Captains Guidelines
The Teen Sportfishing Association would like to thank you for donating your time and boat to support this program, and to make a difference in these teens lives. The Captains who come out to support this program is a key element in making the program work and we cannot thank you enough!!!
In an effort to make your day easier these guidelines should help you to better understand your role in the process of teaching the next generation of fishermen. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to ask anyone at the tournament and we will do all that we can to make your day easier. THANKS!!
What are the Captains requirements?
The Captains who participate in a teen tournament must have a valid drivers license and be in compliance with all state and local laws.
Can the Captain fish?
Absolutely! We are all avid fishermen and know how hard it would be to be on the water and not be able to fish. However we must also understand that no Captains fish can be weighed in. Therefore casting ahead of the teen and catching a fish would hurt the teen's chances of catching said fish. Most Captains who have been with the program a while fish from the opposite side or from the rear of the boat to search for a possible alternate pattern.
Can the Captain assist the Teen?
Captains cannot physically assist the teens during a tournament with such activities as casting, reeling, setting the hook, etc. The Captains also cannot get a bite on their rod and then proceed to pass the rod to the teen to catch the fish. Netting of fish is allowed and the Captains are encouraged to net all fish as to take the responsibility away from the teens that are competing against each other. The Captains are encouraged to share their knowledge of fishing and boating and to assist the teen in learning the proper way to fish and to encourage sportsmanship in every way possible.
Who runs the trolling motor?
This decision is entirely up to the Captain and the teens. Some teens are very experienced in fishing and some will be there for the first time. Remember the tournaments are a hands on learning experience for the teens and boat operation is part of the learning process. Some Captains request that the teens run the boat from blast off to the point of getting the boat back on the trailer. You must decide what is comfortable for you and make the decisions based on the teens experience and safety.
What are the tournament rules?
Tournament rules are not much different than any other tournament you may have fished. We will be fishing a five fish limit per teen with a minimum length of twelve inches. All contestants MUST wear a Coast Guard approved life vest anytime the gas engine is running. The weigh-in time will be 1:00 p.m. Also the standard 50-yard between boats rule will be in effect at all tournaments. The Complete tournament rules are available upon request.
What about expenses?
There is no entry fee for the teens to fish the tournaments. The teens have been instructed to offer a gas donation of $20.00 per teen. The money should be placed into an envelope and presented to the person that checks the teen in on the morning of the tournament. No teen will be left out if he or she cannot afford the $20.00 for expenses, we will handle this on a case-by-case basis. If a Captain refuses to accept the $20.00 donation, the money will be put in a Captains pot for us to hold a special thank you event for the Captains such as a special Captains tournament or a banquet to honor the Captains who help with the program.
Is it OK for me to smoke during the tournaments?
If the Captain is 18 years of age it is acceptable for the Captain to smoke. The teens are strictly forbidden to use any form of tobacco during the tournament and will be disqualified if caught using tobacco at anytime during the tournament. No alcoholic beverages will be allowed at anytime during the tournament or the tournament weigh-in.
How are the teens paired with the Captains?
The Captains will draw a blast off number at the registration. After the Captain draws the blast off number then the teens will draw a number to pair up with the Captain with the matching number. We will make every effort to put two teens per boat is possible.
Can the Captains fish with the same teen every month?
Yes, but the boat must have another teen aboard that was chosen by draw.
What if we are short boats?
If we have more teens than boats we will try to do everything possible to get everyone on the water. We will put three on board the bigger boats. We will even rent boats is possible. At last resort we will have a split day to try to keep everything equal and fair.
What if we have too many boats?
If we are able to and the Captains agree we will then go down to one teen per boat. If there are still boats left over the Captains can either just go fishing or return home. This will happen hopefully as we would like to have too many boats than not enough! We try to plan ahead to prevent this from happening but sometimes this is out of our control. We must understand that we are here for the teens and as long as they all get on the water the day was a success! If you show up for a tournament and there aren't enough teens for your boat to be needed we will gladly pay any expenses that you may have occurred to that point.
Will the Captains have to supply equipment?
Usually the teens have the rods, reels and tackle that they may need. If you feel that their gear is inadequate or you feel that they need to use a special type of gear or tackle you are welcome to offer your tackle to the teen. We also have rods and reels available for the teens that are without tackle for them to use.
Who supplies life jackets?
The teens have been instructed to supply their own P.F.D. We also bring extras to the tournament if necessary. Most Captains will also bring extras just in case.
Who chooses the fishing locations?
During the classroom sessions the teens are taught the seasonal movements of fish, how to fish structure, lures and techniques, etc. We would hope that the teens have a good idea of what areas that they want to fish before they get to the tournament. We would like to see the teen's request to go to an area and to be successful at the chosen spot. However, the tournaments are running at the same time as the classes so the details of how to find fish might not have been covered yet. We would recommend that you give the teens a chance first to see is the areas and lures seem appropriate for the conditions at that time. If the chosen areas and techniques seen inappropriate you might at that time suggest a different location or lure choice. The success of the teen in the tournament should not be a direct result of the Captains spots is possible. This would take away the importance of the tournament success from the teen. The Championship tournaments are different, as the teens MUST make all the location and lure decisions on their own.
Can the Captains take the Teens pre-fishing?
Sure, this happens quite regularly. This is a great opportunity for you to become a mentor to a teen that you seem to have a chance to reach out to and possible deter that teen from making some bad decisions in life. This however would not be a function of the Teen Sportfishing Association and you will need to establish contact with the teen's parents or guardian for permission.
What do the teens win at the tournaments?
No monetary prizes are allowed at any of our tournaments. The winners will receive trophies and prizes only. The teens are fishing for points to advance from the school level to the county and then on to the state championship. The championship tournaments will sometimes depending on donation be able to offer scholarships to the winners.