CAPTAIN'S MEETING
October 16, 2025
6:00PM
Cambridge American Legion
98 Sunburst Hwy
Cambridge, MD 21613​
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Free giveaways, prizes, 50-50 Raffles, and
T-Shirt Sales (open to the public)!
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If you are unable to join us, Captains packages can be picked up October 20-23 between 9am – 5pm at:
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​Bret Dean Agency
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505 Maryland Ave, Cambridge MD 21613.
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Shipping options are available till October 21st
PAYMENT & REGISTRATION
Cash, PayPal, Venmo or Credit Card
(MasterCard, Visa, Amex 3% surcharge)
Online Prices already include the 3% Fee
Check
Make payable to “Rock the Choptank”
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Venmo
@rockthechoptank
You can also register the following ways:
Drop off/Mail:
Bret Dean Agency
505 Maryland Ave Cambridge, MD 21613
Email: rockthechoptank@gmail.com
Online: www.rockthechoptank.com
ANGLER - ENTRY DETAILS
Registration/payment deadline: October 23, 2025, at 5 p.m.
$65 Fee is per Angler.
Includes a chance at $10,000* estimated payout (not including Calcutta’s) and Tournament Tee for the Captain(new the year) – There will be additional shirts for sale at the tournament events.
NOTE:
Tournament shirts will be available at a first come first serve basis.
Calcutta entries are per boat so there is only one fee for each Calcutta selected.
Kids (15 and Under) Pays top 3 places thanks to our sponsor Working Girl Charters / fishthechesapeake.com
Any boat fishing with children (15 and under) will be required to enter them into the Kids Calcutta ($25) OR as a regular Angler ($65).
Each kid must be entered in the tournament and more than one kid can place from the same boat.
Children registered in the Kids Calcutta cannot compete in the overall tournament; their designated fish will only go towards the kids Calcutta.
Children registered as regular anglers are eligible to compete in the overall tournament and regular rules apply.
PRIZES
Main Event
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Top 10 places(new) pay money and a total of 50 different ways to win including the Calcutta’s
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Total winnings will be based on the total number of registered Anglers. Last year we paid out over $25,000 in cash and prizes.
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Available Calcutta’s
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Listed on the entry form, the number of boats in each Calcutta will be posted on Facebook before the tournament and displayed the day of the tournament.
Free Calcutta's
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Sponsored by Gootee’s Marine and Bluewater Marine are included if the Registered Captains boat is fishing with one of the specified Manufacturers - Key West, May-Craft, G3, Yamaha or Mercury Marine.
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Payouts will be made within 7 days after the event.
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Prize Structure
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Top 10 Places win money with $10000* up for grabs and there are 50 different ways to win money, 19 different boats won money last year.
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Event Start/End Time
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Tournament Date is 10/25/25. Lines in at 7:00 a.m.; Lines out at 2:30 p.m. Scales will open at 2:00 p.m. ALL Boats must be in line or weighed in by 3:30 p.m.
Fishing Boundary
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Fishing will only be allowed in the Choptank River and its tributaries no farther to the Chesapeake Bay then buoy 10 to Cooks point, buoy 10 to Blackwalnut point.
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If entering the tournament from a port outside of the river you must check in with our committee boat when entering the river by calling 443-521-4936 or VHF 1. The Boat will be anchored at buoy 10. You must give your tournament number, captain’s name, and boat description. You can only begin fishing after receiving confirmation from the committee boat that they have seen you.
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Entry Fee/per Angler
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There is no limit to how many Anglers can fish per boat, all boats must be registered by 10/23/2025
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Any boat fishing with children (15 and under) will be required to enter them into the Kids Calcutta ($25) OR as a regular Angler ($65). All kids must be entered in one or the other.
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You can replace anglers at any time if it does not exceed the number of registered anglers. WE DO CHECK
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Refunds​
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If you must cancel for any reason partial refunds ($45) will be given for each main entry, all Calcutta entries will be refunded. You must cancel by October 20th.​
Docking​
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Docking - is available in the designated locations on a first-come basis. VIP docking will be provided/reserved for upper-level event sponsors
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Fishing License(s)
All Anglers or Boats must have a valid fishing license, or the boat must have a valid sticker. All participants must follow Maryland rules, all fish must be caught on hook and line. To help with conservation, no calling of fish, not even in a live well – boated fish stay boated. You can bring a fish onboard to be measured but it must be returned to the water if not being kept. All fish brought to the scale will be marked to keep them from being reused.
NOT ALLOWED
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NO RIDERS PERIOD including kids, everyone must be registered.​
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Returning to shore or to pick up registered anglers.
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Rafting up to or transferring from boat to boat.
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Planer boards.
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Outriggers.
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Down Riggers ARE allowed
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BOAT NUMBERS MUST BE DISPLAYED AT ALL TIMES.
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A maximum of 10 rods can be in the water at any given time.
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Suspicious behavior/Disqualification
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If any entry is suspicious, in any way, the tournament committee will determine the final decision on whether to disqualify an Angler and/or boat. This includes any behavior that reflects poorly on the tournament. The tournament committee reserves the right to board any boat for inspection.
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Polygraph Tester
If the tournament committee or any Angler finds doubt in an entry for any reason, a polygraph tester will be available. In the event polygraph testing is required, the winnings will be held until after the test.
Charter Boats and Professional Guides
Are Allowed in the tournament but you are only allowed to keep (1) fish per registered angler. You may not keep a fish for the mate and captain unless they are registered.
