The majority, if not all of our boat coaches are dads, uncles, friends of the family or the fishing coach at the student's school.
This league is about the KIDS, but the student anglers must provide their own boat drivers who should review the handbook attached below ( especially the rules on PFD on pages 30 and 31 )
This league is about the KIDS, but the student anglers must provide their own boat drivers who should review the handbook attached below ( especially the rules on PFD on pages 30 and 31 )
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INFORMATION
Mission Statement: SALTT provides student anglers competitive opportunities in fishing as well as conservation service to the environment with " catch and release " at each trail tournament. We also offer community activities for kids who do not have a boat that are posted on our "giving back" page.
Vision: Every effort will be made to keep the fish alive and live fish “will be” released after weigh in.
Species: You may only target one species per boat per tourney but you have the option at each tourney to choose to fish for red drum or bass. Once you launch, you may not change species.
Statement : This is “not” a school or SC High School League sanctioned event. We are a separate non-profit 501C3. We are not restricted by school districts or require physicals and academic eligibility. We do offer fishing as a reward for parents/guardians for their kids and expect that if a kids is "not" in good standing with their school with grades and discipline for the parent/guardian to keep them home.
Prizes:
Individual tourneys:
-Winners per division ( red or bass ) in high school and middle school will receive in prizes the value of :
1st = $200 per boat 2nd = $150 per boat 3rd = $100 per boat Big Fish = $50
Elementary anglers are awarded by Big Fish Only 1st = $75 2nd = $50 3rd = $25
Trail team Champions by Division
-Crowned at the end of the school year based on the best 3 of 4 cumulative weight.
-Receive a wrestling belt and fishing gear valued at $100 or more
Trail team Champions by Points
-Crowned at the end of the school year based on the most points.
-Receive fishing gear valued at $100 or more
Divisions:
-High School is grades 9-12 and Middle School is grades 5-8 with Elementary School grades 1-4.
-Elementary division is “Big Fish” only so if there are two elementary anglers on the boats, they are competing against each other so they are both eligible to the awards. Elementary boats are highly encouraged to have two adults for safety.
-The Trail will be scored at the end of the year in 6 Divisions : HS Red Drum, HS Bass, MS Red Drum, MS Bass, ES Red Drum, ES Bass
What is needed to participate ?
-Student Anglers = a one time $40 per angler fee for the entire trail, but before September, it is $10 so register early.
-Boat Captains = No charge and we will allow a second adult on board for events. The adult boat captain must be 21 or older but the ride along can be 18. Both must have completed paperwork. Please remember, this is a kid's tourney so let's keep it about the kids.
-Insurance = each boat captain must be prepared to provide a copy of their boat insurance with $300,000 liability. The online registration will ask for your information but always have a copy on your boat. The high liability is mandated by our insurance carrier. SALTT has an insurance policy that is secondary support.
-Live Well = if your live well is not built in then you are allowed a carry on that can keep alive 2 red drum or 5 bass.
Teams:
-A team consists of an adult 21 or older fishing with one or two students registered in grades 1-12 from any South Carolina public, private, charter, virtual, or home school. Students in Adult Education cannot participate. If a senior is graduating after the first semester and has not turned 19 before the end of the school year, then this student can finish the season.
-A team can have 2 adults on the boat but one adult must be 21 or older while the second "ride along" adult must be at least 18. The purpose of the second adult is to have some responsible should the 21 or older adult be injured and cannot drive. The adult 21 or older is expected to drive the boat 100% of the time unless he or she is injured "during" the tournament.
-A middle school angler fishing with a high school angler will be scored for the trail with the high school division.
-A elementary school angler fishing with a middle school angler will be scored for the trail with the middle school division .
-A elementary school angler fishing with a high school angler will be scored for the trail with the high school division.
Sportsmanship:
-Yes, this is a competitive fishing tournaments from boats but it is also a chance for adults to make good decisions and follow the guidelines. Teaching kids to fish and learn from mistakes while learning how to win and lose with grace is part of our mission.
-We do have many anglers who parents or relatives make a living as fishing guides and/or supplement their income as professional anglers. It is awesome they sacrifice income to take their son/daughter and/or friend's kids. What we do not want is for our parents to hire a fishing guide at the full rate to take their child fishing for the trail. That is not ok. It is always appropriate for a student angler's parent to supplement the boat captain expenses for taking their child fishing. ( Sam's dad is boat captain so Johnny's mom gives Sam's dad at least $100 to help with towing boat gas, fishing gas, bait and tackle). Should a fishing guide volunteer to take a team for a reduced rate, that is also appropriate for one event.
