Youth and Individual RULES

1. Getting Started

A. The Miramichi Striper Cup (MSC) is an online tournament run through Angler’s Atlas website and their mobile app MyCatch.

B. Anyone can participate in the MSC and it is for all ages. Registration is only for individual registration. For those without a personal cell phone (such as children), the participant will need to register under their own name and account.

C. There will be an INDIVIDUAL DIVISION - $20.00 entry fee and a YOUTH DIVISION (under 16 years of age) - Free of charge. Participants can only be registered in one (1) of the divisions: Individual or Youth. For the Youth Division, a signed permission note from a parent or guardian is required.

D. Catches must be submitted through the MyCatch app for judging anytime during that period.

E. In order for catches to be sent properly, you must use the same login email and password for both the Angler’s Atlas website and the MyCatch app.

F. All contestants must register for the tournament via this URL:

https://www.anglersatlas.com/tournament/to be completed when set up

G. You will receive an automatic email confirming that you have entered the tournament and that your payment (even if it is free for Youth) has gone through.

H. Once accepted into the tournament, download the free MyCatch mobile app which is available for both iOS (Apple App Store) and Android (Google Play Store) and login to activate the tournament on the app again using the same login email and password that you used to register in the tournament. (https://www.anglersatlas.com/mycatch)

I. By participating in this event your name may be publicly visible.

J. Protecting anglers’ privacy is a priority, and any location data collected during the tournament will not be released to the public. Our promise to anglers is “Secret Fishing Spots Stay Secret”. See section 6 “Data Privacy and Fisheries Research” below for further details.

2. Catch Reporting Rules

A. Eligible species include only Striped Bass. Individual and Youth participants - only pictures with clear definable measurements will be accepted by judges.

B. This event is catch and release only.  Harvesting fish will result in disqualification. Eyes must be clear of debris and show signs of life -- pictures with eyes covered in photos will not be accepted. To ensure the best chances of survival for the fish, all participants are to handle fish safely.

C. In order for each catch to qualify, a photograph of the fish on a measuring device must be taken using the MyCatch app (ie. photos cannot be uploaded from a photo gallery or other source). 

D. All contestants must have GPS/location services enabled on your cell phone for their catches to qualify. Your location data will be protected. For more information, see details below.

E. All length-based prize categories require the use of a ‘bump board’ or other measuring device that clearly shows the length of the fish. The nose of the fish must be aligned with the start of the measuring device, with both the nose and the tail clearly visible in the photograph.The photo must be taken from a birds-eye view looking down on the fish. 

F. This is a pinched tail measurement tournament. NOT fork length.

G. All fish must be measured with the right side down (the right side of the fish must be facing down or touching the board) and the left side of the fish facing upwards.

H. While the fish is being held on the bumpboard, a “scoring” photo must be taken of the fish which clearly shows the overall length of the fish. The HEAD and TAIL of the fish as well as the start of the bump board and past the end of the tail must be included and shown clearly. A photo that does not clearly show the overall length of the fish, including head and tail, on the ruler WILL NOT BE SCORED. More than one attempt to get a valid scoring photo is allowed. The app will prompt you to either accept the photo or retake a photo.

I. The mouth is allowed to be open, closed, or anywhere in between, so long as the fish meets the other above requirements.

J. There are to be no fingers placed in the gills or mouth of the fish. Any fingers in the gills or mouth of the fish will disqualify that fish.

K. Blatant abuse to fish or the resource is reason for disqualification

L. The app works out of cell range, and catches will synchronize with the server once the user opens the app when back in cell range, or via a wifi signal. Photos are date, time, and location stamped to the moment that they are taken. If the catches are not synced by the prizing deadline, they will not qualify for prizes.

M. Catches that are submitted will be reviewed at least once per day during the week (it will likely be more frequent than that!) and less often on weekends. Once the submissions are reviewed and approved, they will be immediately visible on the appropriate Leaderboards.

N.  All decisions on length’s verified by Angler’s Atlas and its team will be considered final.

O. A great resource is the MyCatch video that shows how to complete an entry: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3x5Zx-1APcs

3. Tournament Location and Times

A. All fishing must take place inside boundaries indicated on the current year event map provided on the MSC website or the Anglers Atlas site. Fishing must be done within boundaries determined by DFO section 52 license. Any fish caught outside the boundaries will automatically be rejected.

