Big Bass Association Rules and Regulations

Revised January 2011

1a: MEMBERSHIP FEES: New members and renewals are $35.00 per year.  Fees can be paid either by mail, club meeting or at boat ramp.

1b. GUEST FEES: Guest fees are $10.00. If a guest joins the club the same year they were a guest the $10.00 guest fee will be deducted from their membership. 

2: ENTRY FEE:  Entry fees must be paid while the registration table is open at the boat ramp. The table closes ½ hour before the scheduled start time. The entry fee for each club tournament is $70.00 per boat which includes lunker. 

3: SIX-POUND LUNKER POOL: Eligible fish shall be any largemouth over six pounds or any smallmouth over five pounds, the fee for this pool will be $10.00 per year and must be paid before the first tournament.  If pool is not hit, pool payout will carry over to next years tournaments.

4:  IN THE EVENT NO FISH ARE CAUGHT: If the event occurs that no fish are caught, the prize money will be decided by a raffle drawing.

5: BOAT INSPECTION: No boat will be allowed to launch at the ramp until it has been checked for the following:

A: Each angler must have a Coast Guard approved life vest.  Life vest must be worn while gas engine is running.

B: Each boat must have a working live well & must be capable of keeping 2 limits of fish alive.

C: Each angler must have a valid state fishing license and valid Newark Watershed Permit.  Stickers must be properly displayed on vehicle and/or boat.

6: Table closes 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the tournament.  Members arriving after the table closes will not be allowed to fish the tournament.  If one member of the team is on time and partner arrives after the table is closed, the member that was on time has the option of fishing alone or refund of entry fee.

7: LATE PENALTY: Any contestant late for weigh-in will be penalized one (1) pound per minute and disqualified after ten (10) minutes late.  The rules committee will determine equipment breakdowns.

8: All state and federal laws and regulations on boating and fishing apply.

9. All laws and regulations must be followed for the body of water we are fishing.

10: No contestant can fish within 25 yards of another contestant’s boat.

11: No contestant can leave the boat to land or catch a fish at any time.

12: Only one pole may be used at a time.

13: No natural bait is allowed. Pork rind may be used.

14: Trolling of any sort is not allowed.

15: Non-members may fish only one tournament.  To fish any other tournament they must become a member of the club.  If a guest becomes a member they will be credited for a tournament and their weight will be added to the end of the year standings. 

16: There is a five (5) fish limit per boat. Any boat found culling at the ramp or arriving at the ramp with more than a five (5) fish limit will be immediately disqualified.

17: There will be an eight (8) ounce penalty for each dead fish to be deducted from the total weight of their catch.  Culling of dead fish is not allowed. 

18: All fish must be a minimum of 12 inches (closed mouth, pinched tail).  A person with a fish in the question of twelve (12) inches must ask for a courtesy check prior to handing the fish to the weigh-in official. Any fish less than twelve (12) inches will be returned to the water and will not be counted.  If no courtesy check was requested, there will be a 1 pound penalty per short fish.  Only 1 courtesy check per boat will be allowed. 

19: Anyone helping the weigh-in official by placing their fish in the weigh-in bag will be disqualified.

20: Club scale, ruler and clock are official measuring devices.

21: A tournament may be canceled due to bad weather.

22:  Any boat is subject to inspection at anytime during or after the tournament.

23:  The rules can only be changed once a year at the annual January meeting.

24:  Any protest must be brought to an officer of the club prior to the beginning of the weigh-in or prior to the closing of the table before the beginning of the tournament.

25: All decisions by the Rules Committee will be final.

26: All fees must be paid by cash only. NO CHECKS!!!

27: ANYONE FOUND CHEATING WILL BE THROWN OUT OF THE CLUB!!!!!!!!