TOURN RULES

1. TOURNAMENT PROGRAM: There is a "Rookie of The Year" award for the highest finishing rookie at the end of the season in each division. A "Rookie" is defined as a person who has never participated in a New Jersey Bass Federation points tournament before. All participants must declare as either a boater or co-angler at the start of the tournament season. This designation will hold throughout the season regardless of any individual tournament flips.

2. WHO MAY COMPETE: (A) Any N.J.B.F., TBF or FLW member 16 years of age. Under age 18 must have written approval of parent or guardian; (B) Anyone not previously banned from competition by N.J.B.F. unless reinstated.

3. ENTRY FEE: The entry fee for a one day tournament shall be determined by The Board of Directors. The optional lunker pool for each tournament will be due with the entrance fee. NO REFUNDS will be given for persons entering and unable to attend the tournaments unless written notification is given to the Tournament Director by 4:00 PM on the Wednesday before the tournament. Only checks or money orders will be accepted for payment.

4. APPLICATION & DEADLINE: A completed and signed application form with entrance fee must be received by the Tournament Director on or before FRIDAY (2) WEEKS PRIOR to the tournament. If you register as a boater you must send a copy of current boat insurance policy. Late entries not accepted.

5. OFF LIMITS: Each site located in, or bordering NJ, will be closed one week before the tournament from Sunday 12:00 Midnight to sunrise of the Saturday before the tournament. All tournament waters are the designated body and its tributaries only.

6. REGISTRATION: Contestants must finish registering 1/2 hour before the tournament start time. If a contestant fails to register on time they will not be able to fish the tournament and will not receive a refund. It is the responsibility of both Boater and the Co-angler or Observer to contact each other prior to tournament day. It is also their same responsibility to meet prior to boat launch to assist in the launching procedure.

7. TOURNAMENT BRIEFING: All tournament contestants will be briefed on official information, pertaining to that specific tournament, at the regular N.J.B.F. monthly meeting prior to each tournament. Information such as off limits, staging areas, and flight times will be stated at such meeting and posted on the Federation website. It is not mandatory to attend the meeting.

8. BOAT OPERATION AND EXPENSE: A full discussion must be held between the two partners prior to the departure as to the fishing schedule and the operation of the boat. The gas, oil and launch fee shall be split 50/50 between boater and rider. Both contestants will have equal time (1/2 day) to operate the boat (operation is defined as electing to fish in the front of the boat and having control of the electric motor). In the event that one contestant does not elect to operate the boat, the contestant waiving the right of operation will still have the right to select the fishing waters for 1/2 of the day. Any contestant found operating the boat in an obvious and deliberate manner to handicap his partner and the safe operation of the boat, shall be disqualified. All contestants must have a discussion prior to take off concerning safe operation of the boat or any physical limitations one party may have that could hinder the normal operation of the boat. Coast Guard certification is necessary for boat operation or trolling motor operation.

9. BOAT INSPECTION: Boat inspection will end a 1/2 hour prior to start time. In order to have your boat checked you must:

A. Show that your engine horsepower does not exceed Coast Guard rating plate on boat.

B. Have a boat at least 17' in length.

10. LATE ARRIVALS: Late arrivals who fail to make boat check deadline will forfeit their boat number and be placed at the back of the starting field. The Tournament Director will reserve from close of boat check until 15 minutes before start of tournament to make last minute changes or alterations. After that, no boats will be checked in. If you arrive 15 minutes before start time, you will forfeit your entry fee and not be allowed to participate in the tournament.

11. TOURNAMENT HOURS AND TAKEOFF: All tournaments will start and end at the printed time on the application regardless of the weather or lateness of contestants or at the discretion of the Tournament Director. In the case of fog or bad weather, boats will take off with a 5 MPH RESTRICTION, which if exceeded, will cause automatic disqualification for that and all future N.J. Bass Federation Tournaments. At the beginning of the tournament, each boat will idle past starter boat before getting on plane.

12. PAIRING CONTESTANTS: All contestants will be paired with a partner by random drawings of completed applications. No contestants from the same club or relatives will be paired together. If such a pair occurs, contestants must notify the Tournament Director to arrange for a new pairing. Co-angler/Observers applications will be dated and the earliest date used to select Co-angler/Observers if there are not enough boats. Boaters will not be paired together. You will be notified by mail who your partner will be. It will be your responsibility to contact your partner by phone for a meeting tournament morning. If you do not receive pairing by Thursday prior to tournament, call the Tournament Director.

13. SCORING: Contestants will proceed to the weigh-in area with their day's catch in an official tournament bag. Scoring shall be determined by a total weight. The tournament winner will be determined by the total weight accumulated during the tournament. A penalty of .40 pounds will be given for each legal bass not kept alive. Legal fish include: largemouth and smallmouth bass only. Contestants who obtain or use services of an agent to locate fish on Tournament Day will be banned from that and all future N.J.B.F. Tournaments. During the tournament day each partner's fish shall be tagged or kept separated throughout the fishing day. At no time shall the contestant have more fish than the legal limit. Periodic checks by the Officials, both State and Tournament, may be made and any contestant having more than the legal limit will have his fish culled by the Official with the largest fish culled first. The weighin area is off limits to non-tournament officials and all other contestants except those whose fish are on the scales. Once fish are turned over to the Tournament Officials at the scales, they are then to be handled by Tournament Officials only. State laws supersede all N.J.B.F. length and number of fish per limits. However, a bass will not be counted or weighed if it is less than 12 inches in length as measured on the weigh-in table. Fish are to be measured from the tip of the snout to the end of the tail with the fish laid flat, mouth closed and tail lobes pressed together. Fish presented for weigh-in which fail to measure 12 inches shall accrue a penalty of one (1) pound for each fish. Any fish that is mangled in any way will be measured and weighed only at the discretion of the Tournament Director.

