the CBAF

CHRISTIAN BASS ANGLERS FELLOWSHIP (CBAF)

TOURNAMENT RULES: “TEAM TOURNAMENTS”

1) These rules are for all CBAF “Team Tournaments”. In addition to these rules, each contestant MUST READ, UNDERSTAND, AGREE TO, AND SIGN a CBAF Waiver. It is the responsibility of each entrant to know these rules. Ignorance of the rules is not a defense for violation of them. The Tournament Director 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 Tournament Director may assess a penalty/disqualification without a written protest. The decision of the Tournament Director shall be final in all matters. Adjustments to the results/paybacks, if necessary, shall be made after the final decision. 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!

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. 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, retail establishments, etc. Misconduct is a bad reflection on organized fishing and CBAF. Misconduct may be deemed as an infraction of our sportsmanship rule and is grounds for disqualification from any event. CBAF shall make the determination as to any sportsmanship, improper fishing techniques and/or misconduct issue.

3) PARTICIPATION AND ELIGIBILITY – Participation is open to everyone. However, CBAF reserves the right to refuse participation in CBAF events to anyone. Any angler unwilling to provide accurate address and/or social security # information may be denied participation. 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 “Team” consists of two anglers. One member of a team may fish alone at any CBAF event.

4) BOAT AND HORSEPOWER REGULATION – There is no minimum length or minimum horsepower requirements to compete in CBAF “Team Tournaments”. No internal combustion engine is required. 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 “unsuitable” by the Tournament Director will not be allowed to participate in that event.

5) SAFETY – All boats must meet Coast Guard regulations. Boat owners must carry proper 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 CBAF 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. CBAF 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. However, please notify CBAF officials if a problem arises so that appropriate help can be attained.

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 CBAF events. Only one “rod and reel” 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 “off limits” or “no fishing” 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.

8) ENCROACHMENT – A “25 yard rule” is in effect at all times during competition. No contestant’s boat may move within 25 yards of another contestant’s boat at any time for the purpose of fishing without the consent of all contestant’s 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 contestant’s boat may “tie up,” or “protect” 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. DON’T 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. CBAF 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. The Tournament Director or a designee will make all judgments 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 team’s 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 team’s catch must be presented in an official weigh-in bag.

13) OFFICIAL BOATS – Officials may be on the water during tournament hours and can approach, photograph or observe any contestant’s boat. Each contestant is requested to cooperate with all reasonable requests.

14) WAIVER AND RELEASE – Each contestant must sign a CBAF waiver / release form prior to each event.

15) PRETOURNAMENT PRACTICE (PRE-FISHING) – Pre-fishing is allowed at any time.

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 (or orange ribbon) at boat inspection may result in disqualification.

18) COOPERATION WITH MEDIA/PROMOTION – Within the framework of reasonable requests, all contestants in CBAF events will cooperate with media representatives covering said event. Likewise, participation in the tournament grants CBAF the use of any pictures of contestants, accounts or interviews with contestants it gathers for the lawful promotion of CBAF and its tournament operations and sponsors.

19) CITATIONS – A contestant cited by officers for violation of State or Federal fishing or boating regulations may be disqualified.