Auburn University Bass Fishing Club
Official Tournament Rules
Revised September 2011

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TOURNAMENT RULES

EXCEPTION TO APPEALS COMMITTEE 
  Off‑Limits
  Permitted Fishing Locations
  Sportsmanship
  Tournament Headquarters
  Permitted Fishing Methods
  Boat Operation and Expenses
  Safety
  Care of Fish
  Tournament Pairings
  Scoring

 

TOURNAMENT RULES

The following rules shall apply to all club tournaments and remain unchanged throughout tournament season (school year). Changes can only be made at September meeting of each year before the beginning of season. Any changes must be published and notice given to all members and advisors of the Auburn University Bass Fishing Club. Interpretation and enforcement of rules shall be left exclusively to the tournament director and tournament committee. Penalties for rule violations may include, but not limited to the following; (a) Loss of catch for the day of violation; (b) Disqualification from tournament in question; and (c) Any ruling or additional penalties determined necessary by tournament committee. Filing a complaint or protest against another competing angler must be done in writing within one hour after tournament is over and given to tournament director. The Tournament Director and committee shall render a decision on the complaint filed before the tournament results become official, subject to appeals process (see below).

Appeals can be made both by the club member ruled against or if determined by tournament committee, that more time is needed to resolve the complaint appeal. Time period will not exceed (7) seven calendar days to Tournament Appeals Committee, which consist of Club President, Tournament Director or appointee and advisor for Auburn University Bass Fishing Sports Club.

If member admits to rules violation they cannot file appeal on any decision or penalty imposed from rule violation. The decision of the Appeals Committee shall be final (see exception).

Rules violations occurring during tournament should only be presented in one hour time frame after tournament in written form and signed. Members may ask for clarification of a rule after tournament and will be given to by Tournament Director or appointee, Tournament Committee or President. Knowledge of the rules is expected of each member and must be followed to maintain the integrity of individual and club membership.

Gasoline expenses: The non-boater is expected to share expenses with the boater.  A minimum expense for each tournament is $30.00.  Failure to share expenses will result in not being allowed to fish in any events until all expenses are cleared.

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EXCEPTION TO APPEALS COMMITTEE

Individuals who violate tournament off limits to gain an unfair advantage over other club members or has violated tournament rules more than once, will result in action by the executive committee (see bylaws).

Off‑Limits: Practicing for Auburn University Club Tournaments will be limited to weekends only with the exception of Holidays or special approval by advisors only.

Permitted Fishing Locations: For AUBC fishing tournaments the Tournament Director shall establish tournament waters for lakes which may include all waters open to public fishing. Any water within these boundaries posted off‑limits or no fishing by state or federal agencies cannot be entered by anyone in club for any reason during tournament hours. No member can fish within 50 yards of a competitor’s boat that was first anchored with the trolling motor out of the water. All such anchored boats are required to ad‑vise any competitor if believes they are within 50 yard radius. All fishing must be done from the boat and competitors are not allowed to depart boat in order to land a fish. Contestants must leave and return to official check‑point by boat. The boat must remain in tournament waters during the tournament day. In the event of equipment failure or an emergency, there will only two methods of returning to the official checkpoint for tournament. (1) Both partners remaining in boat and being towed by water or (2) both partners entering the boat of another tournament contestant. Under these conditions, the contestants catch may be counted without penalty. Contestants who elect to return to official checkpoint by any other means than cited above will forfeit their day’s catch to that point in time of the tournament day. You may only ask for restart by tournament director and its sole responsibility of contestant to locate tournament director to request a restart during the day.

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Sportsmanship: Contestants of the Auburn University Bass Club tournaments are expected to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy safety and conservation. Any infraction of these fundamental sporting principles may be deemed cause for disqualification: (a) Use of alcohol or drugs by any competitor during practice, during the tournament, or at the weigh‑in will not be tolerated and shall be cause for disqualification from this and all future AUBC tournaments; (b) Maximum courtesy must be practiced at all times, especially with regards to boating and angling in the vicinity of non‑competitors who may be on the tournament waters. Any act of a competitor which reflects unfavorably upon efforts to promote fisheries, conservation, clean waters, and courtesy shall be reason for disqualification; and (c) Chemical‑substance addiction or abuse, conviction of a felony or other crimes involving conduct reflecting unfavorably upon efforts to promote safety, sportsmanship, fair competition and compliance with tournament rules shall be grounds for rejecting application for participation in AUBC. Any disqualification or disciplinary action from any tournament or fishing organization shall also be grounds for immediate dismissal from AUBC based on judgment of Tournament Committee, President and Advisor.

