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RARITAN VALLEY BASSMASTERS
Official Club & Tournament Rules
Revised: June 18, 2008
Section I: CLUB CHARTER
1. “Raritan Valley Bassmasters” is a private, non-profit fishing Organization whose goal is to help improve the Bass fishing skills and knowledge of its members. We encourage good sportsmanship and practice catch and release. Our mission is to bring awareness to all our members about environmental and conservation issues. We abide by all New Jersey Bass Federation laws, State and Local fish and game laws, and most importantly, the goal is to have fun.
2.All proceeds collected by the Club through dues, entry fees, raffles, etc., will be used for all Club expenses, equipment (scales, weigh table, etc.) and returned to the members in the form of trophies, prizes and/or cash rewards.
Section II: MEMBERSHIP
1.The Club shall be comprised of a maximum of 36 members (whose dues are paid up).
2.All members must be at least 18 years of age.
3.All members must be active members of “FLW Outdoors”.
4.The Club will seek to maintain an overage of, at least, one boater (to non-boater ratio).
5.Any application for new membership must be accompanied with a $25.00 application fee, which is non-refundable. Applications for membership are available from the Club Secretary.
6.The Club’s calendar and fiscal year runs from November 1st through October 31st. The Club dues, for the upcoming year, must be paid in full by the November meeting in order to vote on Lake selections, Officers and Event scheduling (Tournament dates).
Section III: DUES
1.The annual Club membership dues are $70.00 per person. The annual dues are broken down as follows: $24.00 Club dues
$14.00 Top 6 fund
$10.00 N.J. Bass Federation
$15.00 TBF
$ 7.00 General Fund
2.The Tournament Directors annual dues will be paid out of the Club’s General Fund.
3.The Club has an annual “raffle” to help defray the cost of the Top 6 Team (see section XIII). Each member will be entered and the drawing will take place at the March meeting. The fee is $ 40.00 per person, which is to be paid (in full) prior to that individuals’ first Club tournament event. The pay-out for the “raffle” is $100.00.
4.Annual Club dues, for the upcoming year, must be paid in full by the November meeting in order to be eligible for the Club’s Top 6 Team.
Section IV: OFFICERS of the CLUB
1.An Executive Board of five (5) Officers shall govern the Club. They shall be responsible for carrying out the daily chores of the Club and must be members in good standing.
2.The five Officer positions and their functions are:
President: Shall be the governing head (Chairman) of the Club. He shall preside and call to order
meetings held by the Club. He shall coordinate and delegate the responsibilities at all
Club functions. He will vote only in the event of a tie (his will be the breaking vote).
He will be the Chairman at all events held by the Club.
Vice President/Tournament Director: Shall be the second in command and fill-in for the
President (in his absence) at Club functions. He will be responsible for arranging
for Club tournament events and carrying out the weigh-ins. He is responsible
for all tournament equipment such as scales, official measuring board, etc.. He
shall announce the start and finish of every Tournament event. He will collect all
tournament fees and disburse them to the proper individuals. His decision will be
final in all disputes and protests concerning Tournament related activities (unless
he is involved in the dispute or protest at which time the present members of the
Executive Board will make the decision). He will be responsible for all event
pairings. He is also responsible for all safety and live-well checks before an event
and may designate particular individuals to assist and/or perform the function.
Treasurer: Shall be the keeper of all the financial records of the Club. He will be responsible
for all Club debts, deposits and receipts. He will provide a monthly “Treasurers”
report to all members of the Club.
Secretary: Shall call roll at all meetings and record the minutes at all meetings. He shall be
responsible to keep the membership roster up-to-date. He will be the communication
source for the Club and will inform members of meetings and such.
Assistant Tournament Director: He shall assist the Tournament Director at all events and fill in for
the Tournament Director in his absence.
3.Nominations for the Officer positions, for the upcoming year, will take place at the October meeting. The actual voting will take place at the November meeting. All members in good standing are eligible to nominate and second the nominations.
4.The Club also has one non-Officer position, that of Webmaster. The Webmaster is in-charge of maintaining the Club website www.raritanvalleybassmasters.com <http://www.raritanvalleybassmasters.com> . The Webmaster is responsible for organizing the website’s structure and keeping the site up-to-date. All content posted on the site will be approved by the Officers of the club. Nominations for the position of Webmaster will take place at the October meeting with the actual voting to take place at the November meeting.
