Ocean Pines Rock Fish Tournament

[Westocgreg]

I was in the Ocean Pines Rock Fish Tournament last Sunday. I think there were around 56 entries which is great for a first year tournament. The problem is out of all those people no one caught a fish. I have never been in a tournament where no fish were caught. There was a tournament fee and two Calcutta levels. We waited at the weigh in and no fish were brought in. After a little while longer people started asking what was going to happen to the money and the officials said pretty much nothing. More time went by and it started getting a little heated and fishermen were asking if the money could be donated to a charity of our choice and the officials responded that they were a charity. A little more time went by and they packed up and left!! So now the Calcutta money is gone and the guaranteed $500 payout gone also. What is usually done when no one wins? I understand that the entry fee is gone but the Calcutta money is where I have a problem. This tournament really left a bad taste, I think it was really handled wrong.

ps The tournament was originally scheduled for Saturday but the weather postponed it until Sunday

[Capt. Kevy Kev]

I also fished the tournament with my brother. We fished it hard and could not net a keeper. At the ramp I talk to DNR and the word was aren't biting. I was curious to see the board, brother and I drove over to check it shortly after three. They were packing it in and I asked who won it ? The response: not one fish weigh, Jaw dropped. NO ONE! My first thought was they rescheduled the tournament for following weekend, so i asked NO. Well does the winnings go to charity? No. It Goes to the Ocean Pines Chamber of Commerce, which held the tournament. (There going to have a nice XMAS PARTY this year). They can keep the 60 bucks for the T-shirts. They should have rein burst the Calcutta money to the fisherman that enter it.

[Magic Moment]

Think I'll have a white marlin tourney in April. Any takers? Hopefully someone on their committee will step up and suggest something good be done with some of the money, even if it was carried to half price entry for next year for those who participated.

So.....I checked this forum to see if any big Rock have shown off OC, I guess not?

[talbot29]

Wow, that's surprising. Both the results and the actions of the tournament committee. I like what HCountyBasser has to say about the rules - looks like they violated their own rules. My guess is this won't get to the courts but there's a good chance the turnout next year will be pretty dismal.

Tim T.
Got Fish Too?
Judge 34 Express

[talbot29]

Hey Jim,
I'm still in the water - wanna take a ride if the bite turns on...

I agree that it would be a class act if they changed their mind and found a good charity. Sure would be a win/win all the way around.

Tim T.
Got Fish Too?
Judge 34 Express

[Magic Moment]

If the Rockfish aren't here, hell, let's go catch some tuna! Baltimore over nighter? I still in the water till the 20th also

[jacksdad]

Guessing they just aren't very experienced at hosting/running tournaments. I thought calcutta money was just side bets they administer IE play banker for. Why would they keep that?

Coastal Fisherman says comms spotted the rock '5 miles directly out from the inlet' as of Tuesday. Just in time for more shit weather. Also mentions OPCC tournament moving to mid November next year.

[Westocgreg]

Here is the response from the OPCC. I think it is very fair:


Thank you for participating in the 2011 Ocean Pines Chamber of Commerce Rockfish Tournament on October 30th. Although we moved the tournament date up one day for sunnier weather, the Nor’Easter that blew through here left the waters so murky, that there was not one Rockfish eligible to be weighed in for our contest!

While the prize money will not be paid out this year, after much discussion, our Board of Directors has decided to refund 90% the Calcutta fee to those who entered the Calcutta’s that wish to be reimbursed. ($9 or $22.50)

The Ocean Pines Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving our membership and connecting our members to the consumer community. We are solely supported by our Chamber membership dues and Chamber fundraising events such as this Rockfish Tournament. We are not affiliated with the Ocean Pines Association and do not receive any funding from the County or State of Maryland.

If you would like to donate your Calcutta entry fee to our Ocean Pines Chamber of Commerce to help us continue to organize future events such as the Flounder or Rockfish Tournaments, please e-mail back to us, it would be greatly appreciated. Suggestions or comments are also welcome. E-mail address: info@oceanpineschamber.org.

If you would like a refund on your Calcutta fee, you must pick up in person at the Ocean Pines Chamber of Commerce Office located at: 11031 Cathell Road Berlin MD
by November 23rd 2011 during office hours: Monday thru Friday from 9:00AM -4PM. Please bring with you identification, you must show I.D. to claim and a signature will be required. Thank you again for your support, we look forward to hosting future events like this next year.



Sincerely,



Executive Director
Ocean Pines Area Chamber of Commerce
11031 Cathell Road
Berlin, MD 21811
liz@oceanpineschamber.org
www.oceanpineschamber.org (http://www.oceanpineschamber.org/)
410-641-5306 fax 410-641-6176

[jacksdad]

Well done. It really just appears they were simply inexperienced in these things.

[27 sailfish]

Few years ago - the MSSA spring tournament had a Bluefish category.

No Bluefish were caught so boat numbers of those entered were drawn from a hat to award the prize money.

Seemed very fair - heard no complaints. In fact - the winner was thrilled because he thought he was not a good fisherman.

I've been in a few other small tournaments that did same thing when a gale warning canceled it. We still had the awards party and winners were drawn from a hat.

[ssellard]

They should have conducted a lottery for the weight places and one for those who entered the calcuttas and pay out acordingly. . That would have been the right thing to do. Many tournaments are settled this way. The profit comes from the entries not the prize money. That is a shame.