Tournament Headquarters: This site will be named at drawing before club tournament by vote of membership which is launch site and official checkpoint. There shall be only one(1) official point for check‑out in the morning and check‑in in the afternoon. Competitors not at check‑in at the appointed time shall be penalized at a rate of one(1) pound per minute, to be deducted from the total weight of anglers catch that day. Competitors more than 15 minutes late shall lose that days catch, this includes boater and non‑boater.

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Permitted Fishing Methods: All bass must be caught in a conventional sporting manner. Only artificial lures may be used, with the exception of pork trailers. No live or prepared bait are permitted. Only one(1) rod may be in use and in the water at any one time. Fishing will be by cast and retrieve only. Trolling will not be permitted. Electronic depth finders, global position signal (GPS) temperature probes and oxygen monitors are permitted. Underwater video cameras are not allowed during tournament competition hours.

Boat Operation and Expenses:  A full discussion should be held between anglers as to the schedule of boat operations. Time must be allowed for each member for equal time of the controls during tournament day. If co‑angler chooses they do not have to fish from the front of boat and may elect to direct boater to different waters to fish for their half of day. During tournament hours contestants may not obtain or receive assistance from non‑competitors, follow a noncompetitors boat or participate in the practice of “hole sitting” or placing of markers by anyone. The use of mobile communication devices, including, but not limited to, cellular phones or any walkie talkies, CBs, blackberrys etc., during tournament hours is strictly prohibited except in an emergency (severe weather, breakdowns etc.) In view of large expense involved in operating and maintaining a tournament bass boat the co‑angler must make arrangements with the boater prior to the start of the tournament for sharing cost of gas and oil for the day for the vehicle and boat to and from tournament site. Any contestant found operating the boat in an obvious and deliberate manner to handicap his partner shall be disqualified.  (See gasoline expenses: $30.00 minimum for Non-boater).

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Safety: Safe boating must be observed at all times. Each contestant is required to wear a fastened U.S. Coast Guard approved personal flotation device anytime the combustion engine is running from boat check until weigh in. All boats must be equipped with an emergency ignition shutoff device that must be securely attached to the driver’s body whenever engine is running. Tournament times and dates may be changed by officers of club and tournament director because of unsafe fishing conditions and their decision is final.

There will be no standing in the boat while the main motor is in DRIVE (idle speed or greater), all participants WILL be seated with life jackets zipped while the boat is under way. Maximum speed on the lakes will be 50MPH and the non boater is expected to monitor the speed; if you are seen driving at speeds greater than 50MPH you are subject to a rule violation. Careless operation of the boat is includes the following: on plane in idle speed only areas, running on plane in high waves (3'0" or greater), and running on plane in extreme shallow water (less than 3'0"). Violations/violators are subject to loss of fish for the tournament and suspension of the use of their boat for the rest of the semester. Reporting violations will NOT fall under the 1 hour deadline for protest after a tournament but will be given 48 hours to report.

Care of Fish: All live well aerators must be operational and running during the event. Failure to do so, will result in the boater not being allowed to use his boat until the aeration system is fixed.

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Tournament Pairings: Partners will be paired by draw. All contestants will be divided into boater and non‑boater categories for random drawing. Any boater may fish as a "non‑boater” as long as there are enough boaters to pair with all participating non‑boaters. If more boaters than non‑boaters are entered in the tournament, excess boaters will be paired together. If boaters cannot agree as to whose boat they will fish from, then it shall be decided by the Tournament Director flipping a coin. If one of the boaters refuses he is ineligible for that tournament. Partners should advise each other of their phone numbers and establish a meeting time and place for departure to the tournament site. Auburn University Bass Club will travel as a unit and leave from same location at time submitted by Tournament Director at drawing. Special permission may be given if contestant is out of town and can arrange for his partner to meet at Tournament Headquarters (landing) prior to take‑off