AOTY/DOTY 2014 (March update)

The 2014 AOTY and DOTY sites and registrations are not yet active yet, but I wanted to get these comps on the radar of those who might be interested.

The 2013 comps are not yet over, and the current leaderboards are here:

http://aoty.norcalkayakanglers.com/leaderboard/list

http://doty.norcalkayakanglers.com/leaderboard/list



In an effort to encourage more participation, friendly competition, and to link AOTY/DOTY with PIF (Pay It Forward) efforts we are proud to announce the following changes for AOTY/DOTY 2014.

1. The 2014 AOTY/DOTY Committee will consist of the following members:

1) BigJim
2) PolePole (for technical/sponsorship support)
3) Sailfish
4) Bwodun
5) Fuzz until a DOTY replacement is named

2. Rules and format will remain largely unchanged for both AOTY and DOTY.

Minor clarifications on the DOTY side in regards to use of second gun needing to be loaded by diver etc, but nothing major.

Mouth CLOSED rule will remain firmly in place for both comps, and clarification will also be made that pictures can not show lip grippers or game clips in mouth of fish.

The rule about complaints being submitted to the AOTY/DOTY Committee will also remain firmly in place:

Participant complaints should be submitted to the Committee. No bashing of other folks on public boards. Such posts will be deleted by the Admins/Mods, and a warning will be issued. A second violation of this rule will result in a disqualification of the offender from participating in AOTY/DOTY.

Slight point adjustments in AOTY. Perch, Panfish and Catfish will each be lowered by 0.5 points per inch. These species will still be solid contributors to an AOTY score, but decreasing their value should place some more emphasis/value on some of the more challenging gamefish (e.g., salmon, halibut, sturgeon, stripers, sturgeon, lings, trout, FW bass, WSB). 


3. Efforts will be made to review and verify submissions as frequently as possible by BigJim and the other members of the AOTY/DOTY committee to allow players to see their scores updated sooner rather than later. Previously PolePole was the only one with that responsibility. The hope is that by sharing the burden amongst all members of the Committee players will be able to see their new fish entries up on their board as soon as possible. 

4. Registration fees ($40 per player) will go towards PIF 2014, after prize plaques for top three and "big fish" are purchased for both AOTY and DOTY.

PIF (Pay It Forward) is organized by the A-Hulls and has raised and donated over $33,000 since 2010 to NCKA members battling Cancer. The A-Hulls will decide (with input from the NCKA community) who the PIF 2014 recipient(s) will be.

5. There will be Piscean Plaques for the top three in both AOTY and DOTY, smaller plaques for "big fish" in each category of AOTY and DOTY, prizes donated by sponsors (TBD) for at least the top three in both AOTY and DOTY, and there will be a brand new kayak as the grandprize.

The kayak will be raffled off at the 2014 Awards Ceremony.

The goal of the raffle is to encourage participation and friendly competition amongst those anglers and divers that may not be able to invest the amount of time needed to finish in the top three.

Each participant in AOTY/DOTY will automatically receive one entry into the raffle once they pay the $40 entry fee. Participants can receive up to 20 additional raffle entries for each species submitted and approved in both AOTY and DOTY. 21 entries into the raffle will be the max that any player can have.

Three examples of how this will work:

1. SinCoast pays his entry fee and catches and enters all 20 species on AOTY (only top 10 count for his score per AOTY rules). All submissions are verified. He would have 21 entries into the raffle for the prize kayak.
 
2. Bloodbath pays his entry fee and catches and enters a LingCod and a Salmon in AOTY. Both submissions are verified. He also dives and gets an abalone and shoots a grass rockfish. Both submissions are verified. He would have 5 entries into the raffle for the prize kayak.

3. Fuzz pays his entry fee and shoots and enters all 17 species on DOTY (all 17 count towards his score per DOTY rules). All submissions are verified. He also goes out hook and line fishing one day and catches and enters a rockfish, a lingcod and a cabezon. All 3 submissions are verified. He would have 21 entries into the raffle for the prize kayak.  He goes out fishing one more time and catches and enters a Salmon. The submission is verified and posted on AOTY, but he would not get an additional entry for the raffle because he already has the max of 21 entries.