Section V: MEETINGS
1.The Club will hold monthly meetings at which all Club business is discussed. The meetings from October to March will be held on Sunday mornings (usually 9:00 am) and the April through October meetings will be held on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 8:00 pm. (Meeting places are subject to change, depending on availability.)
2.Any and all proposed rule changes, Club improvements, etc., are discussed and motions made (and seconded) at Club meetings. The voting on motions will take place at the next meeting.
3.Any proposed rule (Club or Tournament) changes or improvements are put to vote. A majority vote of 2/3 of the membership is required for any change to be approved.
4.Members may be asked to vote via email on certain Club issues or if a majority vote cannot be reached (by the members present at the meeting).
5.All Officer Nominations, Lakes nominations and event scheduling are discussed and voted on at monthly meetings. Officer and Lake Nominations will be made at the October meeting and the outcomes announced at the November meeting. The October meeting will be a separate meeting from that held after the October tournament. The event scheduling will take place at the November meeting.
6.Special Club meetings may be called by the President, if he feels it is necessary.
Section VI: TOURNAMENTS and SCHEDULING
1.There will be no less than nine (9) Club Tournaments scheduled during each calendar year.
2.At least one new Lake must be voted to the schedule each year. A discussion of proposed new Lakes will take place at the October and November meetings.
3.All Lakes fished, will be selected by member vote prior to the October meeting. All members will submit a list of nine Lakes at the August meeting. The nine most popular Lakes will be revealed at the September meeting. A separate vote will be taken to select an alternate Lake (the alternate Lake must be convenient, travel to, Lake).
4.The schedule will be determined (and finalized with dates) at the December meeting. All members will have an equal say in the dates selected for the Tournaments. The priority scheduling of Club events should not be contingent on the Federation, or any other, schedule.
5.All Tournament launch sites will be determined during the January meeting. No site will be changed at random, with the possible exception of inaccessibility. If inaccessibility is determined and/or weather causes the launch site to be changed, all participants will be notified by phone or email.
6.Once the Tournament dates have been finalized, no date(s) will be changed unless there are extenuating circumstances (i.e.; weather, catastrophe, etc.).
7.If a Tournament is cancelled, it may be reschedules for later in the year. If rescheduled, the date must be approved by a majority vote of the members.
8.All Tournaments (single day events) will be 8 hours in length. The average start and stop time is 6:00 am to 2:00 pm ET. Start and stop times may vary due to season, lake restrictions and/or weather (to be determined by the Tournament Director). Two day events will have 8 hours of fishing each day - Unless a majority of participants agree to change the times to allow for travel to and from that specific body of water. (If circumstances are such that one day of a two day event is cancelled, the event will be based solely on the results of the one day fished.)
Section VII: PARTICIPATION
1.Club Tournaments are open to all members for an entrance fee of $25.00 per person for single day events and $30.00 for two day events..
2.All those wishing to participate in an event must contact the Tournament Director no later than 10:00 pm ET on the Wednesday prior to the event. Those who do not contact the Tournament Director by the designated time will not be eligible to fish.
3.Event pairings are at the sole discretion of the Tournament Director.
4.The Tournament Director will assign a blast off number to each boat entered in a tournament. At the start of the tournament, each boat will blast off in the order they were assigned. The boat designated last to blast off will oversee the proceedings.
5.All participants are required to abide by all NJBF, State, Local and Federal laws in addition to any and all Game regulations.
6.All boats must have at least one working live-well that is able to sustain a limit of fish for both the boater and non-boater.
7.All boater “byes” will be determined by the Tournament Director based on the previous years point standings. The number of “byes” in an event will be determined by the overage of boater to non-boater participants in that event (if applicable). No boater may have a second bye until all other (eligible) boaters have had one, unless situations dictate so (a bye is declined, no other eligible boater participant, boat availability or a pairing problem exists). If a boater misses his/her turn in the “bye” rotation, they must wait until their turn comes around again for their bye. Any non-boater asked to bring a boat may not have a bye. All first year boaters are not eligible for a bye.
8.All participants must remain in the boat at all times during a tournament, except in the event of sickness, a brief restroom stop, severe storm or other such hazard.
9.The non-boater must pay the boater a rider’s fee of $25.00 for events on Lakes allowing gas engines. On electric only Lakes, the rider is only responsible for paying the launching (ramp) fees (if applicable).
10. “Observers”, non-dues paying guests, may fish with a Club participant (if an opening exists) but is not eligible for any 1st, 2nd or 3rd place prize money. The “Observer” fee is $20.00 and it entitles the individual to participate in the “Big fish of Day” pool (only). The Observer must be a non-boater and can only keep 1 fish in the live-well. An Observer is not responsible for any other boater fees.
