2016 SYNOPSIS OF L.C.U.D.C. DERBY BOARD RULES

 

  1. The L.C.U.D.C. Derby Board (Derby Board) consists of five (5) boards: master, skin diving, women’s, free diving, and junior diver. Each of these boards and the methods of harvesting fish are discussed below. 

 

  1. Fish eligible for competition on the LCUDC Derby Board:

 

  1. Competition is open to the waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the inland/fresh waters of the state that Borders the Gulf of Mexico where it is legal to spearfish. Ports of embarkation and debarkation must be from a Gulf State: Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, or Texas.
  2. Fish species harvested for purposes of competition on the Derby Board must be legal in the Gulf of Mexico under U.S. Federal and/or Gulf States (Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida) Regulations.
  3. Fish must be harvested by a submerged diver,
    1. A submerged diver is defined as a diver that is horizontal in the water (with no contact of a bank or shoreline) and his or her mask or face in the water. Note that a diver may be in contact with the bottom while horizontal in the water but the diver may not have part of his or her body on the shore,
  4. Fish eligible for entry into the Derby Board must be witnessed by a Council Member in both the spearing and weighing.
    1. Council Members are those defined within the LCUDC By Laws – Article II,
  5. All divers must have current valid fish license(s) in applicable state and federal waters (if required for species).
  6. Fish shot outside of Louisiana’s waters cannot be listed for LA State Spearfishing Records (LA Top Ten); except as follows – Port of debarkation and embarkation must be from Louisiana)

 

 

  1. Eligible competitors

 

  1. Only divers who are full-active members of an L.C.U.D.C. member club may compete on the Derby Board, except as noted for junior divers.
  2. Club Fees are $50 for each club, $40 fee for each member. It is not mandatory for a council member to enter the Derby Board.   Some clubs required it while others do not.  All members or witnesses must be a member in good standing in a club that is part of the L.C.U.D.C.
  3. A club and/or diver are considered paid for the current year if they have paid for the previous year and are considered committed to the Derby Board after the first of the year but his or her fee(s) must be in before May 1st or within thirty (30) after the fish was shot if shot prior to May 1st of the current year.
  4. New clubs and/or divers may enter the Derby Board competition at any time but his or her fee must be paid before a fish is shot.
    1. The diver must be committed and/or paid as stated above before his or her fish will be counted on the derby board.
  5. All divers and Clubs paid in the year of competition will be carry over into the next year’s competition, but must pay fees as stated above for fish to count.
  6. LA Top Ten is open to all divers who shot the fish under guidelines of the Derby Board Rules with the exceptions that the diver, the weight and the catch witness need not be a Council Member. Fish shot with a buoy can be listed on the LA State Freedivng records (Freediving Records) but not on the LA Top Ten.    
  7. If a diver has not paid their dues by May 1st, any fish shot prior to May 1st will be considered ineligible and be removed from the derby board permanently.

 

  1. Ethical Requirements
  2. The Derby Board competition is an honor system. Each diver is expected and

must shoot the fish on his (her) own. He or she must bring the fish to the shore

line or boat without assistance.

 

  1. It should be noted that a safety line is considered to be part of the boat. No part of the spear fishing line may be attached to other than the gun or the diver except as noted for the Free Diving Division.  No power heads are allowed.

A1.  Handing a loaded gun from the boat to a diver in the water is not allowed.

  1. A Derby Board Diver has 30 days to protest a fish after it posted on the Derby Board or 10 days after the final board. 
  2. The fish and/or diver must be protest by at least three (3) Derby Board Divers in at least two (2), Derby Board Clubs.  Each diver must state their name, club, and the alleged rule violation given as much details as possible in writing to the Sec/tre.
  3. If a protest meets the above criteria, the matter will go to the clubs for a vote (e-mail vote if no meeting is scheduled). The Sec/tre will have 10 days after receiving the protest to send out an e-mail ballot (if no meeting is scheduled).  The clubs will have 10 days to cast their e-mail ballot. 
  4. It will take a 2/3 vote of the clubs to affirmed the protest.
  5. The time timetable set up by this rule would also apply in any protest under Weighing Fish.
  1. Weighing fish

 

  1. Fish must be weighed on a State (Al, FL, LA, MS, TX) certified scale. Fish must be entered into the Derby Board as it is read on such scale.
  2. Protest of scales – Ethical Requirements b thru f. would apply..
  3. Weight of fish will be the nearest lowest increment of the scale. Refer to addendum 1 for conversion chart of scale weighing in .10ths.
  4. Ban weight manipulation of fish entered into competition, to include “soaking: which is defined as intentional submerging fish in water and periodically re-weighting on a certified scale until a maximum exaggerated weight can be achieved.  It is not “natural” for any organism that has been dead for 4 days to gain mass.  

