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.  Of note are the following changes.  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.  Removal of flounder from the species list.  Addition of Pacific Halibut as a separate species from California Halibut.
C. The "sturgeon measurement rule" was removed.  Sturgeon are now held to same standard as all the other species.
D. Clarification on eligible fish.  See Rule #6, "Only fish that you can normally keep and eat (per CA DFG regulations) are eligible".
E.  Clarification on eligible waters.  See additions to Rule #4, "Eligible bodies of water are those that normally require a CA license to fish.  Those same bodies of waters are still eligible during CA no-license days".
F.  Prize values are stated for places 1-5.  It is too soon to state the actual prizes for 2012, but rest assured, we'll meet the stated prize values.
G.  The return of a token prize for the largest of each of the 20 species.

-Allen


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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 by the California Department of Fish and Game. No mothershipping allowed, the kayak must be under human powered control from launch until landing.
2.   Photographic evidence of fish size (total 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 south of the California/Oregon border and north of the southern borders of the following counties Monterey, Kings, Tulare and Inyo.  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: Sturgeon, Salmon, California Halibut, Pacific Halibut, Rockfish, Cabezon, Lingcod, Striped Bass, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Trout, Kokanee, Catfish, Panfish, Spotted Bass, Steelhead, White Sea Bass, Greenling, and Surf Perch.
6.   Only fish that you can normally keep and eat (per CA DFG regulations) are eligible.
7.   The biggest fish from each angler's top ten species will be used towards the angler’s total points.
8.   Trout are defined as the following common names (brown trout, brook trout, cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, golden trout, and dolly varden)
9.   Panfish are defined as the following common names (freshwater sunfish, crappie, yellow perch).
10.   Entries must be posted within 2 weeks of being caught and photographed. No "hoarding" of entries.

PRIZES
1st : a prize with a MSRP value of at least $1000.
2nd: a prize with an MSRP value of at least $500
3rd: a prize with an MSRP value of at least $250
4th: a prize with an MSRP value of at least $100
5th: a prize with an MSRP value of at least $50

The top entry in each species will get a prize (TBD).

SCORING SCALE
White Sea Bass      4
Kokanee         10
Sturgeon         3.5
Greenling         11
Mackinaw         6
Steelhead         6
Cabezon         8
Panfish         12.5
Rockfish         8
Smallmouth      10
Spotted Bass      9
Surf Perch         12.5
Catfish         6
Largemouth      8
Lingcod         5
Trout         7.5
California Halibut   5
Salmon      5
Striped Bass      5
Pacific Halibut      4.25

Thanks for all of your efforts Allen!

Here's hoping for a record number of participants in the fun!   

Also, please keep in mind that the proceeds of AOTY are used for site support.  This is the only fundraising we do for the year and our only source of funds other than advertising.

-Allen

Thanks for all of your efforts Allen!

Here's hoping for a record number of participants in the fun!   

Thanks John.  But it's not just me.  It you, Saltydog, and Sailfish (the AOTY Committee) that has had a big impact in driving AOTY forward.  Thank YOU.

-Allen

Nice work committee! The point values are great. I want you to know that I appreciate all you guys do for us in making the trip worthwhile and for respecting the species that shouldnt be targeted in a fishing competition.

Ahhh...the return of the big fish per category prize.

I'm in this year. Damn now I gotta carry around my hog trough all the time now...

*****1. Why isn't an ocean caught salmon worth more points per inch?  That would make it more fair.*****

2.  Why only Chinook salmon?  The DFG stocks lake Oroville with coho to keep.

3.  Why was flounder removed?

4.  Why not add leopard shark as a species?

5.  So I can't enter fish caught in the Eel river c & r season?

If anyone is interested, I would like to do a $100 side bet for biggest scored fish with half money going to cancer fund.
If anyone is down, I would like to do a $100species side

5.  So I can't enter fish caught in the Eel river c & r season?

Uh oh, here we go again.   

All signed up for 2012!!!

*****1. Why isn't an ocean caught salmon worth more points per inch?  That would make it more fair.*****

2.  Why only Chinook salmon?  The DFG stocks lake Oroville with coho to keep.

3.  Why was flounder removed?

4.  Why not add leopard shark as a species?

5.  So I can't enter fish caught in the Eel river c & r season?

If anyone is interested, I would like to do a $100 side bet for biggest scored fish with half money going to cancer fund.
If anyone is down, I would like to do a $100species side

Because this is what the AOTY Committee decided.   

But to answer your questions.

1. Compared to what?  What's your definition of fair?  There have been 4 chinooks entered in the history of AOTY that were 38" or better, with the largest being 43".  Those are trophy fish and worth 190-215  points.  That's entirely consistent with our goal of a trophy fish being worth ~200 points.
2. Why not?
3.  Very few people target them specifically.  And there seems to be very little interest in doing so.  Yes, some people fish for sand dabs.  But with the increased awareness of Pacific Halibut up north and our desire to allow our far northern brethren an opportunity to enter these great fish as their own species, something had to give, and that something was flounder.
4.  Because we drew the line at 20 species.
5.  Nope.  And you currently can't either.

-Allen

Quit yer whinin' and do some signin'. Im in with my 40 as of right now.

quite a few value bumps..catfish went up a whopping 20%!

so just to summarize the pt changes
Rockfish 7pts -> 8
Cabs  7  -> 8
Trout 7 -> 7.5
Smallie  9->10
Spotties  8-> 9
Sturgeon 3 -> 3.5
Kitties 5 -> 6
Panfish 12 ->12.5
Surf Perch 12 -> 12.5
Pacific Halibut  5 -> 4.25 

I'm a little surprised there wasn't a bump for steelhead considering the rarity of a 33.3inch steelie entered into AOTY (which i'm sure was considered by the committee), but I'm definitely all for the idea that a trophy fish be worth 200 points, since those trying to win the competition are usually more worried about the value of a top fish than a baseline fish.   Of course the numbers will be probably be rejiggered as time goes on as more data about fish sizes come in.

Quit yer whinin' and do some signin'. Im in with my 40 as of right now.

AMEN!

Don't like the rules = Don't play. Got opinions.....send directly to AOTY Committee....THANK YOU!

I'm a little surprised there wasn't a bump for steelhead considering the rarity of a 33.3inch steelie entered into AOTY (which i'm sure was considered by the committee), but I'm definitely all for the idea that a trophy fish be worth 200 points, since those trying to win the competition are usually more worried about the value of a top fish than a baseline fish.   Of course the numbers will be probably be rejiggered as time goes on as more data about fish sizes come in.

The longest steelhead entered to date has been 33.25".  But that's what makes a trophy.  It's rare!  The median length of entered steelhead is 28", not too shabby points wise.  I'll post up the stats at some point.  They are interesting to see, and will help you all plan strategies for AOTY 2012.

This just highlights some of the ways we arrived at the ppi we did.  We used actual stats combined with some amount of judgement, to come up with what we believed were decent PPI values.  It was actually a very long process with a lot of iteration to get to this point.  Where we had disagreement, and yes, we had disagreement, we resorted to voting.  At the end of the day, we have ppi values that we believe are pretty damn good and will make for a great competition in 2012!

-Allen

Allen for president.  All in favor, raise your hand!