Club By-Laws Part II

[BassnG3]

DRUGS and ALCOHOL

1.  No one shall be allowed to participate in a tournament if they are under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.  NO alcohol is allowed to be in any boat during a tournament.  NO alcohol is allowed at the tournament site until the tournament has been completed.  A tournament is considered completed when weigh-in has been completed.  Use your own discretion if alcohol is consumed after the tournament is completed.  Violation of this rule will result in disqualification from the tournament and possible ejection from the club.  The tournament committee will decide upon the ejection.

2.  Anyone taking prescription drugs for medical purposes that impair their ability shall let it be known to the tournament committee and shall not be allowed to operate a boat while the main engine is running.  Violation of this rule will result in disqualification from the tournament.

SAFETY

1.  EVERY boat must have all required Coast Guard safety equipment.  In addition, it must have a functional bilge pump.

2.  Anglers shall wear a Personal Flotation Device (PFD) when their boat is ON PLANE during the official tournament.  The official tournament is started when the first boat takes off and ends when the last fish is weighed in.

3.  All boats using a gasoline engine are required to carry a fire extinguisher and must be equipped with some type of operable kill switch.

4.  Boating safety regulations will be checked prior to the first tournament of the year and checked periodically throughout the tournament season.  Any violation of the regulations will result in disqualification from that tournament and future tournaments until such violations are corrected.


TACKLE and EQUIPMENT

1.  Only artificial lures may be used.  No live bait, dead bait or bait since prepared from these baits may be used.  The use of such baits is grounds for disqualification.  (Pork rind, pork strips, pork-o's, etc. may be used).
2.  Only one rod per man may be used at one time.  Persons may have as many rods as they desire rigged and ready for use.

3.  Trolling (the use of the trolling motor or outboard motor to move a lure across the water) is not permitted.

4.  All anglers are responsible for keeping their catch alive.  All boats MUST have livewell space, properly aerated, to adequately maintain alive a limit catch of bass by both anglers using the boat.

BOAT OPERATION
1.  Boat operation shall be the owner's responsibility.

FISHING LOCATIONS
1.  Fishing may be done anywhere on tournament waters.

2.  All fishing must be done from the boat and a person cannot leave the boat to land a fish.

3.  There is NO official off limits time for any body of water fished.

4.  Both persons must remain in the boat for the duration of the tournament except in the case of emergency.

WEIGH-IN

1.  Anglers who are not at the predetermined checkpoint prior to the time set in 1 above shall be penalized at a rate of two (2) ounces per one (1) minute late.  After fifteen (15) minutes the anglers will be disqualified.

2.  If a boat breaks down and another tournament angler stops to assist, they may weigh their catches upon arrival at the weigh in site.  No tournament anglers will be allowed to leave the tournament site until "ALL" club members and guests are accounted for.

3.  Courtesy measurements must be obtained prior to bringing your fish to the scales.

4.  Any fish presented for weigh-in by an angler that does not meet the minimum length will be forfeited along with the angler's largest fish.  This forfeiture will continue until all short fish have been removed.  The tournament committee will use a "Golden Rule" as the official measuring instrument.

5. Each fisherman is responsible for marking their fish and ensuring credit for fish they caught.

6.  Only Largemouth, Smallmouth and/or Spotted Bass may be weighed in.

7.  Minimum length is twelve (12) inches in Georgia and fourteen (14) inches in Florida, unless a waiver is issued prior to blast off for Florida tournaments.
8.  Maximum creel limit in Georgia is five (5) bass per angler and in Florida is five (5) bass per angler of which only one (1) bass can be over 22 inches or longer in total length (this requirement may be waived for certain tournaments).

9.  Four (4) ounces will be deducted from the total weight for each dead fish weighed in.  Dead fish become the property of the angler catching it and it shall not be returned to the tournament waters under any circumstances.

10.  Plastic bags will be the only acceptable method for bringing fish to the weigh in scales.  Other methods for transporting fish (nets, lipped, etc.) will disqualify those fish from being weighed in.

11.  Anglers are responsible for the handling of their own fish.


SPORTSMANSHIP

1.  Club tournaments are a learning experience for all of our members.  Boaters should provide the same courtesy as they would want to receive themselves.

2.  Boaters shall not interfere with other anglers or boats and shall be courteous as not to leave a wake while passing another fisherman.

3.  ALL boats will aid another boater in distress.

4.  Boats fishing the same bank in the same direction shall maintain a distance of not less than fifty (50) yards. This is the responsibility of the trailing boat.  Boats are required to use courtesy when fishing the same bank. Communication between anglers will help in many cases.  Violations will be addressed on a case by case basis.

GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES

1.  All grievances will be brought to the attention of the Tournament Committee by the end of the weigh in period.  No grievance will be logged after that time.

2.  The Tournament Committee will act upon a grievance as soon as it is identified.  Their decision is final.

Article VI – Classic Tournament and Angler of the Year

Section 1 – General Rules

1.  The Classic will be a two-day tournament fished in the month of February.

2.  Only members will be permitted to fish in the classic (A member is defined as any club participant paying membership fees). To be eligible to fish the Classic members must fish a minimum of five tournaments. In the event a member is unable to fish the minimum number of tournaments then they must fish four and pay for one additional tournament prior to the end of the last tournament scheduled for the year. 

3.  All participants are required to pay a fee of $30.00 to fish the Classic.

4. The location of the Classic will be determined by vote in the month of January.

Section 2 – Angler of the Year

1.   The member that accumulates the most points at the completion of the tournament year will be recognized as the "Angler of the Year". He or she will be exempt from paying membership dues for the following year as listed in Article II, Section 2.1.