EFFECTIVE
8 January
2008
BENNING BASS CLUB
TOURNAMENT
RULES
I.
PURPOSE:
a.
The purpose of these rules
is to prescribe the procedures that will govern all club
tournaments.
b.
These rules are not
subject to protest or change.
c.
Interpretation of these
rules shall be left exclusively to the Tournament Committee, and their decisions
shall be final in all matters.
II.
TOURNAMENTS:
a.
Tournament Schedule will be determined by the Tournament Director & committee.
b.
The Tournament Director will
provide to the Executive Committee, for approval a tentative schedule of dates
the monthly tournaments will be held from Jan through Dec.
c.
The location of the monthly
tournaments will be determined by the Tournament Committee, approved by the
Executive Committee, and published by the Tournament
Director.
d.
The Tournament Director will
determine the check-in, start, and weigh-in time, type of tournament, launch
site and the size limit. This
information will be disseminated to the members at the regular club meeting
prior to the tournament date (s).
e.
The Tournament Director will
present the next years Tournament Schedule to the General Membership NLT than
the first meeting in December.
f.
The Tournament Director or
his direct representative will act as the official time keeper at all
tournaments, and will announce prior to start of the first
boat.
III.
REGISTRATION:
a.
Members will register for
the monthly tournament at the club meeting preceding the tournament or prior to
the launch of the tournament.
b.
Members who are unable to
attend the club meeting may notify any member, in advance of the meeting, to act
as his/her proxy and be included in the drawings and
pairings.
c.
The Tournament Director will
handle other late entries on a case by case basis.
IV.
TOURNAMENT PAIRING AND START
ORDER:
a.
All boater and no-boaters
names will be placed in separate containers.
b.
The first boater drawn will
be boat #1 and start first.
c.
Boater #1 will then draw a
no-boater as his/her partner.
d.
The no-boater partner in
boat #1 will then draw boater #2 who will start next.
e.
Boater #2 will then draw a
no-boater as his/her partner.
f.
This will continue until all
no-boaters are paired with a boater.
g.
Any remaining boater(s) will
be drawn as follows:
1)
The last no-boater partner
will draw a boater who will start next.
2)
This boater will draw the
next member who will have the option of fishing as a no-boater or boater. If the member elects to fish as a
boater, he will start after the last members drawn in paragraph (IV g1) above.
3)
This procedure will continue
until all members are drawn and assigned a starting
number.
h.
A member can only fish a
guest if there are enough boaters for all non-boaters to fish with prior to
tournament draw. Members may request to fish with a guest for no more than, and
not consecutively, two times per calendar year. Once the member has fished with a guest
two times, he must go through pairing sequence. If at that point the member
still has not been paired with a non-boater, he may request to fish a
guest.
1) If a member wants to fish a guest, he’ll
bring it up to the tournament director prior to the
draw
2) If the member has officially requested
to fish a guest, he will be skipped in the pairing process (if it is one of the
two allocated times). If all other lone boaters are paired and a late
registration is received, that guest will be bumped.
3)
If the member has gone through the drawing and then request to fish a
guest, the member that registers late will automatically be paired with the next
available boat, this could include bumping the guest of that member. However,
all attempts will be made to match him with a lone boater. All guests will be
locked into position at 1900 the night prior to a tournament. This does not take
into consideration that a broke boat on a two day tournament will still precede
over all guests.
4)
Guest will not be allowed to win any money from a tournament held by BBC
and are not allowed to fish from their boats. All boats entered in a BBC
conducted tournament will be that of active members.
i.
The starting order will be
reversed the second day of a two-day tournament.
j.
The same two members will
not be paired as partners more than twice during the calendar year unless deemed
in the best interest of the club by the Tournament Director.
V.
LATE REGISTRATION AND
PAIRING:
a.
After the registration and
drawing for partners is completed, any member wanting to fish in the tournament
will contact the Tournament Director.
The Tournament Director will pair the member with the first boater
without a partner (refer to IV h).
b.
Any member that does not
enter the registration and drawing, either in person or by proxy at the club
meeting proceeding the tournament, will not be permitted to use his/her boat
during the tournament unless deemed in the best interest of the club by the
Tournament Director.
VI.
TOURNAMENT ENTRY
FEES:
a.
The tournament entry fees
are $15 for one day and $30 for two-day.
b.
Any member who has not paid
their entry fee prior to the start of the tournament will not be awarded any
points and will not compete.