6. Let's all have a fun year of fishing, diving, challenging ourselves, targeting different species, exploring new waters, getting personal bests, and contributing to helping out our fellow NCKA members in need!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Any questions please just let me know!

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Love it.  I'm in.     Great job.   

And, might I add, I encourage anyone and everyone to get in on this.  It's NOT just about the competitions.  At all!!

Support the site.  Give your $40.  I do it every year, and so do lots of us.

Thank you, Jim, for bringing us this message.  Thank you, Allen, for bringing us this forum.  Thank you, Bill, for getting it started.  Thank you, All, for making it badass.

FWIW, I recommend offering an option for anyone to forgo their trophy and donate those funds back to the club.

In!
I highly recommend joining AOTY, especially to newer anglers who want to become better and more well rounded fish slaying machines (such as myself 3 years ago).

2014 will be an interesting year.  My favorites to win are RacinRob and Naoaki, with Matanaska as their biggest threat (if he can pull himself away from the salt for a weekend).  It will be fun to watch the newer AOTY competitors like JJQ, Sea Chumm, Sarah and Big Buoy who all posted some big ass fish this year.

Who is in it to win it this year?
Any favorites to win?
Wild cards?


My AOTY goals for 2014:

White Sea Bass
Pacific Halibut
Break trout record
40 inch club
Help my fellow Sac Crew competitors

I'm going to step up to the plate this year.  I'm in!  Plus, it gives me a reason to fish even more. 

Im in it to win it

to encourage more participation, friendly competition, and to link AOTY/DOTY with PIF (Pay It Forward) efforts we are proud to announce the following changes for AOTY/DOTY 2014.

1. The 2014 AOTY/DOTY Committee will consist of the following members:

1) BigJim
2) PolePole (for technical/sponsorship support)
3) Sailfish
4) Bwodun
5) Fuzz until a DOTY replacement is named

2. Rules and format will remain largely unchanged for both AOTY and DOTY.

4. Registration fees ($40 per player) will go towards PIF 2014, after prize plaques for top three and "big fish" are purchased for both AOTY and DOTY.

PIF (Pay It Forward) is organized by the A-Hulls and has raised and donated over $33,000 since 2010 to NCKA members battling Cancer. The A-Hulls will decide (with input from the NCKA community) who the PIF 2014 recipient(s) will be.

5. There will be Piscean Plaques for the top three in both AOTY and DOTY, smaller plaques for "big fish" in each category of AOTY and DOTY, prizes donated by sponsors (TBD) for at least the top three in both AOTY and DOTY, and there will be a brand new kayak as the grandprize.

The kayak will be raffled off at the 2014 Awards Ceremony.

The goal of the raffle is to encourage participation and friendly competition amongst those anglers and divers that may not be able to invest the amount of time needed to finish in the top three.

Each participant in AOTY/DOTY will automatically receive one entry into the raffle once they pay the $40 entry fee. Participants can receive up to 20 additional raffle entries for each species submitted and approved in both AOTY and DOTY. 21 entries into the raffle will be the max that any player can have.

Three examples of how this will work:

1. SinCoast pays his entry fee and catches and enters all 20 species on AOTY (only top 10 count for his score per AOTY rules). All submissions are verified. He would have 21 entries into the raffle for the prize kayak.
 
2. Bloodbath pays his entry fee and catches and enters a LingCod and a Salmon in AOTY. Both submissions are verified. He also dives and gets an abalone and shoots a grass rockfish. Both submissions are verified. He would have 5 entries into the raffle for the prize kayak.

3. Fuzz pays his entry fee and shoots and enters all 17 species on DOTY (all 17 count towards his score per DOTY rules). All submissions are verified. He also goes out hook and line fishing one day and catches and enters a rockfish, a lingcod and a cabezon. All 3 submissions are verified. He would have 21 entries into the raffle for the prize kayak.  He goes out fishing one more time and catches and enters a Salmon. The submission is verified and posted on AOTY, but he would not get an additional entry for the raffle because he already has the max of 21 entries.

