AOTY Rule 8 and 9 - don't cut those throats!

Just a reminder post to all participating in AOTY to familiarize yourself with rules 8 and 9. We're seeing quite a few submissions with the throats cut or ripped out. While I'm certain the participants are only doing this to protect the meat and are making efforts to legitimately measure the fish in it's natural state/length, we have to reject these. Rip the gills, don't cut the throat!

As a first year judge / third year participant and having discussed this with another judge, the last thing we want to do is turn away a fish. Especially some of the big ones. I'm posting rules 8/9 below and highlighting some of the language that is leading to most of the problems. Any questions, feel free to DM me, 3$j or any of the judges.

To those with a fish rejected - Go get a bigger one; cheering for you!

8.) Posing Rule - All fish should be posed in a manner that allows the committee to easily determine the length, mouth open/closed status and legality. All fish must be measured on their side, with the exception of Sturgeon, Catfish, and Cabezon which may be measured with their belly facing down. Submissions should show the mouth of the fish completely closed. If the mouth is not completely closed, the committee will deduct 1 inches from the measured length (unless the mouth cannot be completely closed due to a natural deformity or kype/hookjaw). Participants should make a good faith effort to close the fish’s mouth and egregious “mouth-open” submissions will be rejected at the discretion of the committee. Fish may NOT be gutted, have their throat cut or ripped through, or manipulated in any way prior to photographs being taken. Cutting of gills is permitted. Tails may be pressed together or tilted. You are not allowed to stretch, pinch or pull the lips to gain extra length. No lip grippers, game clips or stringers can be in the mouth when photograph is taken. Continued violations of the posing rule may result in the disqualification of the competitor.

9.) Measurement Rule - All submissions should include accurate, full length measurements of the fish, and be measured on a hawg trough, measuring board or similar measuring device. All entries must be rounded down to the nearest hash mark that can be visibly seen, using quarter inch increments. For any submissions where an extender or similar device is used, the competitor must submit photographic evidence verifying the length of the extension. The committee strongly recommends competitors use a sharpie on measuring devices that have hash marks which are not clearly marked. All submissions will be subject to committee approval before appearing as official entries. There may be a few days lag between the time you post a submission and the time it appears on the AOTY site.