RULES, REGULATIONS AND CONTRACT
This tournament trail is open to all persons, both male and female, to participate as a team and are subject to these rules and regulations. Each person operating the combustion engine must be 18 years of age or older. Any adult choosing a minor as a partner assumes full responsibility for the minor. All state and local laws will apply.
1—POLYGRAPH FEE:
Everyone 18 years of age or older must pay an annual $10.00 Polygraph Fee.
2—SAFETY AND BOAT EQUIPMENT: Safe boating conduct must be observed at all times. Carelessness or unsafe operation of any boat will be grounds for disqualification. Each competitor is required to wear a Coast Guard approved life vest securely fastened when the combustion engine is running. Safety equipment adequate to pass Coast Guard regulations must be in the boat at all times. All boats are required to have FUNCTIONAL emergency cut-off devices (kill switches). All kill switches must be attached to the driver at all times when the combustion engine is running. Failure to abide by this rule will cause the team to be disqualified. Both the driver and the passenger who participate in boats equipped with engines exceeding the BIA horsepower rating will accept full responsibility for any and all personal injury or property damage (both personal and private) which may occur. Each boat must be equipped with an aerated live well with space adequate to maintain a tournament limit of fish. For your own protection, participants should have liability insurance coverage on their boat.
3—REGISTRATION: Competitors may register by phone, fax, mail or in person at the tournament site. Registration forms must be filled out completely and signed by both team members. Each competitor must check in at the tournament site at least one hour prior to "ooze off " time and have a boat check and rules briefing. Failure to check in may result in disqualification. Tournament fees are payable by cash or check and must be paid at the time of registration. NO REFUNDS will be given after registration and fee are received. Returned checks will constitute grounds for disqualification from future events and a $30 fee will be assessed for every returned check. Registration at the ramp will be Cash Only .
4—SPORTSMANSHIP: All competitors must show courtesy and good sportsmanship to other competitors and non-competitors alike. This includes crowding another competitor. Failure to do so will result in disqualification. Anyone under the influence of drugs or alcohol during the tournament hours will be disqualified. No firearms are permitted.
5—OFF LIMITS: There are no off limits periods for these tournaments.
6—TACKLE & FISHING METHODS: Only artificial lures may be used. Pork type lures and add-ons may also be used. All bass must be caught in a legal, live, conventional manner using a rod and reel. Each competitor may have only one rod in use at a time. TROLLING IS NOT ALLOWED.
7—TOURNAMENT HOURS: The hours of competition will be safe light as determined by the Tournament Director, until 3:00 p.m. Any variation of tournament hours will be announced prior to "ooze off."
8—"OOZE OFF " SEQUENCE: Boats will be started off using the "ooze off "method. This will be determined by when the entry and registration are received.
9—PERMITTED FISHING: Fishing is permitted any where on tournament waters, except within 50 yards of any marina (any business that sells gasoline), spillway locks, or another competitor. Other no-fishing areas will be announced at the morning rules briefing. Tournament competitors may drop markers 50 yards apart (10 boat lengths) in order to designate their protected waters provided the competitor placing the markers remains between the two markers. To protect a fishing area, markers must be out and an anchor and/or trolling down. Markers or any obstruction cannot be placed so as to block entry to any creek or canal. No competitors will have anyone "hole sit" or protect any fishing area.
10—EMERGENCIES: Competitors shall remain with their partner and in their boats at all times during the tournament hours, except in the event of sickness, call of nature, severe weather or other such hazards. One team member may momentarily exit the boat to refuel, retrieve lure, etc., repair boat; but not to land a fish or make the boat more accessible to fishing waters. If, for any reason, a team or team member leaves the tournament waters early, that team member or members bears the full responsibility for notify a tournament official. Failure to do so will result in disqualification.
11—WEIGH – IN: All boats must return to the tournament site to bring their catch to the scale to be weighed. Any team removing their boat from the water prior to weighing their catch will be disqualified. In the event of equipment failure, there are 2 ways to have your catch recorded:
A) Being towed by water leaving the catch in the live well.
B) Being transported by a pre-approved individual with the catch (one team member remains with the boat). Late penalties will apply also.
12—LATE PENALTY: Competitors who are not in the official check point area at the appointed time will be penalized at the rate of one (1) pound per minute late; to be deducted from the total weight for the day. Any competitor more than 15 minutes late will be disqualified. One (1) pound per minute penalty will also apply to the Big Bass Competition.
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