11.An “Observer” can be a boater if a boat is needed due to lack of boater participation or breakdowns. The “Observer” must have valid insurance and either be a member of the TBF or sign an insurance waiver (if not a TBF member).
Section VIII: SAFETY
1.Safe boating practices shall be observed at all times.
2.All boats must be registered with the proper State authorities. Each boat operator must possess all the proper paper work and licenses to operate a boat.
3.All boat owners must carry the proper liability insurance (a minimum of $100,000/$300,000).
4.Weight and Horsepower shall not exceed the rated specifications for the boat, as designated by the manufacturer.
5.All members operating a boat must have passed the Coast Guard Boaters Safety Course.
6.All boats used in the tournaments must be a minimum of 16 feet in length, not including the trolling motor or the outboard motor.
7.All boaters must provide a pedestal seat for the non-boater.
8.Each boater is responsible to have the proper safety equipment aboard to meet State and Local regulations. All participants must have a Coast Guard approved PFD. Each non-boater is responsible for providing his/her own Coast Guard approved PFD.
9.The possession or use of any illegal substances (drugs) prior to, during or after a Club tournament is prohibited and will result in immediate disqualification.
10.The consumption of alcohol prior to or during a Club tournament is prohibited and will result in an automatic disqualification. The consumption of alcohol after an event is subject to all Local, State and Government regulations.
Section IX: SPORTSMANSHIP
1.All participants must conduct themselves in a sportsman like manner (see NJBF rules).
2.All participants are expected to follow high standards of courtesy, safety and conservation.
3.Fishing within a 50 foot radius of a Competitors anchored boat is prohibited unless weather conditions are such that this is not possible.
4.Non-boaters have the opportunity of fishing waters of their choice for ½ the tournament time, unless weather conditions are such that this is not possible.
5.The use of cell-phones during competition is prohibited except in the case of an emergency.
6.It is the responsibility of each participant to safely handle and release the fish they catch. All dead fish are to be disposed of in a responsible manner.
7.The Tournament Director’s boat has the priority of being the first boat out of the water after an event in-order to prepare for weigh-in.
Section X: TACKLE and FISHING METHODS
1.Only artificial baits/lures may be used with the exception of pork rind. The use of live bait is prohibited.
2.Only one line may be fished at one time, but other rigs may be available in a ready state for use.
3.Trolling is prohibited.
4.All bass must be caught live and in a conventional sporting manner.
5.The use of landing nets to boat a hooked fish is allowed.
Section XI: PRIZES
1.The individual catching the highest weight total of legal sized fish (not exceeding a limit of 5 fish) will be declared the winner of an event. The total weight is the final weight minus any assessed penalties (if applicable).
2.Prize money will be awarded to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finishers only.
3.Prize money will be determined by the amount of collected entrance fees (based on the number of event participants). The pay out of the prize money will be a 50%, 30% and 20% split (for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place).
4.Entrance fee for single day events is $25.00 per angler. The entrance fee is broken down as follows:
$15.00 towards prize money
$ 2.00 towards the “Big Fish of the Day” pool
$ 8.00 towards the Top 6 fund
Entrance fee for two day events is $30.00 per angler. The entrance fee is broken down as
follows:
$18.00 towards prize money
$ 2.00 towards “Big Fish of the Day” pool - Day 1
$ 2.00 towards “Big Fish of the Day” pool - Day 2
$ 8.00 towards the Top 6 fund
5.The “Big Fish of the Day” pool will be awarded to the individual catching the largest (legal sized) Largemouth or Smallmouth bass caught that day, regardless of species. The prize will depend on the number participating anglers.
6.The Club does have a “Lunker” pool worth $250.00. A “Lunker is defined as a Largemouth Bass 5 pounds or greater and/or a Smallmouth Bass 4 pounds or greater. The “Lunker” pool is species specific, meaning that if a Lunker Largemouth and a Lunker Smallmouth are caught at the same event, a prize will be awarded for each. If there are multiple (same species) fish caught in the Lunker class (in the same event), the prize will be awarded to the individual with the heaviest fish only. If at that time both fish weigh the same, the tie will be broken by the total bag weight of each competitor in that tournament. In the event of an absolute tie, the money will be split evenly.
7.New members are not eligible for the “Lunker” pool ($250.00) until after they have fished 5 Club events.