 

  1. Registering fish for Derby Board Competition

 

  1. Fishes may be entered by electronic fish cards (e-mail) or by mail (postal service).
  2. Fish cards are to be sent to Derby Board Chairman: (see current minutes for the contact information of the derby board chairman) The position of derby board chairman is filled by the president of the L.C.U.D.C.
  3. A copy of electronic fish cards must also be sent to LCUDCfishcards@gmail.com
  4. The fish card must have the following:
    1. the name of the diver
    2. the name of the diver’s club
  • the species of the fish shot
  1. the day the fish was shot
  2. the full weight of the fish (as read on the scale) The diver must not convert the weight and must state if they are reporting in pounds or ounces.  For example, the weight in tenths is reported as 1.1, in ounces it would be 1-1.
  3. the general area of the catch (port of debarkation/embarkation)
  • the diver’s fishing license identification number and the state of such fishing license
  • the place weighed and scale certification number (note if club scale is certified and used on recurring basis, diver may only need to indicate on first fish card of year until such scale require recertification)
  1. name of catch and weight witness which may be the same person but must be a Council Member
  1. Fish Cards must be submitted no longer then thirty (30) days from when the fish was shot.
  2. All fish cards must be entered no later than January 10th following the year of completion. Postmarked will be accepted as the date.

 

  1. Registering fish for LA Top Ten

 

  1. Refer to 3c for eligible competitors
  2. In addition to the requirements outlined in item #6 (except for item ix. and the requirement for being a Council Member), if the fish is to be entered for consideration with the LA Top Ten, the following is required:
    1. the fish must have been shot off of Louisiana waters (LA ports of embarkation and debarkation),
    2. a picture must be taken and entered with the fish card,
  • Fish card must also contain signatures required to be sent to the Council Top Ten Chairman within one (1) year after fish is shot.
  1. LA Top Ten fish cards must be provided to Steve Hartley: steve@tementos.com

 

  1. Derby Board Competitions

 

  1. Master Board
    1. On the master board the largest fish shot by any legal means such as scuba, skin, or buoy.
    2. Man or woman will placed 1st, 2nd, and 3rd with ties broken by the earliest fish card entered.
  • Fish species eligible for competition:
    1. Amberjack, Barracuda, Buffalo/Carp, Catfish, Cobia, Drum, Flounder, Gar, Grouper (Non-warsaw), Grouper (Warsaw), Jack Crevalle, Mangrove Snapper, Ray, Red Snapper, Sheepshead, Spadefish, Triggerfish, Tarpon, Miscellaneous (Any legal fish as defined in section 2), Scamp Grouper (added in 2016)
  1. Tuna, Wahoo, and Dolphin shot with scuba or ”Skin Diving” (section 8c) would place under miscellaneous on the Master Board. These fishes shot with scuba or skin may also place on the LA Top Ten.

 

  1. Women’s Board
    1. Only fish shot by a woman will count, fish may be speared using either scuba, skin, or buoy.
    2. Woman will placed 1st, 2nd, and 3rd with ties broken by the earliest fish card entered.
  • Fish species eligible for competition are those defined within the Master Board
  1. Queen Spear fisherwoman, 1st and 2nd Runner-ups will count (3, 2, and 1 point, respectively) towards toward Best Club so long as 5 Council Members enter fish cards for the Women’s board during the competition year. These fish need not place on the Women’s board.

 

  1. Skin Diving Board
    1. Only fish shot while skin diving will be eligible for competition by a man or woman.
    2. Man or woman will placed 1st, 2nd, and 3rd with ties broken by the earliest fish card entered.
  • Fish species eligible for competition are those defined within the Master Board
  1. Allowable gear on the skin diving board: no compressed air – line attached directly to the gun, and/ or line attached to the diver via a riding rig, bungee cord, and/or reel
  2. Fish shot skin diving will compete for Champion Skin Diver, 1st and 2nd Runner-ups on the Skin Diving Board.
  3. Fish shot skin diving will also compete on the Master Board for Best Club, King Spear fisherman, and Queen Spear fisherwoman.
  • Champion Skin Diver, 1st and 2nd Runner-ups will count (3, 2, and 1 point, respectively) towards toward Best Club so long as 5 Council Members enter fish cards for the skin diving board during the competition year. These fish need not place on the skin diving board.
  • Tuna, Wahoo, and Dolphin shot skin diving would place under miscellaneous on the skin diving board or Master Board. These fishes shot skin diving may also place on the LCUDC Top Ten List.

