2009 SEASON AMERICAN BASS
TOURNAMENT RULES
ÒTEAM
TOURNAMENTSÓ
1) These
rules are for all 2008/2009 American Bass ÒTeam TournamentsÓ. In addition to these rules, each
contestant MUST READ, UNDERSTAND, AGREE TO, AND SIGN a 2008/2009 American Bass
Waiver. Failure to Òagree toÓ ÒTruth VerificationÓ provisions stated
in the Waiver may result in ineligibility to participate in American Bass
events and loss of membership status with American bass. Separate or additional rules may apply
for ÒAmerican Bass Team OpensÓ, ÒSpecial EventsÓ or non-team tournaments. It is the responsibility of each
entrant to know these rules.
Ignorance of the rules is not a defense for violation of them. Regional Tournament Directors shall
apply penalties for rule infractions.
Protests must be made in writing within 30 minutes of the official
check-in time of the final flight at each tournament. The person(s) submitting the protest must be present and
willing to identify the offender(s) in a face to face situation at the time the
director confronts the named offender(s).
The Regional Tournament Director may assess a penalty/disqualification
without a written protest. The
results of any event where protests have been filed or penalties or
disqualifications have be assessed shall be considered unofficial until a
review of the incident has been conducted by the Head Tournament Director of
American Bass. This review shall
be completed within 72 hours of the event. The exception to this 72 hour limit is for ÒTruth
VerificationÓ testing (see Truth Verification rule for additional information). In the event of ÒTruth VerificationÓ
testing the final decision on tournament results are pending the outcome of the
test. The decision of the Head
Tournament Director shall be final in all matters. Adjustments to the results/paybacks, if necessary, shall be
made after the final decision.
American Bass uses this procedure to assure fair and consistent
application of rules and penalties in all regions and matters. Our objective is to offer you the
fairest most consistent handling of any problem. To avoid protests, if you suspect a possible infraction is
about to take place - Alert the would-be offender and check the rules!
COMPUTER
GENERATED RESULTS - In the unlikely event of a computer failure at any event
where the tournament director utilizes a computer to generate the results, the
director may choose to give the basic tournament results and payments at the
awards ceremony but hold any option payments until the computer problem is
resolved. All results will be
completed within 72 hours of the event and all results will be posted on the
American Bass web site. All option
winnings will be mailed within 72 hours.
This procedure is necessary to insure respect for all of the competitors
time. The possibility of a
computer failure exists. All
directors keep back-up data that will assure proper payment. However, manual checking of this data
can be time consuming and would not be practical at the weigh-in site.
2) SPORTSMANSHIP
- Any contestant who displays poor sportsmanship and/or misconduct and/or
violates these rules and/or violates the state fishing laws or lake rules may
be disqualified and/or excluded from membership in American Bass. This includes conduct on and off the
water including improper fishing techniques, illegal fishing techniques,
misconduct in and around the host facilities for any event including hotels,
casinos, retail establishments, etc.
Misconduct is a bad reflection on organized fishing and American
Bass. Misconduct may be deemed as
an infraction of our sportsmanship rule and is grounds for disqualification
from any event and/or exclusion from membership in American Bass. Any angler who engages in improper or
illegal fishing techniques, either during a competition or not, may be
disqualified from any event and/or excluded from membership in American
Bass. American Bass shall make the
determination as to any sportsmanship, improper fishing techniques and/or
misconduct issue. American Bass
reserves the right to refuse membership in American Bass to anyone.
3) PARTICIPATION
AND ELIGIBILITY - Participation is open to all members of American Bass. Membership in American Bass is open to
everyone. However, American Bass
reserves the right to refuse membership and to refuse participation in American
Bass events to anyone. Any angler
unwilling to provide accurate address and/or social security # information may
be denied membership. At least one
(1) partner of each team shall be 18 years of age or older. Those anglers under the age of 18
years must have written consent of parent or guardian. No one under the age of 18 may fish
alone without special provisions.
A ÒTeamÓ consists of two anglers.
One member of a team may fish alone at any American Bass event, however,
points will not be awarded if the other partner fishes the same event with a
different partner.
4) BOAT
AND HORSEPOWER REGULATION (TEAM TOURNAMENTS) - There is no minimum length or
minimum horsepower requirements to compete in American Bass ÒTeam TournamentsÓ
or ÒAmerican Bass Team OpensÓ. No
internal combustion engine is required.
Other American Bass tournaments will specify any specific
requirements. Horsepower shall not
exceed the horsepower rating for that boat or the U.S. Coast Guard rating plate
attached to the boat by the manufacturer.
Each boat must contain all required U.S. Coast Guard safety
equipment. Boats must contain a
properly aerated or recirculating livewell to maintain alive a team limit catch
of fish. Ice chests with an
aerator is acceptable upon approval of the tournament director. Any vessel deemed ÒunsuitableÓ by a
Regional Tournament Director will not be allowed to participate in that event.