B. Idle Only Zone - (Red Bank / Cassilis) The area above the orange buoys located in the Red Bank/Cassilis section of the Northwest Miramichi River will be idle only up to Red Bank Bridge. All boats MUST come off plane and idle up from orange indicator buoys. The intention is to protect any fish from unnecessary harm. Failure to do this results in disqualification. 

C. Allowable Fishing Zone  A copy of the allowable fishing zone for all divisions for the 2022 MSC will be available May 1, 2022 on the Miramichi Striper Cup website (www.miramichistripercup.com)

D. The tournament runs from May 1st 12:00 am - May 27th @ 11:59 pm 2022

E. All catches made within the start and end times must be synchronized with the Angler’s Atlas server within the event times to qualify. Participant photo entries of their catches must be submitted by 11:59 pm on Friday May 27th, 2022 to be eligible for any prizes.

4. Categories, Awards & Prizes

A. Only registered MSC participants may collect cash & prizes

B. The Longest Striper verified by picture and accepted by a biologist will be declared winner.

C. Participants in the Individual Division (16 years of age and older) will only be eligible for prizes in the Individual prize pool. Individuals under 16 may enter this division if they pay entry fee – but are then not eligible for youth prizes.

D. Participants in the Youth Division (under 16 years of age) will only be eligible for prizes in the Youth Division pool. 

E. Awards will be announced on or by May 29th, 2022 and anglers will be contacted directly using the contact information provided in the tournament registration process.

F. In the event of a tie, prizes and monies will be added together and divided equally; The void placings will be eliminated. (i.e. tied for 2nd, 3rd is eliminated, next placing is 4th).

G. Tournament organizers reserve the right to adjust entries.

5. General Rules

A. By registering and participating in the tournament, all participants agree to abide by the rules and regulations they have received as set out in the MSC fishing tournament event rules. The MSC Organizing Committee makes the rules. The MSC Tournament Marshalls shall administer and enforce the rules. Unless otherwise noted, failure to abide by the rules will result in disqualification. All rules pertain to both Individual and Youth divisions.

B. Fish may be angled from boat or shore (SAME AS 2021).

C. Each contestant will be allowed a maximum of one line in the water at any time. Additional rods may be rigged and ready but not in use.

D. Only artificial lures and baits are permissible for all divisions of the Miramichi Striper Cup. Possession of baits other than artificial will result in disqualification.

E. Single barbless hooks only. You may have treble hooks in your possession - but they must not be used.

F. Encroachment - You may not crowd another participant of their location. Boat and or lure is not permitted within 50 feet of another participant that was at a location first. The first participant's boat must have its anchor down. You may only control water that is within one cast or 25 feet of your boat if not anchored. You may not block access to fishable water and participants passing must reel in if within 25 feet. The 25 feet encroachment rule applies to trolling as well. Participants are expected to exhibit high levels of "sportsmen like conduct" in situations such as these. Any participants seen close enough to exchange items (10 ft or less) will be disqualified - unless MSC Tournament Marshal is involved.

G. Only striped bass caught by the participant may be submitted by the participant - using fish caught by someone else will be considered fraud and reported to RCMP/Miramichi Police Force for possible criminal charges. This is an individual tournament, so you cannot enter as a partnership or team.

H. All fish entered for this event must be caught via angling i.e. using hook, line, rod and reel. At no time will fish caught by non angling (i.e. use of traps, trap nets or cages) be allowed to be entered.

I. All federal, provincial, coast guard, angling and boating regulations must be adhered to.

J. It is the responsibility of the angler to know all the regulations and to obtain all angling licenses and related permits. 

K. Promoters and organizers assisting in the tournament operation are not responsible for death, injury, damage, liability, theft, fire or any loss to any contestants.

L. Any angler found to be cheating will be disqualified from the tournament. Angler’s Atlas also reserves the right to ban anglers from competing in future events.

M. Disqualification from the tournament also disqualifies the participant or team from any prizes and entry fees paid to the MSC will not be returned to any team or participant.