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RULES & INFORMATION
WEIGH IN
Will be at Long Wharf Park and only at the designated location. Locations will be marked and provided on a map included in the captain’s bag. Boats will enter the scales in a single file line waiting for the boat in front.
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Weigh in Procedure
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All fish must be placed in the provided basket and no calling at the scales will be allowed for boats with more than 4 fish.
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It is your responsibility to put your largest fish by weight in the basket. It is recommended that you use some sort of scale to determine your largest fish, your scale will read differently than ours. Our scales are the official scale – no arguing weight.
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We will be checking for any unusual objects in the mouth or the stomach of each fish. DON’T BECOME FAMOUS
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If fishing with kids that are in the kids Calcutta their fish must be placed in a different basket because it’s a different category.
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Once the fish are handed to the weigh-in personnel then that is considered your entry, there will be no switching at that time.
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After weighing your fish, you will be given a receipt for the weight of each of your fish. We will automatically pair your largest fish together.
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No alcoholic beverages allowed in the weigh-in area.
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Only 2 participants from each boat are allowed in the weigh in area at any given time unless accompanied by a kid/s.
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No hanging around the scales once you have completed the weigh-in process.​
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No food will be provided this year so plan accordingly.
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Qualifying fish requirements
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Qualifying fish must be brought to the scales by boat. The only exception will be for boats that experience a mechanical failure. The tournament committee must be notified at the time of the failure. In this circumstance fish can be brought by vehicle.
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Qualifying Entry
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ONLY FISH MEASURING BETWEEN 19”- 24” will be allowed per Maryland rules. Each winning entry will be determined by the weight of 2 fish, In the event of a tie the winner will be decided by the length of fish weighed then time weighed in.
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Maximum number of fish
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A maximum of 4 fish can be brought to the scales regardless of the number of anglers on the boat. If you are fishing with a kid or kids that are entered into the kids Calcutta, you can bring 1 extra fish for each kid that is entered. If a kid is fishing as a regular angler, then you are only allowed to bring a total of 4 fish to the scale.
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Ex: 5 adults entered in the main tournament w/ 2 kids entered in the kids Calcutta for a total of 7 anglers = 6 fish are allowed to the scales.
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Ex 2: 5 adults with 2 kids all fishing in the main tournament = 4 fish allowed to the scales.
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Measuring a fish
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Tip of closed mouth to tip of tail to the 16th of an inch.
CALCUTTA ENTRIES
(PER BOAT)
75% is paid out to each Calcutta 25% is retained for donations and tournament expenses - See entry form for the different level amounts that are available.​
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​2 Fish -
Largest 2 Fish by weight per boat​
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3 Fish –
Largest 3 fish by weight per boat
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4 Fish -
Largest 4 Fish by weight per boat
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Last Place -
The smallest 2 fish entry by weight last year was worth over $1200. The tie breaker is the smallest combined length; it can be fish that’s a part of the overall tournament.
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Catch N Release -
Single Largest Fish. Anglers in the catch n release will be responsible for entering their catch by using the iAngler App on our provided ruler. You will be required to add an object into the picture of the fish on the day of the tournament. That object will be emailed/text to you the night before the tournament. You can fish both the main tournament as well as the catch n release BUT ONLY FISH OVER 24” WILL COUNT. You must include your email for the iAngler app. The winner will be determined by the largest fish measured, a tie will be decided by the time it was caught.
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Kids Calcutta (15 and under) –
Single Fish ($500 guaranteed thanks to Working Girl Charters) Pays top 3 places. More than one kid can place per boat and the kids entry must be placed in a separate bucket.
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Ladies –
Largest 2 fish stringer by weight, can be part of the main entry.
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Mid Shore Fishing Club / Wade Kenney Foundation (open to all) –
Largest 2 Fish Stringer, pays 50% of the pot 50% Donated to the Foundations
Free Calcutta's –
Largest 2 fish stringer, you can only win one category.
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May Craft - $250 Sponsored by Gootee’s Marine
G3 Boats - $250 Sponsored by Gootee’s Marine
Key West - $250 Sponsored by Gootee’s Marine
Yamaha - $500 Sponsored by Gootee’s Marine
Mercury Outboard - $500 Sponsored by Bluewater Marine
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Chuck Budd Champion Angler (FREE)
Must Be From Dorchester County Presented by the Budd family pays $500
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RISKS & WAIVERS
Tournament participants accept the risks and dangers involved in such an activity. They acknowledge that unanticipated and/or unexpected dangers may occur. Participants agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Rock The Choptank, it’s officers, sponsors, volunteers and employees from any all liability for any: claim, loss, injury, damage, demands, actions, chooses in action, costs, accidents, libel, slander, negligence and/or death suffered by any member, family, crew, boat and/or other persons with may occur during their participation in the Tournament or Rock The Choptank sponsored activity.​
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Weather​
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Captains, crews and all Anglers enter and participate in this tournament at their own risk. Captains and crews must make their own judgement whether to fish under the prevailing weather conditions based on the size and seaworthiness of their boat, their seamanship skills and other factors. The tournament committee reserves the right to reschedule the tournament in the event of bad weather.​
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Bad Weather Date: Sunday October 26nd all times remain the same
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Tournament Committee​​
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In the event of a mechanical failure or other emergency needs the day of the tournament, the tournament committee member(s) can be reached on
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VHF Channel 1 or
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Phone - 410.463.1822 or 443-669-6017​​​
