Tournament
rules provide equal opportunity for all participants to successfully apply their
fishing skills and abilities, improve the safety of both participant and user of
the tournament waters, and provide for proper handling of the fish.
The tournament rules
are subject to interpretation only by the Tournament Committee under the
coordination and supervision of the Region Eight Tournament Director. The
Tournament Director's decision shall be final.
The
required number (5) dates will be set aside annually in order to conduct
the Region Eight Tournaments. Each tournament will be one day in duration.
Tournament dates are considered final once approved by the voting body of
Chapter Presidents. Dates will not be changed, to prevent conflicts with
individual Chapter Tournament Schedules and Constitutions after their schedules
have been completed and finalized.
Tournament
dates will be chosen to provide two Saturday and two Sunday tournaments and one Open Tournaments sites will
be chosen by the Region Eight Board of Directors in conjunction with the Tournament Director. Once
thoroughly reviewed for availability, conflicts, tide cycles etc., the
tournament sites chosen will be presented for a vote, for approval to the Region
Eight Chapter Presidents.
If a vote is called for and it results in a tie, the Region
Eight Director will vote and break the tie.
The
"Open" tournament may be added to the schedule to serve as a Region
Eight Fundraiser. Region Eight members who participate in this tournament may
use their weight to replace a missed tournament or low score from one of the
four regular tournaments in the following manner:
1.)
A Region Eight member fishing with another Region Eight member will be credited
with 100% of that team’s weight from the "Open" tournament.
2.)
A Region Eight member fishing with a non-Region Eight member will be credited
with 50% of that team’s weight from the "Open" tournament.
Entry
fees of $25.00 per entrant, per tournament, are hereby established. The entry
fee, once received by the Tournament Officials is non-refundable. Big Fish $5.00
per Entry. If two participants in a boat, they both have to pay big fish to win.
Members
and Chapters in good standing whose application/registration forms are completed
and received by the Tournament
Officials prior to the time established by the Tournament Director for the
closing of registration shall be
eligible to
compete. Except for the Open
Tournament, participation is open only to members in good standings (see 3.1-2) who are 16 years of age or older.
Prior
to each tournament, all chapters in good standing will be mailed or provided the
appropriate registration forms. Chapter Presidents are to insure proper
completion of the form prior to submission to the Tournament Officials on the
date of the tournament.
Each Chapter will pay with a single check totaling the sum of
$25.00 per man listed on the registration form when presenting the form to the
Tournament Officials. Individuals participating in the Big Fish Competition will
be indicated clearly on the registration form.
The
Big Fish Competition will be presented at the time of registration but kept
totally separated from registration fees. Under NO circumstances shall a
registration form be accepted after the close of registration. Registration will
close 30 minutes prior to the first flight of boats departing the tournament
headquarters site to begin the competition day. All boats must be off trailer 15
minutes prior to blast off.
6.1-7
SPORTSMANSHIP AND PERSONAL CONDUCT.
Participants shall observe high standards of ethics,
sportsmanship, and personal conduct. They shall obey the laws, and the
authorities having jurisdiction in the tournament area. They shall keep
themselves informed and aware of the rules, laws, and conditions applicable to
the tournament. Consumption of alcoholic beverages during competition and
scoring activities is prohibited until after the scales are closed.
Competitors shall yield to inspection by Tournament Officials at any time
during the tournament. Violators shall be subject to the penalties provided in
Section 6.1‑25.
Tournament
waters shall be defined as public waters, which are accessible by boat from the
tournament headquarters. All fishing by participants shall be done from a boat
on tournament waters. All participants and competition boats shall remain in
tournament water throughout the competition hours. Violators shall be subject to
the penalties provided in Section 6.1-24.
Shall
be determined by the Tournament Director and announced at registration. The
hours may be changed prior to blast off with reasonable notice to competitors
during the tournament. Late arrival at the check-in point at the end of
competition hours shall not be excused. No make-up time shall be granted for any
reason to any competitor who has been unable to compete during any part of the
tournament. Violators are subject to the penalties provided in section 6.1-24.
No
restrictions.