VII.
NO SHOWS FOR TOURNAMENT
(EXCUSED):
a.
If a member(s) has
registered and cannot fish for any reason, it is his/her responsibility to
notify the Tournament Director and his/her partner. Contact must be made with the Tournament
Director NLT 1900 the day prior to the tournament.
b.
The Tournament Director will
make appropriate changes in the tournament pairings as deemed
necessary.
VIII.
NO SHOWS FOR TOURNAMENT
(UNEXCUSED):
a.
If a boater does not show
for the tournament, the boater will receive a WARNING from the President and
his/her no-boater partner has the following options:
1)
Does not fish and receives
75 points (NO
REFUND).
2)
Does not fish, request the
entry fee be applied to another tournament and receives 0
points.
3)
The Tournament Director
assigns the no-boater (s) to a boater without a partner in order of
drawing. The Tournament Director
may assign the no-boater (s) to a boater that is willing to fish three in a
boat.
b.
If a no-boater partner does
not show for the tournament, the no-boater will receive a WARNING from the President and
his/her boater partner may fish the tournament alone.
c.
Entry fees are not
refundable.
IX
LATE
(EXCUSED)
a.
This applies only to boaters
and no-boaters that know in advance that they will be late for the start of the
tournament.
1)
Any boater that is aware of
circumstances that may cause them to be late for the start of the tournament
must inform the Tournament Director and make appropriate arrangements with
his/her partner if applicable.
2)
Any boater permitted to
start late will, conduct a safety inspection of his/her boat. The boater will then upon locating a
club member have the safety inspection verified and may then start
fishing.
3)
The boater(s) will have the
same weigh-in time as the other contestants.
b.
This applies only to
no-boaters that know in advance that they will be late for the start of the
tournament.
1)
Any no-boater that is aware
of circumstances that may cause them to be late for the start of the tournament
must inform the Tournament Director and make appropriate arrangements with
his/her boater partner.
2)
Any no-boater permitted to
start late will meet his/her boater partner at a predetermined time and
location. The no-boater may start
fishing and will have the same weigh-in time as the other
contestants.
X.
LATE
(UNEXCUSED)
a.
Any boater(s) not present at
the start time and does not have a no-boater partner; the rules in (IX a2 and 3)
apply.
b.
If boater and no-boater
partner arrives late together and does not start with the rest of the members NO WARNING is given and rules
(IX a2 and 3) applies.
c.
Any contestant who is not
present at the start time will incur the following penalties unless being late
was caused by an incident beyond the contestant’s control. Offenses will be counted on a calendar
year basis. The tournament
director/committee will impose the following punishment for repeat
offenders.
First
Offense---Warning
Second
Offense---forfeit 50% of points for
participation and fish caught for that day.
Third
Offense---Forfeit all points for
that tournament.
d. At ooze off if a boat number is called and the boat is not at the start point, that boat number will be called again, if that boat is not at the start point the boat will be passed. The next boat in the order will be called. The boat that was passed will ooze off last.
XI.
SAFETY:
a.
Safe boating and fishing
conduct must be observed at all times by all members.
b.
A safety inspection will be
conducted on each boat prior to the start of the tournament utilizing the safety
checklist provided by the club. The
inspection will be conducted by members that are appointed by the tournament
director; the results of the inspection will be reported to the Tournament
Director, prior to the start of the tournament.
c.
Any boat that does not pass
the safety inspection will not be used in the tournament until the safety
violation is repaired. In the case
of burned out bow or stern light, the boater will remain at the launch site
until it is light enough that lights are not required.
d.
Each contestant is required
to wear a Coast Guard approved chest type personal floatation devise any
time the combustion engine is operating.
The personal floatation device must be strapped, snapped, or zippered
securely and remain so until the combustion engine is stopped. The boat operator must have the kill switch
attached to his/her person when the combustion engine is
operating.
e.
Alcoholic beverages in boats
or the consumption of alcoholic beverage during the tournament are
forbidden.
f.
All boats must have a
BIA/USCG rating plate attached and the horsepower is within that specified
rating.
g.
Before a boater can fish
his/her boat in a club tournament he/she must have $300,000.00 watercraft
liability insurance or a ($100,000 with a $1,000,000 umbrella) insurance clause
which is required by the GBCF.
h.
Failure to comply with these
rules will result in disqualification: no points awarded for the tournament and
forfeiture of all entry fees.
XII.
