|
Eligibility
C & R Outdoors tournaments are open to all persons. All rules and
regulations listed are subject to each angler and are strictly enforced.
Any person who operates the combustion engine must be 18 years of age or
older. Minors are welcome to participate only under the full responsibility
of an adult partner. All competitors MUST have a valid fishing license. All
State and local laws apply.
Interpretation of Rules
The Tournament Director (s) is responsible for interpretation of all rules
and regulations. In any event, the Tournament Director (s) shall have the
final decision in all matters. The Tournament Director (s) may impose, but is
not limited to, disqualifications, forfeiture of prizes and or entry fee and
can prohibit competitors in future tournaments as deemed necessary. The
Tournament Director (s) reserves the right to refuse any angler registration
for the tournament trail.
Sportsmanship and Rules of Conduct
All Contestants shall conduct themselves professionally at all times toward
all persons and are expected to follow high standards of sportsmanship,
safety and conservation. All contestants must keep the waters clean and bring
trash back for proper disposal. All competitors shall not act unfavorably on
the sport of bass fishing. Being under
the influence of drugs or alcohol is strictly prohibited. Any competitor who
violates such rules will be disqualified. Issues of misconduct should be
immediately brought to the attention of the Tournament Director.
Boat Equipment and Safety
Extreme caution must be exercised at all times. Contestants understand that
fishing in an open boat can be dangerous and that safe boating conduct is
vital for competitors and non-competitors alike. Each competitor is required
to wear a fully fastened U.S. Coast Guard approved chest-type life preserver
while the combustion engine is running and in gear. In addition, safety
equipment adequate to pass U.S. Coast Guard regulations must be in the boat
at all times and all boats must not exceed BIA Horsepower rating and/or Coast
Guard rating. Each boat must be equipped with an aerated livewell
that is spacious enough to safely maintain the tournament limit of bass. Each
boat operator must have an attached, functional, safety-stop switch (aka Kill
Switch) at all times when the combustion engine is operating. It is highly
recommended that participants carry liability insurance coverage on their
boat. All boats, drivers, and passengers will accept full responsibility for
any and all personal injury and all property damage that may occur. Failure
to abide by these rules will result in disqualification.
Registration
Competitors may register by mail, online, or in person at the tournament
site. Registration will begin at the
tournament site at least an hour and a half before blast off. Boat numbers
are determined using the "first in, first out" method according to
when registrations are received. Tournament
fees are payable by cash, check, or money order and must be paid at time of
registration in order to be assigned a boat number. Anglers may choose to
fish individually. Checks must be received 7 days prior to tournament date.
Competitors who choose to register at the ramp can do so with cash only. Refunds will be given only in the event of
a canceled tournament. Returned checks may disqualify anglers from future
tournaments. Returned Check fees of $35.00 will be enforced. Any team not
showing for an event after pre-paying their entry fee,
will have that entry fee carried over to the next event. All boats will be
checked prior to the rules briefing. Competitors who do not check in will be
disqualified.
Check In
Check in will begin an hour and a half before the tournament. Competitors
registering in person at the tournament site must do so at least 10 minutes
prior to blast off.
Tournament check in will follow this order...
1) All anglers verify registration at check in
2) Boats will then be inspected and each team will receive their
"boat number" card.
3) Pre-Tournament briefing will be held before blast off.
Alternates
There is no limit on the number of alternates a team may use as long as one
of the original team members is present.
Emergencies
During tournament hours, all competitors shall remain in their boats at all
times with the exception of severe weather and other such hazards or
emergencies. If a team must remove
their boat from the water due to an emergency during the tournament hours,
they must contact the tournament director.
Depending on the situation, a restart may be given by the tournament
director once the situation has been resolved. One team member is allowed to
exit temporarily for the purpose of refueling, sickness, call of nature, lure
retrieval, boat repair, and other necessary tasks. Competitors may not exit
the boat to land a fish or make the boat more accessible to fishing waters.
Failure to abide by these rules will result in disqualification. If arrangements are made with the
tournament director, a team mate may leave the tournament early leaving the
partner to finish the tournament alone.
Off Limits
Areas marked "No Fishing" by local or state governments shall be
off limits to fishing. Any additional
off limits areas will be established before blast off.
Tournament Hours
Hours of competition will be from safelight, conditions permitting, until
weigh in beginning at 3:00pm.
Weigh in will be held in flights of 20 with 10 minute intervals starting at 3:00pm. Weigh-in time may be pushed back for a
tournament that has delayed due to weather conditions.
Launch Sequence
Boats will be released in numerical order and grouped in flights of 20. The
numerical order of the boats will correlate with order of entries received.
Tackle and Fishing Methods
Only artificial lures may be used. All bass must be caught in a legal, live
and conventional manner using a rod and reel. Only one rod and reel
combination may be used at one time. Trolling as a method of fishing is
prohibited. When sight fishing for a
bedding bass, the fish must be hooked in the mouth or released
immediately.
