DOTY Lip Pulling Examples of Good and Bad

First of all let me say that we hate having to DQ/reject a fish. 

It sucks!!! We feel like crap about it, it pisses off the player and just bums everyone out all around..

With that said...the rules are pretty clear, and we have made them clearer as the years have gone by.

Photographic evidence of fish/abalone (total length) against a measuring device must be provided. All entries must be rounded down to the nearest quarter inch. Pictures are required to show the MOUTH CLOSED of the fish on a Hawg Trough or similar measuring board. No lip grippers or game clips or stringers can be in the mouth when picture is taken. You are not allowed to stretch or pull the lips to gain extra length. This is in accordance with DFG measuring standards. Multiple pics can be submitted to show mouth closed and touching end of trough (if need be due to rigor mortis making squeezing mouth shut necessary). Any entries not in compliance will be subject to DQ of entry at discretion of DOTY committee. Pictures of fish need to be taken BEFORE scaling/gutting etc. for both ID and accuracy of measurement purposes.

Only pictures that show the ENTIRE fish will be used in judging submissions. Missing portions of the head or tail in the photograph may result in a disqualification of the submission. “Tail only” shots may be used to clarify full length pictures, but will not be used as the sole factor in determining length. Committee recommends competitors take pictures of fish from “straight up”, as this assists committee in determining the accurate length of the fish.

So if your fish gets DQd it is really on you...you are responsible for making sure your pics are clear, can see the whole length of the fish, AND that you are not pulling/stretching the lips.

If your fingers are in the lips we will have to DQ the entry...there is really no need to put your fingers in the lips...the mouth can be closed by putting the fingers in the eye sockets or the "nose" area.

It especially sucks when we have to DQ a beautiful fish like this one:

http://doty.norcalkayakanglers.com/catches/2533

Newer players may be wondering what the big deal is...but when we didn't have wording addressing lip pulling/stretching in the rules we had entries like these that clearly helped the player get at least 1/4 of an inch more...and sometimes the difference between 1st and 2nd place can come down to a handful of points so its really not fair for those points to come from lip stretching...

http://doty.norcalkayakanglers.com/catches/1079

http://doty.norcalkayakanglers.com/catches/1068

I've attached a few other example of "bad" and "good" pics in regards to lip pulling as well...

IDEALLY, your fish cooperates and it just lays there and you don't need any fingers or hands on it, or just one hand or finger...that is what everybody really should be aiming for and creates the best pics/entries...here are some examples:

http://doty.norcalkayakanglers.com/catches/1320

http://doty.norcalkayakanglers.com/catches/1096

http://doty.norcalkayakanglers.com/catches/509

On a personal note, I think one of the coolest things about DOTY is that it helps each player create an online record of their fish so they can keep track of PBs and firsts...after playing for 5 years in a row I regret the fish like these that I stretched/smooshed/pulled to try and get the tail to stay on that farthest possible hashmark...

http://doty.norcalkayakanglers.com/catches/381

http://doty.norcalkayakanglers.com/catches/951

And really enjoy looking back on entries like these instead:

http://doty.norcalkayakanglers.com/catches/1875

http://doty.norcalkayakanglers.com/catches/261

http://doty.norcalkayakanglers.com/catches/1168

http://doty.norcalkayakanglers.com/catches/1632

Hopefully all this makes sense...

We want DOTY to be fun, but it is a competition so we have to enforce the rules even if it means DQing a fish....

Also remember, that the DOTY committee folks are just volunteers and we don't get paid for the time we put into this so go easy on us and have some patience/understanding as we go through the year evaluating each entry that is submitted.

 

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Bump...

Please make sure your fingers are not in the lips of your entries...we hate having to DQ fish (especially nice ones), and especially close to the end of the year...

If your fingers are in the lips, the lips are being extended, and your entry is subject to DQ...

Use the forehead or eye sockets instead to close the mouth...

Thank you!!

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Damn, that's a fat ass rubberlip!

Damn, that's a fat ass rubberlip!

 

Yep!!

Longer than the state record perch taken in 2012 by ccup but not as heavy...

DOTY guys have blasted some big old perch over the years!!

http://doty.norcalkayakanglers.com/speciesleaders/list_by_species/5

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Bump...

Especially so close to the end of the year please make sure your pics are in compliance....

We set a precedent from the start of this year that we will DQ entries with pics showing fingers in the lips...and to be fair we need to continue doing that through the end of the year.

If your fingers are in the lips, the lips are being extended, and your entry is subject to DQ...

Use the forehead or eye sockets instead to close the mouth...

Thank you!!

 

Sincerely,

Jim