AOTY point system

Has the AOTY point system ever been modified or is it set in stone?
I feel certain species don't get the points they should based on the impressiveness/desirability/difficulty of the catch.
Just looking at this year's list so far, the most impressive fish - a nearly 28" halibut - only has 138.75 points, while not-so impressive 14.5" crappie gets 174 points.
Rather than changing the points per inch on various fishes, which I think is otherwise pretty well thought-out, I think a better/easier way would be to add base points to any legal sized fish of certain species to boost their overall point score.

For instance:
Sturgeon would get around 75-100 base points.
Salmon would get around 50-75 base points.
Halibut would get around 25-50 base points.
White Sea Bass would get around 50-100 base points.

These are the fish that come to mind as real prizes.
Maybe brown trout could be added to the boosted base fish list, since the regular trout category is inundated with corn-fed stockers.

Thanks for your suggestions.   Nothing is set in stone as far as AOTY point system.   I am sure the AOTY panel will discuss and follow-up.

Huh? A 14.5" crappie is a slab, 28" halibut are a dime a dozen. More finesse for the crappie too.

I'm open to looking into the point system. But i also agree that a 14.5" crappie is far more impressive for it's species than a 28" halibut. If the goal is to normalize a point spectrum across species, a 14.5" crappie is currnetly  equivalent to a 34/35" halibut. Perhaps one or the other could be adjusted, but it's close and it encourages people to focus on seemingly less targeted, fresh-water species.

My point is that no legal halibut are a dime a dozen. Any keeper is a prize. Same can be said for salmon, sturgeon, WSB. FnS guys are posting huge limits of slab crappies on a weekly basis. I understand about relative size and I think the point system has that covered. But besides relative size I think the more difficult/ desirable species are worthy of more points.
Even a 12” crappie beats a 28” halibut currently.

I'm open to looking into the point system.

Could you say a little bit about how the current point scales were determined?

I'd think that there's a lot of data from previous AOTY entries, and adjustments could be based on that. Maybe something like 100 for the median fish of a given species, throw out a few of the largest and smallest, then a sliding scale so that the biggest is 200, or some such systematic approach.

Or, you could just ask ChatGPT to come up with a perfect system...

The points system has been adjusted in the past. Fish have also been added, merged, etc.

I think the point of the competition has always been “who is the best overall angler” as opposed to “who is the best angler for X species”.

You can catch all the 200 point fish of one species you want and it won’t get you very far. Catching 10 different species has always been the challenge, and the way to come out on top. It takes planning, preparation, skill, time investment, and of course luck. But luck is of course what happens when preparation meets opportunity.

Looking back at the last few years there have not been that many people who have been able to post 10 fish.
2022 - 7
2021 - 4
2020 - 4
2019 - 7
2018 - 11

I understand that some fish are “more desirable” than others. I’ve chased them all and am only missing pac hali and steelhead from the kayak. I’ve hooked steelhead from the yak but have yet to land one, but that’s another story.

As far as added base points for “more desirable” fish, I feel that misses the point of being a challenge to be able to catch 10 species across NorCal.

Without actually looking too hard

10 halibut over 200 point

9 white sea bass over 200 points

6 salmon over 200 points

0 crappie over 200 points.

That’s in AOTY history.

Maybe crappie should be worth more 

Without actually looking too hard

10 halibut over 200 point

9 white sea bass over 200 points

6 salmon over 200 points

0 crappie over 200 points.

That’s in AOTY history.

Maybe crappie should be worth more 

Well that is interesting. I wonder how those numbers compare with 150 or 180 Pt fish?

I still think it would be a major let down to catch a 42” sturgeon and have it get beat by a crappie. Other than relative size, don’t you think the average hours and skill needed to acquire a specie count for something? Again, that’s why I would add base points instead of changing the point system. Or maybe it’s just gold stars…

there have not been that many people who have been able CHOSEN to post 10 fish.

Just sayin.

I may devote my life to catching the first 200 pt crappie!

Without actually looking too hard

10 halibut over 200 point

9 white sea bass over 200 points

6 salmon over 200 points

0 crappie over 200 points.

That’s in AOTY history.

Maybe crappie should be worth more 

Doesn’t sound like the system is broken to me.

In the past, I too have wondered if Crappie were "overpowered," but based on Johns data pull, I think it's reasonable. At the end of the day no one fish (or two, or three) is going to win anyone the title, so it's almost a moot point if a specific fish *were* calibrated too high. Doesn't take away from the fact that you still need 9 other fish to make something happen. 

there have not been that many people who have been able CHOSEN to post 10 fish.

Just sayin.

This is the truth! Have seen some awesome reports of lifetime PB fish that weren't entered by folks who are registered.

I may devote my life to catching the first 200 pt crappie!

There's gotta be one out there with your name on it!!

I may devote my life to catching the first 200 pt crappie!

That would be Weimarian..eternally hunting down that 18” Crappie at Rollins…LOL

its all personal perspective. halibut are easier in my opinion