6.1-11
SAFETY AND INSPECTIONS.
Safety
shall be the concern of and first priority to all participants. All competition
equipment shall be presented for inspection before the beginning of
competition and all participants shall yield to inspection upon the request of
Tournament Officials during the entire tournament event including scoring, award
ceremonies, the protest period and during the deliberation of any protest that
may be registered by the participants. Competition equipment found to be unsafe
or not seaworthy by the Tournament Officials shall not be used in the tournament
Violators shall be subject to the penalties provided in Section 6.1-24.
Participants shall, whenever their primary propulsion
engine is in gear, wear a personal floatation device (PFD)
of TYP III or better, which is approved by the United States Coast Guard
TYP III or better. The PFD must be completely zipped and/or clipped and
attached/connected to the Kill Switch. See Sect. 6.1.13
6.1-13
BOATER REQUIREMENTS.
Competition boats shall be 14 feet or more in length,
powered by a primary propulsion engine of 9.9HP or more horsepower. Boats may be
equipped with an electrical motor for low‑speed maneuvering.
It shall be equipped with a functional device, known as a kill switch,
which shall terminate the operation of the primary engine when the operator
leaves the controls. Each boat shall be equipped with a functional power
operated pumping device, which will remove water from the boat effectively and
in a manner acceptable to the Tournament Officials. Each boat powered by an
engine of 40 horsepower or less may, as approved by the Tournament Officials, be
equipped with stick‑type steering. When required, each boat must have a
U.S. Coast Guard horsepower rating plate attached to the boat by the
manufacturer. The horsepower of the outboard engine must not exceed the rating
specified on the rating plate. Any boat manufactured prior to November 1972 must
adhere to ratings set by the U.S. Coast Guard for similar boats. Normal
maintenance to increase the performance of engines is allowed. Changing or
altering standard factory parts or motor to increase the horsepower over the
factory horsepower rating is forbidden and will result in disqualification.
Violators shall be subject to the penalties provided in Section 6.1‑24.
Shall
be limited to casting, spinning and spin-casting rods and reels and artificial
lures. Only one such rod and reel may be actually in use at one time. No live or
dead bait is allowed. Animal skin (pork frogs, for example), fur and feathers
may be used to dress artificial lures. Violators shall be subject to the
penalties provided in Section 6.1-24.
Trolling
is prohibited. Participants shall, without assistance, hook, play and land any
fish they catch in competition, except that partners may net fish in a landing
net and bring them into the boat. Violators shall be subject to the penalties
provided in Section 6.1-24.
Participants shall fish with a partner. The
Tournament Director may allow a participant to fish alone if a partner or
observer cannot be found, but a single participant may not exceed the creel
limit for one person. Violators shall be subject to the penalties provided in
Section 6.1‑24.
6.1-17
COURTESY TO PARTNERS.
Competitors shall be in the boat with their partners
and in a condition of readiness for fishing before the beginning of competition.
Violators shall be subject to the penalties provided in Section 6.1‑24.
6.1-18
CONTACT WITH OTHER BOAT PEOPLE.
Participants
shall not approach closer than necessary or otherwise make contact with other
boats or persons during competition hours for reasons other than emergencies or
a disabled boat. Violators shall be subject to the penalty provided in Section
6.1-24.
Fishing
on tournament waters is permitted anywhere except within legally posted no
fishing areas or within 50 yards of another anchored boat when the trolling
motor is retracted from the water.
.1-19
EMERGENCY CONDITIONS DEFINED.
Emergency
conditions are defined as conditions, which subject persons or property to
imminent danger, or conditions, which are deemed by Tournament Committee to be
of emergency in nature, to include leaving the boat for the purpose of using the
restroom facilities.
Only
under emergency conditions as defined above or in cases where boats are
disabled, may participants leave their boats. In the event one contestant leaves
the boat for the purpose of using the restroom the partner remaining behind
shall cease fishing immediately and shall not resume fishing until such time as
the first partner is physically back in the boat.
In
cases of dire emergency or where safety is involved, both contestants may choose
to leave their boat. Under such conditions (dire emergency or safety), they may
ride in another contestant's boat and bring their fish to the weigh-in for
scoring subject to all requirements.
