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Wawa Salmon Derby Incorporated
P.O. Box 1068
Wawa Ontario, P0S 1K0
(705) 856- 4488

2024 RULES AND REGULATIONS

The Wawa Salmon Derby Incorporated and any proprietary right such as promotion, sponsorship or advertising belongs to and is the property of the Wawa Salmon Derby Incorporated. The rules and regulations for the Wawa Salmon Derby are governed by the Board of Directors (hereinafter referred to as “Derby Officials”) of the Wawa Salmon Derby Incorporated.

To make this a safe and successful event (REMEMBER TO MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING)

DAY AND FISHING TIMES

1. Time of Derby will be 5:00 pm Friday to 1:00 pm Sunday.
2. In the event of unsafe weather conditions resulting in no salmon fishing on Lake Superior, prizes will be awarded by drawing team tag numbers.
3. All entered fish will be judged at the official Derby weigh-in station at Buck’s Marina. Fishing times and weigh-in times are as follows:
   
   DAY 1 FRIDAY OFFICIAL START OF DERBY 5:00 PM
   
   OFFICIAL STARTING PROCEDURE IS AS FOLLOWS:
   Tags will be given to the teams (1) one hour prior to the Derby start from the weigh-in/tag-in station. Boats will follow the Derby official boat down the river at approximately 4:20PM. All boats will proceed without passing down the river to Lake Superior and wait on Lake Superior along the area south of the mouth of the river. NO FISHING AT THIS TIME!! The official start of the Derby will be when the Official Boat blows its horn and fires the signal flare.
   
   DAY 2 - SAT - Tags will be handed out starting at 6:30 AM. You may proceed on your own once you receive your tag.
   
   DAY 3 - SUN - Tags will be handed out starting at 6:30 AM. You may proceed on your own once you receive your tag.
   
   

   DAY	FISHING TIMES	WEIGHT TIMES	PICK FISH UP BY
   FRIDAY	5:00 PM - 8:00 PM	5:00 PM - 9:00 PM	9:30 PM
   SATURDAY	6:30 AM - 8:00 PM	6:45 AM - 9:00 PM	9:30 PM
   SUNDAY	6:30 AM - 1:00 PM	6:45 AM - 2:00 PM	2:30 PM

   
   In the event of a change in the Derby fishing times, the weigh-in times will be one hour after the official lines up call and the deadline for picking up your fish will be one half hour (1/2) hour later. Any fish not picked up by the designated time will be donated.
   

4. All participants should be at Buck’s Marina by 3:00 pm on Friday to attend the PRE-DERBY meeting.
5. Fishing area will be on Lake Superior only. Exterior boundary will be an imaginary line from Minnekona Point across to Brule Harbour.
6. All entrance must be in possession of a valid Ontario fishing license and/or comply with OMNRF fishing regulations.
7. Eligible fish to be entered into the Wawa Salmon Derby will be Pink Coho and/or Chinook Salmon. There will be a special category for Lake Trout and prizes will be awarded for Lake Trout. The Lake Trout category has a 3 lb minimum entry weight. Lake Trout do not count in the total weight category and only three Lake Trout per day per team may be entered in the category. The mystery weight category has no minimum entry weight.
8. Eligible fish entered in the Salmon Derby must be freshly caught on a hook and line and retrieved by rod and reel from a boat within the said boundaries. All fish must be entered FRESH, not frozen, WHOLE, not gutted; no gaffed or foul-hooked fish will be eligible for prizes.
   
   
   REGISTRATION FEE
   
9. Registration fee is per two-person team. There may be more than one team per boat. A one-person team may enter; however, the full registration fee will apply. If a boat has a two-person team registered, a one-person team may enter for ½ the entry fee of a two-person team.
   
   
   JUDGING
   
10.  The winning fish will be judged according to weight in pounds and fractions of pounds as weighed on Official Derby Scales. The decision of the Derby Officials will be final. In the event of a tie for any of the prizes to be awarded, the first eligible fish to be weighed in will be the winner.
    
