2024 Tristate Skindivers Membership & Leaderboard Admission

2024 Tristate Skindivers membership and admission to 2024 Tristate Leaderboard Tournament. 

By purchasing this membership you agree to our terms and conditions and agree to submit a signed waiver form. 

2024 Tristate Leaderboard Rules

1. All participants must adhere to Tristate Skindivers’ Community rules and guidelines in addition the Tristate Skindivers leaderboard rules found here. Failure to comply with any of the club rules or guidelines may result in disciplinary action, up to and including permanent expulsion from the club.

2. Freedive spearfishing ONLY. Freediving is a type of underwater diving in which the diver holds their breath and descends into the water without the use of any breathing equipment, such as scuba tanks or surface-supplied air.

3. No hook and line / rod & reel fishing allowed.

4. All participants must have a dive buddy as a witness while diving. It is not permitted to dive alone.

5. All members encouraged to take a level 1 freediving safety course or at the very least complete Immersion Freediving’s free online safety course here: https://freedivingsafety.com/ .

6. For all inshore species (Bluefish, Scup, Tautog, Black Sea bass, Fluke, Sheepshead and Triggerfish), fish must be weighed on dry land with a certified scale. Participants may use their own certified scale or visit a local tackle shop with an up-to-date certified scale. Red Tide Spearfishing is offering the club a certified scale for $59.95. Registered participants can avail a 15% discount on Red Tides entire site by visiting the member Facebook page.

7. For Bluewater species (Mahi Mahi, Wahoo, Yellowfin Tuna, Bigeye Tuna, Albacore Tuna), the fish must be measured by a SOFT tape measure instead of weight. Measure from the tip of the snout to the fork in the tail to the closest quarter of an inch. Tape must be laid flat over the fish with clear video from tip to tip.

8. For inshore species, spearos may not receive any assistance from the boat or crew while dispatching their harvest while in the water. However, spearos may have a boat person hand-off a second unloaded gun for a second shot. A fish may be gaffed by a boat person after it is dispatched.

   1. In a Bluewater scenario, a diver can be helped with a second shot from a dive buddy to secure a fish and land it.

9. Each state has an independent set of local laws and regulations. Be familiar with the local laws and regulations and obey all.

10. Night spearfishing is not allowed. Any fish taken after the precise time of sunset will be disqualified.

11. All fish must be taken within recreational bag limits, with no commercial fish allowed.

12. Participants may harvest fish, ONLY the following 7 states: ME, NH, MA, RI, CT, NY, or NJ.

13. Weigh-in Submission Protocol: All weigh-ins must be submitted via video recording. Participants are required to clearly display; the time & date on a smart phone or dive watch, the 2024 certification stamp or sticker on the scale, and the tare or zero button being pushed with the hook is in the scale (if a hanging style scale). The video must include a clear shot of the entire fish with the weight displayed on the scale in the frame. The submitter must announce their first and last name, the fish species, whether this was a polespear or Speargun harvest, the date of harvest, the weight of the fish being submitted, the state in which the fish was harvested from, and the first & last name of the witness dive buddy. Both the witness and the submitter must be show on video during the submission.

    1. All leaderboard entries must be submitted within one week (7 days) of harvest.

    2. For inshore species to overtake the lead, it must weigh at least 1/10 of a pound more than the current leader. No ties will be accepted. If the scale used is in ounces, it will be rounded down to the nearest 1/10 of a pound. For a Bluewater fish to be accepted it must be a half-inch longer than the current standing.

10. All entries must be summited in a post on either: Tristateskindivers.com/leaderboard-submission, Facebook; in the group Tristate Leaderboard Spearfishing Tournament page, Posted on Instagram with the tag @Tristateleaderboard. 

Tristate Skindivers Community Guidelines and Rules

1. Safety is our top priority:

• Always dive with a buddy and never dive alone.

• You must be 18 years of age or older for membership eligibility.

• You must sign the Tristate Skindivers Liability waver for club eligibility.

• All members encouraged to take a level 1 freediving safety course or at the very least complete Immersion Freediving’s free online safety course here: https://freedivingsafety.com/ .

• Before every dive, perform a safety check on your gear.

• Do not dive in high traffic areas & always give a comfortable distance to other boaters.

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2. Follow all state and local regulations:

• Each state has an independent set of local laws and regulations. Be familiar with your local laws and regulations and obey all.

• Spearfishing is a selective and sustainable method of fishing, and we encourage our members to practice responsible fishing.

• Respect the marine environment and do not harm any marine life unnecessarily.

• Remove all trash and waste that was brought into the marine environment regardless of who left it.

3. Respect for other fishermen:

• Treat fellow spearos and other fishermen with respect and kindness.

• Help and assist each other’s on the water that may be in distress or in need of help.

• Do not disturb or interfere with others fishing an area.

4. Ethical behavior:

• Do not cheat, lie, or misrepresent your catches.

• All fish must be caught according to local regulations, and within recreational bag limits.

• Follow all rules and regulations of the club and tournament.

5. Inclusivity:

• We welcome all individuals who share a passion for spearfishing, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, or background.

• Discrimination or hate speech of any kind will not be tolerated.

6. Sportsmanship:

• Maintain a positive attitude and good sportsmanship towards all members of the club and other participants.

• Congratulate fellow spearos on their catches, even if they are not your own.

• Do not engage in any unsportsmanlike conduct, such as trash talking, intimidation, or sabotage.

7. Communication:

• Members are encouraged to communicate openly and respectfully with each other and with club leadership.

• Club feedback and suggestions are always welcome, as long as they are constructive and respectful.

8. Compliance:

• Failure to comply with any of the club rules or guidelines may result in disciplinary action, up to and including permanent expulsion from the club.

• All members are expected to read, understand, and adhere to all club rules and guidelines.

• All members must sign and submit the Tristate Skindivers' Liability Release Form / Waiver for membership eligibly including the Leaderboard and all other tournaments. 

By adhering to these community guidelines and rules, we can create a safe, inclusive, and respectful community of passionate spearfishermen!