Partners
shall remain in sight of each other at all times until their fish are turned in.
In such cases, both partners, or the non-boating partner alone, may take his
fish to the weigh-in in another contestant's boat. The contestant who remained
behind is disqualified as soon as his original partner leaves in the other boat.
6.1-20
HANDLING OF FISH DURING COMPETITION.
Competition
boats will be equipped with a functional, adequately aerated live well. No
stringers, ropes, or other devices, which would injure fish or subject them to
unnecessary stress, shall be used. Dead fish large enough for scoring shall be
kept by participants and submitted for scoring.
Fish
too small for scoring shall be returned to the water immediately. No more fish
than may be scored may be held in captivity at any time during competition
hours. Fish shall not be mutilated or otherwise intentionally injured or
mistreated. Swallowed single hooks shall be cut free of other tackle and left in
place whether the fish is to be kept or released. Lures must be extracted in the
least injurious manner available. Violators shall be subject to the penalties
provided in Section 6.1-24.
6.1-21
HANDLING OF FISH DURING WEIGHING AND SCORING.
Participants shall present all bass in their
possession when they pass the check‑in point for scoring by Tournament
Officials. The practice of culling is prohibited at, on, or in view of the
tournament headquarters site. Bass received by Tournament Officials for
weigh‑in and scoring shall not be touched again by the participant who
caught them. All fish, dead or
alive, shall be placed in containers SUPPLIED BY THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR with
water for transport to the scoring area. Water must be added to containers to
reduce injury. All fish that are alive after the competition or scoring
procedure shall be returned to the water by Tournament Officials, except that
the requests of governmental, educational, and research agencies may be honored,
and trophy fish may be returned to the participant who caught them when they
request them for mounting and display. Fish not judged by Tournament Officials
to be alive shall be protected from spoilage and disposed as of food, or
otherwise in a manner which complies with the law if they are unfit for use as
food. TRAILERING OF BOATS WILL BE AT THE DISCRETION OF THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR.
Violators shall be subject to the penalties provided in Section 6.1‑24.
Competitor's
scores shall be the weight of the bass they have caught and kept during the
competition hours. Weight may be deducted from the competitor's score by the
Tournament Officials as a penalty under the provisions of Art. #6, Section
6.1-25.
Competitors
may present, for weighing and scoring, no more than the legal limit of bass as
determined by the tournament site location may be presented for scoring. All
fish shall be no less than the minimum length required by state law as governed
by the tournament site location. In NO instance will a fish be scored that
measures less than 12 inches in length.
Four
ounces shall be deducted from the competitors' actual weight for each bass,
which is judged by the Tournament Officials to be dead at the time of scoring.
All final standings shall be based upon the weight score remaining after
deductions have been made for any dead bass and for any other penalties
assessed. If a tie exists, the weight of the largest fish shall be used to
resolve the tie, if a tie still exists it will be resolved by the number of fish
weighed, all other ties shall be by a "Flip of a Coin". Penalty for a
short fish will be that fish plus one pound.
Participants
who suspect that the tournament rules have been violated may protest to the
Tournament Officials at any time during the tournament or within 15 minutes
after arrival at the tournament headquarters site, followed by a written protest
within 30 minutes after the scales have closed. Protest shall be decided upon by
the Tournament officials under the direction of the Region Eight Tournament
Director.
6.1-24
VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES.
Participants
shall honor the letter and intent of the Tournament Rules or they shall be
judged to have violated them. All judgments are reserved to the Tournament
Officials. All participants shall be presumed to be familiar with the tournament
rules. Participants held by the Tournament Officials to have violated the
principles of fairness, sportsmanship and ethical conduct explicitly or
implicitly included in the tournament rules may be declared ineligible to
compete in future tournament events.
In such a case, the incident shall be
reported to the Region Eight Board of Directors for action. Participants held by
the Tournament
Officials to be in violation of the tournament rules shall be penalized as
provided in applicable sections of the Article.
a.)
The
participants shall be disqualified from further competition in the tournament in
progress and receive no credit for that event.
b.)
