Panhandle
Area
Bass Association
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TOURNAMENT
RULES (Tentative) ELIGIBILITY:
PABA events are, unless otherwise specified, open to PABA members in good
standing only. FORMAT:
All PABA Qualifying tournaments will be draw format. Other formats may be used
for special tournaments, but tournaments towards season championship will be
draw. PABA Tournaments will be Sunday events to minimize the impact on other
club or open tournaments in the area. ALCOHOL:
Absolutely
no alcohol may be in possession during tournament hours. No alcoholic beverages
may be consumed by competitors until after they have weighed their catch.
Alcoholic beverages will not be in any competitors boat at any time during the
tournament. SPORTSMANSHIP:
All competitors will be expected to adhere to high standards of sportsmanship
and conduct during tournament hours. SAFETY:
Each competitor will have a U.S.C.G. approved life jacket. Life jackets must be
worn any time that the outboard is running.
All boats will be operated in a courteous and safe manner. TOURNAMNET
HOURS:
Tournaments will commence at safe light and end at 3:30pm unless specified
otherwise by the tournament director. PARTNER
PAIRING: The
pairing of partners will be by random draw at the pre-tournament meeting held
the Wednesday prior to the tournament. Boaters will be paired with non-boaters
until such time as the non-boaters have all been paired. Once all non-boaters
have been paired with a partner, boaters will be paired with other boaters. In
the event that there are more non-boaters than boaters the following options
will be available to the non-boaters not yet paired: 1) refund of that
tournament’s entry fee or 2)
guaranteed placement in the next event. Members do not need to be present for
pairing, though it is highly recommended. Partners must remain together from
tournament start until both anglers catch has been weighed. PRE-TOURNAMENT
MEETING: The
pre-tournament meeting will be conducted Wednesday prior to the tournament. The
location and time of the meeting will be announced with the tournament schedule.
Partner pairings as well as the dissemination of other important information
will be conducted at the pre-tournament meeting. This meeting is the equivalent
of a bass club meeting and important issues may be decided at it, therefore all
participants are encouraged to attend. PRE-TOURNAMENT
PRACTICE: There
are no restrictions on pre-tournament practice. PERMITTED
BOATS/MOTORS:
All boats used in PABA Tournaments will comply with all mandatory U.S.C.G.
requirements for year and size of boat. ABSOLUTELY NO STICK STEERING. All boats
must have an operational ignition kill switch, physically attached to the driver
any time the outboard is in operation. All boats must have sufficient livewell
space to maintain alive two limit catches for the entire tournament day. Maximum
horsepower will be 250hp regardless of rating. No boat may have a larger
outboard than the rating for that boat. PERMITTED
FISHING LOCATIONS: Fishing is permitted anywhere that can be reached by boat without
trailering. Anglers may not leave the boat to reach, or attempt to reach,
inaccessible locations. Fishing is not permitted within 50 feet of another
competitors boat first anchored. Anchored is defined as trolling motor up and an
anchor physically on the bottom. No fishing is permitted within 100 feet of any
gas pumps. All areas closed to the public are off limits. The tournament launch
site is also off limits to fishing. LIMITS:
A tournament limit catch will be 5 bass per angler unless regulations (state,
federal, lake, etc..) is less in which case the lower number will apply. Minimum size of 12 inches unless regulations (State, federal,
lake, etc..) is larger in which case the larger minimum size will apply.
At no time will any angler have more than a tournament limit in
possession. Upon catching the sixth, and subsequent, bass one must be culled. FISHING
METHODS: All
fish must be caught by hook and line in a sporting manner. Trolling as a method
of fishing is not permitted. No angler can have more than a single rod in use at
one time. Permitted tackle is Casting, spinning or spincast equipment only. BAIT:
Absolutely no live or prepared bait may be used or in possession during
tournament hours. The only exception is pork rinds or strips may be used. WEIGH-IN:
Weigh-in
will be at 3:30pm. Any competitor not checking in by then will be considered
late to weigh-in and penalized at the rate of 1 pound per minute up to 15
minutes. After 15 minutes those anglers will be disqualified. The only exception
to this rule will be if an anglers boat is disabled and word can be sent to the
tournament officials prior to 3:30pm or designated weigh-in time. In this
instance the anglers catch will be counted and no late penalties assessed. PENALTIES:
The
following penalties will be assessed: Late to weigh in – as stated above.
Short Fish – exclusion of the short fish and a 1 pound deduction from total
weight. More than a limit presented for weigh-in – exclusion of extra fish in
descending order of size starting with largest bass. Violation of alcohol,
boat/motor, fishing method or location, bait, safety, or unsportsmanlike conduct
rules will result in disqualification. DISQUALIFICATION: Disqualification will mean loss of all entry fees paid, points earned, or prizes awarded. The decision to disqualify will be made by the tournament director. CHEATING:
Though highly unlikely, any instance of cheating will result in immediate
disqualification and ban from any future PABA events. No exceptions,
no tolerance. PROTESTS:
Any protest must be received by the tournament director, in writing, prior to
the close of weigh-in. All decisions regarding any protests will be final. |