Permitted Fishing
Fishing on tournament waters is not permitted within 50 yards of another
competitor's boat, if it is anchored with the trolling motor up. Tournament competitors may drop up to 3
markers, each 50 yards
apart, in order to designate their protected waters. Fishing (or casting
into) another angler's designated waters marked with dropped markers is not
permitted. The competitor must remain inside the placed markers. Markers
must not block any entrance to any cove, creek, canal, etc. No competitors
will have anyone "hole sit" or protect any
fishing area. The Tournament Director shall establish any known Off-Limits
during the morning briefing.
Weigh In
The first flight shall check in by 3:00pm
and each following flight shall check in by their appointed 10 minute
interval. All competitors must return to the weigh in site at their appointed
time and check in using their boat number card (Ex. Flight one must be
checked in by 3:00pm to
be considered on time). If any competitor's boat is removed from the water
prior to weigh in, that team shall be disqualified. Anglers are allowed to
remove their boat from the water prior to weighing their fish in after they have checked
in with the tournament director. Should an emergency or equipment failure occur, the competitor should contact the tournament
director via phone and approve a water tow with their catch in their live
well or be transported by an approved individual with the catch. Late penalties will be enforced.
Competitors who are late for weigh in will be penalized with a deduction of
one (1) pound per minute late from their total weight for the day. Team
members who leave the tournament before weigh in must check in with
Tournament Officials using their boat number card.
Scoring
The total weight of each team's catch will determine the tournament placement
and standings. Largemouth, Smallmouth, Shoal, and Spotted Bass shall qualify
for weigh in with respect to length limits for the tournament's waters. The
minimum length for any species to be weighed is 12 inches. The limit will be five
fish per boat and culling will begin when the sixth fish is caught. Any team
found having more than five fish will be disqualified. All bass will be
measured using a Gator Grip Golden Rule Board. A penalty of one pound will be
deducted from the total weight for each short fish. A penalty of 4 ounces will be
deducted from the total weight for each dead fish. These rules shall apply to
the Big Bass Competition as well. Culling is not permitted at the weigh in
site. Competitor's caught culling at weigh in will be disqualified.
Tie
Should a tie occur at tournament weigh in, the tied place and the following
place shall be combined and divided between the two tied teams.
Protest and Polygraph Screenings
By entering said tournament, contestants agree to submit to a polygraph/voice
test examination at the request of the tournament director or should the
competitor be accused of any rule violation. Protests may be registered in
person after the rules briefing before boat launch or after weigh in and
before awards are presented. Any person failing to successfully pass a
polygraph/voice test in this or any other tournament may not be allowed entry
into future C & R Outdoors Tournaments. All contestants agree that in the
event of a dispute or protest of any kind, or if requested to do so by the
TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR, both team members will submit to a polygraph screening.
The administration and interpretation of the polygraph/voice test shall be
the responsibility of the Tournament Director (s) or agents. The Tournament
Director will choose the individual who administers such polygraph/voice
test, and the scope of the questions, which may be asked during such test and
schedule a polygraph session at the place of Tournament Director's Choice. If the polygraph agent is not present at
the event, the day of polygraph examination shall be based on both team
members choice and must be completed within 2 weeks following said
tournament. Failure to take and pass the polygraph/voice test examination, if
required, will result in immediate disqualification without recourse.
Protests must be accompanied by $100.00 cash. If the protest is valid, the
protester shall receive a refund of the $100.00 protest fee and will be paid
a $50.00 good samaritan award. Contestants further
agree that the results of the polygraph screening will be accepted without
further appeal and will be the final decision in said tournament. All
contestants agree and understand that protested prizes will be held until the
polygraph results are received and any differential in awards will be mailed
to affected winners immediately following results. Both team members hereby
waive and release any and all claims and causes of action against C & R
employees, sponsors, and their agents and employees, in connection with
taking such polygraph screenings. In the event of no polygraph screening, the
Tournament Director's decision will be accepted. Inconclusive results on a
polygraph examination will be considered to be a failure to pass and will be
accepted as such by the examinee.
CLASSIC
To qualify for the 2012 Classic a team must fish at least 5 tournaments; weekday or weekend in the 2012
tournament year. The team with the most
cumulative weight each year for each weekend division earns a free entry into the Classic. The classic location will be voted on by
qualifying teams. The payout for the classic will be 1 in 7 entries. Participation in the classic is through
qualification only. The qualified
teams will be notified by February
15th, 2013.
Waiver of Liability
Upon entrance of tournament, all competitors release any and all sponsors,
directors, officials, organizations, hosts, and locations affiliated with any
C & R Outdoors tournament from liability for any occurrence resulting
from tournament participation. Should a suit be filed against C & R
Outdoors, or any affiliated parties, all court costs and attorney's fees
shall be paid by the plaintiff (competitor). All competitors must agree to
understand and follow ALL rules and waivers to be entered into said
tournament.
|
