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Wildside Bass Chapter
TOURNAMENT RULES AND REGULATIONS REVISED 2/05/03 The
following rules and regulations shall be interpreted and enforced by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors will finalize all disagreements and decisions concerning chapter matters. The
tournament year will commence on August 1st and terminate on August 1st of the following year. All members are expected
to follow high degrees of courtesy, safety, conservation and sportsmanship. The chapter supports
and encourages “catch and release.” Participation in the Wildside Bass Chapter tournament schedule
is open to all members in good standing. 1.) Members fishing in the vicinity of another member or non-member during a tournament shall observe a twenty-five (25) yard courtesy zone. This courtesy zone can be waived by gaining permission from the individual who first established the area. If two (2) or more boats should anchor in a particular area, the distance between boats shall be no less than fifty (50) yards, unless it is agreed upon by all in the area that this distance will be waived. An anchored boat is defined as a boat with the anchor overboard and the trolling motor up and out of the water. 2.) Alcoholic beverages and/or illegal substances will not be tolerated during tournaments. Violation of this rule will be
considered for disciplinary action. 3.) Safe boating conduct must be observed at all times. All U.S. Coast Guard regulations and requirements will be enforced.
A U.S. Coast Guard approved Personal Flotation Device (P.F.D.) must be worn whenever the combustion engine
is in operation. Any member not having a P.F.D. will not be allowed to fish. 3.1.) The following equipment is required by the U.S. Coast Guard: A.) A U.S. Coast Guard approved P.F.D. B.) A signaling device. (horn or whistle) C.) A paddle. D.) An anchor. E.) A bailing device. F.) Navigation lights. (dusk to dawn) G.) A floatation cushion.
H.) A fire extinguisher. (mandated by boat length) 4.) Horsepower for all boats must not exceed U.S. Coast Guard ratings. All boats powered by motors of twenty-five (25)
horsepower or more, must be equipped with some type of “kill switch” which must be attached to the P.F.D.
while the combustion engine is in operation. 5.) All boats will be inspected before launching at the first scheduled tournament site of the calendar year. Contents of
livewells, storage compartments, and coolers will be checked as well as possession of all appropriate
U.S. Coast Guard equipment. Functionality of livewells and “kill switches” will be inspected prior
to the tournament start while boats are in the idling state. 6.) Only artificial lures are permitted to fish with. Pork strips, rinds, etc… will also be allowed. Absolutely
no live bait of any
kind shall be permitted. All bass caught must be caught alive and with rod and reel only. 7.) Only Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass will be weighted for points. The minimum length of a bass considered legal
for weigh in will be twelve (12) inches. Season limits will be in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Fish and
Wildlife Department. A bass shall be measured on the longest straight line with the mouth closed
and the caudal (tail) fin rays squeezed together to give the maximum overall measurement. Each member will
select their own lunker and ascertain their lunker is weighed and measured. Dead fish can not be used to qualify
for lunker. 8.) Penalties: 8A.) Any bass found in a member’s boat, cooler,
or possession prior to any tournament is prohibited
and will be considered for disciplinary action by the Board. 8B.) Each illegal bass brought to the scale will
result in a one (1) pound deduction from the total weight.
Illegal bass will not be added to the total weight. 8C.) Each dead bass submitted for weigh in will result
in a four (4) ounce deduction from the total weight. 8D.) Bass that appear to have been mutilated in any
way, will be weighed at the discretion of the Tournament
Director. 8E.) Members late for weigh in will have one (1)
pound deducted from their total weight for every minute
they are late. Members will be disqualified from weigh in if they are late ten (10) minutes
or more. 8F.) Each member will be allowed to keep one (1)
live bass during the tournament year without penalty.
Each additional live bass kept will result in a one-half (1/2) pound deduction from the total
weight. 9.) When two (2) or more members weigh in the identical total weights, the member with the most bass recorded at weigh
in will be awarded the higher placing. If a tie exists, the weight of the individual lunker will be used to determine
the placing. If a tie still exists, each member will receive the same amount of points. 10.) All tournament
related complaints must be voiced by the complainant to the Tournament Director. Any complaint voiced
thereafter will not be considered. If mention of a disturbing incident is made to the Tournament Director
prior to the tournament end, it will be interpreted as a complaint. 11.) Violation of
any tournament rule or regulation will be considered for disciplinary action. Any and all violations will
be ruled upon as expeditiously as possible. The Board of Directors decision will be final. 12.) Every effort
will be made to verify that all boats are safely out of the water and trailered before leaving a tournament site. 13.) Any member arriving
late for a tournament must, prior to fishing, report to a tournament official. 14.) No member will
contribute to another member’s catch. Combined total weight will be acceptable only during team tournaments. 15.) Rule Changes:
If a member would like to propose a rule change, addition, or deletion, they have the opportunity to do
so by submitting the proposal in writing at any regular meeting. This proposal will then be voted on and must
be approved by seventy-five percent (75%) of all members present to become official. 16.) Any new member
between the ages of sixteen (16) and nineteen (19) will be allowed to choose an existing member to
fish chapter tournaments with the first year they are in the chapter. 17.) All boats must
provide some type of livewell for live fish storage. Tournament officials will determine if aeration is adequate.
If a livewell does not function, (pump water or provide adequate aeration) the boat will be deemed ineligible
to use in the tournament. If the malfunction can be prepared, the repair must be made prior to the tournament
start. A portable aerator will be permitted as a temporary acceptable alternative. 18.) All members
fishing in a tournament must have a valid fishing or sporting license for the state being fished. 19.) A member must
fish at least four (4) out of six (6) Wildside Bass Chapter point tournaments to be eligible to qualify
for the team state fish off. 20.) Culling of dead
fish is strictly prohibited. Any member reported doing so will lose all points and is disqualified from
winning any awards, trophies, or prizes. 21.) Only active
members in Wildside Bass Chapter will be permitted to fish and/or participate during chapter sponsored
tournaments. Special dispensation of this rule will be granted to former members who were in good
standing. 22.) At least one
tournament will be a two (2) day tournament held on a Saturday and Sunday of a weekend with the total combined weight used to determine the placing. Presently practiced placing payoffs will prevail. 23.) All fishing
must be conducted from a boat. Members must not disembark to land a fish. Members can disembark for
emergencies. If a member must disembark, they must do so without any fishing gear. Should this be necessary,
it must be reported to the Tournament Director prior to weigh in. 24.) All bodies of
water scheduled for tournaments will be off limits for fishing by members on the Tuesday before the
tournament date. Exception to this rule applies to two (2) day tournaments only. There will be no
off limits date set for two day tournaments. |
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