    
    SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
    
11. There is no minimum age for participants, however, all minors (under 18 years) must be with a parent or legal guardian at all times during the tournament.
12. All participants must wear life jackets or approved PFDs while travelling other than drifting or trolling speed. It is mandatory that minors wear PFDs at all time in the boat.
13. All boats operating after dark must have functioning running lights of the type specified in the Canadian Government’s Small Vessel Regulations.
14. If possible, all boats should be equipped with a “VHF” radio monitoring channel 68.
15. THE TAG-IN, TAG-OUT PROCEDURE – YOU MUST TAG-IN AND TAG-OUT!!  
    
    

    For safety sake, you tag in and tag out. The tag system is for your safety. When checking out before you go fishing, pick up your team number tag from the weigh-in/tag-in station. This tag allows your team to fish the Derby. You cannot enter caught fish without the tag. By returning the tag each time you return from fishing we know you are off the lake. FAILURE TO RETURN THE TAG EACH TIME WILL RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION!! When you wish to continue fishing, pick up your tag at the tag-in/weigh-in station.
    
    NOTE: IF YOUR TAG IS NOT RETURNED BY 2:00 PM SUNDAY, YOU WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY DISQUALIFIED FROM NEXT YEAR’S DERBY.
    
    THE LIFE WE SAVE COULD BE YOUR OWN
    

16. The no-wake zone is upriver of the red and white no-wake buoys or signs. Remember, you are legally responsible for damage to other boats caused by the wake of YOUR BOAT!
17. Derby Officials reserve the right to inspect boats at any time throughout the Derby under the boat owner’s supervision.
    
    LIABILITY WAIVER
    
18. Each entrant, upon registration who competes in the Derby, agrees to indemnify and save harmless Wawa Salmon Derby Incorporated, their agents, employees, co-sponsors and event volunteers from any liability, loss, damage, injury or death, and all actions, suits, proceedings, costs, charges and damages, expenses, claims or demands that arise from participating in this Derby. Each entrant agrees to have their mailing address and e-mail address kept on file for future Derby mailings. Entrants agree to co-operate with the press and agree that photographs taken during the Derby may be used without compensation or notice for the purpose of comments and promotion.
    
    
GENERAL RULES

19. All registered teams must prominently display their team numbers on the port side and starboard side of the registered boat and be in possession of their tag when fishing – see rule # 15 for tagging procedures.
20. No passing in the river is recommended. All participants must do their utmost to exhibit good sportsmanlike qualities.
21. NEW FOR 2024 Only Two lines are allowed in the water per team member on board. During the Derby, any non-registrant(s) on board is/are not allowed to have any lines in the water.
22. Each entrant must abide by the Rules and Regulations of the Wawa Salmon Derby Incorporated. Any serious infractions of the rules, as deemed by Derby Officials, will be penalized by one-pound deduction from the weight of the largest fish for each occurrence and automatic disqualification of team eligibility in the mystery weight prize category.
23. Whenever a team feels they have been fouled by another team, or wishes to indict another team in class action situation, the procedure for judicial satisfaction shall be as follows:
    1. The claimant team must come to the official headquarters immediately and tag out;
    2. The claimant team must notify the Officials in writing;
    3. Officials and claimant team will state case before Official judges;
    4. An “Insult Policy” of $25.00 will be surrendered by the claimant team to the judges. The $25.00 fee will be returned if the decision is in favour of the claimant. If the decision of the judges (which is final and binding) is in favour of the defendant team, then the $25.00 fee will be forfeited to Wawa Salmon Derby Incorporated and apologies in writing must be forthcoming by the claimant team.
24. Dockage: All registrants will be responsible for arranging their own dockage space with MUNICIPALITY OF WAWA at (705) 856-2244 prior to Derby times.
25. The direction(s) of all Derby Officials must be observed. The decision of the Derby Official will be final.
26. Prizes: On Monday following the Derby prizes: cheques can be picked up in person or will be mailed. If picked up in person you must have your team ID to receive your prize.
27. In order to cancel, you must notify the Wawa Salmon Derby Incorporated IN WRITING (10) ten calendar days before the Derby. A fee of $20.00 will be non-refundable.
28. The Derby Officials reserve the right to change the prize structure at any time. Any changes, additions or deletions to the official rules can be made by the Derby Officials at any time and should be announced at the 3:00 PM meeting on Friday.
    
    
    

Derby Headquarters is located at Bucks Marina.
For more information call 705-856-4488 or toll free 1-877-273-3319.