14. TOURNAMENT POINTS: The tournament winner will receive 200 points and second place will receive 199 points and so on until all points are awarded or no catch is reported. TIES

A. During regular point tournaments, money and points will be distributed equally between the two contestants.

B. End of the year point standing ties will be broken by
1) Total weight caught.

2) Total number of fish alive.

3) Heaviest single stringer at any point event fished.

15. TACKLE AND EQUIPMENT: Only artificial lures may be used. No "live" or prepared bait will be permitted with the exception of pork or pork type strips, rinds, etc. Only casting, spinning: or spincasting reels and rods may be used. Only one rod may be used at any time. Other rigged rods may be present, but only one shall be in use at any time. If any lure is fouled it must be retrieved or broken off before another rod can be used by that contestant. No rod over the length of 8 feet will be allowed. Electronic depth finders, thermometers, oxygen gauges, PH Meters and water clarity devices are permitted along with hand held nets to land legally hooked fish.

16. CARE AND DISPOSITION OF FISH: Contestants must exert all effort regarding care and release of fish. It is the sole responsibility of the angler to keep, consume or dispose of all fish not kept alive. It is illegal to dispose of dead fish at the tournament site. A contestant shall be granted the right to keep a trophy fish for mounting purposes at the discretion of the Tournament Director and will lose .40 pounds if the fish was still alive. Only fish brought to the weigh-in table in an official N.J.B.F. weigh-in bag will be weighed in. If not, they will be returned to the water unweighed.

17. LATE PENALTY: Contestants not cleared at check-in point on time shall be penalized 1 lb. per minute for each minute late. A contestant arriving at the dock more than ten (10) minutes late shall lose all weight for that day. There will be no excuse for tardiness and no one will be allowed to make up fishing time. Each contestant will be given ample time to proceed from the dock to the weight station and must not leave the presence of their partner or will lose the credit for their catch.

18. PROTEST: A contestant wishing to protest his partners or other angler's actions must do so in writing ten (10) minutes after the scales have been closed and deliver it to the Tournament Director. Partners not reporting a violation will face the same punishment as their partners.

19. PERMITTED FISHING LOCATIONS: Fishing on tournament waters will be permitted everywhere except:

A. Within fifty (50) yards of another competitor's anchored boat.

B. Contestants must not depart the boat to land fish.

C. Within any area declared off limits by the Tournament Director.

D. Tournament boats must not leave the tournament water or be trailered during the tournament hours.

E. Anywhere that you are asked to leave by State Officials or Law Officers of the State.

20. SAFETY: All contestants must wear a life vest approved by the Coast Guard while the boat's gasoline engine is on. This vest must be secure while persons are in transit or automatic disqualification will result. All boats must be equipped with kill switch system for their gasoline engine and it must be used when the engine is in operation. No wake zones will require the boater to proceed without white water developing from the boat and a wake of less than 3 inches. THERE WILL BE NO PASSING IN A NO WAKE ZONE. All boat owners are to operate their boats in a safe manner and abide by all local, state and federal laws.

21. SPORTSMANSHIP: Sportsmanship, courtesy, safety and conservation are expected from all contestants. Any infraction of these fundamental sporting principles will be deemed cause for disciplinary action. Any violation of these rules will be cause for disciplinary action to be decided and taken by the Tournament Director.

22. ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES: No alcoholic beverages or controlled substances shall be allowed in the possession of any contestants during the tournament hours.

23. RULE DECISION: The interpretation of these rules shall be at the discretion of the Tournament Director. The decision of the Tournament Director shall be final. These rules and regulations are subject to amendment at any time by the Tournament Director and approved by the N.J. Bass Federation Board of Directors. Any changes will be made known to the contestants prior to the tournament in writing.

24. WEIGH-INS: Both contestants must sign their partner's weighin slips prior to weighing in. Any contestant whose weigh-in slip is not signed will not receive credit for their catch.

25. BREAKDOWNS: In the event of a mechanical breakdown, one angler may return alone with both contestants' catch. The following criteria must be met:

1. You must return in another competitor's boat.

2. Catches must be kept separated.

3. You must return in your original flight and be on time.

4. You must advise the Tournament Director of your circumstances before you weigh in.

5. Both weigh slips must be signed before points or prizes will be awarded.

26. ETHICAL TOURNAMENT ANGLING: It is the responsibility of all anglers in the tournament to practice ethical angling. An "Ethical Angler” is an angler who:

A. Protects and preserves the environment. One who does not pollute or disturb the natural order of the lake or river he is fishing on.

B. Respects other anglers' rights, both those who are fishing in the tournament and those who are not. He is also courteous, especially when he is a guest on another state's body of water.

C. Practices catch and release.

D. Practices safe boating.

E. Obeys all local fishing and boating laws.

27. ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS: During any official competition days of a tournament, a competitor may not use a CB radio, a VHF marine-band radio, a cellular phone, or any other type of communication device for the purpose of locating or catching fish. Competitors are permitted to transmit by radio or telephone only in the event of an emergency. Competitors may listen only to the marine-band weather information channels.