Registration:
www.salttfishing.com Online registration and $40 annual membership
GUIDELINES Revised on Sept 18, 2023
The following rules are designed to promote sportsmanship among the anglers and provide fair competition. Once you register, you have agreed to these guidelines. Failure to comply with any rules may result in a weight penalty or disqualification from any tournament and/or the trail up to 365 days.
The one rule that will get you DQ is being late which includes not having your weigh in card at the stage by the allocated time. Anything else is at the director’s discretion and he has up to a week to decide.
Inclement Weather Plan
The tournament director will communicate with the boat captains by phone and post on the "Social Media" should weekend weather cause the tourney to be cancelled. We plan to have each tourney as schedule if at all possible. Safety comes first. We have a date in place to make up a fall and/or a spring tourney if necessary.
During the event, if there is lightning or thunder, the tournament director will communication with the boat captain to “stop fishing” so all boats will be secured and participants asked to return to the nearest safest location. Please honor this request until the director communicates to “continue fishing” or “return to landing” which means the tournament is cancelled and weigh in will begin when it is safe to begin the process.
We would cancel a tournament when there is: 100% chance of rain, Freezing Temperatures all day, Temperature in the 40s with rain, post storm conditions with dangerous floating items from a hurricane. Other options are up to the director’s discretion.
Tournament Start
New format !
For the 23-23 season, we are going to use the Virtual launch format that we practiced without pre-season Virtual Inches tourneys. Yes, you will bring the fish to weigh in.
Where ?
-For the trail, you must launch from a public boat ramp along the rivers that feed into Winyah Bay called the Waccamaw, Pee Dee and Black. You can use the Santee River and the southern ICW but the Cooper River System is “off limits”. We do not want teams traveling too far back to weigh in so we can have the best chance to keep fish alive. You must show this public boat ramp in the video you submit.
-Waccamaw = Bucksport, Wacca Wache and Hagley -Pee Dee = Yauhannah, Samworth
-Black = Browns Ferry -Santee = Pole Yard, Jamestown
-ICW South = South Island Ferry, Buck Hall -Murrells Inlet
When ?
-For the trail, the videos must have daylight in the background so we are “not” using the terms safe light. A time will be designated from the director to start submitting videos so will have plenty of time to film your video with daylight in the background. Yes, we know that there are other tourneys going on and they will leave the boat landing before we do.
Here is how it works :
- Use your cell phone to record a video then text it to Coach at 843-902-4274
-Every video submitted must include the following:
1. video is submitted from the boat with daylight ( no videos in the dark )
2. show the boat landing and identify verbally what landing you are using
3. show the students wearing life jackets and which fish your team is targeting ( reds or bass )
4. show empty livewell(s) …. It should be enough light that you do not have to use a flashlight
5.. index card with the password of the day
Weigh In Plan
When you arrive to weigh in your fish, make sure you arrive early enough to get your weigh in card completed and to the director before the designated time or your fish cannot be weighed in plus your team will get a DQ.
There will be a table set up with weight in cards, pens plus cull tags for the “big fish”
There will also be weigh in bags which are "mandatory" that can be purchased from the director
-11:00 am -Scales are open
-2:00 pm -Elementary Cards are due to the weigh in stage
-2:30 pm -Middle School Cards are due to the weigh in stage
-3:00 pm -High School Cards are due to the weight in stage
*scales will be ready at 11:00, but if you need an early weigh in, call the director. If you need to weigh in a fish that is throat hooked or may die, you can weigh in less than the bag limit then return to fish. Example : 1 red weighed in, return fishing for a 2nd red. The fish must be alive during the weigh in process or there is a .25 pound dead fish penalty. If you weigh in your max number of fish, any fish caught afterward cannot be brought to the scale. Example: 2 reds or 5 bass weighed in early, you are done for tourney.
-Director or appointee must have your card by the designed time or you are disqualified. To be fair to others who were on time, your fish cannot be weighed. Once you make it to the boat landing, have an angler hustle to the director and just hand in the card so you are checked off. Then, you can take you time to bag the fish and get in line.
-Boat captains must notify the director of any problems that may have occurred. The sooner the better. This way we can start the process of helping you. For example, we may have time to send a boat to get your kids and fish for weigh in, if there is enough time. Cards are still due on time even in this situation so the sooner the better chance these kids can make weigh in on time.
-We don't want to punish kids for an adult's mistake like getting stuck on a mud flat, dead battery, and engine problems. If a team gets a DQ and we know in advance, we can give the anglers a gift card to help create a better experience. We ask that you release the fish once you know you are receiving a DQ to give the fish a better chance to survive.
