Panhandle Bass
ClubTournament Rules

Revised 10-8-02

Under the leadership of the Tournament Director, it is the responsibility of each participant to police his own adherence to the tournament rules.

The Tournament Director, prior to the start of the tournament will ask all participants to synchronize their watches and announce the weigh-in time No boat will leave prior to the official start of the tournament.

The Tournament Director will use his own judgment to determine safe daylight . At that point, it becomes the responsibility of each boater to judge for himself whether or not safe conditions exists and act accordingly.

1. In order to receive credit for fishing a club tournament , a member must
a. Be in good standing (dues paid)
b. Tournament fees paid paid prior to tournaments.
2. There is a tournament entry fee. 25% of these fees will be placed in the "fish-off pot".
3. Normally there will be one monthly club tournament.
The tournament director will have the authority to reschedule or delay the tournament due to emergencies, severe weather, etc. The future of the rescheduled tournament will be decided at a special club meeting or at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
4. Tournament sites will be selected by a committee chaired by the tournament director, and comprised of the newly elected board members.- Tournaments will include 8 one day tournaments and 4 two day Tournaments
(one of which will be the fish-off). These sites will be published in the November newsletter for the following year.

a. One day tournaments will end at 4 pm (except June, July, and August, they will end at 2pm.
b. Two day tournaments will end at 4pm on Saturday and 1pm on Sunday.

5. A minimum of 2 boats are required to start a Tournament.
6. All boats must be operated in a safe manner. Contestants must wear a coast guard approved life jacket while the boat is on a plane. All boats must have an operational "kill switch". All safety equipment required by the Coast Guard, State and local regulations will be adhered to.
Any infractions will result in disqualification of the offender.
7. No contestant will be allowed to fish within 50 yards of another club boat unless Permission is obtained from the fisherman occupying the area in question. No fishing will be allowed in water prohibited by county, state, or federal.

Revised 10-8-02

regulations. All fishing must be conducted from the boat and contestants will not be allowed to portage boats.

8. A maximum of two (2) rods may be used. Only casting, spinning or spincasting Tackle may be used in conjunction with artificial lures.
9. A seven (7) fish limit is allowed to each fisherman per day unless state or local laws restrict limits to less. Fish must be a minimum of 12 inches long, unless otherwise restricted by state or local laws, The tournament director will determine 12 inches with mouth open/closed pinched tail or fanned. The goal is to use every means possible to obtain 12 inches. This does not include altering the fish .Contestants weighing in undersized fish will lose that fish and their largest fish of the day. The decision of the tournament director is final. Contestants weighing in dead fish will be penalized 0.2 lbs per dead fish. Late arrivals will be disqualified unless ruled by the Tournament Director to have been late due to assisting a boat in distress. Tournament winners and places will be determined by the total weight of the catch less any penalties. Only artificial baits may be used. In case of a contestant breaking down, another member may weigh your fish in for you at the weigh-in.

10. The three contestants recording the highest poundage at each tournament will be awarded cash prizes at the next meeting according to the following.

a. 1st place 50% of the tournament pot
b. 2nd place 30% of the tournament pot
c. 3rd place 20% of the tournament pot
d. In the event a place is not filled, any moneys from that place will be carried forward to the next fish off pot

11. Points for each tournament and monthly meeting will count toward the
fisherman of the year award in October. Points will be as follows.

a. 2 points for attending the monthly meeting
b. 3 points for fishing one day tournaments or one day of a two day tournament
c. 6 points for both days of a two day tournament
d. You must be at the weigh-in to obtain any tournament points.
e. 15 points for 1st place, 14 for 2nd, 13 for 3rd, 12 for 4th, 11 for 5th, 10 for 6th, 9 for 7th, 8 for 8th, 7 for 9th, 6 for 10th, 5 for 11th, 4 for 12th, 3 for 13th, 2 for 14th, and 1 for 15th.
f. In the event of a tie for a tournament the tied fishermen will be awarded an equal number of points by combining the points for the tied places. In the event of a tie at the end of the year, the following tie breaker will be used in order.
1. The individual with the largest number of legal fish weighed in for the year.
2. The individual with the largest number of live fish weighed in for the year.

Revised 10-8-/02

3. The individual with the heaviest single tournament stringer of fish weighed in during the year.

12. Protest must be filed within 15 minutes of the closing of the scales to the Weigh Master or any officer present. Protest will be arbitrated by the club officials present, provided none is involved in the protest.
All decisions are final.

13. All tournaments shall be live release. Each angler will be required to furnish his " own " weigh-in bag.
Fish will be given to the weigh master at which time the fish will be placed in a bag provided by the weigh-master and the fish will be weighed. Fish that show any signs of life will be considered live. Fish will be returned to the angler to be released back to the water. Members may keep a lunker for mounting

14. Nothing can be attached to a fish at the time of weigh-in.

15. Only largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass will be allowed.