8.Any individual awards and/or prizes above what the Club wishes to bestow on its’ members will be discussed and voted on at the regular meetings.
9.Yearly Awards will be given out for 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th and 6th places, Biggest Bass of the year (Largemouth & Smallmouth) and “Angler of the Year” (Angler of the Year is determined by the total point accumulated for the year not counting the two throw away events). The top 6 finishers will all receive Club certificates. The top 3 finishers, Angler of the Year and the Biggest Bass winners will receive trophies.
Section XII: SCORING and PENALTIES
1.Points will be awarded to each participating angler based on his/her finishing position (based on total weight). The points are as follows, based on position:
1st = 100.0 6th = 87.511th = 75.016th = 62.521st = 50.026th = 37.5
2nd = 97.5 7th = 85.012th = 72.517th = 60.022nd = 47.527th = 35.0
3rd = 95.0 8th = 82.513th = 70.018th = 57.523rd = 45.028th = 32.5
4th = 92.5 9th = 80.014th = 67.519th = 55.024th = 42.529th = 30.0
5th = 90.010th = 77..515th = 65.020th = 52.525th = 40.030th = 27.5
2.Any participant with a weight total of 0 (no fish for the event), will receive 25.0 place points for fishing the event.
3.In the event of a tie (at the weigh-in), the individual with the single largest fish will be awarded the higher finishing position. In the event of an absolute tie (both total weight and largest fish), both contestants will receive the higher place points and the next finisher will receive the points 2 places down (i.e.; if both individuals tie at 6th place, the next finish position is 8th).
4.All participants will also have their largest fish weighed separately and recorded to aid in the event of a tie. This includes the weighing of each participant’s largest Largemouth and their largest Smallmouth bass.
5.The penalty for a dead fish is ¼ of a pound (0.25 lb) off of the total weight. The Tournament Director will determine the status of each fish prior to weigh-in. The Tournament Directors’ ruling is final.
6.Any fish deemed mutilated, dead or alive, will be disqualified along with that contestants largest fish.
7.The penalty for bringing an undersized fish to the scales is 1 pound off of the total weight (1 pound for each undersized fish). If the undersized fish is the only fish brought to the scales by an individual, the penalty will be 10 place points (off of the 25 points received from fishing the event).
8.The penalty for bringing more than the legal limit (5) of fish to the scales is the loss of that participants largest fish (prior to weigh-in).
9.Each participant returning late at the conclusion of a tournament will be penalized 3/10 of a pound (0.3 lb) per minute up to 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, the participant(s) will be disqualified (this includes the forfeiting of the 25 participation points). The Tournament Director will determine the start and end time of all events and his/her decision regarding lateness is final.
10.Any participant arriving late to the launch site, less than ½ hour before start time, on the day of an event will be penalized 25 place points. Extenuating circumstances or emergency situations will be dealt with on a case by case basis by the Tournament Director.
11.Any participants not off the Tournament waters at 12:00 am ET (midnight) the day before an event will be penalized 25 place points.
12.The culling of dead fish is prohibited and will result in disqualification.
Section XIII: TOP SIX
1.The top six (6) members in the final standings (total point finishers) of the Club will qualify for the N.J. Bass Federation Team Tournament. Club standings are determined by the points, which are accumulated during the season. Each Tournament finishing position has a specified point total (described earlier). Total points will be an accumulation of the seven (7) best finishes of a member (regardless of the number of events fished).
2.The Club will cover the Team Tournament entrance fee for the Top 6 members (usually $510.00).
3.The Club will provide the Top 6 Team with expense monies up to a maximum of $2000.00 (which includes the entrance fee). The money provided to the Team is dependant on the funds collected during the season in the Club’s Top 6 fund. The amount of Club money provided to the Team will be shared equally by all members of the Team that are participating in that particular event (regardless of boater or non-boater status).
4.Funds for the Top 6 Team Tournament are to be used exclusively for that Team’s lodging, fuel and meals. No wives, girlfriends and/or significant others will be allowed to share lodging with the Top 6 Team. Team members are expected to meet, fish and room together in an effort to best represent the Club at the Tournament.
5.If a Club Top 6 qualifier is unable to participate in the Team Tournament, the individual next in line on the final standings list will go in that persons’ place (and so on).
6.Any “Individual” winnings by any of the Clubs’ Top 6 Team members (at the Team Tournament); will be retained by that member. Any “Club” winnings will be equally shared by all members of the Top 6 Team.