 

 

  1. Free Diving Board

 

  1. Only fishes shot while free diving will be eligible for competition by a man or woman.
  2. Man or woman will placed 1st, 2nd, and 3rd with ties broken by the earliest fish card entered.
  • Fish species eligible for competition include: Yellowfin Tuna, Blackfin Tuna, Dolphin (Mahi-Mahi or Dorado), and Wahoo
  1. Allowable gear on the free diving board: no compressed air – line attached directly to the gun and/or line attached to the diver via a riding rig, bungee cord and/or reel, buoy or float line.
  2. Yellowfin Tuna, Blackfin Tuna, Dolphin (Mahi-Mahi or Dorado), and Wahoo shot with the aid of a buoy or float line will not be allowed on the master board. However, if such fish is speared with allowable skin diving gear (as defined in section 8c) or using compressed air and a riding rig or line attached directly to the gun, it will be allowed on the master board. (Note the Diver must at this point choose which Board he (she) would like to enter their fish. A Yellowfin Tuna, Blackfin Tuna, Dolphin (Mahi-Mahi or Dorado), and Wahoo may not be entered on both the Free Diving Board and Master Board.)
  3. Champion Free Diver, 1st and 2nd Runner-ups will count (3, 2, and 1 point, respectively) towards toward Best Club so long as 5 Council Members enter fish cards for the Free diving board during the competition year. These fish need not place on the Free diving board.
  • Divers and vessels must possess the necessary permits prior to harvesting such species.
  • If a diver looses contact with his floats and can no longer see them, he may reenter a non moving boat and “spot” the floats. He must then reenter the water where exited (allowing for free boat movement) and free swim in the direction of his floats and regain contact with them. Under no condition may the diver utilize the boat to regain contact with his floats.
  1. Any length of line is allowed.
  2. Bait chumming is allowed.
  3. The fish must be a SUBDUED FISH prior to the vessel assisting the diver.
    1. SUBDUED FISH: Any fish that is taken ashore, placed on, or tethered to a boat with a line no more than 10 feet (3 meters) long, or on the belt stringer of the spearing diver.

 

  1. Junior Diver Board

 

  1. Divers 16 and under may enter the junior division.
  2. Fish may be speared using either scuba, skin, or buoy.
  • Man or woman will placed 1st, 2nd, and 3rd with ties broken by the earliest fish card entered.
  1. The diver must be a child of a Council Member and may be a member of a LCUDC Member Club if that Club allows divers under 16.
  2. If the diver under 16 is a child of a Council Member but is not a full active member of a council club he or she may compete on the Junior division ONLY and his or her points will not count towards any other awards.
  3. The Council parent must be a catch witness of this junior diver.
  • The weight witness must be a different member other than the parent.
  • Fish species eligible for competition are those defined within the Master Board
  1. If a Junior Diver’s fish makes the Master Board and/or Skin Diving Board, it will count towards that board if the junior diver is a full active member of a LCUDC Member Club.

 

  1. Derby Board Updates

 

  1. The Derby Board will be updated at least twice on a monthly basis
  2. If a LCUDC Member Club requests an update of the Derby Board, that Member Club may request such update at any time from the Derby Board Chairman.
  3. Fish on the master, skin, ladies, junior, and freediving boards may be seen on-line at nolaspearfishing.com
  4. An updated Derby Board as well as the Official LA Top Ten are also available at this site and the various club sites.
  5. The e-mail chairman Paul Cozic will forward the derby board updates to the LCUDC presidents. Each president is responsible for forwarding any information to their membership.
  6. In order for members/clubs to be added to the LCUDC mailing list, please contact Paul Cozic – cozic@att.net

 

  1. Derby Board Awards

 

  1. Major awards are the Club Award, King Spearfisherman, Champion Skin Diver, Queen Spearfisherwoman, Champion Free Diver, and Champion Junior Diver

 

  1. Club Award – The Club Award is won by the club who earned the most points on the Master Board. With first place fish earning – 3 points, second place fish earning 2 points, and third place fish earning 1 point.
    1. Points will also be accumulated for the Club Award from the Skin Diving, Women’s, and Free Diving boards with the Champion earning 3 points for his (her) club, the 1st runner-up earning 2 points, and the 2nd runner-up earning 1 point, so long as five (5) or more competitors enter fish under such competition (please note the fish need not place, only be entered)

 

  1. King Spearfisherman – The King Spearfisherman award is won by the diver (man or woman) who earns the most points on the Master Board (Section 8a).

 

  • Queen Spearfisherwoman – The Queen Spearfisherwoman award is won by the woman who earns the most points on the Woman’s Board (Section 8b).

 

  1. Champion Skin Diver – The Champion Skin Diver award is won by the diver (man or woman) who earns the most points on the Skin Diving Board (Section 8c).

 

  1. Champion Free Diver – The Champion Free Diving award is won by the diver (man or woman) who earns the most points on the Free Diving Board (Section 8d).

 

  1. Champion Junior Diver – The Champion Junior Diver award is won by the diver (man or woman) who earns the most points on the Junior Diver Board (Section 8e).

 

  1. In cases of ties in any of the above, the diver or club with the most total weight wins the award.

 

  1. Competition Dates

 

  1. Competition starts January 1st and ends December 31st each year.

 

 

 

 

 

Addendum #1 – Fractional Scale Conversion chart – from .10ths to ounces

Scale Fraction Ounces Ounce to be entered on Derby Board
0.1 1.60 1
0.2 3.20 3
0.3 4.80 4
0.4 6.40 6
0.5 8.00 8
0.6 9.60 9
0.7 11.20 11
0.8 12.80 12
0.9 14.40 14