Tournament Dates:
October 11, 2008
November 22, 2008
December 13, 2008
January 24, 2009
February 7, 2009
March 7, 2009
ENTRY FEE:
$100 and that includes $10 for big fish
Payout will be 1 in 7 teams
SPORTSMANSHIP:
All competitors are expected to show courtesy and good sportsmanship to all other competitors and non competitors alike. At no time during tournament hours will fighting, verbal or physical harassment on or off water, or any other act reflecting negatively on the sport of competitive fishing and the Dead Sea Mafia be tolerated. They are ground for immediate disqualification from current and future tournaments. This rule is non negotiable and will be enforced diligently.
You must observe all State boating regulations (such as observing idle zones, especially bridges and marinas).
No drugs or alcohol allowed. Also see state regulations on alcohol and drugs.
No littering.
ENTRY:
The tournament is open to all persons to participate in as a team provided they have never been disqualified from any other tournament for refusing a polygraph examination or failing a polygraph examination, whether the results were "inconclusive" or otherwise.
Acceptance of any entry is subject to the approval of the Tournament Director and he reserves the right to take precautionary measures to protect the integrity of the tournament, other anglers, and the resource by denying registrations to any angler wishing to participate.
Each person operating the combustion engine must be 18 years of age. Any adult choosing a minor as a partner assumes full responsibility for that minor.
All Federal, State and Local laws apply.
SAFETY AND BOAT EQUIPMENT:
Carelessness or unsafe operation of any boat will be grounds for disqualification.
Each competitor is required to wear a Coast Guard approved life vest during blast off and returning to weigh-in with kill switch attached.
Safety equipment adequate to pass Coast Guard inspection must be in the boat at all times.
Each boat must be equipped with an aerated live well adequate to hold a tournament limit of 5 bass.
For everyone's protection, participants MUST have boater's liability insurance.
Navigation lights must be on during low light/no light times.
REGISTRATION:
Teams may register in person at the ramp.
Teams will sign-in under the Captain/Partner format.
Registration forms must be filled out completely and signed by both team members; failure to do so will result in loss of awards and qualification submission to Tournament of Champions at Highland Marina, West Point Lake.
No partial payments will be accepted and NO REFUNDS will be given.
CASH ONLY will be the accepted form of payment.
All the cost incured to run this tournament trail are paid for by the Directors, and in order to keep this a 100% payback trail, free entry is given to the Directors.
TACKLE & FISHING METHODS:
Only artificial lures may be used-no live or cut baits.
All bass must be caught in a legal, live, conventional manner using a rod and reel.
Each competitor may have only one rod in use at a time.
Trolling, fishing from docks or fishing from shore is not permitted.
TOURNAMENT HOURS:
The hours of competition will be from first light until 2 PM
The field will be divided into flights of 10. Starting positions will be determined by when the entry fee and registration are received.
Any team leaving the flight early will be disqualified for that tournament.
PERMITTED FISHING LOCATIONS:
Fishing is permitted anywhere on tournament waters except within 25 yards of a non-anchored tournament boat and within 50 yards of another anchored or tied tournament boat with trolling motor out of the water.
Fishing from docks or shore is not permitted.
Anglers shall not leave the boat during the tournament hours except in emergency events (such as heavy nature's call!).
SCORING:
All fish must be brought to the scale in a bag with adequate water.
Largemouth, spotted and shoal bass only will be weighed.
Limit will be 5 bass per boat.
All bass will be measured on a Golden Rule with the mouth closed and fanning the tail.
A penalty of three (3) pounds, loss of the short fish and loss of the biggest fish will be assessed per short fish brought to the scale.
The length limit is 12 inches for ALL species of bass; there will be no courtesy measurements.
Only one dead fish may be weighed-in with a ½ pound penalty assessed on the total weight weighed in. If you bring 2 dead fish to the scale you are disqualified for the event.
All live bass must be released. Exception can be made for trophy fish (check with the director if you want to keep one).
PROTEST
Protests may be lodged at two times during the Tournament: 1) Before the actual start of the Tournament or 2) immediately following the weigh-in of the last boat's catch and before the presentations of awards.
All protests must be lodged in person with the Tournament Director during the specified times.
After the presentation of awards has taken place, the results of the tournament will be considered final.
Any competitor found or heard accusing another competitor of a violation of the rules who has not made a formal protest will be charged with unsportsmanlike conduct and will be disqualified from that tournament and possibly future tournaments.
All contestants agree that, if requested to do so by the Tournament Director, one or both team members will submit to a polygraph examination. Contestants further agree and understand that awards will not be presented until after successfully passing the polygraph examination. Both team members hereby waive and release any and all claims and causes of action of every kind whatsoever.
RULES INTERPRETATION:
Interpretation of these rules shall be left to the Tournament Director and Staff.
The decision of the Tournament Director shall be FINAL in all matters.
Infractions of any of these rules can result in disqualification.