Official Club & Tournament Rules
Revised: June 18, 2008
Section I: CLUB CHARTER
1. “Raritan Valley Bassmasters” is a private, non-profit fishing Organization whose goal is to help improve the Bass fishing skills and knowledge of its members. We encourage good sportsmanship and practice catch and release. Our mission is to bring awareness to all our members about environmental and conservation issues. We abide by all New Jersey Bass Federation laws, State and Local fish and game laws, and most importantly, the goal is to have fun.
2.All proceeds collected by the Club through dues, entry fees, raffles, etc., will be used for all Club expenses, equipment (scales, weigh table, etc.) and returned to the members in the form of trophies, prizes and/or cash rewards.
Section II: MEMBERSHIP
1.The Club shall be comprised of a maximum of 36 members (whose dues are paid up).
2.All members must be at least 18 years of age.
3.All members must be active members of “FLW Outdoors”.
4.The Club will seek to maintain an overage of, at least, one boater (to non-boater ratio).
5.Any application for new membership must be accompanied with a $25.00 application fee, which is non-refundable. Applications for membership are available from the Club Secretary.
6.The Club’s calendar and fiscal year runs from November 1st through October 31st. The Club dues, for the upcoming year, must be paid in full by the November meeting in order to vote on Lake selections, Officers and Event scheduling (Tournament dates).
Section III: DUES
1.The annual Club membership dues are $70.00 per person. The annual dues are broken down as follows: $24.00 Club dues
$14.00 Top 6 fund
$10.00 N.J. Bass Federation
$15.00 TBF
$ 7.00 General Fund
2.The Tournament Directors annual dues will be paid out of the Club’s General Fund.
3.The Club has an annual “raffle” to help defray the cost of the Top 6 Team (see section XIII). Each member will be entered and the drawing will take place at the March meeting. The fee is $ 40.00 per person, which is to be paid (in full) prior to that individuals’ first Club tournament event. The pay-out for the “raffle” is $100.00.
4.Annual Club dues, for the upcoming year, must be paid in full by the November meeting in order to be eligible for the Club’s Top 6 Team.
Section IV: OFFICERS of the CLUB
1.An Executive Board of five (5) Officers shall govern the Club. They shall be responsible for carrying out the daily chores of the Club and must be members in good standing.
2.The five Officer positions and their functions are:
President: Shall be the governing head (Chairman) of the Club. He shall preside and call to order
meetings held by the Club. He shall coordinate and delegate the responsibilities at all
Club functions. He will vote only in the event of a tie (his will be the breaking vote).
He will be the Chairman at all events held by the Club.
Vice President/Tournament Director: Shall be the second in command and fill-in for the
President (in his absence) at Club functions. He will be responsible for arranging
for Club tournament events and carrying out the weigh-ins. He is responsible
for all tournament equipment such as scales, official measuring board, etc.. He
shall announce the start and finish of every Tournament event. He will collect all
tournament fees and disburse them to the proper individuals. His decision will be
final in all disputes and protests concerning Tournament related activities (unless
he is involved in the dispute or protest at which time the present members of the
Executive Board will make the decision). He will be responsible for all event
pairings. He is also responsible for all safety and live-well checks before an event
and may designate particular individuals to assist and/or perform the function.
Treasurer: Shall be the keeper of all the financial records of the Club. He will be responsible
for all Club debts, deposits and receipts. He will provide a monthly “Treasurers”
report to all members of the Club.
Secretary: Shall call roll at all meetings and record the minutes at all meetings. He shall be
responsible to keep the membership roster up-to-date. He will be the communication
source for the Club and will inform members of meetings and such.
Assistant Tournament Director: He shall assist the Tournament Director at all events and fill in for
the Tournament Director in his absence.
3.Nominations for the Officer positions, for the upcoming year, will take place at the October meeting. The actual voting will take place at the November meeting. All members in good standing are eligible to nominate and second the nominations.
4.The Club also has one non-Officer position, that of Webmaster. The Webmaster is in-charge of maintaining the Club website www.raritanvalleybassmasters.com <http://www.raritanvalleybassmasters.com> . The Webmaster is responsible for organizing the website’s structure and keeping the site up-to-date. All content posted on the site will be approved by the Officers of the club. Nominations for the position of Webmaster will take place at the October meeting with the actual voting to take place at the November meeting.
