling 11 18.2 171 198 Lake Trout 6 33.3 113 180 Steelhead 6 33 180 210 Cabazon 8 25 168 216 Panfish 12.5 16 106 166 Rockfish 8 25 144 196 Smallmouth 10 20 150 215 Chum 6 33.3 184 194 Surf Perch 12.5 16 159 181 Cutthroat 8 25 108 206 Largemouth 9 22.2 107 185 Lingcod 5 40 131 211 Rainbow Trout 7.5 26.7 101 214 Halibut 4.25 47.1 134 136 Flounder 8 25 114 192 Chinook 5 40 160 198 Coho 6 33.3 165 191 Median 137 196 Average 139 194 -Allen

5. The pool covers the following twenty species/groups: Sturgeon, Chinook, Coho, Chum, Halibut, Rockfish, Cabezon, Lingcod, Striped Bass, Large Mouth Bass, Small Mouth Bass, Trout, Kokanee, Walleye, Panfish, Steelhead, Flounder, Greenling, and Surf Perch.

...

Points per inch
---------------------
Walleye      7
Kokanee      10
Sturgeon      3.75
Greenling      11
Lake Trout   6
Steelhead      6
Cabazon      8
Panfish      12.5
Rockfish      8
Smallmouth   10
Chum      6
Surf Perch      12.5
Cutthroat      8
Largemouth   9
Lingcod      5
Rainbow Trout   7.5
Halibut      4.25
Flounder      8
Chinook      5
Coho         6

You include cutts and lake trout in the point list, but not the list of eligable fish.  There's striped bass in the list of eligable fish but not the points list.

Too funny ... that's how the 2011 rules read and no one caught that.  I'll update it.

-Allen

Remember, its also our entry fee's for AOTY that help support our site.

Thanks for mentioning that.  Other than ads, this is the sole fundraiser for this site.  Thank you for your support.

-Allen

Thanks Allen for setting this up.  It's my first year and should be a lot of fun. Quick clarification/question...Can a piling perch fall under the 'surf perch' category.  I'm not quite geared up to hit the surf ----yet.

Thanks and good luck to all,

Quick clarification/question...Can a piling perch fall under the 'surf perch' category.

It does.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surfperch

-Allen

I was disappointed with a couple of pictures used to submit entries this year.  I don't think the rules need to spell out exactly how a picture needs to be taken - I just want people to use some common sense.  Check your lens before you shoot and make sure you can see both ends of the fish and some numbers in the picture.  If you're using a hawg trough, the nose of the fish goes against the end that represents zero; that angled piece at the end is there for a reason.   

I am signed up and thinking about fishing on New Years day to get a jump on the competition