These Rules and Regulations are not By-Laws and as such are not in any way guided by their interpretation or application.  These Rules and Regulations may be changed and or modified on a year to year, case to case basis by the "Executive Board' only and in cooperation with the Tournament Director and his needs to implement change.  All Rules and Regulations here in shall be considered final and absolute.

SECTION 1 - GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS

1.) All tournament Rules and Regulations shall be determined by the "Executive Board .

2.) All tournament Rules and Regulations may be changed and or modified by the 'Executive Board'.  Changes may be made on a yearly basis and prior to the start of a new 'calendar' season.

3.) The 'Executive Board' shall determine the tournament schedule for the year.

4.) The "Classic" site shall be decided by a simple majority vote of the "Executive Board".  The decision shall be made with the best interest of the club in mind.  The decision of the "Executive Board" is final.

5.) Adjustments to the tournament schedule shall be made by the "Executive Board".  A simple majority of the "Executive Board" (3 members) is required to effect a change.  All changes to the schedule shall be made with the best interest of the club in mind.  The decision of the "Executive Board" is final.

6.) Tournament start times shall be determined and set by the "Executive Board".

7.) Tournament start times may be changed due to weather or conflicts with other clubs who may be using the same launch.  If the start time is delayed as a result the weigh-in time will remain unchanged.  The Tournament Director has full discretion in these matters.

8.) If the start time of a tournament is changed prior to the scheduled tournament day the weigh-in time will be extended accordingly.

9.) At no time shall a tournament begin before its scheduled start time unless all competitors are present.

10.) All tournament will begin on time regardless of late arrivals.

11.) Late arrivals MUST check in with a member of the tournament committee or 'Executive Board' before they begin fishing.  There shall be no exceptions.  Failure to comply will result in disqualification.

12.) The 'Tournament Director' or a duly designated member of the Tournament Committee shall start and or end each tournament.  His time is the official time.  The use of a hand signal, visual to all shall signify the start of a tournament.  A whistle or horn shall signify the end of a tournament.

13.) All competitors must return to the designated weigh-in site and shall cease fishing at the sound of the whistle or horn signaling the end of the tournament.

14.) Competitors who return late to the designated weigh-in site shall be penalized a weight reduction as described in SECTION 4 'Penalty's', paragraph 5.

15.) Boat numbers for the start of a tournament shall be assigned by the 'Tournament Director', or a designated member of the Tournament Committee.

16.) All boats shall proceed in order, single file, past the designated start boat before "blasting off" to start a tournament.

17.) The weigh-in shall be conducted by members of the 'Tournament Committee' ONLY unless the Tournament Director asks for assistance from a non Committee member.

18.) The boat number assigned to a competitor by the 'Tournament Director' or a member of the Tournament Committee shall be the order in which competitors weigh their catch.

19.) Any candidate, who in the judgment of the 'Tournament Director', is diabled in such a manner as to unfairly hinder his partner or endanger the safety and well being of his partner or himself shall not be eligible to compete.

20.) The 'Tournament Director' has the authority to cancel a tournament because of bad weather or contributing factors that would endanger the safety of the competitors.  In addition he may restrict tournament waters at any time because of bad weather.

SECTION 2 - SAFETY REGULATIONS

1.) You may be disqualified for violation of the following rules and regulations regarding 'safety'.

2.) A Coast Guard approved PFD must be worn at all times while the combustion engine is in operation.  The PFD must be strapped, snapped or zipped securely and maintained in that condition until the engine is shut off.  You must have a PFD for each person on board.  A competitor who does not have an approved PFD will be prohibited from fishing.

3.) A 'kill switch' must be utilized if your boat is designed for one.

4.) Standard bow and stern running lights are required for all night tournaments.

5.) All tournament boats must be a minimum of 17 feet in length and be equipped with the following. a) a working live well, b) an anchor, c)  a flare kit, d) a hailing device, e) a fire extinguisher, f) a throwable flotation device, g) a first aid kit, h)  a PFD for each competitor, i)  a bailing device in addition to the bilge pump, j) navigation lights. 

6.) Use of alcohol or drugs by any competitor during tournament hours will not be tolerated and shall be cause for automatic disqualification from the tournament and all future club tournaments.

7.) The horsepower of the outboard engine must not exceed the rating specified by the Coast Guard on the rating plate.

8.) Safe boat conduct shall be observed at all times by tournament competitors.  Any infraction of the U.S. Coast Guard rules of safe conduct may result in disqualification.

SECTION 3 - ANGLING RULES AND REGULATIONS

1.) Tournament competitors are expected to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, safety and conservation.  Any infraction of these fundamental sporting principles may be deemed cause for disqualification.

2.) All Rules & Regulations of the D.E.C. or other governing bodies will be adhered to in all cases and as such take precedent over club rules to the contrary.

3.) Maximum courtesy must be practiced at all times, especially with regard to boating and angling in the vicinity of non-competitors who may be using tournament waters.

4.) Standing on the outboard or seats while fishing is not permitted.  An electric motor may be used for slow maneuvering only.  However, trolling or dead stick drifting as a method of catching fish is prohibited.

5.) A five (5) fish limit of black bass measuring at least twelve (12) inches in length

6.) All bass must be caught live and in a conventional sporting manner.  Anyone guilty of snagging visible fish will have his or catch disqualified.

