2016 AOTY rule changes?

Unlike last year, an “AOTY Suggestions” thread has not been posted on the public boards with regards to proposed rule changes for 2016’s AOTY competition.  I’m not competing this year, but seeing that fish are already being submitted for 2016, are there any significant rule changes for this year compared to 2015 that participants should be aware of before they go on an AOTY blitz in early January?  Is the closed-mouth rule still in effect?  Same species list and point values?  Etc.  Thanks.

Good luck and Best Fishes to all participants in 2016!

Kayak must be visible in the pictures. 2cents 

Kayak must be visible in the pictures. 2cents 

seems reasonable

Kayak must be visible in the pictures. 2cents 

seems reasonable

seems unnecessary to me, especially since we go by the honor system for the waterways rule (as to where you went fishing).

Kayak must be visible in the pictures. 2cents 

seems reasonable

seems unnecessary to me, especially since we go by the honor system for the waterways rule (as to where you went fishing).

There is a lot of honor system about this competition. Most all the pics I see have one in it. A few don't, but the guys who finish on top usually do. That is my 2 cents.

Add pipefish and sea hare to the list...

Sorry if I gave the wrong impression with the thread title, but I didn't intend for this post to be a 'suggestions thread' like last year's.  The year and the competition have already started.  If we start floating suggestions now for the committee to consider, the final rules could be delayed for a while--potentially weeks.  I imagine the AOTY committee has come to a consensus on the rules for 2016 by now.  But before anyone starts going aggro for a surfperch, I think it'd be good to know whether or not surfperch are still part of the competition.  Ya know, things like that  .

way to go Clayman ..win the damn thing and start throwing your weight around     

LOL!!!  Good one. 

way to go Clayman ..win the damn thing and start throwing your weight around     

Haha, yeah, I was just wanting to see how much clout I have now  .



But really, let's say hypothetically that someone drove all the way to Lake Almanor this week and caught a huge brown trout for submission...only to find out that brown trout are no longer their own category in AOTY.  For all we know, the 2016 format could be radically different from 2015.  Hell, maybe Sacramento pikeminnow are now a category.  Or bat rays.  Nobody knows!

BTW, if bat rays are their own category, I'll compete for that trophy.  60 inch wingspan FTW!! 

I think if there were going to be changes we'd already know about them.  The AOTY committee is pretty on top of things.

BTW, if bat rays are their own category, I'll compete for that trophy.  60 inch wingspan FTW!! 

      ThreadJack- Batray derby/Tomales Bay this summer!!!!!?????

I think if there were going to be changes we'd already know about them.  The AOTY committee is pretty on top of things.

Really??

I would like to add sharks as a category please and thank you I gotta win something sometimes!!


Or at least a "Most likely to catch a shark when fishing for perch" category.

BTW, if bat rays are their own category, I'll compete for that trophy.  60 inch wingspan FTW!! 

      ThreadJack- Batray derby/Tomales Bay this summer!!!!!?????

Haha, it'd be a hilarious and slimy derby!

I would like to add sharks as a category please and thank you I gotta win something sometimes!!


Or at least a "Most likely to catch a shark when fishing for perch" category.

I think a shark category has been suggested before, but was never added because in order to get a measurement on a big one like a thresher, you have to kill it.  I don't think the AOTY organizers wanted to promote the killing of sharks (OGs, please correct me if I'm wrong).

That being said, Ryan, you've caught some really awesome sharks!  I'd love to tie into a soupfin someday.  Or a big sevengill.