DATE OF ACTUAL COMPETITION:
The competition will run between 12 midnight Thursday 5th November to 2.00pm Sunday 8th November 2009. Officials reserve the right to change the fishing hours and the weigh-in times.

COMPETITION REGISTRATION & BRIEFING:
Entrants can register from 4pm Thursday 5th November 2009 at Stockland Park (Kawana) at the competition enclosure. Entry Registrations will close 12 noon Sat 7th November 2009. The number of entries is limited.

A briefing regarding rules, competition structure, and championship points will be held at 6.00pm on Thursday night at the competition site. During the briefing the first random draws will occur.

STOCKLAND PARK RULE:
No Alcohol, Glass bottles or dogs are permitted in the Quad Park area during the event.

ENTRY FEE:
The entry fee is only paid once and entitles the ID card holder to fish each day of the competition. The ID card entitles the registered holder to a single entry into the North Coast International Boat Show, (www.boatexpo.com.au), being held in conjunction with the fishing competition. Your competition identification must be worn at all times whilst on site. Any person found weighing fish in under another person's competition number or ID will result in immediate disqualification of that person.

SPECIES PRIZES:
Prizes will be awarded for each of the defined species during the competition. Prizes for first place will be up for grabs. All entrants are eligible for the overall senior and junior championships (see below). The prizes given out during the competition are not redeemable for cash. Officials reserve the right to alter or change the prizes stated in the competition guidelines. All prizes won at the Classic are given in good faith, and are subjected to manufacturers or suppliers conditions.

SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP:
Seniors will fish across 12 fish species (6 Beach and Estuary, 6 Offshore – refer entry form). In addition to the individual species prizes , entrants are also fishing for the titles of OFFSHORE CHAMPION, BEACH AND ESTUARY CHAMPION and OVERALL CHAMPION.

When an entrant weighs a fish in , (only one of each species per day) , the entrant will accrue points for that fish species. Only the points for the biggest fish in each species category you weigh in will count toward the championship i.e. if you catch a snapper on each day of the competition only the heaviest will count toward the championship points. Entrants can earn points across all 12 species in the competition. Points are calculated on estimated maximum sizes for each specie determined by DPI&F research and competition hosts.

Example: The maximum size for a Snapper is set at 12 Kg. If the fish of 7.5 Kg is weighed in, the points are calculated as 7.5 Kg divided by 12 & multiplied by 1000 equals 625 Points.

BEACH and ESTUARY SPECIES

OFFSHORE SPECIES

JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP
Junior competitors are to be defined as entrants under the age of 16 years (up to and including the last day of the competition) and no less than 5 years of age at the commencement of the competition.
Junior competitors are only eligible to weigh fish in the ‘Junior Championship' section of the fishing event. Juniors will compete against each other for a prize pool separate to that of the senior's competition (as defined by the age restrictions above). Juniors are eligible to weigh in species across all categories and earn points for each species in the same process as the senior competition. Points accrued during the competition for each species will be totaled and count toward the final rankings. Prizes will be awarded in the following categories – OFFSHORE CHAMPION, BEACH AND ESTUARY CHAMPION and OVERALL JUNIOR CHAMPION. Numerous runner-up and encouragement awards will also be on offer.

WEIGH-IN:
The official weigh-in (for both dead and live) will be conducted from 2pm to 5pm on Friday and Saturday, and at 12 noon to 3pm on the Sunday of the competition. However, live fish can be weighed in at any time during event hours up to end of official weigh in times (10am till 5pm Fri & Sat or 3pm on Sunday). Anyone not in the queue at the official weigh-in site prior to close of each weigh-in will be deemed ineligible. All fish are to be weighed by officials. Officials reserve the right to refuse the weigh-in of suspicious fish. Judges decision will be final.

FISHING RULES:

• All fish must be taken on rod and reel, or hand line;

• An entrant can weigh in only one of each species at each weigh-in session during the competition.

• All fish are to be presented for weigh-in whole (gut in). Officials reserve the right to gut any fish for inspection.

• Fish may be on ice when presented for weigh-ins, but not frozen.

• Any fish deemed to be caught more than 25 hours previously, or outside the competition areas, in the opinion of the judges will be ineligible.

• Undersize fish will not be accepted.

• All current legal sizes, bag limits and regulations must be adhered to during the competition. Contact the Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol for information on sizes and limits or visit DPI FISHWEB at www.dpi.qld.gov.au/fishweb

• No species other than those specified will be accepted for prizes, but one of any species of fish caught may be weighed to enter our meritorious catch section.

• All professional fisherman are eligible to enter the competition provided they abide by the same rules as amateur entrants and have a recreationally registered vessel to fish from.

FRAUD:
Any evidence of fraud such as fish more than 24 hours since being caught, foreign matter pushed down the mouth of the fish, fish transported from other than the shores or offshore waters of the Sunshine Coast, more than one person fishing for each individual adult or junior entry, netted fish, seniors catching fish for junior entrants, or any action in defiance of the rules and goodwill of the competition, will be disqualified and ruled ineligible for prizes. If necessary, offenders will be referred to police. The Management shall have the absolute right to exclude and disqualify anyone from the competition without giving any reason in the event of specified breaches of rules occurring.

All fish weighed in must have been caught during the competition times (as above) and caught south of Double Island Point and north of southern tip of Bribie Island (fishing in both the Noosa River and Pumicestone passage is permitted). Fishing cannot occur within closed or prohibited areas. See the DPI latest closures etc.

BOATING RULES:
Skippers of all vessels must adhere to all relevant laws and regulations in regard to licensing and registration requirements and carry the relevant safety gear for the areas being fished. Refer to QLD Transport Legislation.

IDENTIFICATION:
Entrants must attach a recent head and shoulders photograph which is to be clipped to the application form, together with the fee. Photographs may be taken at the site and a processing fee will apply . Entries will not be confirmed unless a recent photograph, fee and application form are posted or presented all together. Identification should be collected and signed for by the entrant before noon Saturday at the competition site (Stockland Park on Nicklin Way, Kawana). No fish will be accepted for weigh-in and no prize will be issued without the entrant's identification being shown and verified. All competitors will be provided with tamper proof ID cards signed and laminated by officials. These ID cards must be worn at all times within the Boat Show and Fishing Classic Compound.

COMPETITION TIMETABLE
Note: Fishing and boating seminars will be occurring each day of the event from 10.00am through till 6.00pm daily on the Friday and Saturday, and up to 4.00pm on the Sunday. A full seminar calendar will be available from the competition site office or details posted around the competition site.

Thursday 6th November

Friday 7th November

Saturday 8th November

Sunday 9th November

Note: Event times are subject to change before and during the event. Event organisers will attempt to ensure all competitors are kept up to date of any changes.