Weigh In Set Up
-Fishing Trailer may or may not use the stage depending on rain or other conditions.
-Normal Tourney
-Area in front of the trailer will be blocked off for trucks to trailer the boat to weigh ins so leave the fish in the live wells
-Tents and Tables with air are set up for anglers to get in line ( if you see more than 2 teams at the air table, keep you fish in the boat)
-Students will keep air in their bags until called to the stage for weigh in then ride in golf cart to release fish
Food
-We will have drinks and food for the participants provided for by SALTT and/or a Club Fundraiser at no cost to participants
When you’re done with Weigh In
Free Fishing Tackle Table
-Tables will be set up with directions for student anglers to pick items to take home
Raffle Prizes
-Tickets will be handed out after the awards ceremony to student anglers
Live Wells
Since our first priority is catch and release, if your live well is not working, you can return to the landing and weigh in fish so they can be released. If you return and catch more fish, the highest weight of all fish weighted will count. You must return to the landing where we will have live well equipment that can be used when you return to the water to finish the tourney. This live well equipment cannot be taken to begin a tourney. It is for emergency purposes only. We have an air pump you can attach to one of your batteries.
Only with permission of the director can you transfer fish from one boat to another to make weigh in with the live fish. This is under special circumstances only. You must have the director’s permission in advance. If you are putting 2 fish in a live well that already has 2 fish, you must have a tag system to identify the fish. Tag using the lip, not the gills.
Boundaries
Private or gated area not available to the public cannot be used.
Since we are releasing fish from Carroll A Campbell, do not fish with in 100 yards of the ramps
The Cooper River System is off limits at every trail tournament.
Additional boundaries may be set by the director up to the morning of the tourney for different reasons beyond our control and/or safety.
Boats
Equipment includes a working live well (built in or carry on) and all safety equipment as required by the US Coast Guard and SCDNR.
Participants must use only the gear that is in the boat when the boat leaves the dock at the start of the day with the exception of acquiring a live well from the director.
Captains need to have current boat registration and have turned in a copy of insurance to the director.
Captains and student anglers (16 and older) must possess a current fishing license. In respect to the location of the Sampit River launch site, the director suggests that you have both freshwater and saltwater license.
Boat Operation
Captains operate the gas engine in a safe manner abiding all boating laws when carrying student anglers to fishing locations with the Lanyard Ignition cut-off device ( kill switch ) attached to the boat captain at all times the main engine being used to travel.
Lifejackets should be on anytime the gas motor is running for safety.
Student anglers can operate electric trolling motors.
Captains are encouraged to return to the landing for rest room breaks.
Use caution with other boats around you, and remember, you are responsible for your wake and can earn a DQ if you endanger another one of our teams as well as be subject to a fine from SCDNR.
Fishing
-Species
-Bass = artificial only
-Reds = artificial plus live or cut bait BUT circle hooks are mandatory
-Lines Out
-Since we allow up to 2 boat captains and 2 student anglers, there should never be more than 4 lines out at one time.
-Only fish caught in the mouth ( not snagging ) by students on a rod and reel (without anyone else touching the rod and reel ) in the boat will count for weigh ins.
-Boat Captains
-Cannot cast a rod for a student angler then hand over the rod for the student angler to use.
-Cannot hand a rod over a rod the adult casted with a fish on it
-Can use a landing net but do not touch the fish until it is in the boat
-Can assist with rod and reel repair
-Fishing Techniques
-Cast nets can only be used to harvest live bait that will be used for fishing, not catching fish
-Anchor on the side of the smaller creeks so you do not block others.
-Anchor fishing should be at least 25 yards from another boat.
-When using float corks, respect the 25 yard rule so once your cork gets 25 yards withing a boat, reel it in ( sportsmanship )
Fish Length
SCDNR is one of our partners and could be involved with the weigh in procedures since we have to get ramp permission to host the tourneys, they know we are fishing. We invite SCDNR to stand at the weigh in scale during our tourneys.
Each fish is subject bump boards at weigh ins and measured in accordance to the rules of SCDNR.
Each boat is HIGHLY encouraged to have a bump board. Before you put a fish in the live well, measure the fish on the boat's bump board. When in doubt, release the fish. Please don't risk the DQ and/or a ticket at the weigh in from SCDNR.
