STAR 2017

• STAR Florida presented by Yamaha is a Catch & Photo fishing competition designed to educate the general public about the importance of conservation of Florida’s marine resources.
• STAR is a tool for CCA to significantly increase awareness of our mission to conserve and protect Florida’s marine resources, as well as increase our strength with various councils and fisheries commissions as an advocacy voice for the recreational angler.
• CCA’ Florida’s membership increased by 63.1% from January 1, 2015 (9,879) – May 31, 2016 (16,116).
• By promoting STAR and membership in CCA, CCA Florida will aid in the participation of the public becoming good stewards of our fishery, develop our youth into long time stewards of our marine environment, recruit assistance with our habitat programs and educate the public on fish handling techniques as well as the collection of significant scientific data.
• Membership revenue will be used to support habitat restoration projects and other habitat related projects.
• STAR revenue will be used for implementation of competition, scholarships, prizes and advertising.
• STAR Format encourages sportsmen and sportswomen of all ages and skill levels to enjoy fishing, protect and conserve Florida’s fishery resources for future viability and availability for all recreational anglers.
• All STAR participants should develop a heightened appreciation for the challenges facing Florida’s fishery resources and should thereby develop a newfound awareness of the efforts needed to preserve them.
• Kick-off is sunrise on Saturday, May 27, 2017, Memorial Day weekend and ends at 5 p.m., September 4, 2017 , Labor Day offering participants a total of 101 fishing days.
• $35.00 STAR entry fee if CCA member.  $65.00 if non-member with $30.00 for CCA membership. New Tide Members are FREE.  New Tide membership is $10.00. New Tide members are ages 6 to 17.
• $500,000 in prizes offered
• STAR is a Catch Photo competition, all fish entries, except for Lionfish or fish that have special FWC handling requirements must be photographed on the 2016 STAR official measuring device with either a digital camera and uploaded via the STAR website or by using the STAR Smart phone app which can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play.
• 2017 STAR is statewide and includes both the east & west coast and the upper Keys.
• More than 150 specially tagged redfish (on average 4 fish per coastal county) make up the signature division, STAR Tagged Redfish.
• Tagged redfish for the west coast are hatchery raised but east coast fish are caught on the east coast tagged and released.Tagged Redfish are released in advance of the tournament’s starting date.
• CCA Florida releases tagged redfish in state waters from the Panhandle to southern boundary of Everglades National Park and from the Georgia/Florida border down to Homestead and the upper Keys. The tagged fish are released along the west and east coasts of Florida according to documented demographics which consist of population, fishing licenses purchased and other geographic features.
• New for 2017 Youth anglers may participate in the Tagged Redfish Division for two Carolina Skiff 16 JVXCC with a 40hp Yamaha and Road King trailer.First Eight (6 adults & 2 youth) tagged redfish winners will claim either a brand new GMC truck from Conley Buick GMC or boat, motor and trailer package of either a Contender 22 Sport, Pathfinder 2200 TRS, Maverick 17 HPX-S or Sea Hunt 225 Ultra or Carolina Skiff 21 Sport & Fish and for Youth anglers a Carolina Skiff 16 JVX CC all powered by Yamaha.
• NEW FOR 2017: Qualified winning tagged Redfish angler will have their choice of tagged redfish prizes at the time of their win.  Example: first qualified adult winner will have their choice of all six prizes.
• Harvest of tagged redfish is not required. Fish with tag must be photographed on 2017 official measuring device, tag is to be clipped close to the skin and clipped portion is to be kept for verification. All other requirements must be followed.
• Open inshore & offshore divisions with the eligible species being spotted trout, Snook, Sheepshead, Cobia, Dolphin (Mahi, Mahi) and Kingfish.  Fish only need to be of legal minimum length to qualify for entry in STAR.
• First place in the OPEN division species category of spotted trout, Snook, Sheepshead, Cobia, Dolphin and Kingfish will each take home a boat, motor and trailer, an All-terrain vehicle or prize of equal value.
• 2nd thru 6th place winner in each species category of the Open division.
• Ladies, Fly and Kayak division with first thru sixth place winners with eligible species of spotted trout, Snook, Sheepshead, Cobia, Dolphin and Kingfish and non-tagged redfish.
