I don’t wish to stir the pot, but I wish to clarify the Charter Captain Rule.
- This rule has been in place for the Duke of Fluke since 2017 and was never an issue, no one ever raised a concern about it, thus different scenarios were never presented. Since I have taken over the Duke of Fluke and accepted these traditional rules, I am trying to work through them since the exclusion of charter captains have become a significant issue for 2024.
- My intention is to get as many people to participate in the Duke of Fluke as possible. Heck, that is all I have ever done, no matter if it was the AllPro Fishing Expo Shows, charters, charity work, community outreach, making an investment in a shop on the water, etc. I have always tried to consider what we could do differently and what more we could bring to the fishing community.
The spirit of the rule was to help provide a level playing field for this community event that draws hundreds of fishermen. The rule was put into place after an excellent charter captain won the Duke of Fluke (my understanding) two times in a row, and others placed. They were concerned that people would start to avoid the tournament if charter captains continued to win and place in the tournament. We have all seen what has occurred with tournaments over the years on Long Island, and it’s not good.
I put together a committee of experienced people who have run tournaments and who are involved in fishing clubs to assist me as we develop the new Duke of Fluke of Long Island. As a charter captain myself, I was trying to find a way to make it work for 2024, but since there were no complaints in prior years, I thought my efforts should be focused somewhere else. I understood the spirit of the rule, and actually think it’s a good rule. But that doesn’t mean we can’t do something to get Charter Captains involved in the future. Unfortunately, the paperwork has been printed, a ton of money has already been invested, lawyers have been paid and for 2024, the Charter Captain rule will stand.
However, charter captains can still fish the tournament thanks to this rule…
- A charter captain is permitted to fish on another person’s boat, as long as they do not captain that boat or provide technology/data, and does not receive compensation in any format. Now, I’m an honest guy, I know people will try to skirt the spirit of the rule, and those who do, are just ruining it for themselves and others, and shame on you. These are the very same people who complain but they have no problem thinking they will get one over on the tournament and others, but meanwhile they are just hurting themselves and their local fishing community.
- There is a grey line here that I’m going to clarify. If you are a charter captain, and you want to take your family out fishing and participate in the tournament, that is fine. I don’t want to discourage spending the day with your family. Heck, this is a family event. I will require that you inform us of this so that we can confirm the arrangements so that people aren’t complaining that they saw XYZ boat fishing.
- My final judgment is the final say when it comes to who participates under what circumstances. If I clear it, then it’s fine. If you are a charter captain or a part-time captain, and have a unique situation and you bring it to my attention, and I determine that it doesn’t violate the rules, or the spirit of the event, then I am going to allow it. For those who think I may play any favoritism, well, then you don’t know me. Ask my wife or my store manager Lee, I am a private person, I don’t have “friends”, I work, and then I work some more. That is what I do. So I have zero allegiances to anyone. If I make the decision to permit a situation, then I had good reason to do that.
My email is [email protected] if you have a unique situation that you believe fits within the rules, or the spirit of the rule, reach out to me and let me make a determination.