Section V: MEETINGS
1.The Club will hold monthly meetings at which all Club business is discussed. The meetings from October to March will be held on Sunday mornings (usually 9:00 am) and the April through October meetings will be held on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 8:00 pm. (Meeting places are subject to change, depending on availability.)
2.Any and all proposed rule changes, Club improvements, etc., are discussed and motions made (and seconded) at Club meetings. The voting on motions will take place at the next meeting.
3.Any proposed rule (Club or Tournament) changes or improvements are put to vote. A majority vote of 2/3 of the membership is required for any change to be approved.
4.Members may be asked to vote via email on certain Club issues or if a majority vote cannot be reached (by the members present at the meeting).
5.All Officer Nominations, Lakes nominations and event scheduling are discussed and voted on at monthly meetings. Officer and Lake Nominations will be made at the October meeting and the outcomes announced at the November meeting. The October meeting will be a separate meeting from that held after the October tournament. The event scheduling will take place at the November meeting.
6.Special Club meetings may be called by the President, if he feels it is necessary.
Section VI: TOURNAMENTS and SCHEDULING
1.There will be no less than nine (9) Club Tournaments scheduled during each calendar year.
2.At least one new Lake must be voted to the schedule each year. A discussion of proposed new Lakes will take place at the October and November meetings.
3.All Lakes fished, will be selected by member vote prior to the October meeting. All members will submit a list of nine Lakes at the August meeting. The nine most popular Lakes will be revealed at the September meeting. A separate vote will be taken to select an alternate Lake (the alternate Lake must be convenient, travel to, Lake).
4.The schedule will be determined (and finalized with dates) at the December meeting. All members will have an equal say in the dates selected for the Tournaments. The priority scheduling of Club events should not be contingent on the Federation, or any other, schedule.
5.All Tournament launch sites will be determined during the January meeting. No site will be changed at random, with the possible exception of inaccessibility. If inaccessibility is determined and/or weather causes the launch site to be changed, all participants will be notified by phone or email.
6.Once the Tournament dates have been finalized, no date(s) will be changed unless there are extenuating circumstances (i.e.; weather, catastrophe, etc.).
7.If a Tournament is cancelled, it may be reschedules for later in the year. If rescheduled, the date must be approved by a majority vote of the members.
8.All Tournaments (single day events) will be 8 hours in length. The average start and stop time is 6:00 am to 2:00 pm ET. Start and stop times may vary due to season, lake restrictions and/or weather (to be determined by the Tournament Director). Two day events will have 8 hours of fishing each day - Unless a majority of participants agree to change the times to allow for travel to and from that specific body of water. (If circumstances are such that one day of a two day event is cancelled, the event will be based solely on the results of the one day fished.)
Section VII: PARTICIPATION
1.Club Tournaments are open to all members for an entrance fee of $25.00 per person for single day events and $30.00 for two day events..
2.All those wishing to participate in an event must contact the Tournament Director no later than 10:00 pm ET on the Wednesday prior to the event. Those who do not contact the Tournament Director by the designated time will not be eligible to fish.
3.Event pairings are at the sole discretion of the Tournament Director.
4.The Tournament Director will assign a blast off number to each boat entered in a tournament. At the start of the tournament, each boat will blast off in the order they were assigned. The boat designated last to blast off will oversee the proceedings.
5.All participants are required to abide by all NJBF, State, Local and Federal laws in addition to any and all Game regulations.
6.All boats must have at least one working live-well that is able to sustain a limit of fish for both the boater and non-boater.
7.All boater “byes” will be determined by the Tournament Director based on the previous years point standings. The number of “byes” in an event will be determined by the overage of boater to non-boater participants in that event (if applicable). No boater may have a second bye until all other (eligible) boaters have had one, unless situations dictate so (a bye is declined, no other eligible boater participant, boat availability or a pairing problem exists). If a boater misses his/her turn in the “bye” rotation, they must wait until their turn comes around again for their bye. Any non-boater asked to bring a boat may not have a bye. All first year boaters are not eligible for a bye.
8.All participants must remain in the boat at all times during a tournament, except in the event of sickness, a brief restroom stop, severe storm or other such hazard.
9.The non-boater must pay the boater a rider’s fee of $25.00 for events on Lakes allowing gas engines. On electric only Lakes, the rider is only responsible for paying the launching (ramp) fees (if applicable).
10. “Observers”, non-dues paying guests, may fish with a Club participant (if an opening exists) but is not eligible for any 1st, 2nd or 3rd place prize money. The “Observer” fee is $20.00 and it entitles the individual to participate in the “Big fish of Day” pool (only). The Observer must be a non-boater and can only keep 1 fish in the live-well. An Observer is not responsible for any other boater fees.
