1. All entries (fish and abalone) must be taken while freediving without any assistance (no other person can touch spear or abalone iron throughout entire process).

2. Diving can be from shore or from kayak or dive board. No motorized vessels or mothershipping or SCUBA.

3. Photographic evidence of fish/abalone (total length) against a measuring device must be provided. Pictures are required to show the MOUTH CLOSED of the fish on a Hawg Trough or similar measuring board. This is in accordance with DFG measuring standards. Multiple pics can be submitted to show mouth closed and touching end of trough (if need be due to rigor mortis making squeezing mouth shut necessary). Any entries not in compliance are subject to a penalty of reduction of size or DQ of entry for flagrant and/or repeated offenses at discretion of DOTY committee. Pictures of fish need to be taken BEFORE scaling/gutting etc. for both ID and accuracy of measurement purposes. See pics provided in Dive Zone for examples of good and bad submissions.

4. Abalone can be measured with ab gauge/calipers/hawgtrough and knife (see pics for examples). Ab measurements will be rounded down to the nearest quarter inch.

For example:
8.9" ab --> entered as 8.75"
9" ab --> entered as 9"
9.1" ab --> entered as 9"
9.2" ab --> entered as 9"
9.3" ab --> entered as 9.25"
9.4" ab --> entered as 9.25"
9.5" ab --> entered as 9.5"
& so forth
Keep your PB shell. In event of tie at end of year, shells will be calipered as a tie breaker.

5. The pool runs from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012. Fish/abalone taken prior to payment of entry fees are ineligible.

6. All fish/abalone entered must be taken south of the California/Oregon border and north of the southern border of Monterey County.

7. The pool covers the following categories: Lingcod, Cabezon, Greenling, Blue Rockfish, Black RockFish, Gopher Rockfish/Black&Yellow Rockfish/China RockFish, Kelp Rockfish, Grass RockFish, Copper RockFish, Vermillion RockFish, Olive RockFish, Calico Bass, MonkeyFace Prickleback, Halibut (California and Pacific), Perch (all kinds), Sheepshead, White SeaBass, Red Abalone.

8. Only current members who joined NCKA before 1/1/2012 are eligible to compete for prizes. New members who join NCKA after 1/1/2012 can compete for free, but will NOT be eligible to win any prizes...just bragging rights.

9. The biggest fish/abalone from each diver's categories will be used towards the diver’s total points. Entries in all 18 categories will count towards each diver's total points.

10. Entries must be posted within 2 weeks of being taken and photographed. No "hoarding" of entries.

11. ALL DFG rules must be followed 100%. Period. Any breaking of any DFG rules will result in the entry being disqualified and public ridicule.

12. If you don't like the rules and don't want to play, don't! Diving is fun, and this is meant to be fun between friends as well. We all have bigger and better things to argue/stress/worry about.

13. AOTY is DIFFERENT than DOTY. Hook and line fishing is DIFFERENT than freediving/spearfishing. The rules for both contests are DIFFERENT. Discussion of rules is encouraged, and will be considered and evaluated for use in future year DOTYs. NO CHANGES to rules will take place for 2012 DOTY.

14. Three man 2012 DOTY committee of fuzz, Rick and BigJim have final say over any and all issues/arguments/controversies.