Jeff Gilbert – Tournament Director
GOAL: To promote Fishing and Fellowship between Youth Contestants, while strengthening a parental bond between Adult and Child. While competition will be encouraged, we all will strive to put the Kids happiness and wellbeing first.
1. Rule Changes: The following rules will remain unchanged throughout the event unless State or local laws are in conflict. The decision of the Tournament Committee will be final in all matters. It is at the Director’s discretion to make a change where safety is concerned. The tournament rules have been established for honesty and fairness and must be strictly adhered to by all contestants.
2. Participants & Eligibility: Participation in the tournament is open to all with the exceptions in this rule. The Adult team member must be 18 years of age or older. All under age contestants must have a written parental consent to compete. The Youth team member must be 16 years or less and no more than one each (Adult & Youth) per team. Youth members must be 16 or less prior to each event, including the Championship (if team qualifies).
3. Alcoholic Beverages and Drugs: At no time during tournament hours or weigh-in, are any alcoholic beverages or drugs (other than prescription) allowed in the boat or to be consumed while on the water.
4. Sportsmanship: All teams are expected to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, safety and conservation. Any team who displays poor sportsmanship, violates these rules or any state or local laws or brings unfavorable publicity to the sport of bass fishing will be disqualified.
5. Boats & Motors: There is no horsepower limit, however, no engine may exceed the BIA horsepower rating for the boat on which it is used. All boats must meet US Coast Guard and state regulations. All boats must have an emergency engine kill switch.
6. Safety: Boating safety must be observed at all times during practice and competition. A US Coast Guard approved type life vest must be on and fastened any time the combustible engine is operative and the kill switch must be attached to the boat driver.
7. Tackle & Equipment: All fish must be caught in a legal, sporting manner. Intentional snagging of fish will not be allowed. No Trolling is permitted with the outboard engine. Only artificial lures may be used. No live or prepared bait is permitted with the exception of “pork” lures.
8. Protests: All protests must be submitted in writing within 15 minutes of the final weigh-in.
9. Polygraph: All contestants, winners and non-winners, are subject to a polygraph test. Failure to submit to a polygraph test will result in immediate disqualification. Any contestant who has failed a polygraph test in connection with any bass tournament for cheating will not be eligible to compete in this tournament. Each adult must have a current Texas fishing license during the tournament hours. Participant must pass polygraph exam at tournament site to receive prize money or merchandise, if required.
10. Scoring: Each team may weigh in five (5) fish within lake rules on length, measured on a flat board with mouth closed and tail compressed. A dead fish penalty of 1 lb. per fish will be deducted from the total weight. Any team bringing more than five (5) fish to the scales will be disqualified. Places will be determined by the final total weight of each teams event day catch. Only largemouth, red-eye, Kentucky spotted or small mouth bass will be weighed. Any team weighing in a fish shorter than the legal tournament length will be assessed a one (1) lb. penalty plus the loss of the short fish. Any team returning to the check in point late will be penalized at the rate of one (1) lb. per minute up to 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, no weight will be allowed. Ties will split winnings with that and the next lower place. No iced or white gilled fish will be weighed and all deceased bass brought to the scales may or may not be allowed at the discretion of the tournament director. The official measuring board for this tournament is the Pro Rule by Silver Creek Machine.
11. Culling Fish: It is the responsibility of each team to keep no more than a maximum limit of five (5) fish in a livewell. If more than five fish are present in the livewell during a boat inspection, you will be disqualified.
12. Permitted Fishing Waters: No fishing is allowed in any designated off limits area. All fishing must be done from a boat. No tube or wade fishing allowed. Boats may not be trailered to and from weigh-in during the tournament hours unless under the direction of the tournament director. No fishing is allowed within 50 yards of another anchored or tied tournament boat (with trolling motor out of water), without the anchored teams permission. Both team members must fish from the same boat. Only contestants maybe in the boat during tournament hours. Having anyone “sit on a hole” for you will be cause for disqualification. Encroachment on another contestant, who was first on a fishing spot, is considered a violation of sportsmanship.
13. Registration: On tournament site only, with hours to be determined at each previous event. Saturday night registrations will be available when possible.
14. Practice Fishing: No OFF limits.
15. Championship Qualifications: Each adult member of his/her team must fish 2 out of 4 tournaments to qualify. Youth partners can differ at each tournament. However, no adult may fish any tournament without a youth partner. Team points will be awarded on how you finish and be a running total accumulated and posted on
www.funnsunboats.com after each event.
The Championship Take-off will be determined by points standing after the four events (i.e. - 1st Place leaves out 1st).