6. Let's all have a fun year of fishing, diving, challenging ourselves, targeting different species, exploring new waters, getting personal bests, and contributing to helping out our fellow NCKA members in need!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Any questions please just let me know!

 

Sincerely,
 
Jim

this is why, when i was approached to be on the committee, that i said yes. this,  in my opinion will make AOTY fun again, it makes it accessible to everyone, so ladies and gentleman, lets, get the entry fee paid, when it is open,  which no matter what, winning a prize or helping out a paddler in need, will go to a great cause.  get out there and fish, the more species you catch, photo and release or keep, means more of a chance  to get yourself a ticket that may get you a chance at regional glory  , and even if you dont go "all in", i bet you will find a new fishing buddy for life. i know i did in my quest . so lets fish, take pictures and and tell tall tales around campfires, but with pictures to prove it, as we enjoy our time on the water, because thats what it is all about right,
? cameron

I'm in!  I've learned soooooo much this year it's ridiculous.  Now with a little strategic planning and luck I'm ready to do it again!

Josh

Thanks for the support fellas...

The two main reasons I'm excited about AOTY/DOTY 2014 are:

1. STOKED on having $ go to PIF 2014. We all know how great the need is for those suffering from cancer and other diseases...to be able to have the chance to help our NCKA family out through AOTY/DOTY fees is awesome, and I am super grateful to PolePole for letting this happen!

2. I know there are people who are not as jazzed about AOTY as they used to be, because they don't like the format or the rules or whatever.

I'm not trying to change anybody's mind.

It's a game, and it has rules, and if you don't like them and don't wanna play, no worries!!

I'm just gonna try and focus on making the experience as fun and rewarding as possible for those that DO wanna play!! 

I agree 1000% with what ATD said here, and feel the same way about the DOTY side of the house with first year DOTY players like IceColdChuck, Rob102, Adam415, SeanOtter etc.

It will be fun to watch the newer AOTY competitors like JJQ, Sea Chumm, Sarah and Big Buoy who all posted some big ass fish this year.

Anyway, I'm sure I'm just being naive and optimistic, but am really looking forward to a fun 2014 for AOTY/DOTY!

 

Sincerely,

Jim

I'm in this year!!!

I like how this goes towards the PIF, I'm lookin' at my entry as more of a "donation" to a worthy cause, plus a reason to tell my wife I need to fish more. 

I like how this goes towards the PIF, I'm lookin' at my entry as more of a "donation" to a worthy cause, plus a reason to tell my wife I need to fish more. 

Awesome! That's a great way to look at it for sure!!

And for me personally, it's also a great way to keep track of your personal bests year after year.

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Rock solid Jim. Much Appreciate your lead on this and well done. Always down to support Pif and the club...with that said, I guess I will be joining AOTY/DOTY for 2014.

I'm in, but question:

Is there just one sign up and AOTY/DOTY are covered by a single payment of the donation to PIF, or do people need to sign up for each separately?

Thanks for all the hard work, this format should make for a lot more entries, and I'm for anything that generates awesome fish porn.

I'm in, but question:

Is there just one sign up and AOTY/DOTY are covered by a single payment of the donation to PIF, or do people need to sign up for each separately?

Thanks for all the hard work, this format should make for a lot more entries, and I'm for anything that generates awesome fish porn.

Thanks Doug!

Same as this year...it will be just one entry fee of $40, and then you will be able to play both AOTY and DOTY.

6. Payment of DOTY fees makes the participant eligible to participate in AOTY and vice versa.

Will work with PolePole to make it clear on the Paypal buttons....

You have to "sign up" on both the AOTY and DOTY pages in the upper right corner, but don't gotta pay twice.

Does that make sense?

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Mouth CLOSED rule will remain firmly in place for both comps, and clarification will also be made that pictures can not show lip grippers or game clips in mouth of fish.

Just a heads up for new competitors about this rule.  When they say mouth closed, they mean mouth closed. The link below is a trout that was disqualified (as it should have been) because it's mouth was barely open . I don't want anyone to go through the heartache of having a solid fish DQd because they didn't take this rule seriously.

http://aoty.norcalkayakanglers.com/catches/2628