11.An “Observer” can be a boater if a boat is needed due to lack of boater participation or breakdowns. The “Observer” must have valid insurance and either be a member of the TBF or sign an insurance waiver (if not a TBF member).
Section VIII: SAFETY
1.Safe boating practices shall be observed at all times.
2.All boats must be registered with the proper State authorities. Each boat operator must possess all the proper paper work and licenses to operate a boat.
3.All boat owners must carry the proper liability insurance (a minimum of $100,000/$300,000).
4.Weight and Horsepower shall not exceed the rated specifications for the boat, as designated by the manufacturer.
5.All members operating a boat must have passed the Coast Guard Boaters Safety Course.
6.All boats used in the tournaments must be a minimum of 16 feet in length, not including the trolling motor or the outboard motor.
7.All boaters must provide a pedestal seat for the non-boater.
8.Each boater is responsible to have the proper safety equipment aboard to meet State and Local regulations. All participants must have a Coast Guard approved PFD. Each non-boater is responsible for providing his/her own Coast Guard approved PFD.
9.The possession or use of any illegal substances (drugs) prior to, during or after a Club tournament is prohibited and will result in immediate disqualification.
10.The consumption of alcohol prior to or during a Club tournament is prohibited and will result in an automatic disqualification. The consumption of alcohol after an event is subject to all Local, State and Government regulations.
Section IX: SPORTSMANSHIP
1.All participants must conduct themselves in a sportsman like manner (see NJBF rules).
2.All participants are expected to follow high standards of courtesy, safety and conservation.
3.Fishing within a 50 foot radius of a Competitors anchored boat is prohibited unless weather conditions are such that this is not possible.
4.Non-boaters have the opportunity of fishing waters of their choice for ½ the tournament time, unless weather conditions are such that this is not possible.
5.The use of cell-phones during competition is prohibited except in the case of an emergency.
6.It is the responsibility of each participant to safely handle and release the fish they catch. All dead fish are to be disposed of in a responsible manner.
7.The Tournament Director’s boat has the priority of being the first boat out of the water after an event in-order to prepare for weigh-in.
Section X: TACKLE and FISHING METHODS
1.Only artificial baits/lures may be used with the exception of pork rind. The use of live bait is prohibited.
2.Only one line may be fished at one time, but other rigs may be available in a ready state for use.
3.Trolling is prohibited.
4.All bass must be caught live and in a conventional sporting manner.
5.The use of landing nets to boat a hooked fish is allowed.
Section XI: PRIZES
1.The individual catching the highest weight total of legal sized fish (not exceeding a limit of 5 fish) will be declared the winner of an event. The total weight is the final weight minus any assessed penalties (if applicable).
2.Prize money will be awarded to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finishers only.
3.Prize money will be determined by the amount of collected entrance fees (based on the number of event participants). The pay out of the prize money will be a 50%, 30% and 20% split (for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place).
4.Entrance fee for single day events is $25.00 per angler. The entrance fee is broken down as follows:
$15.00 towards prize money
$ 2.00 towards the “Big Fish of the Day” pool
$ 8.00 towards the Top 6 fund
Entrance fee for two day events is $30.00 per angler. The entrance fee is broken down as
follows:
$18.00 towards prize money
$ 2.00 towards “Big Fish of the Day” pool - Day 1
$ 2.00 towards “Big Fish of the Day” pool - Day 2
$ 8.00 towards the Top 6 fund
5.The “Big Fish of the Day” pool will be awarded to the individual catching the largest (legal sized) Largemouth or Smallmouth bass caught that day, regardless of species. The prize will depend on the number participating anglers.
6.The Club does have a “Lunker” pool worth $250.00. A “Lunker is defined as a Largemouth Bass 5 pounds or greater and/or a Smallmouth Bass 4 pounds or greater. The “Lunker” pool is species specific, meaning that if a Lunker Largemouth and a Lunker Smallmouth are caught at the same event, a prize will be awarded for each. If there are multiple (same species) fish caught in the Lunker class (in the same event), the prize will be awarded to the individual with the heaviest fish only. If at that time both fish weigh the same, the tie will be broken by the total bag weight of each competitor in that tournament. In the event of an absolute tie, the money will be split evenly.
7.New members are not eligible for the “Lunker” pool ($250.00) until after they have fished 5 Club events.
