1. PARTICIPANTS AND ELIGIBILITY
Participation in each tournament is open to Everyone.

 

2. INSURANCE & LIABILITY
It is the sole responsibility of the boat owner to carry and have proof of adequate public liability insurance covering them and passengers. All contestants are required to sign a waiver absolving the tournament sponsors, co-sponsors and their employees from any responsibility for any damage or personal injury sustained as a result of their participation in the tournament or related activities.
 

3. SAFETY
Boating safety must be observed at all times during practice and competition. A U.S. Coast Guard approved life preserver must be on and fastened anytime the combustible engine is operative and the kill switch lanyard must be attached to the driver during competition day. It is suggested that this be practiced during any practice day, but will be enforced only on competition day. A violation during a competition will result in a disqualification.

 

4. SPORTSMANSHIP
All teams are expected to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, safety, and conservation. Any team who displays poor sportsmanship, violates these rules, or any Department of Fish and Game, state or local laws, or brings unfavorable publicity to the sport of bass fishing is subject to disqualification upon the tournament director’s discretion. The tournament director’s decision is final.

 

5. BOATS AND MOTORS
There is no horsepower limit; however, no engine may exceed the BIA horsepower rating for the boat on which it is used. All boats must meet US Coast Guard and state regulations. All boats must have an emergency kill switch. All boats must have lights required by the Coast Guard. Lights must be in and turned on prior to safe light.  
 

6. TACKLE AND EQUIPMENT
All fish must be caught in a legal sporting manner. Intentional snagging of fish will not be allowed. Trolling with the aid of combustion or electric motors is not permitted. Only artificial lures may be used. No live bait or prepared bait is permitted with the exception of pork rinds or mammals hide. Liquid fish attractants are allowed. Only one (1) rod per angler may be used at any one time. Other rods may be in the boat and ready for use, however, every cast and retrieve must be completed before another cast is made. Rods may not exceed more than eight feet in length. The official measuring board for S F B is the Golden Rule (flat board). The use of electronic fish tracking equipment including underwater cameras are not allowed in  competition.

 

7. PROTEST
All protests must be submitted verbally and then in writing no later than 15 minutes after the tournament officials close the scales. This means once the tournament is over, it’s over. You must have at least one witness to confirm the violation other than your non-boater. The Tournament Director will hear protests and the decisions of the Tournament Director will be final.  You may however use photographs with date stamps….i.e. cell phones..to assist in your protest in lieu of a second party, boat.  The director’s decision will be final based upon the additional information provided.

 

8. SCORING
Each team may weigh-in five (5) fish per day with a minimum of 11 inches in length  Fish will be measured on a Golden Rule (flat board) with the mouth closed. A penalty of .50 per dead fish will be deducted from the total weight. Any team bringing more than five (5) fish to the scales will be disqualified. Tournament standings will be determined by the total weight for the competition days of the tournament. Each team is required to leave from and return to a specified checkpoint. You must be on land by check in time. Any team returning to the checkpoint late will be disqualified. Once you hand your fish to the weigh master, the bass will be weighed and the contestant(s) are done for the day. You are responsible for letting the weigh master know if you are interested in weighing in a big bass for the event.
 

9. CULLING FISH
It is the responsibility of each team to keep no more than a maximum of a legal 5 fish limit in a live well. If more than the legal limit is present in the live well during the event you will be subject to disqualification. You cannot cull a dead fish. You cannot cull in the host marina unless fishing is permitted in the host marina.  You cannot cull a fish after checking in at the end of the event.  Culling after you have checked in with the check-in boat will result in a disqualification.

 

10. PERMITTED FISHING WATERS
No fishing is allowed within 100 feet of the launch ramp of the host marina. All fishing must be done from a previously inspected boat. Boats may not be trailered to and from weigh-in during tournament hours unless under the direction of the tournament director. No fishing is allowed within 25 yards of a non-anchored tournament boat without that boat’s permission unless specified during the tournament meeting by the tournament director. No fishing is allowed within 50 yards of another anchored or tied tournament boat with the trolling motor out of the water without the anchored boat’s permission. Both team partners must fish from the same boat. Only contestants may be in the boat during the tournament hours unless arranged with the tournament director prior to the start of the event. Having a non-contestant sit in a hole for you (save your spot) will not be tolerated. Contestants cannot leave a boat to land a fish. Navigable waters are the only waters to be fished during the tournament. Contestants must be able to drive the boat into the fishing area without getting out of the boat. The practice of restricting the natural movement of fish by any means such as, but not limited to, the use of nets, tanks, or dams will not be tolerated and will result in disqualification. Restricting the access to waters normally accessible by all anglers, by any means such as, but not limited to the falling of trees or the construction of obstructions will not be allowed and will result in disqualification.
 

11. CONSERVATION
Conservation and safety is the primary concern of S F B Adequate live wells are mandatory on each boat and must provide adequate aeration to maintain fish in good condition. Live wells will be checked before alowwing you to blast off.

 

12. ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND DRUGS
At no time during tournament hours are any alcoholic beverages or drugs other than prescription allowed in the boat or to be consumed while on the water. All local, state and lake laws will be enforced.

 

13. TIE BREAKERS
If  two teams have the same weight at the end of the tournament, the big fish will break the tie. Big fish must be marked prior to handing it to the weigh master.  It is the anglers responsibility to ask to weigh a big bass in at every event.  No one other than the weigh master or tournament official may handle the fish after the bag is handed to the weigh master.



14. END OF YEAR POINTS
Teams will fish 6 tournaments with the lowest of the 6 dropped. points will be given in order of placing with increments of 2. ex 1st place 100 2nd place 98 3rd place 96. The top 5 teams will recieve awards along with big bass of the year.

15. BLAST OFF
Blast off order is done in order of sign up.

16. BREAK DOWNS
In the event of a mechanical failure (boat is inoperable) anglers may have their catch of the day weighted and counted by one of the following methods ONLY: 1) Boat is towed to the weigh-in site by another boat; 2) One partner may take both anglers catches (clearly marked) and board another competitors’ boat only for a ride to weigh-in.  A competitor must not allow any bass caught by them to be counted on the score of another competitor. Mechanical failure does not increase established weigh-in times.