• The Youth Scholarship Division will provide up to $100,000 in college scholarships to a Florida college or vocational school with two $25,000 scholarships and ten $5,000 scholarships.
• The Youth Scholarship Division: spotted trout, Snook, Sheepshead, Cobia, Dolphin, Kingfish, Ladyfish or Jack Crevalle and non-tagged redfish are the eligible species for the drawing of the winners.
• FREE entry to participant’s ages 6 – 17 who are current New Tide CCA members.
• The Conservation Division will have each registered angler entering all fish caught no matter what species or size.  This effort will provide a significant amount of catch data information that will be used by the conservation community to make science based decisions on habitat management, stock assessment and other relevant issues. Winner will be determined by the most data collected by an angler.  There will be a first, second and third place winner.
• Special Lionfish Division will award the top 3 participants who harvest the greatest number of Lionfish during the 101 day tournament. This division can have unlimited daily entries and harvested fish may be photographed all together in one photo which must include the 2017 official measuring device.  Lionfish Division winners may win in one other division.
• The Yamaha Professional Guides division will award the first captain who is a CCA member & registered for STAR who guides his client (must be CCA member & registered for STAR) to a tagged redfish a Yamaha 150hp motor.  In addition, licensed charter captains have the ability to win first, second and third place prizes based on the greatest number of clients they have register for the tournament.
• NEW The Trash Division will award 1st, 2nd, 3rd. Photo entry must consist of at least a 5 gallon bucket of garbage gathered while on the water and include the 2017 STAR official measuring device. Winner will be determined by a drawing.
• Over 3,255 participants in 2015 and in 2016 there were 5,149, each had an opportunity to win their share of $500,000 in prizes making STAR Florida’s largest saltwater fishing competition.  We anticipate over 7,500 in 2017.
• Tagged Redfish:  Angler must be a CCA member and registered for STAR BEFORE catching the STAR tagged redfish.  Angler needs to take photo of tagged redfish with tag visible and submit according to rules.  Anglers who have caught a STAR tagged redfish will be required to call catch to tournament director within 2 hours of landing the fish. The angler will be required to clip the tag, keeping tag to present to Tournament Director or committee member at the nearest Distribution location within 24 hours of call notification. Angler is NOT required to keep the tagged redfish as long as they have taken the photo of the fish on the official measuring device.  After verification of STAR tag, angler must take and pass a polygraph test within the next 72 hours to confirm winning status.   Angler may harvest the fish if they wish but harvest of STAR tagged redfish is NOT required.  Any harvest of a STAR tagged redfish must meet the slot requirements as required by current state law. If a tagged redfish is harvested that does not meet the state requirements the fish will be disqualified.
• Species with Minimum Size Requirements:
  • Spotted Trout:  15 inches using pinched-tail measurement method
  • Snook:  28 inches using pinched-tail measurement method
  • Sheepshead:  12 inches using pinched-tail measurement method
  • Redfish:  18 inches using pinched-tail measurement method
  • Cobia:  33 inches to the fork of the tail
  • Dolphin: 20 inches to the fork of the tail
  • Kingfish:  24 inches to the fork of the tail
• Species with no Minimum Size Requirements:
  • Tagged redfish: no minimum or maximum size requirement as fish is not required to be harvested
  • Ladyfish:  No minimum size requirements.  Youth Division only
  • Jack Crevalle:  No minimum size requirements.  Youth Division only
  • Lionfish: No minimum size requirements.  Lionfish Division only
• For Conservation Division, all species of fish caught by STAR entrants are eligible, provided entries follow all STAR rules.  There are no minimum size requirements for The Conservation Division entries.
• To be eligible to win, a registered participant who is a CCA current member need only enter a photo of their species category or division catch on the “official” STAR measuring device which meets the FWC, state regulations and tournament rules via STAR”s smart phone application or upload to website.
• 2017 Official measuring devices will be available by May 20, 2017 at STAR Distribution locations.  Distribution locations will be marinas, tackle shops, outdoor related business and fishing resorts throughout the state. Distribution locations will be listed on website, brochure and receipt email for caught STAR tagged redfish entry.
• STAR participants will receive their 2017 Official measuring device for Free.
• Winners of STAR will not be determined by length or weight of their catch. Winners of each category or division except for the tagged redfish, conservation, Lionfish and guides division will be determined by a drawing from all