Lure Masters Trophy Competition – Rules & Regulations

Lure Masters reserves the right to change the rules at any point before the competition. Check back regularly to see what’s updated. By signing up for the competition you agree with the Lure Masters rules & regulations.

Main items

• This three day predator fishing tournament is held on a catch & release basis.
• A maximum of 120 boats, each boat being a team of 2 anglers.
• No qualification is needed in order to participate.
• Participation is at own risk.

Participation

In order to participate:

• Each participant must be > 18 years old
• Each team member must have an active Lure Masters account on www.luremasters.net and be registered for the tournament
• Public liability insurance is mandatory.
• Each participant needs to own a Dutch fishing license; “Vispas”. These can be bought at several tackle stores in the vicinity of event HQ and online at www.sportvisserijnederland.nl
• The captain of a fast boat (top speed over 20kph) needs to own a license for operating a fast boat.
• All boats need to comply with Dutch rules and be safe to operate in the competition area.
• A scan or copy of your insurance policy as well as licenses, as mentioned above, need to be presented when reporting for the competition.
• Participants should be equipped with a mobile phone with a data bundle that will work in the Netherlands and holds sufficient capacity to last three competition days.
• Lure Masters cannot be held liable for any injuries, damages, fines and ore loss or theft of equipment.
• A subscribed team of two anglers is supposed to fish the whole tournament together. A team member can only be changed for a maximum of one day and with PRIOR notification and consent of the Lure Masters organization.

Fishing rules

• Competition days start at 08:30 every morning. It is the participants responsibility to have their boat in the water on time. There will be no waiting for boats that are not in the water when the competition starts.
• Artificial (lead free) lure only competition, no bait allowed whatsoever.
• Any kind of pre-baiting prior to and while the competition, within the competition area, is prohibited.
• A maximum of one rod per angler can be used  at a time. No more than two rods per angler can be rigged (line and hook) at any point during the competition.
• It is not allowed to use more than one lure per rod/line in the water.
• It is not allowed to use lures in any other way than attached to a rod/line.
• All styles of lure fishing are allowed.
• Participants are not allowed to fish:
  • Within 50 meters of any harbor entrance
  • In main traffic lanes for commercial shipping (sport lanes are allowed)
  • In forbidden zones, nature reserves or industrial areas, according to Dutch fishing rules
  • Within 100 meter of any other participant
  • Within 25 meters of non participating boats and fishermen
• Participants that are trolling lures cannot pass within 100 meters of boats that are drifting or fishing from an electronically anchored boat.
• If two boats approach each other while trolling, port side makes way for starboard.
• There can be no boat to boat contact. This will be punished with a yellow card.
• You cannot leave the competition area, or go to the shore during the competition. If somehow this cannot be avoided report to a marshal first. If you don’t report you will be disqualified.

Competition format

• Check the competition itinerary for a day to day program.
• Points are earned as a team.
• The following species count for points during this competition: Pike, Perch, Zander. Each centimeter being a point. Only legally sized fish count for points during this competition; Pike: 45cm, Zander 42cm, Perch 30cm.
• Points will be awarded for a total of 8 Perch, 5 Zander, and 3 pike over the course of three days. Every centimeter is one point. If a team catches more than the maximum amount for a species the smallest fish is automatically discarded.
• Winner of the competition will be the team with the most points, regardless of catching all the necessary fish.
• In case of a tie the team with the biggest fish wins, if they both have an equally big fish the next big fish will determine the outcome. (Or the next fish until a result is available. Big fish meaning big by length)
• Dead fish, or severely injured fish do not count.
• Fish cannot be held in a live well. If during boat checks fish are found in live wells the team will be disqualified immediately.
• Each day, teams will be fishing in a different fishing zone. Starting zone will be drawn during opening ceremony.
• Boat check: Lure Masters reserves the right to check boats before every competition day and during the competition. Marshals must be allowed unrestricted access to the boat and full cooperation is expected.
• Media and/or marshals can board competitors’ boats anytime before & during competition.

Fish Reporting

• Fish have to be reported during the competition day. Fish cannot be reported after the competition day (16:30). Should you have technical problems you can report your fish by phone or SMS to the organization stating species, length and unique code. After the competition day you will still have to present pictures to the organization.
• Fish that count for competition shall be photographed by phone, left flank up, on the measuring board, clearly showing size, boat number, competition day and unique code.  A picture with the scorable fish, left flank towards camera, and the catching angler must be submitted to count.
• Fish photographed on the measuring board not touching the start of the board will not be counted.
• If a fish is not 100% photographed (part of the tail is missing) only the visible centimeters will count.
• Photos shall be uploaded to the Lure Masters (Web)app immediately (www.luremasters.net), after the fish is safely released.
• All pictures will be checked by the organization. The organization has the right to reject any picture not complying to the above stated rules.
• Pictures with dead and / or blood-stained fish can be rejected.
• Participants are allowed to present better pictures (on measuring board in correct orientation, including unique fish code), for rejected fish after the competition, but only for already reported fish.

External factors

• If the weather does not allow the fishing of a zone that has been fished in other competition days, Lure Masters reserves the right to change zones or cancel a zone or even a competition day altogether.
• If for some reason Lure Masters chooses to cancel a competition day when it it’s already in progress, only those fish will count that have been reported up until the official time of cancellation. Official time being the time a push message has been sent to the Lure Masters app.
• In the event of fishing day cancellation, the final result will be calculated based on the days that have been fished.

Boat safety

• Participating boats must be able to handle bodies of water where the tournament is held. (If you are unsure, please contact the event organization before registering)
• Apart from complying to Dutch shipping rules for inland navigation, participants have to:
  • Wear lifejackets at all time during the competition.
  • Either an anchor or a trolling motor with anchor function is required.
  • A minimal of two means of propulsion is required on every boat (e.g. paddle, outboard, electric engine)
  • Have enough (spare) fuel on board.
• Speed limits. Lake Haringvliet has a speed limit of 9,5 kph outside traffic lanes and 20 kph inside main traffic lanes (between the big buoys, not the sport lanes!). It’s the participants responsibility to follow these rules and any speed tickets or other violations of the (shipping)law, resulting in arrest/penalties by the law enforcement, are at own risk.

Penalties

• A deliberate act of cheating will be punished by disqualification.
• Fishing in a forbidden zone (to be determined by marshal boats) will result in the biggest fish for that day being removed from the score. If a participant is caught in a forbidden zone a second time during the competition, disqualification will follow.

Disclaimer

• The participation in the Lure Masters is entirely based on own risk of the participants.
• Paid entrance fees will not be refunded.
• In order to participate you must have a personal liability insurance & health insurance.
• Participating boats must have a valid liability insurance.
• Boat drivers must have a valid boat driving license.

Media disclaimer

• Media will be present at the event. With your participation you agree to be photographed and filmed. The produced media is owned by Lure Masters and will be used for marketing purposes.
• Cameras with and without camera operators can be put on competitors’ boats.
• The organization reserves all rights to use any kind of media.

GPS Tracking

• All participating boats will be equipped with GPS trackers for safety and observation reasons.
• The GPS devices may need to be returned to the event headquarter after each fishing day for charging.

By signing up for the tournament, the participant(s) agree with the rules & regulations.
Version: 2023/02/11