N. All rules have loopholes. It is our intention to provide an honest sportsmanlike tournament. In the interest of good sportsmanship, contestants are reminded the spirit of the rule will prevail in all judgments.

O. All questions or concerns relating to the rules of this tournament are to be referred to The MSC Organizing Committee and they shall be the only ones to interpret the rules. Their decision will be final in all cases. No other person can be considered a spokesman for the rules during the tournament. The contact person for this event is Jeff MacTavish: and can be reached by email at: jeff.mactavish@miramichi.org

P. Any contestant has the right to protest another participant if they feel the rules have been broken. The protest must be filed in writing with the MSC Organizing Committee no later than 30 minutes after the close of tournament fishing hours. If possible, please provide a form of verification to the MSC Organizing Committee (Picture, witness, etc). 

Q. Any team that has been disqualified by the MSC Organizing Committee has the right to file a protest. The protest must be filed in writing no later than 30 minutes after being notified of the disqualification. 

R. A three-person protest committee shall be appointed by the MSC Organizing Committee. The Protest Committee will convene to hear both sides of any protest. The decision of the protest committee shall be final in all cases.

S. All participants must follow boating safety regulations in your jurisdiction.

T. All Covid-19 Public Health orders and Gathering Restrictions at the time of the event must be followed by all participants.

U. In the event of a provincial lockdown due to public health concerns over the transmission of COVID-19, and where travel between provincial health authority zones could be affected, the MSC may have to be canceled or suspend the tournament until any such restrictions are lifted. All paid participants will remain eligible for all draw prizes 

V. All photo and video submissions may be used by MyCatch by Angler's Atlas for future use.

W. No refunds will be issued after May 1, 2022.

X. Official rules are on MSC website and are subject to change. http://www.miramichistripercup.ca/

6. Data Privacy and Fisheries Research

“Secret Fishing Spots Stay Secret” — This is our primary commitment to anglers who report their catches through MyCatch. So what does this mean in practice?

A. Angler’s Atlas does not release MyCatch GPS data to the public. It is treated as confidential and is provided to fisheries researchers under strict conditions.

B. Every research team we work with must sign a data sharing agreement that sets the terms of use for the data.

C. Data is anonymized before it is provided to the researcher.

D. Researchers agree not to share the data with anyone else.

E. Researchers cannot use the data for any purpose other than the research specified in the agreement. 

F. Exact location data cannot be published as part of the scientific research. Instead, it has to be generalized to a larger region so the location cannot be reverse engineered. 

G. Angler’s Atlas may release data to a law enforcement agency if compelled to do so under court order.

These data privacy rules are designed to protect our angler’s private data, to conserve the fisheries, and to make sure we maintain a trusting relationship with our anglers into the future. If anyone has any questions, please feel free to reach out to Angler’s Atlas President directly by email (sean@anglersatlas.com).

7. Waiver

PLEASE BE AWARE THAT BY PARTICIPATING IN THIS EVENT, YOU CONSENT TO YOUR VOICE, NAME, AND/OR LIKENESS BEING USED, WITHOUT COMPENSATION, IN FILMS AND TAPES FOR EXPLOITATION IN ANY AND ALL MEDIA, WHETHER NOW KNOWN OR HEREAFTER DEVISED, FOR ETERNITY, AND YOU RELEASE the City of Miramichi, Jeff Wilson, Anglers Atlas and their app MyCatch, ITS SUCCESSORS, ASSIGNS AND LICENSEES FROM ANY LIABILITY WHATSOEVER OF ANY NATURE. ADDITIONALLY, BE AWARE THAT BY PARTICIPATING IN THIS EVENT, YOU CONSENT TO BEING FILMED AND/OR PHOTOGRAPHED BY UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES (UAV), SUCH AS DRONES, AT CLOSE PROXIMITY (INCLUDING WITHIN 100 FEET), AND YOU RELEASE ANY UAV OPERATORS THAT THE CITY MAY HIRE FOR THIS EVENT FROM ANY LIABILITY WHATSOEVER OF ANY NATURE. DO NOT ENTER THIS EVENT IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO BE SUBJECT TO THE FOREGOING.