[27 sailfish]

Since there seems to be some confusion on the ruling of an amateur versus professional fisherman - the MSSA tournament committee got together this weekend at Ocean City and hopefully hammered out a way to clear it up.

After about 3 hours of meeting - a 15 question paper was produced that will allow anyone who is not sure if they are pro or amatuer to be pre qualified and assigned the proper spot in the tournament.You simply answer yes or no to the questions. Any YES answer will require a detailed explantion.

It should be ready to go in 2-3 weeks.MSSA asks the form be submitted at least 21 days before a tournament.It might come down to a case by case review by the 5 member tournament committee. An odd number means no tie in a vote.

We hope this will avoid any confusion as to which tournament you need to enter.Having it in writing will protect both the fisherman and the MSSA :thumbup:.Good luck to all those who enter.

 

[fishin` fool II]

They just don't get it Skip. If the rule says a person that mated is disqualified then how can they make exceptions. If Frank H, who asked, received a waiver because he mated 10 years ago will the kid who mated last season also receive a waiver?

They screwed the pooch and need to belly up and write reasonable rules. Punishing last years $ winners by making them fish as Pro's is no way to attract new amateurs.

 

[27 sailfish]

It got completed after last years mess.Some cases are cut and dry.Others are not so easy.The idea is to let as many amatuers in as possible.

It would take 20 pages to try and cover every possible case and even then - there would still be an odd one.

We even discussed Frank's situation as well as some others in trying to come up with a fair way of deciding what an amatuer or pro is.

Bottom line - if you have a question , fill out the form and let MSSA decide BEFORE a tournament.

Not to beat a dead horse but had the guy from 2008 spring filled out this form - he would have been assigned to the pro tournament.

It's a big step in the right direction to hopefully avoid any more confusion.

 

[crabby and son]

That sounds like progress made. It will eliminate most of the phone calls to the MSSA office. There still might be a few questionable cases but it is a big step in the right direction.Hard as you try.........you can't make EVERY ONE happy!..........Gary

 

[MIKE BURGESS]

Save your money buy a new fishing rod and reel Theres plenty other tournaments out there with no confusion added ! Just my 02

 

[iFishMD]

My bet is this is an issue due to TWT money. Maybe they ought to just keep the two basic divisions (amateur and professional) and open the TWT's to all. As an amateur myself, I would have no issue with that. You still crown the best amateur and pro fisherman on the bay and allow the best man (or woman) overall to take home all the gravey whether it be a pro or amateur. I think it would work best this way especially if the basic amateur division was more money than the pro basic division. This will still give the amateur division some of the accolades it deserves. If you have any question to whether you are pro or not this would take the pressure off of the clarrification as the top tournament fisherman (rec or pro) are going for the TWT money anyhow (questionable entries should be encouraged to just go pro). I think it would still make for a great tournament and probably make the big money even larger as more could enter. Regardless of what people think, even the pro's would need some luck to win it.

The MSSA tournament has been the best tournament on the bay for a good while. Despite the bumps in the road over trying to clarify rules, I hope and think it will be run as fairly as humanly posible and a lot of fun to participate in. I look forward to it myself as this will be my 3rd time participating in an MSSA event.

 

[MIKE BURGESS]

New MSSA Rule: If you own a 2009 Judge Yachts 27 Chesapeake w/225 Honda you may not participate in the tournament :clapping2::clapping2:

 

[iFishMD]

Hmm.. now I have to ask for a different birthday gift from my wife and find something else to spend my money on... :yes:

 

[MIKE BURGESS]

You have to enter the Professional Boater's Class

 

[John Fasig]

save a tree and post the questions here.

 

[iFishMD]

You have to enter the Professional Boater's Class

ahh more like profssional boating forum whore :yes: I have more hours behind a computer than the wheel of a boat

Maybe if I spent more time trying to sell printing and direct mail projects instead of reading fourms I could retire sooner and get more water time :helpsmilie:

 

[iFishMD]

save a tree and post the questions here.

As some one who makes a living in the printing industry I resent that remark p

 

[aafinest]

Good to see MSSA is trying to clear things up. I think they are really trying to improve things to eliminate the headaches of last year. Can't say as I really blame them. Hopefully it will work out although I haven't seen the questionaire. Not sure how they are going to distribute it maybe put it on their web site??

 

[Baldzilla 2.0]

Maybe I'm a little slow, but I dont see where the confusion is...if you worked on a charter boat 1.) as a captain, you have fished professionally, know more than the average weekend angler or 2.) as a mate, you learned from the captain, you know more than the average weekend angler...you know more spots, more techniques, and have more skills...whether it be 5 months ago, 5 years ago, or 10 years ago...seems pretty cut and dry.

If you did those things, and are angry, the old adage, "methinks thou doth protest too much" comes to mind and it seems that you want that advantage over others and are upset about losing it. I have no dog in this fight, and if I had mated on a charter boat, you can bet your a$$ I'd want to fish against a bunch of people who were self taught...don't know why this has blown up so much, winter maybe??

 

[blue lou]

Even for SMIBs, this takes it to a new level. Wow!

 

[MIKE BURGESS]

Even for SMIBs, this takes it to a new level. Wow!

Bwahahahaha hard to believe isn't it

 

[Grady23]

Why not make it a TWT for both groups? You would win based on what was paid in to each group.

 

[crabby and son]

How do you tell a professional rock fish from an amateur rock fish..........Gary

 

[fishin` fool II]

Guys - I don't think anyone disputes the Charter captain/mate issue.

It's the other people who have been exculded. Folks who make lures at home and sell them are excluded for promoting tackle. Previous tournament winners are excluded if they won more than $20K cumulatively. I am excluded because I recieve benefits for promoting fish finders/chart plotters and radar. Captains and mates who have never fished commercially are excluded. Water Taxi captains or crews would be one example of exclusion under the "boat for hire" article.

I agree - keep the folks who fish for a living in the Pro catagory but the exclusion are way too far reaching. Pushing someone to Pro status just because they won last years tournament is STUPID.

Thus ends the first reading of the second book of Bill.

 

[teasersportfish]

One thing is a given. There will be some lawyers employed for this tournament.