7.) A free hanging or digital scale shall be used to establish the official weight of a competitors catch.

8.) The 'Golden Rule' shall be the official instrument used for all measurements. NO EXCEPTIONS.

9.) All fish must be weighed on the "Official Tournament Scale"

10.) A Tournament competitor may have his or her fish weighed-in by another competitor if due to mechanical difficulty or emergency situation they are unable to do so themselves.

11.) Only artificial lures may be used.  No live bait or prepared bait will be permitted with the exception of pork strips or rinds.

12.) Only ONE casting, spin casting or spinning rod, eight (8) foot maximum length from the butt of the handle to rod tip may be used at one time.  You MAY NOT dead stick a rod while actively fishing another.

13.) A net may be used to assist in the landing of a legally hooked fish.

14.) Trolling as a method of fishing is prohibited at any time while under gas power OR electrical power.

15.) A distance of one hundred (100) feet is recommended as a safe distance between boats while  fishing.  Use your head head, safety should be your first concern.  Courtesy among competitors fishing the same general area should be paramount.

16.) When moving on a shoreline under electrical power, the boat moving with the wind has the right of way.  Circumstances may dictate that common courtesy should apply in all other cases.

17.) There are no 'off limits' for any tournament waters prior to a scheduled tournament with the exception of all two day tournaments.

18.) An off limits period for two day tournaments will be observed beginning at twelve (12) am tournament morning until the finish and completion of the tournament.  ALL waters, tournament or otherwise will be 'off limits' during this period.

19.) At no time shall a competitor have in his or her possession more than the daily tournament limit (5 bass).  Possession of bass over the limit shall be culled down to the described limit beginning with the largest bass.

20.) A competitor may not leave the boat for the purpose of landing a fish, or to make the boat more accessible to fishing waters.  Competitors are allowed to leave their boats to seek safe shelter in bad weather where danger appears imminent.

21.) All complaints and or protests must be made to the "Tournament Director" prior to the start of the tournament weigh-in.

22.) Disqualification of a competitor for violation of any of these rules or regulations is a serious matter.  Actions that may result in disqualification of a competitor will be reviewed by a three (3) member rules panel consisting of the 'Tournament Director', the Chapter President, and any member of the 'Executive Board' chosen by the Tournament Director.  A majority vote is required to disqualify the angler, or anglers. 

SECTION 4 - PENALTY'S

1.) SHORT FISH: The 'short fish' shall be removed from the competitors catch and a one pound penalty will be assessed from the total weight of the catch.  A second offense during the season will result in the angler or anglers disqualification from that event.

2.)  DEAD FISH:  For each legal dead bass presented for weigh-in, the competitor shall be penalized the following. (1 dead = 4 ounces) (2 dead = 10 ounces) (3 dead = 18 ounces) (4 dead = 28 ounces) and (5 dead = 40 ounces).  The 'Tournament Director' is the sole authority for assessing penalty reductions.

3.) DEAD SHORT FISH: Will result in the disqualification of the total weight for that competitor.

4.) The replacing of a dead fish, already in the competitors live well, with another fish shall be grounds for that competitors immediate disqualification.

5.) A one pound (1) per minute penalty will be assessed for every minute a competitor is late for check-in.  After fifteen (15) minutes, that competitor shall be disqualified.  Discretion will be shown when warranted.  The 'Tournament Director' may invoke a rules panel review of the infraction.

6.) Any attempt by a competitor to foul hook a fish will result in that competitors immediate disqualification.  A fish, hooked out side the mouth shall be considered a legal catch provided that fish was not on a bed and caught while angling for that particular fish.

7.) Any competitor ticketed by the D.E.C. or any other code enforcement or state agency for an infraction, boating or angling, shall be be immediately disqualified from that event.  Further disciplinary action may be taken depending on the severity of the infraction.  The "Executive Board" shall be responsible for implementing such action.

8.) NO courtesy measuring.  Once a competitor submits his catch to the tournament officials for weigh-in, that catch shall be deemed final.  It is permitted however to use the clubs official measuring instrument to personally check your catch prior to weigh-in.

SECTION 5 - ELLIGIBILITY

1.) A member in good standing: All dues for the current year must be paid in full prior to fishing a club tournament. 

2.) A non-member (Guest) may fish as a guest of a member in good standing.  That guest may not fish more than once in a calendar year.

3.) A member in good standing may fish with a guest once during a tournament season.

4.) A member may not bring a guest to the following tournaments.  a.) The Classic and b.) The T.O.C. (Tournament Of Champions)

5.) A member may bring a guest to any other tournament provided there is not a regular club member who may be in need of a partner for that particular tournament.  Last minute changes to the contrary.

6.) A guest may join the club as a full member ONLY during the calendar year.

7.) An " Associate Member":  This type of membership is presently unavailable.

8.) A 'Chapter Full Member' MUST fish a minimum of five (5) tournaments to qualify to fish both the club "Classic Championship" and "The Best Of The Rest". The member may up-grade his status to qualify for the 'Classic'.

9.) All boaters must carry a minimum of $100,000. Liability Coverage.  All insurance policies must be current and up-to-date.