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Tournament Rules Page

Tournament Rules

These Tournament rule are subject to change at anytime and changes are listed at the bottom of the page and signified by ***  and the affected rule is highlighted in the main body of the rules.

1. Rules:  The following rules shall apply to all Federated club events. Interpretation of these rules shall be left exclusively to the tournament committee, which will consist of the Tournament Director and any persons he has appointed to help.
2. Participation and Eligibility: Participation in Bay State Bass Angler events is open to all Bay State Bass Angler members in good standing. A non-member will be allowed to fish with a member in good standing for lunker pool prize ONLY. Any person under 18 must have an adult member in good standing in the boat at all times.
3. Registration and Leaving: A number will be drawn for each boat before the tournament. This will be the order in which the boats will be sent out on the water the morning of the tournament. All boats must be present and registered with the Tournament director (or duly appointed representative) by 6:45 (or 15 minutes before the start of each tournament). Any boat showing up after this time will be allowed to fish but will be the starter boat. If a boat shows up after the tournament has started they may still fish but will be responsible for checking in with any club member before doing so. All boaters are responsible for having their live wells checked by a tournament committee member. Failure to do so will result in disqualification. All tournaments will be conducted between 7:00 am and 3:00 pm unless otherwise specified by the tournament director. An angler may leave the tournament before 3:00 pm. If the angler knows they are going to be leaving and would like their catch weighed they must make arrangements with the tournament director before the start of the tournament. This may only be done once per tournament year. If an angler leaves early because of an emergency or any other reason they should try and notify another club member so we know you have left.
4. Pre- tournament practice: At all club tournaments the tournament waters will be off limits starting midnight of the Wednesday before the tournament until the tournament. No members will boat or fish on tournament waters during the cut off period. Members wishing to launch at another sight and boat to the tournament launch must first obtain permission from the tournament director (the boater is then responsible for getting their live well inspected). All state fishing regulations must be obeyed.

5. Safety: All competitors must observe safe boating conduct at all times. Each competitor is required to wear a life preserver anytime the Gas outboard is running and in gear. (This includes both loading and unloading of boats). All gas-powered motors will be equipped with a workable ignition kill switch. The kill switch must be attached to the driver at all times the gas outboard is running. Boats must be 13ft in length or longer No canoes barges or other cumbersome craft will be permitted. All boats must have current registration. A boater shall not come within 150 feet of another boat while on plane. In the event that you must pass a boat within 150 feet because of insufficient water you must pass the boat at headway speed and make every effort not to disturb the area.
6. Sportsmanship: All members are expected to follow the highest standard of sportsmanship, courtesy, safety and conservation. Any infractions of fundamental sportsmanship or state fishing regulations will be grounds for disqualification. All bass must be caught alive and in a sporting manner. Any member caught intentionally snagging fish will be disqualified. No alcohol or narcotics will be allowed at the tournament site before, during or after a club event. Alcohol will be grounds for disqualification. Remember during a tournament you are representing not only Bay State Bass Anglers but also all Bass fishermen please conduct yourself accordingly.
7. Tackle and Equipment: Only Artificial lures permitted. Live bait or prepared bait will not be permitted with the exception of Pork strips, rinds, etc. Only one rod (8 foot max length butt to tip) and reel may be used at one time (with up to 2 baits per line) per angler. Other rigs as specified above may be in the boat ready to use. No electronically controlled lures may be used.
8. Horsepower Regulations: Max horsepower for all outboards used in the club shall not exceed the horsepower limitation set by the US Coast Guard in their 1972 ruling. Each boat must have an US Coast Guard horsepower rating plate attached to the boat by the manufacturer. Any boat manufactured prior to 1972 must adhere to the ratings set by the US Coast Guard for similar boats.
9. Basic Boat Equipment: All boats are expected to have all state required equipment. All boats must have a functional live well system adequate to keep alive a limit catch by both contestants in the boat. If a boat only has one livewell, the partners fish must be marked with creel snap rings or other device. No mauling of fish for marking purposes will be allowed

10.  Permitted Fishing Locations: Fishing is allowed anywhere on tournament waters unless otherwise noted by the tournament director. There will be no fishing within 25 yards of a competitor’s anchored boat. For a boat to be anchored an anchor must be deployed and the trolling motor must be out of the water. A competitor cannot drop anchor on another competitors boat until said competitor has moved 50 yards away. Competitors may not depart their boat to land fish (at least one foot must be in the boat when landing a fish). If a contestant must leave the boat to relieve himself or herself they should make every attempt to notify another boat that they are doing so.
11. Scoring: Tournament results will be determined by total weight. Only Largemouth and Smallmouth will be weighed. All state and local rules are to be followed in catching a limit. All fish shall be 12 inches long or longer (unless local or state regulations make the size limit longer than 12 inches). Only 5 fish per contestant may be kept in the boat at one time. Culling is permitted but must be done immediately. There will be no culling at the ramp. There will be no culling of dead fish.  All dead fish will be counted towards the limit. A courtesy measure will be allowed. ***   Any fish weighed in less than 12 inches will be disallowed and a 1-pound penalty will incur. The measurement will be taken on the club ruler and the fish will have a closed-mouth and closed-tail.   Anglers bringing more fish to the scale than allowed will have their biggest fish plus 1 pound deducted from their total weight.  Any bass that are mangled, mauled or otherwise altered will be weighed only at the discretion of the tournament director (or duly noted rep.) All bass must be released after the weigh in. Bass may not be kept on a stringer.
12. Penalty points: For each dead fish weighed in a penalty of .25 lbs or .4 ounces will incur. This weight will be deducted from the total weight. The angler is responsible for removing any dead fish from the launch site.  Once fish are brought to the scale the catch is final. (If you forgot one in your live well you cannot weigh it after the bag gets to the scale.)
13. Late Penalty: Competitors who are not within 50 yds of the weigh in site at the prescribed time will be penalized. The penalty is 1 pound for every minute late up to 15 minutes. At which time you will be disqualified from the event. The weight will be deducted from your total weight. Exact starting and check in times and a time check will be discussed at the ramp the morning of the tournament by the tournament director. If a boat in distress signals for help you must stop and render assistance. If nothing can be done one person from that boat can bag their fish and proceed to the weigh in. Any boat that stops to help a boat in distress will be given a chance to prove it before they are penalized for being late. Proof of a phone number and name of person helped (if boat is not in tournament) should be provided.

14. Ties: Ties will be broken first by biggest fish. If this does not break the tie then numbers of fish. If tie is still not broken then it will remain a tie.
15. Protests and Complaints: All protests and complaints must be logged with the tournament director (or duly noted rep) before the weigh-in. Complaints brought forth after the weigh in will be disregarded. Tournament Director will make any final decisions on any protests lodged. If the tournament director is unable to do so the a vote will be taken of all present to reach a ruling
16. Cell Phones and radios: No person will be allowed during tournament hours to use a cell phone or two-way radio for the purpose of locating fish. They may be present on the boat but should be used only in an emergency.
17. Misc.: The non-boater will be allowed access to the front of the boat for ½ of the tournament length (if he so chooses). The rules are subject to modification as sees fit by the tournament director on the day of the tournament. The tournament director may also place areas of water off limits as he sees fit.

 18.   Misc.   Guests may only fish with a club member on said club members boat.  Guests may only fish 

          for lunker.   Guests may not bring and fish off of their own boats.

Rule changes