8.Any individual awards and/or prizes above what the Club wishes to bestow on its’ members will be discussed and voted on at the regular meetings.
9.Yearly Awards will be given out for 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th and 6th places, Biggest Bass of the year (Largemouth & Smallmouth) and “Angler of the Year” (Angler of the Year is determined by the total point accumulated for the year not counting the two throw away events). The top 6 finishers will all receive Club certificates. The top 3 finishers, Angler of the Year and the Biggest Bass winners will receive trophies.
Section XII: SCORING and PENALTIES
1.Points will be awarded to each participating angler based on his/her finishing position (based on total weight). The points are as follows, based on position:
1st = 100.0 6th = 87.511th = 75.016th = 62.521st = 50.026th = 37.5
2nd = 97.5 7th = 85.012th = 72.517th = 60.022nd = 47.527th = 35.0
3rd = 95.0 8th = 82.513th = 70.018th = 57.523rd = 45.028th = 32.5
4th = 92.5 9th = 80.014th = 67.519th = 55.024th = 42.529th = 30.0
5th = 90.010th = 77..515th = 65.020th = 52.525th = 40.030th = 27.5
2.Any participant with a weight total of 0 (no fish for the event), will receive 25.0 place points for fishing the event.
3.In the event of a tie (at the weigh-in), the individual with the single largest fish will be awarded the higher finishing position. In the event of an absolute tie (both total weight and largest fish), both contestants will receive the higher place points and the next finisher will receive the points 2 places down (i.e.; if both individuals tie at 6th place, the next finish position is 8th).
4.All participants will also have their largest fish weighed separately and recorded to aid in the event of a tie. This includes the weighing of each participant’s largest Largemouth and their largest Smallmouth bass.
5.The penalty for a dead fish is ¼ of a pound (0.25 lb) off of the total weight. The Tournament Director will determine the status of each fish prior to weigh-in. The Tournament Directors’ ruling is final.
6.Any fish deemed mutilated, dead or alive, will be disqualified along with that contestants largest fish.
7.The penalty for bringing an undersized fish to the scales is 1 pound off of the total weight (1 pound for each undersized fish). If the undersized fish is the only fish brought to the scales by an individual, the penalty will be 10 place points (off of the 25 points received from fishing the event).
8.The penalty for bringing more than the legal limit (5) of fish to the scales is the loss of that participants largest fish (prior to weigh-in).
9.Each participant returning late at the conclusion of a tournament will be penalized 3/10 of a pound (0.3 lb) per minute up to 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, the participant(s) will be disqualified (this includes the forfeiting of the 25 participation points). The Tournament Director will determine the start and end time of all events and his/her decision regarding lateness is final.
10.Any participant arriving late to the launch site, less than ½ hour before start time, on the day of an event will be penalized 25 place points. Extenuating circumstances or emergency situations will be dealt with on a case by case basis by the Tournament Director.
11.Any participants not off the Tournament waters at 12:00 am ET (midnight) the day before an event will be penalized 25 place points.
12.The culling of dead fish is prohibited and will result in disqualification.
Section XIII: TOP SIX
1.The top six (6) members in the final standings (total point finishers) of the Club will qualify for the N.J. Bass Federation Team Tournament. Club standings are determined by the points, which are accumulated during the season. Each Tournament finishing position has a specified point total (described earlier). Total points will be an accumulation of the seven (7) best finishes of a member (regardless of the number of events fished).
2.The Club will cover the Team Tournament entrance fee for the Top 6 members (usually $510.00).
3.The Club will provide the Top 6 Team with expense monies up to a maximum of $2000.00 (which includes the entrance fee). The money provided to the Team is dependant on the funds collected during the season in the Club’s Top 6 fund. The amount of Club money provided to the Team will be shared equally by all members of the Team that are participating in that particular event (regardless of boater or non-boater status).
4.Funds for the Top 6 Team Tournament are to be used exclusively for that Team’s lodging, fuel and meals. No wives, girlfriends and/or significant others will be allowed to share lodging with the Top 6 Team. Team members are expected to meet, fish and room together in an effort to best represent the Club at the Tournament.
5.If a Club Top 6 qualifier is unable to participate in the Team Tournament, the individual next in line on the final standings list will go in that persons’ place (and so on).
6.Any “Individual” winnings by any of the Clubs’ Top 6 Team members (at the Team Tournament); will be retained by that member. Any “Club” winnings will be equally shared by all members of the Top 6 Team.