Billy Backman/FISH FOR A WISH
2004 TOURNAMENT RULES
1. All contestants
must wear a coast guard approved vest or preserver when the gasoline engine is
pushing the boat.
2. All state and
local laws must be observed and obeyed.
3. All fishing must
be done from the boat.
4. Only artificial
lures with the exception of pork trailers will be permitted. Trolling as a method of fishing is
prohibited.
5. All boats must
be equipped with some type of ignition kill switch. An aerated live well or
aerated container is mandatory. Fishing
boats may be used that are 15 feet or more in length. No stick steering. All boats must comply with U.S. Coast Guard
horsepower ratings.
6. Boat positions
will be determined by order in which entries are received.
7. Fishing is permitted anywhere within tournament waters
(
8. All bass will be
returned to the tournament waters if found to be in good shape and expected to
live. Only big bass 5 lbs. and over will
be excluded.
9. Fishing is not
allowed within 50 yards of another competitor’s boat, which was first anchored.
A boat is considered anchored only if it is tied to an object or has an anchor
rope over its side with trolling motor out of the water. Contestants must not depart boat to land
fish.
10. Contestants must
leave and return to official checkpoint by boat. In the event of equipment failure or
emergency, there shall be two permitted methods of returning to the check
in. (1) By both
partners remaining in their boat and being towed by water, or (2) by one
partner entering the boat of another contestant with the days catch. The fish must be kept separate.
11. Any participant
cited during tournament hours for a violation of state, marine, or fishing laws
will be disqualified.
12. Tournament
directors will govern an occurrence not covered by the rules.
13. Daily limit will
be 5 bass per team, largemouth, smallmouth, or spotted bass. All bass must be of legal limit in
length. The 6th bass must be
culled immediately. Short fish will be
penalized 1 lb. per short fish. Total pounds and ounces will decide winners.
14. One lb. from
total weight of fish will be deducted for each minute the team is late and the
team will be disqualified after 10 minutes.
15. A penalty of 8
ounces per dead fish will be deducted from
total weight.
16. All contestants
will be subject to random polygraph test.
You must pass polygraph to collect any winnings.
17. There will be no
off limit days before the tournament.
18. All boats and live
wells must be checked before start of tournament.
19 Tournament
Director reserves the right to accept or refuse
any entry received.
20. All protests must
be made within 10 minutes after weigh in time.
21. Violations of any
of these rules may be cause for suspension or disqualification from this and
all future tournaments.
22. A courtesy
measuring board will be set up at the tournament for your convenience. Please measure all fish before they come to
the scales. Any fish that are doubtful
of making the legal length will be measured.
No official will man the courtesy board.
Once the fish are taken at the weigh in table, only tournament officials
will be allowed to handle the fish.
23. We will accept
entry fees,
24. Only one casting
or spinning rod per individual (8 ft maximum length from butt of handle to rod
tip) and reel per individual may be used at any one time. All other types are prohibited. Other rods and reels as specified above may
be in the boat ready for use. Only one
is permitted in use at any time during the tournament. All bass must be caught alive in a sporting
manner.
25. There will be no
stocking of holes allowed in this tournament.
(This will be a polygraph question).
26. At least one
partner per boat must attend the pre- tournament meeting on
27. In case of a tie,
all moneys will be added together and divided except for the first prize.
Winner will be determined by a) team with most # of fish weighed in alive, b)
team with single day most fish, c) teams biggest fish of the tournament.