SPORTSMANSHIP:
a.
All members will display a
high standard of sportsmanship, courtesy and conservation at all
times.
b.
Courtesy must be afforded to
all personnel on the tournament waters especially non-members with regard to
angling and boating.
c.
Contestants will not litter
the tournament waters. All litter
will be retained and properly disposed of at the conclusion of the
tournament.
d.
A member will not offer any
bass caught by him/her, be counted on the score of another
member.
e.
Any act by a member that
reflects unfavorably upon the club shall be reason for immediate
disqualification, no points awarded for the tournament, and forfeiture of all
entry fees.
f.
Any contestant, who operates
the boat in such a manner as to handicap or back seat their
partner is considered not practicing good sportsmanship and rule (XII e), will
apply.
XIII.
TACKLE AND
EQUIPMENT:
a.
Only artificial lures may be
used. No live bait or pre-packed bait will be permitted with the exception of
pork strips or rinds.
b.
Bait casting, spin-casting
or spinning casting may be used.
All other types are prohibited.
c.
Only one rod and reel
combination is permitted (8-foot maximum length from butt of handle to rod
tip)“in use” at any given
time. All other types
prohibited. “In use” is defined as a rod and
reel with an artificial lure attached which was cast out. Lures that are hung on structure of any
type are considered “in
use”. The lure must be
removed from the structure or the line broken off before another rod and reel
combination is used.
d.
Legal rods and reels
combinations may be in the boat and ready for use.
e.
All bass must be caught live
and in a conventional sporting manner.
Anyone guilty of snatching or snagging visible fish will have their day’s
catch disqualified. When visually
fishing for bedding bass, all bass must be hooked inside the mouth and must be
verified by your partner before being unhooked to be counted as a legal
fish.
f.
Gaffs may not be used to
boat bass or be permitted in the boat at any time.
XIV.
BOAT TYPE, EQUIPMENT,
OPERATION, AND EXPENSES:
a.
Boat with stick steering,
pontoon, or other cumbersome craft is forbidden for use during a club
tournament.
b.
All boats must be equipped
with bilge pump and safety equipment as specified by any local, state, or
federal laws.
c.
All boats must be equipped
with a live well and aeration system.
Live wells and aerators will be checked to ensure they are operating
properly.
d.
A discussion must be held
between the partners to schedule equal time to fish their selected water and
operation of the trolling motor.
Distance traveled to the fishing locations must be considered so as not
to deprive either contestant fishing time.
e.
If a contestant waives their
right to operate the trolling motor they will still retain the right to fish
their body of water for their half of the allocated fishing
time.
f.
The no-boater partner will
reimburse the boater partner a maximum of $30 per tournament day or practice day
for boater expenses.
g.
The boater and no-boater may
decide on a lesser amount of the minimum if that amount is mutually agreeable
between both parties.
h.
Transportation costs to and
from the tournament launch site will also be negotiated and considered between
the two partners.
XV.
PERMITTED FISHING
LOCATIONS:
a.
Fishing is not permitted
within 50 meters of another member’s boat that was first anchored. An anchored boat is a boat that has the
trolling motor in the stored position and the boat is held in place by an anchor
line.
b.
Fishing is not permitted
within 50 meters of any gas pump.
c.
All angling must be done
from the boat (trolling is not allowed).
No contestant may exit the boat to land a bass or fish any water not
accessible by water.
d.
Trailering from the launch
site is prohibited unless authorized by the Tournament
Director.
e.
The Tournament Director may
designate other areas as being “OFF
LIMITS” to fishing.
f.
Fishing will be only on the
lake or waters described in the tournament letters. There will be no “lock thru” unless authorized by
the Tournament Director.
XVI.
SIZE AND LIMIT OF
CATCH:
a.
The Tournament Director,
prior to each tournament, will determine the size limit for a legal bass imposed
by the State and inform the club.
b.
The tournament limit will be
five (5) bass per angler per day.
Only Largemouth, Smallmouth, Spotted, Shoal or Red Eye Bass will be
weighed.
c.
When an angler catches their
6th bass, a bass must be culled immediately before another cast is
made.
d.
Dead fish will not be
culled.
e.
If a member presents a bass
that does not meet the State standards (or Lake Limit) for a legal catch, the
Tournament Committee will remove the illegal bass from the member daily catch
and assess a one- (1) pound penalty.
f.