Bass is 12 inch minimum and no maximum
Red drum slots: SC = 15-23 inches *we use a slide guide ( free to boat captains ) that will be placed at 22 and one half inches and the slide guide actually pinches the tails on the red fish. If the tail goes "over" the 23 inch mark, the fish is DQ. We also check to see if the tail has been cut…
Dead Fish
-.25 pound penalty per fish and the fish is property of SALTT
-do not cull a dead fish
Protests
-Boat Captains have the opportunity to teach life lessons on the boat at our tournaments. Doing the right thing is more important than any award. If anyone suspects foul play (cheating), send a picture and details to the director. Keep this between the adults and do not use social media or group texts to bring negative attention to SALTT. Once the scales are announced closed, the director will meet with both boat captains. If you have not sent any information, you can file a protest 5 minutes after the scales close for the tournament. We have the option to call for a lie detector test. The protester with the grievance and the boat captain are both subject to a lie detector test. No kids will be tested. If found guilty, the boat captain who broke the rule will be DQ from driving a team for 365 days. SALTT will pay for the test. We would rather use those funds to purchase items for our raffle for the kids.
-These guidelines are expectations. Protests will be handled by the director.
-The only automatic DQ is being late for weigh ins.
Teams
We have to have a plan because we do not want kids to be punished due to the other kids not being able to fish for various reasons. Plus, for schools who have a fishing coach, it is a struggle to get someone to drive the kids so these coaches just want their boys on the water fishing with winning the tourney or trail being secondary.
Student Anglers have the best chance to win the trail when the same two kids fish each tourney together. If one kid does miss, his partner can fish and it will count the same if the two of them were on the boat.
Student Anglers can mix schools if they like. An angler from Waccamaw can fish with an angler from Andrews.
Student Anglers can mix divisions. A middle school angler can fish with a high school angler but they are a high school team.
Situations in Scoring
-When two anglers fish together, their team is identified by their last names ( example Payne / Nesmith )
-When one of the original two anglers cannot attend, one can fish solo and the score counts the same ( Payne can fish solo )
-Trail #1 Payne / Nesmith - 7 pounds
-Trail #2 Payne - 5 pounds so total is now 12 pounds
-When the two anglers decide to fish with other anglers then their original score stands but they start at zero with the new partner
-Trail #1 Cooper / Howard = 10 pounds
-Trail #2 Cooper / Brown = 9 pounds Howard / Johnson = 4 pounds and 1 point
-After 2 Trails = Cooper / Howard 10 pounds Cooper / Brown 9 pounds Howard / Johnson 4 pounds
-When after the first trail ONLY, a pair of boats who both fished solo decide to combine to make one team can take the higher weight
-Trail #1 Drew = 8 pounds Calhoun = 6 pounds
-Trail #2 Drew / Calhoun = 8 pounds
Individual Tourneys
Total weight will be scored with the top 3 teams receiving a tourney certificate and awards (gift certificates, fishing tackle, ect. )
-1st tiebreaker = a dead fish will bump you down
-2nd tiebreaker = team with the heaviest Big Fish with the Big Fish Tiebreaker being inches
Points will be awarded each tourney "per division" to only be used as a tiebreaker for the championship
1st = 10, 2nd = 9, 3rd = 8 up to 10th place per tourney but you have to weigh in fish to earn points
SALTT Division Champions
6 Divisions are as followed : -High School Bass -Middle School Bass -Elementary School Bass
-High School Reds -Middle School Reds -Elementary School Reds
Trail team "Division Champions" will be crowned at the end of the school year based on the best 3 of 4 cumulative weights.
1st Tie breaker = most points for the season ( the more you fish = more likely to earn more points )
2nd Tiebreaker = most 1st place finishes
3rd Tiebreaker = most 2nd place finishes
4th Tiebreaker = most 3rd place finishes
5th Tiebreaker co-champions and both teams get rewarded ( we would have to order additional awards )
Each Divisional Total Weight Champion will receive a wrestling belt and the value of at least $100 in fishing tackle ( if you fish solo, you get $200 ). This is for the best total weight of 3 bags from 4 tourneys.
SALTT Points Champions
Each Divisional Points Team Champion that has the most points will receive the value of at least $50 in fishing tackle
The Divisional Total Weight Champion is based on weight but we do want to reward a team that has points because chances are, they fished all the tournaments and came close to winning the trail.....
--A team could finish first in weight plus have the most points.
--A team could finish first in weight and finish second or lower in points.
--A team could finish second or lower in weight but have the most points.
Remember ......... "Life Happens" so we have to respect that there is chance that kid or their boat captains will have to miss a tourney which is the "WHY" we do best 3 of 4. Even the best of us have a bad day or two on the water.