Sec.26-159a-26. Marine fishing tournaments

No person, club, or organization shall conduct, in Connecticut marine waters, a fishing tournament or derby which is open to persons sixteen years of age or older without having first registered such tournament or derby as provided in this section.

(a) Each person, club, or organization wishing to conduct a fishing tournament or derby in marine waters shall register such tournament or derby with the Commissioner on forms provided by the Commissioner. Information required on such registration shall include, but not be limited to, the full name and address of the registrant; name of the tournament or derby; sponsor; general capture location; date(s); starting time(s); check-in time(s); check-in location(s); anticipated number of participants; target species, daily bag limits; size limit; entry fee; and total value of awards.

(b) Each registrant shall, within seven days after conducting a tournament or derby, report to the Commissioner, on forms provided by the Commissioner, information on the results of the tournament or derby. Such information shall include, but not be limited to: total number of participants; total hours fished; total number of each species caught, the numbers released alive and dead and retained; and the individual length and weight of each fish weighed-in.

(c) Representatives of the Commissioner shall be provided access to all tournament or derby areas during the event, for the purposes of observation, assessment and law enforcement. Said representatives shall be allowed to collect biological and statistical information on any or all fish caught by registered participants in the tournament or derby.

(d) Tournament or derby officials must agree to provide, upon written request, any or all fish entered in the tournament or derby to the Commissioner or to any representative of the Commissioner.

(e) The Commissioner may grant, for any registered tournament or derby, an exemption from the prohibition on culling or high-grading specified in sections 26-159a-4 and 26-159a-7 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, provided that the Commissioner determines that the tournament or derby meets all of the following conditions:

(1) The tournament or derby director submits a written proposal to the Commissioner detailing the equipment and measures the tournament will use to ensure the survivability of fish taken in the tournament, including: the capture, handling and storage of fish by tournament entrants on the water during the competition, by tournament officials at the weigh-in and by tournament officials when transporting and returning fish to the water. Said proposal shall also include the tournament or derby rules, shall specify any penalties that will apply to entrants bringing in or weighing dead fish, shall be submitted no later than 120 days prior to the tournament and shall be determined by the Commissioner to adequately address potential fish mortality issues;

(2) The tournament operates for a limited duration, with a maximum of 72 hours from the official start of the tournament to the final weigh-in deadline;

(3) When using baited hooks or lures with baited hooks, the use of non-offset circle hooks is required;

(4) The tournament format specifies the live release of all fish and imposes significant penalties for entrants landing or weighing in dead fish; and

(5) The tournament format specifies that any tournament participant that culls or high-grades dead fish from his catch before the tournament weigh-in shall be disqualified from the tournament.

(f) The director of any tournament or derby granted an exemption under subsection (g) of this section shall provide to the Commissioner at least 12 hours prior to the beginning of the tournament a list of the names, residence addresses and boat registration numbers of each tournament participant.

(g) Any determination by the Commissioner that the approval of any fishing tournament or derby would jeopardize any fish stock or adversely affect the Department's compliance with any interstate fishery management plan of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission or U. S Department of Commerce will result in disapproval of that request.

(h) Failure to comply with the provisions of this section shall be deemed grounds for denying the tournament applicant, club or organization a registration or exemption for a similar event to be held within three years from the date of such failure of compliance.

(Adopted effective January 25, 2007)