If a member presents more
than (5) bass or the lake
limit for weigh-in, the Tournament Committee will cull down to (5) bass
or the lake limit. (STARTING WITH THE
LARGEST BASS).
g.
Any member may request the
clubs measuring board to check any bass that he/she suspect may not qualify as a
legal bass prior to presenting the fish for weigh-in. Only personnel from the
Tournament Committee will be allowed to handle any bass during weigh-in to
determine if the bass is legal.
h.
All bass measurements will
be made on a flat measuring board.
i.
Bass will be measured with mouth closed and by fanning
the tail.
j.
Anyone attempting to alter a
fish will be subject to disqualification.
Any bass that appears to have been mangled, mashed, mauled or otherwise
altered will be weighed and credited only at the discretion of weigh-in
officials.
k.
All competitors will take
all guidance and instructions from the Tournament Committee; relating to the
handling of fish prior to, during, and after the weigh-in
procedures.
XVII.
CONSERVATION:
a.
Members are expected to keep
their bass alive by use of a properly aerated live well.
b.
For boats without separate
live wells, markers such as bread ties, safety pins, etc will be used to
identify each members catch. The
clipping off of any fin or physical marking the bass or altering the anatomy of
any bass after it is removed from its natural habitat will be
disqualified.
c.
All bass presented for
weigh-in must be given to a member of the Tournament Committee in a
weigh-in bag with water. The
Tournament Director will furnish the plastic bags.
d.
Any bass retained by the
Tournament Committee for later use becomes the property of any member of the
club. The Tournament Director will
designate one member of the club to maintain custody and prepare the bass for
later use.
e.
Dead fish or those that
obviously cannot survive if returned to its natural habitat will be returned to
competitor who caught them. When a
fish fry is scheduled, any member may retain these fish for the fish
fry.
f.
A member that expresses a
desire to retain possession of a bass that they consider a “Lunker” must obtain permission
from the Tournament Director or Committee members.
XVIII.
SCORING:
a.
The scoring for the club will be based on a points
system.
b. A
member will receive points as follows:
1) For attendance at regularly scheduled monthly
meetings, 15
points.
2) For attending any “special meeting” called by the
President, 15
points.
3) For any meeting missed while conducting business
associated with the Georgia Bass Chapter Federation, 15
points.
4) For participating in a club tournament members will
receive points based on their order of finish by the weight of bass weighed in.
Starting with 300 points for first place and descending downward at 5 point
increments by order of finish. Participants who do not weigh in fish will
receive 75 points for tournament participation.
c. A member
will receive penalty’s as follows.
1) For each dead bass presented for weigh-in, minus 0.25
of a
pound.
2) For being late for weigh-in time, minus 1 pound per
minute late up to a maximum of 15 minutes. After 15 minutes the entire weight
for that days catch is forfeited. The participant will receive 75 points for the
tournament. Boat, motor, or weather difficulties will not be an excuse for
tardiness. However, the only exception would be rendering assistance to
endangered persons and the Tournament Committee would make that determination
based upon the merits of the incident.
d. Weight
received minus any penalty will determine contestant placement and total amount
of points awarded for the tournament.
e. In the
event of a tie during a single tournament, the competitors that tie will all
receive the same amount of points. The number of competitors that tie will
dictate how many places the points allocation will resume. (example: 3
competitors tie for 3rd, they all receive 290 points. The next
allocation for points will be 6th place)
f. All ties
at the end of the year point standings will be decided by:
1) Most bass weighed in.
2)
Most bass weighed in alive.
3)
Person with the largest fish.
g. Largest
fish ties: Split award and divided equally between the tied
contest-ants.
h. In-case
of boat breakdown, one of the contestants in that boat may bag up both anglers
catch and return to the weigh-in site in another boat in order to make weigh-in
time. One contestant may stay with the disabled boat. This is while his/her
partner weighs in the fish. In the case of a lone boater, the boater may bag
up his catch and hand the bag over to another contestant who will bring it in
for weigh-in. The boater may stay
with his boat.
XIX.
GRIEVANCE:
a.
Any grievance must be voiced
to the Tournament Director prior to departure from the tournament site.
XX.
AUTHORITY:
The Tournament Director or
his designated representative may make any temporary changes to these rules if
it is in the best interests of the club.
An example of a temporary change would be to allow two members to fish
together the third time because one partner did not show for the
tournament. Another example would
be to allow a no-boater to use his/her boat (XI g) because of not enough
boats.