SHARKATHON 2009
Photo Rules & Requirements
1) There will be a MINIMUM REQUIRED 5 MEGAPIXEL camera with working flash to submit an entry. There will be no catch entries accepted from cell phones. The camera must have a removable memory card. Pictures captured on video cameras will not be accepted.
2) Cameras must have the correct time and date set and be set at maximum resolution to provide as much detail in the photo as possible. It is the angler’s responsibility to have enough capacity with their camera to take all the required photos during the tournament. DELETE ALL PICTURES FROM YOUR DATA CARD PRIOR TO THE EVENT. Bring extra data cards and extra batteries. A back up camera is a good idea. Do not delete pictures taken during the event. Sharkathon provides several multi-card readers for catch submissions, it is still the anglers responsibility to bring a reader, cables, and whatever software is used to extract their photos at home as a backup in case there is some problem with downloading the photos at the awards location. If a picture is not able to be downloaded to the Sharkathon computer network, the submission will not count.
3) Measurements needed for Shark submissions are total length and fork length. All other fish is total length with rays being measured from wingtip to wingtip, photographs of rays should be taken from the ray’s tail with the angler near the ray’s head.
4) THREE photos are required for a shark submission
a) A photo containing the Sharkathon ruler, shark and angler from a 90 degree angle,
b) A photo of the total length measurement using the 120 inch ruler,
c) A photo of the fork length measurement using the 120 inch ruler.
Photos for all other fish must contain the Sharkathon ruler for scale and or measurement.
5) All measurements over 4’ must be taken with the 120 inch ruler which is in the packet provided. The Sharkathon ruler is for measurements under 4 feet and scale in the photographs only. Do not use the Sharkathon ruler to measure a shark over 4 feet.
6) The measurements must be as accurate as possible and all winning entries will be verified. Keep the ruler straight at all times and do not follow the curve of the shark while measuring. Hold the ruler straight and tight while measuring.
7) If the total length and (if applicable) fork length cannot be verified within the photos required it will be disqualified. Make sure that your measurements are as accurate as possible and your pictures capture the act of accurately measuring the catch. It is the angler’s responsibility to make sure that the photographer takes accurate and precise photos as per Sharkathon rules & requirements. If you catch a good sized shark take photos of the whole process to help with verification.
8) When taking the Angler/Shark/Sharkathon Ruler photo be certain that the Sharkathon ruler is held straight and tight and lined up on the length of the shark. Hold the ruler in front of and touching the dorsal fin but be careful not to flex the ruler against it. Please refer to the illustration below for an example of what we expect the photo to look like. If you do not observe these rules and the entire ruler and shark
are not visible in the photo it will not be accepted.
9) Hold the Shark straight before taking a photo. Curved tails or pictures taken at angles other than 90 degrees can not be verified. When taking pictures of sharks, have the photographer and the angler kneel down on their knees and take the photo. Shark photos taken from a standing position are difficult to verify.
10) Redfish, Trout, Tarpon and other fish species should use the Sharkathon ruler to measure the catch and take a photo of the fish either on top of the ruler or with the ruler held tight on the fish to provide scale in the photograph. Any photo taken showing measurement of non-shark catches must have a straight 6 inch portion of the ruler visible in the photo. The entire ruler cannot be hidden under the fish. Anything over 48 inches use the 120 inch ruler provided within your packet to measure the fish. If the catch is over 4 feet long, the angler must take a picture holding the Sharkathon ruler against the fish to provide scale along the longest measurement. For example, with a stingray the ruler must be held against the fish from wingtip to wingtip, and have the angler standing in front of or away from the tail and shoot the picture of the stingray from the rear.
11) Rules for the $10,000.00 largest shark over 10 feet follow the guidelines of the Sharkathon rules, with the addition that there must be 2 witnesses to the catch. A solo fisherman cannot submit a shark for the $10,000 prize and qualify without 2 witnesses whom are willing to undergo a polygraph test for verification. A solo fisherman can submit an entry for the Sharkathon divisions as long as all of the photo requirements are met. We do not recommend fishing solo due to the inherent risks of shark fishing and the complications of capturing an adequate entry photograph. If you catch a shark over 10 feet long you should take plenty of adequate photos and also video if your digital camera has that option or if you have a video camera with you. Please refer to the additional sheet included in your packet for the exact rules and requirements for the $10K-10+ footer promotion.