5) SAFETY
- All boats must meet Coast Guard regulations. Boat owners must carry a minimum of $300,000 single limit
liability insurance. Safe boating
shall be observed at all times.
During competition, each contestant is required to wear a Coast Guard
approved life jacket anytime the combustion engine is in operation. Anyone found operating a boat in an
unsafe manner in the opinion of the Tournament Director may be disqualified. All boats must be equipped with an
emergency ignition shut-off device which must be securely attached to the
drivers body whenever the combustion engine is in operation. Any non-lanyard shut-off systems must
be approved by the tournament director.
All boats 16 ft. must have a float cushion on board. Each contestant is responsible to have
proper safety equipment to meet state and local regulations. It is not the responsibility of
American Bass or any tournament sponsor to provide assistance in on-the-water
repairs or rescues at any time.
Each contestant shall provide their own on-the-water assistance if
needed. American Bass and its
sponsors are not responsible to assure that any contestant has returned at the
end of any contest. For safety,
each contestant should inform another contestant as to the location(s) that
they will be fishing and have that contestant check to assure that the other
contestant has returned safely at the end of the contest and have a plan for
assistance if needed.
6) PERMITTED
FISHING METHODS AND TACKLE - All fish must be caught live in a conventional and
sporting manner. Trolling, also
referred to as ripping / sweeping or jerking, is prohibited. Cast and retrieve methods of ripping
and jerking are legal. Only
artificial lures may be used with the exception of pork rind or deer hide. No prepared or live bait may be
used. The intentional snagging of
fish is strictly prohibited.
Landing nets are permitted in American Bass events. Only one Òrod and reelÓ may be used at
a time. Rods may not exceed 8 feet
in length.
7) PERMITTED
FISHING WATERS - Contestants may fish anywhere accessible by boat, except areas
designated as Òoff limitsÓ or Òno fishingÓ by the tournament director, local,
state or federal officials or within 50 yards of any marina gas pump. All angling must be conducted from the
boat. At no time may a contestant
leave the boat to land a fish or to make the boat more accessible to fishing
waters. No contestants are permitted
to leave their boat in an effort to propel or float their boat to fishing
waters they could not otherwise reach, however, the use of push poles is
permitted. The boat must remain in
the tournament waters during the tournament day. Contestants must leave and return to the official check-in
by boat. Some events have
Òoff-limitsÓ periods preceding the event.
Consult the schedule or call the Regional Director for details.
8) ENCROACHMENT
- A Ò25 yard ruleÓ is in effect at all times during competition. No contestantÕs boat may move within 25
yards of another contestantÕs boat at any time for the purpose of fishing
without the consent of all contestantÕs involved. A boat moving from one area to another may infringe upon
this zone as long and the parties that are moving do not fish and do not intentionally
disrupt the area. Judging distance
is very difficult on the water. As
a general rule of sportsmanship all anglers should give all others enough room
to make a reasonable cast to fish an area. Exception: In the case of fishing docks or piers, no
contestantÕs boat may Òtie up,Ó or ÒprotectÓ more than a single dock at one
time regardless of the distance involved.
9) EQUIPMENT
FAILURE OR EMERGENCY - In the event of equipment failure or emergency,
contestants boat may be towed to the check-in. If it is necessary to transfer fish to another boat, it must
be another contestants boat. At
least one member of the team must accompany the fish to the weigh-in site.
10) FISHING
HOURS AND LATE PENALTY - Official fishing hours will be announced at tournament
sign-up prior to each event. All
contestants must check in at the weigh-in site. Contestants who are not at the official check-in area at the
appointed time may be disqualified.
DONÕT BE LATE! No culling
of fish in the host marina or weigh-in area.
11) LIVE
FISH - Contestants shall make
every effort to keep all fish alive through the use of a properly aerated
livewell. American Bass strongly
recommends the use of chemical additives in livewells. .20 lbs will be deducted from the total
weight for each dead fish presented for weigh-in. Night tournaments, ÒspecialÓ events or any specific event or
region, may have a different dead fish weight penalty. The Regional Tournament Director or a
designee will make all judgements of fish mortality. Culling of dead fish is prohibited and may result in disqualification.
12) SCORING
- Scoring will be determined by the total weight of each teams catch. The limit shall be five (5) fish per
two angler team, five (5) fish for an angler fishing alone. (Some lake limits may be less) Check for legal species at each
event. The official minimum length
for bass shall be thirteen (13) inches unless otherwise stated at sign-up or if
the lake limit is greater than thirteen (13) inches. Bass will be measured laying down, mouth open / tail fanned,
on a FLAT board. (Some lakes may
require different measuring techniques)
Bass presented for weigh-in which fail to measure the prescribed minimum
length limit shall be removed from the catch and a penalty of one (1) pound
will be deducted from the remaining weight. Each teamÕs catch must be presented in an official weigh-in
bag.
ÒTeam TournamentsÓ will award 100
points for first place, 99 points for second place and so on. All ties will be broken by the team
weighing the heaviest bass at that event.