The participants shall be penalized by deductions of l lb (pound) of his
actual weight for each minute he is late for the first five minutes and five
percent of his actual weight for each additional minute he is late, so that
after I5 minutes, no credit for actual weight shall be awarded. The penalty
shall apply on the tournament currently in progress and will not be carried over
to a subsequent tournament.
c.)
All fish to be found in violation of established length limits shall be
removed from the creel before scoring and then the participants shall be
penalized by the additional 1 lb. This penalty applies to each fish remaining in
their possession for each such violation. Violation of creel limit will result
in the disqualification from further competition in the tournament in progress
and violators will receive no credit for that event
d.)
Any Chapter, which fails to attend 50% of the regularly scheduled
President's Meetings, and fails to field a minimum of 1 boat at each Region
Eight Tournament or to support 50% of all Region Functions, shall be ineligible
to compete in the next scheduled Mr. Bass, Chapter Team, and Regional Classic
Tournaments.
Polygraph test may be given in conjunction with
Virginia Bass Chapter Federation Region Eight tournaments. These tests will be
given at the discretion of the Tournament Director and/or the Region Director.
Random Region Eight polygraph tests shall be given in the following format:
a.) Selected participants of Region Eight Tournaments shall submit to
Region Eight polygraph examination when directed by the Tournament Director
and/or the Region Director. Failure to submit to Region Eight polygraph
examination will result in disqualification or the denial of eligibility under
Article 6.1‑5.
b.) Polygraph examinations shall be given by a licensed Polygraph
Examiner and shall be given under conditions specified by the Polygraph
Examiner.
c.) Selected tournament participants shall abide by the instructions
given by the Polygraph Examiner and cooperate in his efforts to give a thorough
and accurate exam.
d.) All Region Eight polygraph examinations shall be within 10 days of
the Tournament.
e.) The results of the Region Eight polygraph examination shall be
scrutinized by the examiner and given to the Region Eight Tournament Director
and/or Region Director after completion of the polygraph.
f.) Retesting of selected participants will be done only at the
discretion of the examiner. The retesting will be done at the same site, and on
the same day as the previous test, and will be done by the same Polygraph
Examiner. Any additional fees for retesting will be the responsibility of the
requesting participant.
g.) Failure to submit to examination by Region Eight Polygraph Examiner
or failure to attain a satisfactory result on a Region Eight polygraph
examination shall be conclusive evidence of violation and subject to Articles
6.1‑5 and 6.1‑25.
6.1-26
TOURNAMENT PARTICIPATION.
Each
club and president will be responsible for participation of at least one of the
following functions per year (blastoff boat launch or check-in/weigh-in). Club
assignments will be determined by draw at the first of the year.
At
all officially sanctioned Region Eight tournaments the awards will be as
follows:
a.)
Payout for Tournament places will be based on the total number of boats
participating in each tournament.
b.)
ONE place will be paid for every six boats participating in the
tournament. The breakdown of
places, totals and percentages that will be paid in accordance with the 64%
Payback schedule.
c.)
$100.00 will be payable to the winning Chapter as determined by the total
of the top six members weight.
d.)
Trophy Optional – As an
option, a placing participant may elect to receive a trophy.
Cost of the trophy will be deducted from any cash award for which the
participant is eligible.
e.)
Lunker Pot – When a lunker pot is declared by the Tournament Director,
the funds collected by an appointed Tournament Officials and all proceeds
collected will be given to the participating members with the largest fish
weighed that day of the tournament. Should
a tie occur, the proceeds would be divided equally among the tied members.
Following
the last regularly scheduled Region Eight Tournament the following awards will
be presented:
a.)
Lunker of the year – Trophy
b.)
Region Eight fisherman of the year – Trophy
c.)
Region Eight 20 man team for the State Regional Fall Classic – Region
will send 20 people with the following expenses paid: 1. Entry Fee 2. Shirts
d.)
The Top 50% of the team will go as boaters.
The remaining 50% will go as non-boaters and will pay to the Region
$40.00 before the Fall Classic Tournament to be given to the boaters for
operating expenses.