Presque Isle Bassmasters

Club Rules & Regulations

1	RULE CHANGES & INTERPRETATION – The Tournament Rules shall remain unchanged for the the duration of a fishing season. Any changes must be brought up for a club vote after the last tournament but no later than the February meeting of each year. Interpretation of the rules shall be left to the Tournament Director (TD), with advise from the tournament committee if requested.
2	TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE & PROTESTS – The Tournament Committee shall consist of the TD, and two designees who are members in good standing and present at the tournament. Protests must be made in writing immediately at the end of the tournament. The TD shall have paper and pen for this purpose. The decisions of the TD or tournament committee shall be final.
3	PARTICIPATION – Participation is open to any member of P.I.B. or their guests. Guests do not pay the entry fee and are not eligible to receive trophies or money available to the "place" finishers. Guests may enter the big bass pot, and be eligible for trophies and money in that pot. Guests do not receive standing points. A guest may not fish more than twice as a "guest" in any tournament year without filling out an application. Applicants for membership will be awarded points only if they have filed and application for membership prior to the start of the tournament. TD must be notified in advance if a member plans on bringing a guest.
4	PRE-PRACTICE – There will be no off limit periods prior to a tournament.
5	REGISTRATION – Each contestant must register in person at the designated site at least 15 minutes prior to the start time of the tournament, with discretion of the TD permitted in the event of unusual circumstances. Entry fee must be paid at that time and is non-refundable once the event starts.
6	SAFETY – Safe boating shall be observed at all times. Boat operator is responsible for boat wake. Each contestant is required to wear a Coast Guard approved life preserver anytime the combustion engine is running. All boats over 10 HP must be equipped with an emergency ignition shutoff device, which must be attached to the driver’s body whenever the combustion engine is operating.
7	BOAT & MOTOR – Length and type of boat depends on the water being fished; TD may establish restrictions as needed to provide a safety margin, especially on Lake Erie or other large waters. Each boat must have the required U.S. Coast Guard/PFC safety equipment and HP rating plate. Each boat must have a properly aerated/recirculating livewell(s) capable of maintaining alive the catch of bass by both contestants. The TD may disallow non-standard systems if not suitable for keeping bass alive.
8	PERMITTED FISHING METHODS – All bass must be caught alive and in a conventional sporting manner. Only artificial lures (plus pork trailers) may be used. Only one fishing rod may be used at a time. Trolling is not permitted. No intentionally foul hooked fish may be kept.
9	SPORTSMANSHIP – All contestants are expected to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, safety, conservation, and tournament etiquette (see, Belonging to Presque Isle Bassmasters "sportsmanship"). No alcoholic beverage or other drugs shall be allowed in the possession of any contestant during the tournament day until weigh-in is completed. Drunkenness shall be cause for immediate disqualification.
10	BOAT OPERATION – Each contestant is entitled to equal time to fish from the front of the boat, to operate the trolling motor, and an equal number of hours to fish their selected water. Partners must discuss their schedule of boat operation prior to take-off in the morning. It shall be the responsibility of the fishing partner to share operation expenses of the boat/motor for the tournament day if requested by the boat owner.
11	PERMITTED FISHING LOCATIONS – Contestants may fish anywhere, accessible by boat, except areas designated as off limits by the TD or federal, state, or local officials; or within 25 yards of the front facing side of an "active" marina gas dock. Respect the 50-yard limit of another contestant’s boat that was anchored first and do not enter unless invited. An anchored boat is one held in stable position by a line and weight, with trolling motor up. No anchored contestant may permit fishing within the 50-yard radius to selected contestants while excluding others. All angling must be done from the boat. The boat must remain in tournament waters during the entire tournament day unless deemed otherwise by the TD. Anglers may exit the boat for emergencies and necessary rest stops. In the event of and emergency, contestants may return with their catch by check-in time in a rescue boat without penalty.
12	SCORING – Scoring will be determined by pounds and hundredths of each person’s catch. Only largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass at least 12 inches long are counted. Fish will be measured with the mouth closed and tail fanned on a "Golden Rule". If special regulations state a higher minimum size, then the higher size is the tournament minimum. Total weight of tournament creel determines winner. The tournament limit shall be one less than the state limit and shall not exceed 5 fish regardless of state limit. Bass presented for weigh-in which do no meet the minimum tournament size will be penalized at the rate of 1 pound per each short fish plus loss of short fish.
13	LIVE FISH – Every effort must be made to keep the bass alive. Fish must be brought to the scales in water filled bags, no dry bags or hand-carries. Fish will either be identified as (1) alive and releasable, (2) dead. One quarter pound shall be deducted from contestant’s total weight for each dead fish weighed. At no time may a contestant return a dead fish to the water with the expectation of replacing it with a live fish. If a fish dies in the livewell, it counts in the catch of the individual.
14	BIG BASS – If an individual’s big bass is dead, the appropriate deduction will be made from the total weight score. However, in determining the winner of the big bass pot, the actual weight will be recorded.
15	LATE PENALTY – Contestants who are not at the designated check-in area at the appointed time will be penalized at the rate of one pound per minute to be deducted from the total weight, including any weight to be counted towards a big bass award. Any contestant more than 15 minutes late shall lose all credit for the day’s weight and be disqualified from the tournament. The TD has the right to waive this rule in cases of extra-ordinary events. The TD shall be the official timekeeper for the tournament purposes.
16	TIES – Ties will be resolved by combining money and points, and dividing points and money equally between tied places. Except ties for first place, which will be resolved by an immediate 30-minute fish-off with each angler in a separate boat (unless one angler forfeits and accepts second). If still tied, then the above procedure takes over. Prizes and trophies for ties will be flip of coin. Individuals below tied places do not advance a place.
17	PAIRING OF CONTESTANTS – Partners will be paired by draw the morning of the tournament, unless otherwise specified by the TD. Except that Parent/Child and Husband/Wife members may fish together as often as they wish without regard to draw. Also, twice during a tournament year a club member may request to fish with a specific member without regard to the draw, as long as it was previously discussed between both parties and the TD prior to the tournament day.
18	RESPECT FOR THE RESOURCES – A variety of native fish species coexists in the aquatic environment. Their coexistence is part of the necessary chain of life. Contestants are to respect all species native to the water, and take no deliberate action, which would injure or kill any native fish. This does not prevent an individual from keeping another species for mounting or for the table.
19	DISQUALIFICATION – The Tournament Director may disqualify any individual from the tournament who violates any of the above rules. A contestant is automatically disqualified if cited by the PFC, or U.S. Coast Guard for any fish law or boating violation during tournament hours. Disqualification means forfeiture of entry fee and no point awarded. The TD has the authority to override the above rule due to circumstances.
20	CLASSIC QUALIFICATION - To qualify for the classic you must have at least the full number of events to qualify you for angler of the year.

OUTINGS AND SPECIAL TOURNAMENTS

The above rules do not obstruct the scheduling of non-bass tournaments, special/unique skill tournaments, or other special outings desired by the membership. The above rules apply, unless altered by the TD for a particular event, such as limited tackle, wading, float tournaments, live bait for non-bass species, etc.