Ten (10) ÒShow-upÓ points will be awarded to each team in attendance at
American Bass ÒTeam TournamentsÓ.
Team Classic Qualification: A teams best 5 finishes will count
towards American Bass Team Classic qualification from a single region. Teams may fish all events in any region. If a team fishes more than 5 events in
a region, their lowest finish(s), including the ÒShow-upÓ points for that
event(s) will be dropped for the final standings calculation in that region. Any team must compete in a minimum of 5
events in any region to qualify to compete in the American Bass Team Classic
for that region. The best 5
finishes for each team in each region will be counted to determine the regional
ÒAnglerÕs of the YearÓ title.
These teams must have fished a minimum of 5 events in that region to
earn this title. The ÒAngler of
the YearÓ title will be awarded in each region to the team that accumulates the
most points their best 5 finishes in that region. Anglers competing in the American Bass TravelerÕs region
must compete in a minimum of 5 events in any one Division (North, Northwest or
South). Points will be accumulated
by totaling the best 5 finishes with no more than 3 finishes counted in any one
Region. The ÒAngler of the YearÓ
title in TravelerÕs will be awarded to the team that accumulates the most
points from their best 5 finishes in each TravelerÕs Division (North, Northwest
and South). Many American Bass
ÒSpecial EventsÓ award TravelerÕs points.
Additional information is available on www.americanbass.com.
ÒAnglers of the YearÓ for each region will be determined by the team that
has the most points based on their best 5 finishes in any one region. If a team fishes more than 5 events in
a region, their lowest finish(s), including the ÒShow-upÓ points for that
event(s) will be dropped for the final standings calculation for ÒAnglers of
the YearÓ. A minimum average of 10
boats throughout the season is required in any region to qualify for ÒAngler of
the YearÓ awards. Not all regions listed in the event schedule award ÒAnglers
of the YearÓ awards at the end of the season, even if the average participation
is greater that 10 boats. Many
ÒSpecialÓ regions do not award ÒAnglers of the YearÓ awards. Call for specific details on these
regions.
13) OFFICIAL
BOATS - Officials may be on the water during tournament hours and can approach,
photograph or observe any contestantÕs boat. Each contestant is requested to cooperate with all
reasonable requests.
14) WAIVER
AND RELEASE - Each contestant must sign an annual American Bass waiver /
release form prior to entering their first event each year.
15) PRETOURNAMENT
PRACTICE (PRE-FISHING) - Most regions allow pre-fishing on the tournament lake
prior to each tournament. However,
some regions have restrictions for pre-fishing. Check with the Regional Tournament Director for each
event. At no time during the
Òclosed periodÓ will contestants be permitted to Òfly the lakeÓ for the sake of
scouting the waters. No SCUBA
diving or snorkeling will be permitted by contestants during the off-limits
period or on any specified practice rounds or on any competition day. Any tournament that is preceded by a
major National holiday on the Monday prior to the event will allow pre-fish on
that Monday. Call American Bass
for conformation on ÒlegalÓ Monday pre-fish days.
16) NO
ALCOHOL - No alcoholic beverages are allowed during tournament hours. No alcoholic beverages are allowed in
any tournament boat.
17) BOAT
INSPECTION - Boat inspection instructions will be given at the sign-up
site. Failure to obtain a sign-off
at boat inspection may result in disqualification.
18) LOST
WEIGH SLIP - The loss of a weigh slip during tournament hours may result in
disqualification.
19) COOPERATION WITH
MEDIA/PROMOTION - Within the framework of reasonable requests, all contestants
in American Bass events will cooperate with media representatives covering said
event. Likewise, participation in
the tournament grants American Bass the use of any pictures of contestants,
accounts or interviews with contestants it gathers for the lawful promotion of
American Bass and its tournament operations and sponsors.
20) TOURNAMENT PROTECTION
RULE - Any act or inflammatory statement by any contestant that, in the opinion
of the Tournament Authority, is detrimental to the operation of the tournament,
damaging to organized bass fishing, to American Bass or any of its sponsors, or
to permitting agencies or their officers (such as rangers, wardens, fishery
biologists, etc.) during the practice round or tournament, may result in the
temporary or permanent suspension from all future American Bass tournaments.
21) CITATIONS - A
contestant cited by officers for violation of State or Federal fishing or
boating regulations may be disqualified.
22) TRUTH Verification
TESTING - All contestants, by virtue of their entry into any American Bass
event, are subject to testing by any ÒTruth VerificationÓ method by authority
of the management of American Bass.
The cost of testing may be assessed to the challenger. Failure to comply to taking or failure
to pass a Òtruth verificationÓ test, either at the tournament site or at any
time after the tournament is concluded may result in forfeiture of any or all awards. This may also affect your membership status
with American Bass. See the waiver
for additional details.
If you have any questions,
CALL AMERICAN BASS (310) 376-1026